Living
by God's Word
“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I
might not sin against You.” Psalms 119:11 NKJV
From Today I’m introducing a new series of sermons entitled,
“Living and Walking in God's Principles.” Over the decades working with
many pastors, local churches, leaders, and Believers at all levels across
various states of India, I’m reminded that we are the sum total of all the
people we have known, met and learned from. This piece of writing is the result
of countless individuals whose thoughts, ideas, perspectives and work have
given me the exposure to the truths, ideas, values and principles of God’s word
which I have learn and shared in this sermon.
First let me take a moment and establish the context for this series.
Every sound successful management principle used in this world is based on a
Biblical principle. We should recognize the fact, that God, who created the
universe and the world in it, is using a set of His covenant principles to
manage and govern the whole universe.
God Is, God Speaks,
God Creates and sustain all things by His Word.
God created the whole universe, everything that we see, and
last of all he created man. Man is special and is the crown of God's creation
in other words Man is the crowning work of God’s creation that’s not a
statement of arrogance, that’s a statement of fact. In the creation accounts in
Genesis 1 and 2, the creation of humanity is shown as the high point of God’s
creation. And the implication is the profound value of human life. Man is
the Crown of Creation because he is the only created thing made in the “image”
and “likeness” of God and, therefore, uniquely distinct in his existence. No
other creature is like man; he is one of a kind. Only man has been “crowned
with glory and honor” (Ps. 8:5).
As image bearers of God, we reveal and unveil something
about the character and nature of God in bearing His image. Sometimes in our
earthly mind, the awesomeness of God is lost. To think He was there before the
world began; that He created the world and sustains it with His powerful word. Now
the most significant point to notice is that we are made in God's image and
likeness. From the first chapter of Genesis we can learn three vital
characteristic of God which we are privileged to partake as the divine nature.
First, there is
creativity. Throughout first chapter of Genesis we read, "God made... God
created... God formed... God fashioned." That kind of activity involves
imagination, the ability to think in conceptual terms, i.e., abstract thinking,
the ability to see a thing with the eye of the mind and then fashion it with
whatever powers are available. This great faculty man shares with God. Man too
is creative. Not to the same degree that God is, for we cannot make things out
of nothing, as God does, but we can fashion things, make things. Man can
compose a symphony or design a computer, he can paint a picture and plan a
building, and he can even devise a new formula. No animal can do this. Man
has the function of creativity because he is made in the image of God. This is
the dignity of mankind that separates him, by a vast gulf, from the whole
animal creation.
Second, God communicates. He speaks, and so does man. Man is
the only creature that can talk. Perhaps some are saying that animals also can
communicate with one another. Animals do make sounds, but they do not
communicate, they do not speak, as we use that term. They do not use language.
They have certain signals which they utter and which are mutually
understandable. But they do not convey ideas, they do not discuss matters
together, they do not talk over an issue as we do. This ability is reserved for
man. Again, throughout first chapter of genesis we can see the universe sprang
into being because God speaks. It is the word of God which forms the ages, says
the writer to the Hebrews God uses words as power, which alters, changes, and
affects events and people. This too is the way man speaks. We alone of all created
beings on the earth are able to appreciate the power of a word and to use it to
alter lives or to shape history. We always appreciate good words. We know how
words can affect us and change us. Words can ruin lives, they can heal and
restore. What an amazing faculty is speech! It is part of the image of God in man.
To be created in God’s image means that we reflect God in our personality and
communication. This is why we have value, dignity, and worth.
Third, in the first chapter of genesis, we notice that God
is always pronouncing things good. He is therefore a moral being, and man
shares that character as well. Man, too, is a moral being. He has the faculty
of being able to distinguish between evil and good. Remarkably enough, even in
societies where there is a denial of morals, as in the relativistic society of
today, men still go on pronouncing things good or evil. The standards may vary
but the result remains: some things are called good and other things bad. This
practice is found universally among men. Everywhere man has a consciousness of
moral values. We feel the trouble of a bad conscience when it sits in judgment
over us. Even though we try to stifle it, it keeps insinuating itself upon us
and we cannot get away from it. We recognize moral choices and moral values,
and this marks us as having been made in the image of God. The bedrock
principle upon which such decisions must be made is the fact that all men are
created in God’s image. This is why our Lord Jesus could sum up the whole of
the Old Testament in two commands, “You shall love the Lord your God with all
your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great
and foremost commandment. And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor
as yourself” (Matt 22:37-40)
God knows every single thought of all the 7 billion people
who are on earth right this minute… all at the same time. Just thinking
about Gods unfathomable wisdom is mind-blowing! God made us different from
everything else, to be like him in a way that nothing else is like him, to have
the capacity to fellowship and respond to him that nothing else has. There is a
form of divinity that has been implanted in us that we cannot get rid of. We
understand God, we know God, we long for him, we are receptive of him, we sense
him, we need him in ways that nothing else created ever did, because he made us
that way. Many are the ways in which God is seeking to make Himself known
to us and bring us into communion with Him. Nature speaks to our senses without
ceasing. The open heart will be impressed with the love and glory of God as
revealed through the works of His hands. The listening ear can hear and
understand the communications of God through the things of nature. The green
fields, the lofty trees, the buds and flowers, the passing cloud, the falling
rain, the babbling brook, the glories of the heavens, speak to our hearts, and
invite us to become acquainted with Him who made them all. The trees, the birds, the flowers of the
valleys, the hills, the lakes, and the beautiful heavens, as well as the
incidents and surroundings of daily life, were all linked with the words of
truth, that His lessons might thus be often recalled to mind, even amid the
busy cares of man's life of toil.
