THREE STEPS TO RENEWAL

Personal spiritual renewal is an adventure. All of us begin our journey into this life in a spiritually unregenerated condition. Even though we come out of the womb physically alive we are still spiritually dead. That's why we must be "born-again."

The Apostle Paul points this out to us:

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.....But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:1-2 and 4-5)

To experience personal renewal in our lives, and especially concerning those of us who have already passed over from death to life in Christ's redemptive plan who desire a deeper and more meaningful relationship with our Father, Savior and Comforter, there are some simple and objective steps that we can take that will work wonders in moving us closer to a fuller understanding of God's will for our lives.

These steps are simply:

I. GET THE MIND OF GOD.

II. BLESS THE HEART OF GOD.

III. DO THE WORK OF GOD.

THESE THREE STEPS OUGHT TO SHARE A "FIRST PRIORITY LEVEL" IN THE LIFE OF EVERY BELIEVER.

I. GET THE MIND OF GOD.

In considering this step, it must be said that

Having the mind of God is not possible without yielding ourselves to a lifestyle of CHRIST-LIKENESS.

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus...." (Philippians 2:5)

The translators of the King James Version renders this,

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"

So much of our living and thinking in this world is conditioned by the attitude or mind of the world that it is impossible for us, as long as we think according to this world, to have and to know the mind of God.

Pick up where we left off with Philippians 2:5........

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross!" (Philippians 2:6-8)

Humbling ourselves, putting to death our own desires and lusts, is not something that the mind of the world suggests to us. To the contrary. This world and all that is under the rule of the ruler of this world insists that we elevate and exalt ourselves (like he did and continues to do)! And, like him, we are the losers when we do.

Therefore, we find God communicating to mankind......

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9)

We will never be God but we can, and should, participate in becoming more Christlike in our personal behavior.

Having the mind of God will move us to live differently toward others.

In talking about living as "children of light" we find the Apostle Paul saying,

"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. Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he jay have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:22-32)

This certainly doesn't sound like anything being taught by the groomers of the worlds standards! And the heart cry of multitudes of believers today, believers who are being force fed sermonic diets rich in the synthetic proteins of mans own misinterpretive, piecemeal, pick and choose theologies, is being heard louder by the day crying......

WOULD YOU PLEASE SHOW ME JESUS! I'VE BEEN SHOWN RELIGION IN ALL ITS DEFINITIONS FROM CATHOLICISM TO CALVINISM TO CHARISMANIA, BUT WILL YOU PLEASE SHOW ME JESUS!

And, quite honesty, this is the heart cry of the lost souls in the world today who are hungering and thirsting for the real and satisfying BREAD and WATER. Only Jesus and the Holy Spirit will satisfy the hungering and thirsing soul. And unless we have the "mind of God," unless our attitude is the same attitude that we find in Jesus, we will never be able to show the world Jesus.

II. BLESS THE HEART OF GOD.

The Apostle John, writing to his friend and fellow companion in the ministry said,

"It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth." (3 John 3-4)

Those of us who are parents can relate well to the heartache of pain and concern when we discover that our children have made choices that have led them into error. It literally breaks our hearts within us knowing the potential destruction and devastation that awaits. In fact, had we lived before the Gospel Day, before the age of Grace, we would have been obligated to participate in a display of the justice of God by escorting our disobedient children to their stoning outside the city gate.

And we also know the blessing and joy of seeing our children doing the things that insure blessings in their lives.

It's no different where our Heavenly Father is concerned.

Nothing blesses the heart of God more than for him to see us walking in simple childlike obedience to his will for our lives.

Moses, repeating the words of the Father to his children said,

"Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!" (Deuternonmy 5:29)

We often wonder why we don't realize more of the blessings of God in our lives. Could it be that the single greatest reason that we don't realize more of the blessings of God is because our hearts are not really "inclined" toward him but rather toward the "golden calves" that we endeavor so hard to secure for ourselves?

