Form or Substance

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:15-20 ESV

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Ever wonder why a package is larger than the item inside?

We recently purchased an item from my favorite online store. When the box arrived, I questioned whether it was for me. I didn’t recall ordering anything that large. Upon opening the box, I recognized the item. My new computer mouse. The item was less than 10% the size of the box!

Previously with one of my former employers, I recall arguing who to hire as our new receptionist. The owner wanted the young, very attractive lady who modeled on the side. I wanted the excellent communicator who had a history of getting things done in a timely manner. I lost the battle, but eventually won the war when he discovered she couldn’t spell correctly and kept transferring the phone calls incorrectly. We eventually hired the person who had more substance than form.

Likewise, we notice in the political arena how politicians emphasize all show, but fall far short from deliverables. Again, more form than substance.

Chapter two of the 2nd Book of Peter highlights how Christians can determine false teachers from authentic Christ-followers. We will know them by their fruit. The emphasis is on character. In this case, form takes a second seat to substance.

Therefore, don’t get over excited by the package. First recognize what is inside. If the heart, mind, and soul shouts with godly character, than accept the substance with the form. Otherwise, beware.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Founder & Executive Director
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
* Great Business Emulates a Good God
* Be Radical…Follow Christ!
* Simply The Messenger
* Unequally Married

Spirit and Truth

Dr. Mike Life in Christ ,

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:24 ESV

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How does one worship in spirit and truth? For spirit is a matter of the heart and mind. Truth pertains to honesty and transparency within reality. How does that translate into practical, everyday means?

Most Church services have a time for worship. A time typically surrounded with the sound of song and music. For many church-goers, this is worship.

Yet is this what Jesus meant when he informed the Samaritan woman that we are to worship in spirit and truth?

Worship is much more than a twenty minute session of song and music. In fact, for some it may not even be a time of worship. If one’s heart and mind is not focused on God but on “enjoying the moment,” is that worship? If one is preoccupied with what others are doing, is that worship? Does worship require song and music?

The fact is worship is our offering to God. It is aligning our spirit with his. It is being honest with oneself in relationship with the living God. It is positioning oneself in total awe and reverence at the feet of the God of Creation.

The means we worship God is as variable as the personalities, talents, and gifts found in the Body of Christ.

Yes we can worship God through song and music. But we can also worship God in silence and stillness. We can also worship God in our work, hobbies, and recreational pursuits. We can worship God in our service for others. We worship God whenever we show him our gratefulness and thankfulness.

When we are open, honest, and real with him we place ourselves in a vulnerable position showing our trust in him. Whenever we acknowledge him during the day we are worshiping him.

Whenever you place your heart into his hands you are worshiping Him. Whenever you speak the truth, you are worshiping him. Whenever you offer him praise and thanks, you are worshiping him. The time or place doesn’t matter. What matters is the motive of your heart and mind plus your word and deed. When you direct your all for HIS glory, not yours or anyone else’s, you are worshiping HIM.

So the next time you speak, think, work, and play, stop and ask yourself, how can I worship God with this activity?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Founder & Executive Director
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
* Great Business Emulates a Good God
* Be Radical…Follow Christ!
* Simply The Messenger
* Unequally Married

Repentance

Dr. Mike Life in Christ , ,
“Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Luke 24:46-47 ESV

repentance 1

So many words. What do they really mean? Take repentance. Most of us growing up in the Bible belt associate repentance solely with sin. Whereas Jesus in the above scripture stated that repentance (metanoia) and the forgiveness of sins are two distinct subjects that need to be proclaimed.

Repentance has to do with changing your mind. In today’s vernacular, it is to change your worldview.

It is to acknowledge Jesus Christ is Lord and King and Savior of heaven and earth. It includes renouncing sin, but so much more. It involves being reeducated. It is learning life from the Triune God’s perspective. It involves questioning everything you have learned from the world’s system and comparing it to how God sees it and does it.

Like Saul who was zealous for the traditions of his fathers (which led him to murder Christians), he changed his entire viewpoint of life after being encountered by Jesus Christ (including his name to Paul). We likewise experience the same through repentance.

It involves our beliefs, values, and traditions. It is a complete house cleaning of one’s soul and mind.

John the baptist preached about the repentance of sin until Jesus fulfilled his initial destiny on earth. He died for us removing the eternal death sentence (past, present, and future sins) from us. Repentance is acknowledging what He did, admitting that we have been wrong about him, and now move toward focusing our mind, heart, body, and soul for his glory. It is leaving behind what we were before we came into contact with Him. It is allowing His Spirit to change us from the inside-out. It is acknowledging that we are poor of spirit and need His involvement to permanently change our hearts to match his.

Repentance is so much more than just eliminating the practice of sin from one’s life. It is thankfully aligning ourselves with the Triune God’s divine order and perspective. It is the process of adding God’s worldview into your world which leads to a refocusing of your time, talents, and treasury. When God becomes the center of your life, you can’t help but be thankful and grateful for everything He has done and is doing for us. It all begins when we repent.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Founder & Executive Director
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
* Great Business Emulates a Good God
* Be Radical…Follow Christ!
* Simply The Messenger
* Unequally Married