Post by Hutson Lindner on Dec 28, 2012 6:30:24 GMT -6
DAY FIVE: SEEING LIFE FROM GOD’S VIEW
• How do you “see” your life?
• This will shape it, define it, drive it.
• May very well determine your destiny
• Will it be your destiny or God’s destiny for you?
• Many people use metaphors to describe how the “see” life:
o Struggle, battle (to be won), game (play the hand you are dealt)
o Roller coaster
o Journey, symphony, dance
o Such metaphors are often revealed in outwards evidence or choices of life style clearly shown to others
• Possessions
• House, cars, clothes, jewelry: TATOOS
• Professions
• God’s view: Romans 12:2
o “Do not conform yourself to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of mind. Then you will be able to know the good and perfect will of God”.
o Look closely at the “win-win” situation here:
• We merely submit to LET GOD TRANFORM US
• We are in essence not doing it in our own power
• Result: inward change toward His original intent for us
• We are His anyway, so what sense does it make to resist or fight His intention for us
• Main result:
• WE LEARN THE WILL OF GOD !!!
o How many folks would profess to actually know the will of God;
o Seems very presumptuous and pious in a bad way
o Yet, this scripture bears this out
• Three Biblical “metaphors” for life:
o A test
o A trust
o A temporary assignment
• TEST
o Test of our faith, character, obedience, love, integrity, loyalty
o TRIALS, TEMPATIONS, REFINING
• The purpose being to help us learn, grow, and become stronger, more mature
• We often fail, but learn from mistakes
• God often appears to be removed or distant in order to stimulate necessity for us to call upon what we have learned before and apply it now
o Large/major tests
• Life changes, deaths, huge obstacles, illnesses
o Small tests
• How we behave toward family, friends, and strangers
o Hence: nothing we encounter is “insignificant”
• Our trials are not meant to be graded but
• To exercise towards strength for future matters
• Testimony towards others
o We are equipped or will be to handle the tests
o Never put to more of a test than He has enabled us to pass and endure
• 1 COR 10:13:
• “God keeps His promise, and He will not allow you to be tested beyond your own power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, He will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out”
• TRUST:
o We are stewards of what has been given to us by God
• “steward” implies guardian and personal valued and trusted overseer cooperating with the things / matters of someone else.
o 1 COR 4:7b:
• “and all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?”
o story of the man with the “talents”
• Matt 25:21: “well done….you have been faithful with a few things: I will put you in charge of many things. Come share my master’s happiness.
o We will be evaluated and rewarded according to how well we handled what God had entrusted to us.
• Not to be confused with salvation and judgment
• But, our reward in heaven
o How we handle money / finances is both a test and a trust from God
• Luke 16:11→ “if you are untrustworthy with worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?”
o God says there is a direct relation between how I use money and the quality of my spiritual life.
• Luke 12:48b → “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted much, much more will be asked.”
• How do you “see” your life?
• This will shape it, define it, drive it.
• May very well determine your destiny
• Will it be your destiny or God’s destiny for you?
• Many people use metaphors to describe how the “see” life:
o Struggle, battle (to be won), game (play the hand you are dealt)
o Roller coaster
o Journey, symphony, dance
o Such metaphors are often revealed in outwards evidence or choices of life style clearly shown to others
• Possessions
• House, cars, clothes, jewelry: TATOOS
• Professions
• God’s view: Romans 12:2
o “Do not conform yourself to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of mind. Then you will be able to know the good and perfect will of God”.
o Look closely at the “win-win” situation here:
• We merely submit to LET GOD TRANFORM US
• We are in essence not doing it in our own power
• Result: inward change toward His original intent for us
• We are His anyway, so what sense does it make to resist or fight His intention for us
• Main result:
• WE LEARN THE WILL OF GOD !!!
o How many folks would profess to actually know the will of God;
o Seems very presumptuous and pious in a bad way
o Yet, this scripture bears this out
• Three Biblical “metaphors” for life:
o A test
o A trust
o A temporary assignment
• TEST
o Test of our faith, character, obedience, love, integrity, loyalty
o TRIALS, TEMPATIONS, REFINING
• The purpose being to help us learn, grow, and become stronger, more mature
• We often fail, but learn from mistakes
• God often appears to be removed or distant in order to stimulate necessity for us to call upon what we have learned before and apply it now
o Large/major tests
• Life changes, deaths, huge obstacles, illnesses
o Small tests
• How we behave toward family, friends, and strangers
o Hence: nothing we encounter is “insignificant”
• Our trials are not meant to be graded but
• To exercise towards strength for future matters
• Testimony towards others
o We are equipped or will be to handle the tests
o Never put to more of a test than He has enabled us to pass and endure
• 1 COR 10:13:
• “God keeps His promise, and He will not allow you to be tested beyond your own power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, He will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out”
• TRUST:
o We are stewards of what has been given to us by God
• “steward” implies guardian and personal valued and trusted overseer cooperating with the things / matters of someone else.
o 1 COR 4:7b:
• “and all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?”
o story of the man with the “talents”
• Matt 25:21: “well done….you have been faithful with a few things: I will put you in charge of many things. Come share my master’s happiness.
o We will be evaluated and rewarded according to how well we handled what God had entrusted to us.
• Not to be confused with salvation and judgment
• But, our reward in heaven
o How we handle money / finances is both a test and a trust from God
• Luke 16:11→ “if you are untrustworthy with worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?”
o God says there is a direct relation between how I use money and the quality of my spiritual life.
• Luke 12:48b → “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted much, much more will be asked.”