From the stars that in their trackless courses through space
follow from age to age their appointed path, down to the minutest atom, the
things of nature obey the Creator's will. And God cares for everything and
sustains everything that He has created. He who upholds the unnumbered worlds throughout
immensity, at the same time cares for the wants of the little brown sparrow
that sings its humble song without fear. When men go forth to their daily toil,
as when they engage in prayer; when they lie down at night, and when they rise
in the morning; when the rich man feasts in his palace, or when the poor man
gathers his children about the scanty board, each is tenderly watched by the
heavenly Father. No tears are shed that God does not notice. There is no smile
that He does not mark.
Adam was created with a threefold responsibility: he was a
Prophet, a Priest, and a King. As Prophet he walked with God and was taught of
Him, then in turn he was to teach his family God's revelation. As Priest, he
had no sin in himself, so he had a right to stand before God in holiness. As
King he was over all the creation, according to the command of God (Genesis
1:28-30). All of this continued until Adam sinned. Since the fall of man, when
it comes to recognizing what is good and evil, we must return to the right
source. Human thinking is not the right source. A particular path might appear
to be a great one, but it just might lead to destruction (Proverbs 16:25). God
charged the children of Israel to do that which was right and good
in His sight, not their own (Deuteronomy 6:18). When God tells us,
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."
(Romans 12:9), He expects us to accept His judgment about what is
good and evil. The word of God is the only source to which we can turn to
identify properly matters that are good or evil. Jesus said “You study the
Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal
life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,” (John 5:39).
One that does not
come to the Bible to learn God’s standard of good and evil will never be able
to properly tell the difference between good and evil. In fact every man wishes
to obtain life and good, and to escape death and evil; he desires happiness,
and dreads misery. So great is the compassion of the Lord, that he has favored
men, by his word, with such a knowledge of good and evil as will make them
forever happy, if it be not their own fault. Let us hear the sum of the whole
matter. If they and theirs would love God, and serve him, they should live and
be happy. If they or theirs should turn from God, desert his service, and
worship other gods, that would certainly be their ruin. There never was, since
the fall of man, more than one way to heaven; which is marked out in both
Testaments, though not with equal clearness. Moses meant that same way of
acceptance, which Paul more plainly described; and Paul's words mean the same
obedience, on which Moses more fully treated. In both Testaments the good and
right way is brought near, and plainly revealed to us.
God speaks to us through His providential workings and
through the influence of His Spirit upon the heart. In our circumstances and
surroundings, in the changes daily taking place around us, we may find precious
lessons if our hearts are but open to discern them. The psalmist, tracing the
work of God's providence, says, "The earth is full of the goodness of the
Lord." "Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall
understand the loving-kindness of the Lord." Psalm 33:5; 107:43. God
speaks to us in His word. Here we have in clearer lines the revelation of His
character, of His dealings with men, and the great work of redemption. Here is
open before us the history of patriarchs and prophets and other holy men of
old. They were men "subject to like passions as we are." James
5:17.
So before we further discover Biblical principles and how it
applies to our daily lives, we need to understand the foundational truths of
the trustworthiness of God and His Word. The Bible was not written for the scholar
alone; on the contrary, it was designed for the common people. The great truths
necessary for salvation are made as clear as noonday; and none will mistake and
lose their way except those who follow their own judgment instead of the
plainly revealed will of God.
Bible says “In the past God
spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at
many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he
appointed heir of all things, and through whom he
made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God's
glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining
all things by his powerful word. After he had provided
purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the
Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:1-3)
The above statement begins with the fact that God is, God
speaks, God creates and God sustaining all things. Ps. 19:1 the heavens are
telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His
hands. If you look around, you know there is a God. Even if you look
inside yourself, you know there is a God, for the Bible says, Rom. 1:19-20
because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it
evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes,
His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood
through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. Earlier, God
spoke through the prophets. Now, He has spoken through Jesus. Why? Because Now,
the Father has appointed His Son Jesus Christ to be heir of all things. That
means everything that belongs to the Father will be given to the Son.
Everything on this earth, in the universe, all power, all authority hence
Christ is greater than the prophets? Unlike the prophets, He is not a sinner.
Remember that although the prophets spoke the Word of God, they themselves did
not have the nature of God. For example, James clearly told us, James 5:17
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours...
The Father made the world through His Son Jesus Christ. John
1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him,
and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. The
first statement the writer of Hebrews makes is that Jesus is the "radiance
of God's glory, and the exact representation of God's nature." Paul put it
this way in Colossians, Col. 1:17 “And He is before all things, and in Him all
things hold together.” He is maintaining and controlling the very molecules and
atoms that the universe is made of! How? By the word of His power. He is
sustaining the universe the same way He created it - simply by speaking it. God
spoke everything into existence: stars and sun, oceans and animals, plants and
people. He spoke it and it happened. There is power in the Word that God
speaks. He spoke it, and it was accomplished. The Word of God is powerful
beyond our comprehension. It is the Word of God which upholds the universe. It
is the Word of God that heals or build. Do you know that this book you hold in
your hand is the Word of God? It is incredibly powerful - living and active. It
is able to effect your life, to change your eternal destiny.
As your senses delight in the attractive loveliness of the
earth, think of the world that is to come, that shall never know the blight of
sin and death; where the face of nature will no more wear the shadow of the
curse. Let your imagination picture the home of the saved, and remember that it
will be more glorious than your brightest imagination can portray. In the
varied gifts of God in nature we see but the faintest gleaming of His glory. It
is written, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into
the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love
Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9.
Bible says “The spiritual man makes judgments about all
things, but he himself is not subject to any mans judgment: "For who has
known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind
of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:15-16) Paul says saints have "the mind of the
Lord." The spiritual man discerns the things which are spiritually
discerned, though he himself is not discerned or properly appreciated by any
natural man. To judge here means to discern, to appreciate, and thus pass
judgment upon. But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines,
investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is
himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning
of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight
into him]. (AMP)
We don’t have to judge people’s hearts and motives. The Word
of God judges all of us and is sharper than a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12).