The prophet Micah said,

"He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)

Obedience brings blessings and rather than seeking blessings we ought to be seeking to be blessings.......blessings to God and blessings to one another!

III. DO THE WORK OF GOD.

A lot of things are being done in the name of Christianity and there are any number of altruistic endeavors that we can involve ourselves in. According to Jesus there are two classes of people who will be refused access to Heaven - those who did some spectacular works in his name but did not personally know him and those who refused to have anything to do with him.

Perhaps we should define the work of the Lord as it concerns us.

Look at the work Jesus did.

"He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him, Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (Luke 4:16-19)

When we look closely at the ministry of Jesus there are some very basic things that we find him doing.

Jesus preached the Kingdom of God, healed the sick, raised the dead and cast out demons and taught his disciple to do the same things that he did.

"When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.....So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing sick people everywhere." (Luke 9:1-2 and 6)

That commission did not rest only on the Twelve.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go.....Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.'.....The seventy-two returned with joy and said, 'Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.'.....He replied, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.'" (Luke 10:1,9 and 17-19)

Consider also a few of the closing verses of Mark's gospel. Much has been said and done to discredit the long ending to Mark' gospel. However, careful research reveals that ARISTON, known to have been a disciple of Jesus and assistant to Mark in his ministry efforts, under Mark's direction likely penned the concluding remarks found here.

"He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well. After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it." (Mark 16:15-20)

So much time has been spent in this century by susposed scholars attempting to discredit and explain away the Word of God that a cloud of doubt and unbelief has seized the minds of God's people. It's amazing what happens though when people will simply believe the Word of God and do what it says. No. I do not advocate "taking up serpents" as a certain sect does in the southeast although I am closely acquainted with a minister whose father participated in this practice. Both of these men, the father and the son, have been wonderfully used of the Lord in apostolic fashion. Neither do I advocate drinking poison as a proof of one's faith although I have had fellowship with a brother whom the Lord used to minister to outlaw bikers who testified of trying to poison him without success. I personally give testimony to the Lord's present action in Divine Healing and demonic cleansing through this minister and ministry.

The Acts Of The Apostles and the testimony of two millennium are sufficient to attest to the truth of God's Word. And when God's people will accept God's Word as the "rule of faith", as the Sourcebook for Truth and as the Manual for God's Work and workers something amazing happens. God confirms the Word with signs following.

There is a pitiful imbalance between theory and practice in the church world today. Pulpits and pews are filled each week with weak pulpiteers and people whose God has been theorized and explained away until little more remains than a vague recollection of a God who at one time did some miraculous things but changed his agenda even after taking the pains to cheat death and the grave!

Are you tired of uneventful and unfulfilling religious activity that leaves you feeling empty? Embark on an adventure of personal renewal. These three steps are the launching pad to an eventful and fulfilling relationship with the God who "never sleeps nor slumbers" and who never changes his agenda.

GET THE MIND OF GOD

BLESS THE HEART OF GOD

DO THE WORK OF GOD

COPYRIGHT 2000 DAVE KRALIK. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS STUDY MAY BE FREELY USED AND REPRODUCED, WHOLLY OR IN PART, EXCEPT FOR PROFIT, PROVIDED COPYRIGHT AND CONTACT INFORMATION IS INCLUDED.

UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED, ALL SCRIPTURES USED ARE FROM THE NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION OF THE BIBLE, NEW YOUR INTERNATIONAL BIBLE SOCIETY, USED BY PERMISSION.

THESE STUDIES ARE "GRACEWARE" - DISTRIBUTED FREELY AND WITHOUT OBLIGATION. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP FINANCIALLY IN THE CONTINUATION OF THIS MINISTRY, YOU CAN SEND YOUR GIFT TO DAVID KRALIK MINISTRIES, INC. P.O. BOX 941, HOXIE, KS 67740.

email [email protected]