transformation

Faith in What?

Dr. Mike Essays, Kingdom Paradigms , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Whenever someone says that they have faith, the question arises, “faith in what or whom?”

If you probe enough in a person’s narrative, you will find the worldview that the person builds their reality from.  Is their foundation for “faith” in happen-chance? a “faith” in self? a “faith” in another person? a “faith” in “big brother?” or a “faith” in “karma?” Wherever the faith is focused toward reveals the person’s source of life and their reality.

In political slogans, we are asked to have faith. In business circles, we are asked to have faith. In relationships, we are asked to have faith. Faith is one of those words that has become a generic, abused child. However, when faith is properly employed, reality becomes more real in a person’s life. When faith is built on a true, solid foundation than kingdom reality becomes a life-giving source that makes oneself and those around him/her to flourish.

If someone is looking for a Biblical definition of faith, check out chapter eleven of Hebrews. If you want a another practical definition, substitute the words belief and trust in the work of the Triune God every time you come across the faith word. It will give you a more precise meaning of the word faith as used in scripture. But for those whose basis is not scripture, faith is only an empty cliché to distort the power and grace of God. Yet be not surprised, Biblical words and concepts have slowly eroded over time to become a water down version of its original meaning. That is why we all need to become practicing theologians to some degree.

faith

My belief and trust is in Jesus Christ. He allows us to take part with Him in His story which is restoring creation back to God’s original intent. He has my back. My belief and trust is built on His faith, His work of salvation, His plans for humanity, and His ability to make it all happen for  His goodness and the goodness of all under His dominion.

So the next time you hear someone mention faith, be sure you both have the same definition of faith in mind. Otherwise, who is being radical and missing out in the enjoyment of life in Christ?

Dr. Mike

Sprinkling Seeds of God’s Kingdom Wherever You Go

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , , , , , , ,

SEEDS 3

 

            Johnny Appleseed, whose real name was John Chapman, was an American pioneer nurseryman who introduced apple trees to the people of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and West Virginia. He became an American legend while still alive, due to his kind, generous ways. He was also a church missionary preaching primarily to Native Americans and small town folks.He lived from 1774 till 1845 and is buried in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

            In his time, apples were an European import and foreign to the American tundra. Johnny Appleseed changed all that. His method, unlike his legend of randomly dropping seeds wherever he went, was to build nurseries in every town he visited. He would leave the nursery in the care of a neighbor and partner with him on the proceeds. Yet wherever he went, he also preached the Word. His audience included the Native American whom he admired and the local towns people. He not only sprinkled apple seeds wherever he went, he also sprinkled seeds of God’s Kingdom wherever he traveled.

            Isn’t that how living legends are made?

            I strongly believe that this life is an adventurous journey of transformation in Christ. That God is creating a new person within us. That life’s challenges and opportunities only help shape us into the image of Jesus Christ. And that this is not just for our sake, but more so for the sake of others as we partner with Christ in the redemptive adoption of all creation. Also, that wherever we go, we are given the opportunity to likewise spread Kingdom seeds. Yet isn’t it difficult to spread seeds if there is no abiding fruit to gather seeds from?

            I remember a time when we were reading scriptures and suddenly realized how the Bible described a godly person. The saint (who the Bible describes as anyone walking with God) is full with the Spirit of God. That Spirit empowers the person to experience deep, overflowing love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The question arose, where is that in my life? Why am not I experiencing this life in all its abundance? Is it possible that I am not being true with God, myself, and others?

            After waking up from the spiritual shock, we spent much time praying, seeking, and knocking on doors. The result was God flooding me with His empowering grace. A grace not limited by only God’s unmerited forgiveness for my sins, but a grace that showers God’s unmerited favor on everything lacking in my life. At the end of the day, we came to realize it all comes from HIM. We may pursue excellence, but what we lack He supplies. We may pursue faithfulness, but what we lack He supplies. What fruit abides in me is only because He produces it. I only prepare the field and abide. The seeds we scatter come from the fruit He produces.

            What becomes even more amazing is that the seeds we radically scatter today, keeps being replenished within us and multiplied in the lives of the recipients who likewise begin the journey of enjoying the life they have in Christ.

            Like Johnny Appleseed, we are made to scatter the seeds of God’s Kingdom wherever we go.  Yet we can’t scatter what we don’t first have. If you are not where you want to be with your walk with Christ, take time now to pray and ask Him for your journey to become more richer and grace laden in everything you do. That is when life in Christ becomes even more enjoyable with a peaceful rest and no negative hangovers.

 

Dr. Mike

What Does Scripture Say About You Becoming Like Christ?

Dr. Mike Scriptures, Shaped By The WORD , , , , , ,
2 Cor 3:17-18
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
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2 Cor 4:16
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
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2 Cor 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
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Gal 4:19-20
My dear children, for whom I (Paul) am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you,

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becoming 6
Gal 6:15
Neither circumcision nor un-circumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.
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Eph 4:11-13
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
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Eph 4:22-24
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
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Col 3:9-10
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.NIV
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Phil 1:3-6
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
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Colossians 1:27-29
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.  To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.
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2 Pet 1:4
Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
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I John 3:2
Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
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Heb 12:7-10
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!  Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.
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Phil 3:14
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

All Scriptures are from the New International Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.