The Bible is not only inspired by God -- it is useful for spiritual birth,
spiritual transformation, spiritual growth and sanctification. “Sanctify them
by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17) The Scriptures point us to the
principles of living a godly life. Those who follow God's Word also experience
a blessed life, as described in Psalm 119:1-3: "How blessed are those
whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. How blessed are those
who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart. They also do no
unrighteousness; they walk in His ways."
In creating the
universe, God established laws and principles which can be discovered and
understood by the human mind. We are discussing some of the principles here,
and through science we know many of the laws of nature and how they work. These
laws, which are perfectly consistent, give the universe order and patterns that
enable it to maintain itself in balance and harmony. As creators we are free,
but as we experience life in the phenomenal world we are bound by the laws of
creation. Every person starts with basic assumptions in life. Assuming that
Bible as a revelation from God to mankind, and as an objective guide for
understanding life, let us consider some basic assumptions.
All truth is God's truth. The
truth of the Bible tells us that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is
useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,” (2
Timothy 3:16).God’s laws and principles teach us the best way of life now and
show us how we can gain everlasting rewards in the future. Since God created
us, it is only right that we respond appreciatively to his guidance. He has
given us this information in His revealed Word; the Bible. The Bible is to the
person somewhat like the automobile instruction manual is to the car. It is the
manual of operations to help us run the car efficiently. So, God has given us a
spiritual manual of operations, so that we enjoy the fullness of life (John
10:10). The Bible is the genesis and sourcebook of understanding mankind, his
life, his emotions/will, and his body.
Our decision to resist Evil and temptation shows the inherent
power and consciousness within us to live by Biblical principles. My childhood,
I had been taught by my parents that “A man reaps what he sows." (Galatians
6:7). I can still remember my mother warning me about my choices in life and
advising me to trust God rather than lean on my own solutions and strategies
for handling life. Those principles helped me to trust God and realize that
the quality of the life is determined by the quality of the choices.
One of the most beautiful things about life is you can make your life better
and influential by your right choice. No matter what situation you are in, you
have a choice. No matter how bad things are, you have a choice. No matter what
you think you can or cannot do, you have a choice. Your decision and
disciplines will determine your destination.
Discovering
the Life-Changing Power of covenant
All life operates or arises out of a covenant. A covenant is
a sacred agreement between God and His children. God sets specific conditions,
and He promises to bless us as we obey these conditions. Making and keeping
covenants qualifies us to receive the blessings God has promised. When we
choose not to keep covenants, we cannot receive the blessings. Our covenants
guide the choices we make and help us resist temptation. When two people want
to go into business together the first thing they do is draw up a contract or a
partnership. That is the basic covenant that defines the terms of their
operation. A marriage is that kind of a covenant. It is an agreement between a
man and a woman to stick together against all odds, to work out their problems,
to share their resources. Life itself is the most fundamental covenant of all.
Life is the agreement or the arrangement that God has already made with us that
he will provide to us what it takes to operate, to act. All men, Government and
Nations are operating on this principle, but they are blind to this basic truth.
If we are not in covenant with God, we will never know him
at all. And if we do not understand the importance of the covenants, we will
not be able to make much sense of vast portions of the bible. What was it, in
the simplest mode of expression, that Jesus shed his blood to accomplish?
According to his own words at the last Supper, the significance of his death
was summed up in one term, “New Covenant” (Matthew 26:28). If we do not
understand covenant terminology, this will leave us at best with a very unclear
understanding of the benefits of Christ's death; and if we do not understand
the unity and organic connectedness of the divine covenants, we will miss the
coherence of the bible, the unity of God's redemptive design, and the
centrality of the Christ of the covenants, who is the bible's great champion.
The Covenants
between God and Man
The fundamental question to which
all theology addresses itself is the God-man relationship. How does God relate
to man? How can man establish a relationship with God? Can there be any real
stability, dependability and predictability to this one-sided relationship of
the infinite, perfect God with finite, sinful man? The Bible answers these
questions by showing us that the divine-human relationship is based on
a covenant. This idea of a covenantal relationship between God and man is
so basic and overwhelmingly predominant in the Scriptures that the two great
sections of the Bible have appropriately been called the Old Testament
(Covenant) and the New Testament (Covenant) The thirty-nine books of the Old
Testament are about God's covenant with men. The writings of Moses and
the prophets are covenant documents and should therefore be studied in that
light. The twenty-seven books of the New Testament are also about a covenant
between God and man.
Christianity is a covenantal religion. Its documents are
covenantal documents. The whole Bible, therefore, is about a divine-human
relationship which is based on a covenant. Apostle Paul calls an Old Covenant
and a New Covenant. Now the passage we use oftentimes in teaching the whole
truth of both of these Covenants, or arrangements for life, is found in 2
Corinthians.3: Paul says some interesting words about the Greater Glory of the
New Covenant. The New Covenant is more than the second half of the Bible; it
dramatically changes how we relate to God. Through the finished work of Jesus
the covenant, or contract, God established with man has transformed. When Jesus
died He brought the New Covenant into affect. The truths of the New Covenant
are very relevant to Christians today. After all, it is the New Covenant that
we live under. While the Old and New Covenants are full of the same words:
faith, righteousness, sanctification, and prayer, for example, their meanings,
purposes, and processes are radically different. Under the New Testament our faith should be
based solely on the finished work of Jesus.
Although God has NOT changed (Malachi 3:6), the way God can now relate to
humanity has dramatically changed because Jesus took the punishment for sin and
satisfied God's anger. Under the New Covenant God's anger has been satisfied.
God is NOT mad at you! He loves you.
God's covenants is
indispensable
The covenant theme is not just
one of many interesting Bible doctrines; it is part of the very framework of
biblical theology. Whereas the study of some things in the Bible may be
regarded as optional as far as understanding its essential message is
concerned, some understanding and appreciation of the covenants is
indispensable to a sound knowledge of the Scriptures. The Bible is the only book that gives you
understanding of God and His will. God proclaims the power of His Word: “So
will My Word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty,
without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for
which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11 NASB). Life-changing faith is always in
agreement with the Word of God (1 John 5:14-15).
