DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT TUESDAY – NINE BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES TO LIVE BY... Part 1.

PRINCIPLE…
What are you willing to do for $10,000,000? Two-thirds of Americans polled would agree to at least one, some to several of the following:

Would abandon their entire family (25%)
Would abandon their church (25%)
Would become prostitutes for a week or more (23%)
Would give up their American citizenships (16%)
Would leave their spouses (16%)
Would withhold testimony and let a murderer go free (10%)
Would kill a stranger (7%)
Would put their children up for adoption (3%) - James Patterson and Peter Kim, The Day America Told the Truth, 1991.

I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. – Prov 4:2.

Too often we are subjected to teaching that we like to listen too, but seldom help us when we left Church after the service ended. That’s why as a Pastor of a Church, it’s important for me to preach Biblical principles, that my congregation can get a hold of, and then apply them to their lives during the week, that they may have success in their walk with Jesus, whether it be in our neighbourhood, in the office, shop, factory etc;

This week we will list nine principles that can apply to all of our lives, and here is the first three…

1: SPEND TIME WITH JESUS.
Nothing can be accomplished affectively in the Kingdom of God, unless we are connected to Jesus Christ in an intimate and daily basis. Paul understood this better than anyone when he said...

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. - Phil 3:10-11.

Jesus said we must abide in the vine and that we can do nothing apart from Him... "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. - John 15:5.

You get to know someone by spending quality time with them. If you do not have a regular and ongoing sense of His presence, you must cultivate this by spending time in His Word, talking to Him daily throughout your day and look for Him to respond to you. Make getting to know Christ your priority and you will begin to experience the power of God in your life.

2: WISDOM AND POWER IS GAINED THROUGH OBEDIENCE IN YOURWEAKNESS, NOT YOUR STRENGTH.
One of the great concepts of the gospel, is the bible’s exhortation for us to depend upon God, but also use our skills for His glory...

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. - Col. 3:17.

Paul understood that what really changed the world was not his persuasive words or his skills, but it was the power of God that was working through him. He ministered out of weakness, not power.

Sometimes we think we must be in a place of strength to have an impact, this is wrong. It is being weak that makes us strong, and allows Christ to be reflected to others.

The early church learned that wisdom came through obedience, not knowledge or information. The power of God was reflected through their obedience. Our culture often has a Greek-centred focus on knowledge and information, instead of focusing on obedience to the voice of God in our lives...

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. - Ps 111:10.

3: WHEN GOD GIVES A VISION, LET HIM FULFIL IT BY RESPONDING TO HIS PROMPTING, INSTEAD OF HELPING HIM MAKE IT HAPPEN.
God's ways often involve God giving us a vision, i.e. Joseph s dream. Then there is often a long period between the fulfilment of that vision. In between reality and the vision being fulfilled, there is a deep valley of failure and humiliation, i.e. Joseph in prison and slavery.

The vision often dies, but if the vision is from God, He will raise it up if we don’t try to help Him fulfil it. Ishmael was Abraham and Sarah’s attempt, to help God fulfil God’s vision for them. A great deal of Christian enterprise today is Ishmael.

We must learn the difference between allowing God to lead us, instead of helping God fulfil our vision. Maintaining a vertical dimension with God allows us to understand how God wants us to fulfil the vision He has given to us.

Loving Father, help me by the power of the Holy Spirit, to learn these principles, and apply them to my walk with Jesus, that I may be a better disciplined, and therefore a better child of God, for your glory. I ask this in the wonderful and mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Be encouraged.
GBYAY