22/08/2018: “Beliefs, attitudes and behaviour” | Gill Wolfaardt
Repent (have a change of mind which issues in regret for past sins and in changes for the better) and believe (trust in, rely on and adhere to) the good news.( The Gospel) Mark 1:15
John 6:28 &29 “Then they asked Him, what must we do to do the works that God requires? Jesus answered “the work of God is this; to believe in the One He has sent.”
It is VITAL WHAT you believe.
Story of oasis in the desert. What do you think saves the man, the drinking or the water?
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Sincerity is not enough
TRUTH For this is how much God loves you (the world) that He gave His ONE and ONLY unique Son as a gift. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, went about doing good, came to destroy the works of satan, gave His life on the cross, died, was buried, rose again and appeared to many, ascended into heaven, is at the right hand of the Father praying for us right now. He sent His Holy Spirit to live in and empower us to live the lives He has given to us. We need to believe and receive Him.
Truth is as vital to us as the air we breathe.
Colossians 2:8 “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”
Wisdom is seeing life from God’s perspective. He is our plumb line.
Jesus said I AM The Way, the Truth and the Life.
Story of man with the flat tyre
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Are you living with a sense of dread, waiting for the axe to drop?
Proverbs 15:15 “ All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil by their anxious thoughts and fore boding but he who has a glad hearts has a continual feast regardless of the circumstances.”
Romans 8:6 Attitude is our mindset. Living in light not darkness.
Your attitude determines your altitude
Begin to believe that you are chosen.
Check regularly what you are believing
How do we correct our wrong attitudes?
We are careful what we eat but do we think about what we put onto our minds?
Garbage in / garbage out
Our brain is a physical organ. Our mind is what our brain does.
When we talk about guarding our hearts we are talking our spirit and soul.
You don’t say to your spouse “I love you with all my organ which is pumping the blood around my body.”
James 1:21 ;1 Timothy 1:7
The power to choose
We have the awesome ability to choose. Deuteronomy 30:19
Science now has a word for this; Epigenetics: the science of thinking and choosing.
! Peter 1 :13: “So brace up your minds, be sober, circumspect,morally alert; set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace ( divine favour ) that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
2 Cor 10:4 We bring our thoughts captive to the obedience OF Christ. His obedience on the cross. Our own obedience will always be wanting.
We are equipped to make good choices because we have the mind of Christ
1 Cor 2:12-16
▪ WHO I AM IN CHRIST
▪ I am God’s child John 1:12
▪ I am Christ’s friend John15:15
▪ I have been justified Romans 5:1
▪ I have been bought with a price, I belong to God 1 Cor 6:20
▪ I am God’s workmanship Eph 2:10
▪ I may approach God with freedom and confidence Eph 3:12
▪ I am God’s temple 1Cor 3:16
▪ I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins Col 1:14
▪ I am a member of Christ’s body 1 Cor 12:27
What we believe about God and ourselves will affect our behaviour. We don’t live by rules, we live in freedom by grace. Romans 2:4 PT “ Do the riches of His extraordinary kindness make you take Him for granted and despise Him? Haven’t you experienced how kind and understanding He has been to you? Don’t mistake His tolerance for acceptance. Do you realise that all the wealth of His extravagant kindness is meant to melt your heart and lead you to repentance?”