God's revelation to mankind has
two significant and parallel lines of truth in the Bible, that impact the life
of every believer: 1) the Kingdom of God, and 2) the Royal family. These two
primary principles are like the two sides of a coin, they go together: one side
is God's promises to mankind, and the other is mankind's response to God. Taken
together they form an indissoluble bond between God and the believing saint.
The Bible is the source book from which this understanding comes, and it is the
responsibility of every believer to know and understand these two basic
principles, in order to comprehend God's program for mankind, as well as to
know how to live in a sinful world.
God’s Word generates life,
creates faith, produces change, frightens the Devil, causes miracles, heals
hurts, builds character, transforms circumstances, imparts joy, overcomes
adversity, defeats temptation, infuses hope, releases power, cleanses our
minds, brings things into being, and guarantees our future forever! We cannot
live without the Word of God! Never take it for granted. You should consider it
as essential to your life as food. Job
said, “I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread” (Job
23:12 NIV). God’s Word is the spiritual nourishment you must have to fulfill
your purpose.
Good men always are afraid of
sin, and are in care to prevent it; and the most effectual way to prevent is to
hide God’s word in our hearts, that we may answer every temptation, as our
Master did, with, “It is written,” Jesus was tempted by the devil in the desert
after He had fasted forty days and forty nights. Each time Jesus answered the
enemy who wanted Him to sin against God, He answered, “It is written…”, and
then he quoted a scripture. Jesus said. “Man does not live on bread alone, but
on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). To live by faith
you must know the Word of God. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God” (Romans 10:17 NKJV).
God's covenants are
unbreakable
When you receive Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you
receive the power of His blood that seals your redemption from sin and entitles
you to eternal life. And if that was the only thing Salvation in Christ brought
you, it would be the greatest gift of all. But there is much more to this
agreement with Almighty God. This agreement is a sacred covenant between you
and the Father God that entails more that most believers have ever even
imagined. It's time to discover the depth and power of God's eternal oath with
you. This secret strength hidden within the heart of the Christian life reveals
the profound depth of God's unconditional love and is bound by the blood
covenant. Those who realize and embrace this strength live in a realm of faith
and victory that others only dream of. The most amazing news to be announced to
the human race is that God, in His unconditional love for us, has called us to
participate in the most intimate relationship and unbreakable bond known among
men.
God's covenants are unbreakable.
All God's promises will be fulfilled. We are saved, not by a philosophical
agreement, but by a covenantal commitment. The covenant is offered to us by
grace. Our faith is a partnership with God in a covenant agreement that cannot
be broken. God said in Psalm 89:34 that “I will not violate my covenant or alter
what my lips have uttered.” “He
remembers his covenant forever, the promise he made, for a thousand
generations,” (Psalm 105:8)
A New COVENANT FOR
ALL BELIEVERS
The nation of Israel failed to live up to the terms of the
old covenant. It was impossible because of the radical depravity of man. Of
course, it was never meant to bring salvation. The only person who ever lived
up to the requirements of the law was Jesus Christ. Israel's problem was
spiritual. "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately
wicked" (Jeremiah 17:9). The new covenant was required because of the sin
problem. Jeremiah
31:33-34 is an exact description of the covenant under which the true Christian
lives. It is the communion and walking in the Holy Spirit as a result of regeneration
of the depraved sinner. It depicts the radical change of the sinner and his new
relationship to Jesus Christ. Such a believer is abiding in Christ.
“It will not be like the covenant I made with their
ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because
they broke my covenant, though I was a
husband to them, “declares the Lord.
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord.“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”Jeremiah 31:32-34
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord.“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”Jeremiah 31:32-34
God says He will place His law within the individual and
will write it upon the heart. There will be the consciousness within the life
of the Divine thought and will and purpose in that moment of reflection. These
principles of the new covenant will be upon the heart. They will not be on
tables of stone. "I will put My law within them, and on their heart I will
write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people" (v. 33).
This is the whole argument of Hebrews 8:6-7. He then quotes these verses from
Jeremiah 31 to argue his point. Jesus Christ "has obtained a more
excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant,
which has been enacted on better promises. For if that first covenant had been
faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second." The
fault was with the depraved sinners who were incapable of keeping the covenant
with God. The new covenant will be a clear apprehension of the will of
God by individual souls, without human mediator. The apprehension of the will
of God will be possible through direct and personal knowledge of God on the
part of all men. This knowledge will result from putting away of moral
defilement. The result will be a clear vision of God. Jesus said, "Blessed
are the pure in heart for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8).
This is a description of
the covenant under which the Christian lives. It is a description of the communion with
the Holy Spirit. The indwelling Spirit interprets His word in the hour of need.
I am to expect the Divine voice to break in upon my conscience as I read the
Scriptures and pray. It is intimate fellowship, not through intellectual
attainment, but direct, immediate, a consciousness which is independent of
instruction by man, by mediator. It is based upon His saving grace. Maintained
fellowship and abiding in God’s Word is the condition for this immediate
illumination of Him. The measure in which we regard iniquity in our heart determines
our distance from Him in our illumination.
It is important to realize that we cannot even understand
the Old Testament without the New Testament. Saint Augustine aptly observed
that the Old Testament is revealed in the New, and the New is concealed in
the Old. For the Christian, Christ is the theme of both covenants. For example,
in the Old Testament, Christ is in pictures, in the New Testament
in person; in the Old, Christ is in ritual, in the New, Christ is
in reality; in the Old, Christ is prophesied, in the New, Christ is
present; in the Old, Christ is implicitly revealed, in the New, Christ
is explicitly revealed.
Why the New
Covenant is better.
Here are a few examples of what makes the New Covenant a
better covenant:
1. In the New Covenant we are redeemed from the curse of the
law (Galatians 3:13)!
