SPIRITUAL GROWTH ARTICLES
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Believe, Belief | Unbelief | ||
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WHAT OR WHOM DO YOU BELIEVE?
One aspect of unbelief relates to faith.
In Christ?
In man?
In institutions?
In moral codes or self-ways?
Ask these questions prayerfully to the Lord and learn to hearken to His Voice. Let Him guide you through the many messages you are receiving to discern the answer to these questions for your own personal life; He will not forsake you.
WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD?
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that by testing you may discern what the will of God is,
that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
~Romans 12:2
Another aspect of unbelief involves rejecting the Will of God.
The article does not address the sovereign Will of God* but examines more closely some aspects of the Will God reveals to us in His Word.
*His sovereign control of all that comes to pass.
His Will encompasses these two things,
among others:
1. Be holy, sanctified, sexually pure.
that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality.
~I Thessalonians 4:3
2. Give thanks in all things.
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
~1 Thessalonians 5:18
the Will of God is that we
no longer live in the flesh.
but for the Will of God.
~1 Peter 4:2
The Holy Spirit, Who renews the mind, will give you a new breadth and depth of understanding of the Word—from His Spirit to yours (I Corinthians 2:12-14)—and His anointing will lead you to abide (1 John 2:27).
will begin to find
matchless contentment in Christ
despite overwhelming circumstances
and disappointing relationships.
Minds that are not renewed distort the Word and find prideful self-contentment in their seemingly “super-spiritual” prayer life or faith, lifestyle, occupation, identities and roles, among other images.
Once you find matchless contentment in Christ, as you carry out the revealed Will of God through obedience you will be able to apply Biblical truth to new situations not explicitly addressed in the Word.
- Which house should l buy or should I buy a house?
- Whom should I marry?
- What should I eat for breakfast? lunch? dinner?
Most of the everyday decisions we need to make are not explicitly addressed in Scripture. But as your renewed mind becomes governed by the revealed Will of God and you are obeying Him in your conduct, your life reflects His Will and your discernment grows because self-ways are dying and His Life floods yours.
WHAT IS HIDDEN IN YOUR HEART?
As you are praying for a renewed mind that will transform you, examine the areas of unbelief that manifest in your life. For example,
- Do you believe that His Hand orchestrated the circumstances that will transform you?
- Do you believe He will move you from the darkness of death (separation from Him) to the newness of Life (communing with Him)?
- Do you believe He loves you?
As the Spirit renews your mind, hearken to the message God has for you related to any areas of unbelief in which you abide.
The testing/proving identified in Romans 12:2 is the assessing of your inner condition as you respond to life’s circumstances and relationships. As you are tested, your response will reveal to you if His Life fills you. If His Life indeed does fill you, you will respond to the Lord’s child training in your life within the Will of God—with holiness, thankfulness, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness (not unbelief), and self-control.
The hidden person of the heart is precious in the sight of God (I Peter 3:4). That hidden Person is Christ (Colossians 3:3), and Christ is very, very precious to the Father.
we will fellowship with the Father
around the Son
through the Spirit.
This is worship!
As you continue to abide in Christ and obey God without compromise, He will release you to much liberty related to your everyday choices. You will find this parallel as you release your own steadfast children. What they do will not matter to you as much as who they are in Christ. Your Father-God also gives you much liberty to do, as you abide, and rejoices in who you are and are becoming in Christ, His precious Son, your Savior and now your Lord.
so that when you are bumped,
what spills out from your heart will be the
good and acceptable and perfect Will of God—
the hidden Person of Christ living in you!
If you have come loose from being grafted to the Vine and are no longer abiding, no longer receiving the vigor of His Life in yours, Part 3 of this series offers hope.
through willingness and obedience in our personal conduct,
as you chasten us and release us from our unbelief,
lead us by Your Spirit
to abiding in Christ Jesus, our Savior and also our Lord.
help my unbelief.
~Mark 9:24b
SERIES
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Purposefully develop an environment that fosters spiritual growth. - Hearken!
Cultivate discerning the meaning of His message to you. - Invite the Lord’s Chastening through Obedience
Obey—through your personal conduct—the seemingly little things God has set before you.- Distinguish Between Works and Obedience
A practical example - Love is Born of God
A Failing Marriage Testimony
- Distinguish Between Works and Obedience
- Believe and Abide, Part 1 of 3
Believe and Abide, Part 2 of 3
Believe and Abide, Part 3 of 3
Believe Him as you abide and be released to love. - Simply Surrender
Now that the flesh has no power over you, walk in the Light and simply surrender. - Worship and Pray Without Ceasing
God seeks you to worship in spirit and in truth moment by moment. - Be Content and Hope in Christ
Serve the Living God, in Whom you find your contentment. - Wisely Steward Your Liberty
You are free indeed! Praise the Lord!
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