Biblical discipleship 3

6.3. Establish Biblical Structure for Change

Perspective

( Rom. 5:3-5 ; 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ; James 1:21-25 ; 2 Pet. 1:2-4 ) Effective and lasting
biblical change is a continuing process. You are to obey the commands and guidelines in God's word for every area of your life (your thoughts, words and actions). As you stop(put-off) the old continuing pattern of sin and begin (put-on) the new practice of righteousness and holiness, you are renewed in the spirit of your mind.

Being justified, we are no longer defeated by trials and sufferings. To the contrary, by God's grace, we use problems as opportunities to grow in Christ. Working through pressure, oppression, afflictions, and distress, we develop endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, constancy, perseverance. Thus, patience stirs experience and this develops character, integrity, strength. Also experience stirs up hope. By enduring trials, we experience the presence and strength of God. When a justified man becomes stronger in character, he draws closer to God. The closer he draws to God, the more he hopes for the glory of God.

Hope

( John 15:10-11 ; John 16:33 ; Matt. 6:33 ; 1 John 2:3-4 ; 1 John 3:22 ) You are
to walk in a manner worthy of God and to please Him in every area of your life. As you obediently respond to God's love, you become mature in the Lord and are blessed with peace and joy regardless of your feelings, other people or circumstances of life. The believer's hope, peace and joy is based upon the presence of God's Spirit who dwells within the believer. These virtues are activated when one biblically responds to life.

( 1 Cor. 6:19-20 ; 1 Pet. 1:17-19 ; Luke 16:10-13 ; John 16:17 ; 1 John 2:20,27 )
You were purchased with the precious blood of Jesus, you wholly belong to Him. You are God's possession and a steward (managing servant) of all that the Lord has provided for you. The anointing of Christ is with you. God's wisdom, strength and ability are within you to exercise your particular talent and gifts to become a blessing to those about you. Christ in you, the hope of glory, the anointing of God is upon your flesh to do the things flesh cannot do.

( Ps. 119:165 ; Matt. 5:3-12 ; John 14:27 ; John 15:11 ; John 16:33 ) God's peace
and joy are available to believers regardless of others, possessions or circumstances. We are to be dependent upon God. As we become so we will not be controlled by others but will be free to love others as God loves us. We are primarily accountable to God-not to self, spouse, parents or others.

Change

( Eph. 4:22-24 ; Matt. 7:5 ; 1 Cor. 11:28-31 ; Heb. 4:12 ; Rom. 6:12-13 ; 2 Cor.
10:5 ) To keep God's anointing flowing through you, you must daily put-off old sinful
habits, identify them, judge yourself in the light of God's word, confess and repent and put them aside immediately. Do not take life for granted. You are God's ambassador on earth. You are His standard for the world to see.

( 2 Tim. 2:22 ; Titus 2:11-12 ; Gal. 5:16 ; Matt. 22:37 ; Col. 1:10 ; Rom. 8:29 ;
Rom. 5:17 ) As we put-on the righteous deeds in the power of the Holy Spirit, we grow
daily in the image of God. We become on earth, vessels reflecting and revealing the Spirit of God within to the world without as we destroy the works of the devil and establish God's righteousness on earth. We are to rule and to exercise predominance over the world's system and institutions ( Gen. 1:28 ; Matt. 28:18-20 ).

( Prov. 10:12 ; Eph. 4:32 ; 1 Pet. 3:8-9 ) We begin the process by forgiving others
biblically as necessary. We seek reconciliation and restoration in accordance with biblical principles. We do not retaliate, we eliminate stumbling blocks, and seek ways to bless others. Our Lord took care of sin at the cross. Our role is to destroy the structure - the scaffolding - the habit patterns - of sin embedded in our minds over the years. We are to rebuild these structures until our faculties, our intellect, our passions, are placed solely under the rule and lordship of Jesus Christ ( 2 Cor. 10:3-5 ; Prov. 21:22 ).