2. In the New Covenant we receive God's righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21)!
3. In the New Covenant we become new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)!
4. In the New Covenant we become one with God (John 17:20-23)!
5. In the New Covenant we receive eternal life—the life of God (John 3:16)!
6. In the New Covenant we are delivered from Satan's dominion. We no longer have to be afraid of the devil (Colossians 1:12-13)!
2. In the New Covenant we receive God's righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21)!
3. In the New Covenant we become new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17)!
4. In the New Covenant we become one with God (John 17:20-23)!
5. In the New Covenant we receive eternal life—the life of God (John 3:16)!
6. In the New Covenant we are delivered from Satan's dominion. We no longer have to be afraid of the devil (Colossians 1:12-13)!
7. Under the New Covenant God has greater power in the Earth (Matthew 28:18).
Jesus Christ purchased many wonderful blessings for us
through His death, burial, and mighty resurrection. Thus, a victorious
Christian life is assured for those who discover all Jesus has purchased for
us.
Life under the New Covenant
… I will put My laws
in their mind and write them on their hearts…Hebrews 8:10
What laws was God referring to when He said, “I will put
My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts”? The laws that
God puts in our minds and writes on our hearts refer to the royal law of love
and truth (Matthew 22:37–40), the perfect law of life and liberty (James 1:25)
and the law of the Spirit of life in Christ and faith. (Romans 3:27, 8:1-3)
These are the laws of the new covenant. You live according to the laws of the
new covenant when you are conscious of how much God loves you. And the more you
are conscious of His love for you, the more your heart is filled with love.
When that happens, you will love God and the people around you supernaturally
and effortlessly. That is God writing on your heart the royal law of love —
that we love because He first loved us. (1 John 4:19) Secondly, when you know that you are
perfectly accepted by God because of Jesus’ sacrifice, you can have the courage
and liberty as a child of God to come boldly into the presence of your heavenly
Father. And in His presence, He is able to write on your heart new desires. You
will find yourself wanting to do the right thing at the right time. You will
live life victoriously from the inside out. This is the perfect law of liberty
operating in your life. Thirdly, when you sense what God is writing on your
heart and putting in your mind, and as your faith is activated causing you to
trust Him and His love for you, He calls it obeying the law of faith.
In the New Testament we are explicitly told in Romans
3 (where Paul is quoting the Old Testament) that “there is no one
righteous, no not one!”
A pure, holy (set apart from sin/disobedience), and
righteous God is set before us and manifested for us in the person of Jesus
Christ. This person is presented for our consideration as our personal Savior
and Lord in the New Testament.
God gives us the gift of faith that we can choose to accept
in order to enter this New Covenant—this unconditional promise of Life that
sets us free from the Old Covenant of the Law where total obedience was the
condition for blessing.
This is so remarkably profound and simple at the same time,
that upon dwelling on this for a length of time, it fills us with awe, love,
and thankfulness and a joy (that surpasses our understanding) in any
circumstance, even the terrible dismal ones. A whole new way of life
opens up when we begin to understand that Jesus never said we
could [do anything], He always said He would [do
everything]! Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life… (John
14:6a).
We begin to understand what God’s mercy and grace given to
us means. We learn that apart from His indwelling Spirit, and
the Lord’s presence, and the Father’slove in us—we can only act
and live in the flesh and not in the Spirit. It is Jesus who says, “apart from
Him,” an intimate union with Him, “we can do nothing” (meaning nothing of
eternal value). And Paul further teaches that we can do everything in
Christ—since He is the One doing it! We learn in Philippians 4 where
Paul says: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
(The Greek word for through here is “en” which is most
often translated “in”.)
How you maintained fellowship and
abide in God’s word? The psalmist internalized God’s Word by meditation,
delight, and memorization. “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray
from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin
against you” (Psalm 119:10-11). He desires not just to know about God, but to
know God personally, His ways, His character and to experience God’s guidance
daily. “Bible meditation and memorization is absolutely fundamental to
spiritual formation, because it is a fundamental way of filling our minds with
what it needs. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth. That’s
where you need it! How does it get in your mouth? “Meditation and Memorization”
“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in
the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law
of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree
planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf
does not wither. Whatever he does prospers” (Psalm 1:1-3).
As a starter, it is imperative for an individual to become
related to God through a personal relationship with Him, by accepting the work
that Christ accomplished on the cross, and making a personal commitment to
Jesus Christ to care for one's sins against God (John 3:16-18,36; 5:24; Romans
10:9,10). Once the person's sin problem with God is settled, and that person is
spiritually regenerated, then one enters a family relationship with God, and
enjoys the fullness of God's promises and blessings both now as well as for
eternity. Along with these promises go certain responsibilities within the
family of God. When God created mankind, He did so for three purposes as stated
in Psalm 8:4-6. In v.4 God created mankind for fellowship with Him, then in v.
5 it states that mankind was created to reflect the moral qualities of God
Himself (the word glory means God's moral attributes), and finally in v.6 we
see that mankind was to be a delegated king over the rest of God's creation
(i.e. the animal, plants and water kingdom).
Life is God’s Gift
Is man a piece of nature or the crown of creation? Or is he both?
Modern science has
pushed him to the edge of the universe, reducing him to a tiny point on a tiny
planet. In both the Old and New Testaments there is agreement: man was created,
and he was created by God. And all the texts imply that the creation of man was
an act, an act that was completed at a point in time; there is no intimation of
a process involving unlimited time that allowed man to evolve from stage to
stage. This means that man exists because of purpose, God’s purpose. God is
one, infinite, all in all and over all, and the entire universe is unified in
God consciousness. God has a long term and short term plan so far as the world
and the people in it are concerned. Thus man’s place in the cosmos is not the
result of blind chance or some impersonal power; man exists because God created
him and had a purpose in creating him. This in itself gives man profound
significance. In other words management is God’s motivation to create mankind.
God will not allow rain and growth where there is no man to manage the ground.
Bible says
“Now no shrub of the field had yet grown on the earth, and
no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for the LORD God had not caused it to
rain on the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.”(Genesis
2:5) The first management principle God assign to man is mention
in Genesis 1:28 “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, (productive) and multiply,(reproduce )and replenish
(distribute/fill)the earth, and subdue
(Discipline/control) it: and have dominion
(leadership/ /management)over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the
air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”(KJV)
Therefore Man is God’s glory because he shows forth God’s
delegated authority over all creation. Man is therefore the crown of creation
and shines forth the image and glory of God in a way no other creature does.
Man is the Crown of Creation because he is the only created thing made in the
“image” and “likeness” of God and, therefore, uniquely distinct in his existence.
No other creature is like man; he is one of a kind. Only man has been “crowned
with glory and honor” (Ps. 8:5). Out of all of creation, man is most like God.
From this we have to recognize the fact that our God always
has a purpose and a perfect plan, an organization to execute it. The earthly
and the heavenly creatures have been created and entrusted with some
responsibility to ensure that God’s perfect purpose and plan is executed
eventually, to execute his judgment by rewarding the good and punishing the
evil and the disobedient. All the news that is flashing in front of the very
eyes of the people today, and reported in details in the news media, proves
beyond any shadow of a doubt that our God is a manager of the whole universe
and nothing can escape from the knowledge and control of God. Therefore, we
should realize that when we diligently study the bible, the Word of God, we can
also know the truth. When we follow the truth, we can escape God’s wrath and
punishment for our evil acts and inherit the kingdom of God and live in peace
in the presence of God forever. When we manage the affairs of this world
according to the laws and the principles of God, we can maintain harmony and
peace in this world and there will be justice, order, peace and abundance of
supplies for all the needs of every living creature, particularly human beings,
who have been created as the children of God. It is therefore necessary that we
recognize all the management principles of God himself, and submit ourselves to
God’s law and live according to his teachings and laws.
The Bible is the only book ever written which has over and
over again proven to be accurate in spite of numerous attempts to disprove it
and above all the “prophetic" accuracy is unparalleled in any other writings.
The Bible is clearly the most influential book the world has ever known. King
David said “I will worship toward your holy temple, and praise your name for
your loving kindness and for your truth: for you have magnified your word above
all your name. “ (Psalm 138:2.) We value
Scripture above every opinion of men because it is exalted above all things. We
value Scripture above human reason, above scientific inquiry, and above all
other sources of truth because God has exalted his word above all. You can pick
up any other book and read it, but this is the book that reads you. It
liberates a person from the prison-house of his myths, class, race, customs,
standards and even his own beliefs and traditions. It is the fountain by which
character is formed, mind is refined& intellect is sharpened, as a result,
one can stand against all storms of life. It pulsates with life and power. It
cuts, burns, crushes, and wields mountain-moving power. His Word has a life of
its own. It is the voice of God to you. You cannot refuse it, deny it, distort
it, or dilute it. You can only bow before it.
We must guard ourselves against lowering the standard of
God’s Word to our level of understanding or political correctness. And we must
guard ourselves against raising the standards of human philosophy and
traditions above the standard of His Word. The Bible is not meant to be paraded
past the judgment bar of human mind. Bible says “See to it that no one takes
you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human
tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on
Christ.”(Colossians 2:8)
Jesus Himself is the Author of Revelation and the giver of
the vision to the apostle John, He concludes the book with a confirmation of
His testimony to the finality of the prophecies contained in the Bible. These
are His words, for those who attempt to subvert the message and prophecies
taught in this most awesome book, there awaits a judgment pronounced at the
very end:“ I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this
scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person
the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words
away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person
any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in
this scroll.” (Revelation 22:18-19) He warns against distorting them in any
way, whether through additions, subtractions, falsifications, alterations, or
intentional misinterpretations. The warning is explicit and dire. The plagues
of Revelation will be visited upon anyone guilty of tampering in any way with
the revelations in the book, and those who dare to do so will have no part in
eternal life in heaven.
Life is a choice
"I have set
before you life and death"
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses
against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.
Now choose life, so that you and your children may live” (Deuteronomy 30:19)
When Moses stood before all Israel and said, "Therefore
choose life," he was only repeating what had first been heard by Adam: God tells
Adam regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, “in the day that you eat
from it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17). With these words Moses challenged the
children of Israel to renew their covenant with the Lord. We may have heard the
same words earnestly addressed to us by parents, teachers, and church leaders.
We know what they mean. Or do we? Perhaps we could gain by pondering them
together one more time. Moses is referring to the abundant spiritual and
material life they will experience because of God's relationship with them and
because of their willingness to respond wholeheartedly to his love. Note that
nothing is withheld from God's children. When we establish a spiritual
relationship with God and walk according to his known will, we receive nothing
but everlasting life, prosperity and blessings.
God, in His infinite wisdom, decided to make life easy for us by encouraging us to "choose life." Our Loving Heavenly Father knows the difference between ‘benefits’ and ‘consequences.’ He does not encourage us to choose death and cursing—because they carry consequences that are undesirable to us. If it were not for the enemy blinding the minds of many, NO ONE would choose "death and cursing."For those of us who are seeking God’s kingdom diligently, we must make a choice between good and evil, and, between life and death, and in today’s confused world – that choice is more difficult than most people realize. God has set the same choices before everyone who has ever lived.
All who choose to live evil lives will die – that is the
wages of sin. The wages of
sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) Christ’s sacrifice offers
us a choice, but does not eliminate people making choices of sin, or evil
bringing spiritual death. It is of course necessary to choose the holy
footsteps of Christ, to have access to spiritual life. God says, "I
have set before thee this day life and good, and death and
evil." (Deuteronomy 30:15) We find that we must
choose life – and more than life, we must choose the author of eternal
life – God Himself!!!
But again, let’s examine why God said to "choose life." He said, "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live." God knows that when we "choose life and blessing", we are choosing everything needed to live a blessed and prosperous life in Jesus. Our spiritual choices are based in the motivation or intent of our heart. The choosing of life, involves ...a decision. There is a decision we have to make. We’re not born into God’s family where there is a transfer of salvation, because of my family, church, heritage etc. But there has to be a personal and individual choice to choose Salvation from sin and death.
But again, let’s examine why God said to "choose life." He said, "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live." God knows that when we "choose life and blessing", we are choosing everything needed to live a blessed and prosperous life in Jesus. Our spiritual choices are based in the motivation or intent of our heart. The choosing of life, involves ...a decision. There is a decision we have to make. We’re not born into God’s family where there is a transfer of salvation, because of my family, church, heritage etc. But there has to be a personal and individual choice to choose Salvation from sin and death.
And God says, "Choose life, that both you and your descendants may live." God wants you to live a blessed, full and flourishing, prosperous life and He know that the only way for that to happen is to make the right choices. And in this case, that choice is life. When you choose life you and your descendants declare and show that you serve the living God who definitely wants only good for you and not evil. You declare and show that God is your God, by the choices you make.
When we make wrong choices through this freedom we have, we can bring the consequences of ‘destruction and ruin,’ and in essence, ‘the curse’ on us because of those decisions. Therefore, choose life and live! Demonstrate your love for God as you choose life. God says, "choose life" and speak (declare) life; and watch me show off. Which will you choose? …
Life is a trust, a
test and a temporary assignment.
In creating the universe, God established
laws and principles which can be discovered and understood by the human mind.
We are discussing some of the principles here, and through science we know many
of the laws of nature and how they work. These laws, which are perfectly
consistent, give the universe order and patterns that enable it to maintain
itself in balance and harmony. As creators we are free, but as we experience
life in the phenomenal world we are bound by the laws of creation. Every person
starts with basic assumptions in life. Assuming that Bible as a revelation from
God to mankind, and as an objective guide for understanding life, let us
consider some basic assumptions.
All truth is God's
truth. The truth of the Bible tells us that God created mankind as; Spirit,
Soul, and Body (I Thess.5:23). This word strongly indicates that man is of
three parts: spirit, soul, and body. The spirit as our inmost part is the inner
organ, possessing God-consciousness, that we may contact God (John 4:24; Rom 1:9).
The soul is our very self (cf. Matt.16:26; Luke 9:25), a medium between our
spirit and our body, possessing self-consciousness, that we may have our
personality. The body as our external part is the outer organ, possessing
world-consciousness, that we may contact the material world. In other words
among the three parts of human nature the
"spirit" is the highest part of man, that which assimilates him to
God; renders him capable of spiritual. The Spirit is the life that we
have from God, the Soul is our psyche (i.e. emotions, mind, will) or soul is the inferior part of his mental
nature, the seat of the passions and desires, of the natural propensities. The
"body" is the corporeal frame or our flesh.
The body contains the soul, and the soul is the vessel that
contains the spirit. In the spirit, God as the Spirit dwells; in the soul, our
self dwells; and in the body, the physical senses dwell. God sanctifies us,
first, by taking possession of our spirit through regeneration (John 3:5-6);
second, by spreading Himself as the life-giving Spirit from our spirit into our
soul to saturate and transform our soul (Rom 12:2 2cor.3:18); and last, by
enlivening our mortal body through our soul (Rom 8:11,13) and transfiguring our
body by His life power (Phil 3:21). Therefore, the basic assumption must be,
that God who created us, should know best how we operate in life, to give us
the fullness we desire. Our
Creator is wiser than we are. As a loving Father, he cares for us. Also, he did
not intend for us to be independent of him. Bible declares, “LORD, we know
that people do not control their own destiny. It is not in their power to
determine what will happen to them “(Jeremiah 10:23) as just as a small
child needs the guidance of parents, we all need the guidance of God.
Biblical principles
provide guidance that is a gift from God. “Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to
profit, who leads you in the way you should go.” (Isaiah 48:17, 18) “All
Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting
and training in righteousness,” (2 Timothy 3:16).God’s laws and principles
teach us the best way of life now and show us how we can gain everlasting
rewards in the future. Since God created us, it is only right that we respond
appreciatively to his guidance. He has given us this information in His
revealed Word; the Bible. The Bible is to the person somewhat like the
automobile instruction manual is to the car. It is the manual of operations to
help us run the car efficiently. So, God has given us a spiritual manual of
operations, so that we enjoy the fullness of life (John 10:10). The Bible is
the genesis and sourcebook of understanding mankind, his life, his
emotions/will, and his body.
Nothing that God does is wrong,
unjust, improper, haphazard, without a good reason or purpose, unscrupulous,
unjust, without a plan or purpose, disorganized, without adequate and able
persons or creatures to assist and execute, improperly directed, and uncontrolled,
and incidentally these are the basic management functions which are performed
by God or under his control and plan. God's ways are perfect. As the bible says
God's ways are excellent, perfect and marvelous, but man's ways are evil,
immoral, imperfect and wrongful. As the Bible says excellent are His ways and
the decisions he makes and the judgments he executes are perfect! God owns
everything, but as your Lord, He checks to see if you can manage. If you
have been faithful over God’s property, He will give you more property of your
own. If you cannot be consistent in disciplining yourself to always be
faithful in setting aside what God says is His, God may say that He cannot
trust you with more. Leadership
requires accountability, discipline, honesty, diligence, faithfulness,
and trustworthiness. All of these components are necessary for management.
In the Bible, three inter-related metaphors are used to
teach us God’s view of life: Life is a trust. Life is a test. And life is
a temporary assignment. Life is a test because life is a trust because life is
a temporary assignment, for we were made for eternity. These principles are the
foundation for God-given, living on earth. We find them elaborated by Paul in 1
Corinthians 4 and illustrated by Jesus in the Parable of the Talents found in
Matthew 25. Let’s examine them each and see how they are related.
“This is how
one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of
God.”(1 Corinthians 4:1)
Notice Paul describes us as servants - servants entrusted with a role. God has
entrusted to us all our talents, all our intelligence, opportunities,
relationships and resources for one purpose. God has entrusted to us a ministry
of reconciliation.(2 Corinthians 5:18) To know him and make him known. We never really own anything during
our brief stay on earth. God just loans the earth to us while we’re here. It
was God’s property before you arrived and God will loan it to someone else
after you die. You just get to enjoy it for a while as trustees.” We are
trustees of God’s property. As Paul goes on to say in verse 7, “For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What
do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have is from God,
why boast as though it were not a gift?” (1 Corinthians 4:7NLT).
Jesus often referred to life as a trust and told many
stories to illustrate God’s kingdom rule, Jesus said, "Again, it will be
like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his
property to them. To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents,
and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his
journey. (Matthew 25:14-15)
In the Parable of the Talents, when the master returns, he
evaluates each servant’s faithfulness and rewards them accordingly. The owner
says, ’Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a
few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your
master's happiness!' (Matthew 25:21).
“At the end of your life on earth we will be evaluated and rewarded according to how well you have handled what God has entrusted to you.” This means everything we do, even the little things like causal talk, can have eternal consequences. So, life is a trust. Therefore, Life is a Test. “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2)
It is precisely because life is a trust and that one day we will
have to give an account that we are tested now to prove our trustworthiness. In
the Bible, words like trials, temptations, refining and testing appear on more
than 200 occasions. Character is both developed and revealed by tests.” Indeed,
“all life is a test. You are always being tested. God constantly watches your
response to people, problems, success, conflict, illness, disappointment,” and
even your faith will be tested by major
changes, delayed promises, impossible problems, unanswered prayers, undeserved
criticisms, and even senseless tragedies. Most people fail to realize
that money is both a trust and a test from God. God uses finances to teach us
to trust him and for many people, money is the greatest test of all. God
watches how we use money to test how trustworthy we are. In another story about
stewardship in Luke 16:11 Jesus says, “So if you have not been trustworthy in
handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?” That is why
James writes with assurance “Blessed are those who persevere under trial,
because when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that
God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)
However, God says that if you mismanage His resources, you
will lose everything including your own body, soul and spirit. Therefore, right
management protects you from future crisis. There are ways to
manage any crisis by correctly managing your God-given life, purpose and
resources. Firstly, you have to determine what your needs are. Needs are different
from “wants”. You have to make a distinction between what you want and what you
need, and only acquire what you need. Then decide not to live beyond your
means, and forego the unnecessary. Cut back on discretionary expenses. By
observing good management principles, you can save, conserve, protect, and
expand your resources.
The question is, how do we live reasonably in life, which
then relates to one's philosophy of life? From the ancient Greek philosophers
came the questions: Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going?
Today, the same questions confront each individual, which a person has a
personal responsibility to seriously consider. Because one's philosophy of life
is the track upon which one runs that directs us, and gives fullness of life or
not. That is why it is important for each one to have a well thought out
philosophy of life.
God's principles are always perfect, as coming from a holy
God. But, He takes us where He finds us, less than perfect, and elevates us to
a positional perfection in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:6), and gives to us of the Holy
Spirit to re- characterize our lives, that our behaviors may be brought into
line with our position in Christ. Bible says "Unless the Lord builds the
house, its builder labors in vain." --Psalms 127:1 God will watch how you
manage resources by how you manage your life.
The Bible is the revelation of God! For hundreds of years
the Spirit has composed progressive revelation regarding God’s management
principle and His will for humankind. Though there are aspects we can learn
about God through nature and the human conscience (Psalm. 19:1–6; Rom. 1:18–20;
2:15), the Scriptures are the only complete and sufficient source (Psalm.
19:7–14). Bible is the book devoted to principles for living, illustrated
through human relationships, and thus is applicable to us today for our daily
guide. The Bible remains relevant for the following reasons: God is eternal,
His principles are eternal and His Word is perfect and eternal and it presents
precious management principles from living.
A principle is defined as "a
comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine or assumption". Principles
have a lasting and unchanging quality to them. When based on Bible truths,
principles provide spiritual direction to us. In the Bible, God expected
parents to teach the Word of God continually. “These commandments that I give
you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children.
Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you
lie down and when you get up." (Deut. 6:6-7). As a home educator you can
have that same element of continuous and spontaneous Bible teaching with your
children.
Every Successful Management Principle is based on
Biblical Truths or Principles. It is important that we understand that the Lord
is the master architect He was the original designer and master planner of the
entire universe. He spoke the world into existence, and it became. We are to
make certain that the Lord is doing the building of our life. The journey is a
spiritual one, and the Lord must build the house. He will guide, direct
and build His house. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:19 “Do you not know that your
bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received
from God? You are not your own;” This
reminds us of the temple in the O.T. Great
care was given to its design and immense wealth was placed into its
construction.(1 Chronicles 29:1–5) Solomon reminds us that we make the
plans. However, it is God that directs us. Well-drawn plans always reflect
God's vision. We should make plans…counting on God to direct us."
--Proverbs 16:9
So being educated biblically is far more important because
biblical principles teach us how to properly relate to God as well as to our
fellowman (Matthew 22:37-40; cf Deuteronomy 10:12; Deuteronomy 30:6). The
teaching of spiritual and moral values to children is the backbone of any
nation and provides nations with moral stability. As you begin to use it as
your foundation, you will start building everything you do on the principles in
God’s Word. Therefore True success begins and ends with God. In this piece of
writing we will discover some practical principles for success in life,
business, and everything else you may deal with daily. Be encouraged to not
just read, but apply what you learn through these principles. Enjoy reading!
