Worldview: Fire of God or Philosophies on Man?

I have been fascinated as I have traveled on this journey with Jesus at how very much He has changed my world view. Beginning that day when He reached out to me and rescued me from the mire and dust to see how many false things I believed about the world around me, the nature of people, their and abilities, as well as, the spirit realm.

I experienced something as a young believer who was passionate about following Jesus that changed the way I saw and experienced the world around me and within me. Today we would call what happened to me a Biblical immersion (immerse: reflexive verb to become completely occupied with something, giving all your time, energy, or concentration to it). Every day for months I immersed myself in the Word of God reading the Bible and praying for hours about what I had read everyday. This total emersion not only illuminated (transitive and intransitive verb to provide somebody with knowledge or with intellectual or spiritual enlightenment) me but challenged everything I believed, everything I understood and the way I interacted with the world and everyone in it. Every thought, action and belief came under the conviction and illumination of the Holy Spirit. I spent many and hour repenting and grew in grace and truth. This process did not stop but has has continued for many years now and I have come to understand that my World view has continuously been changed and molded as I have submitted myself, my experiences and beliefs to God.

Another significant part of my transformation was the Christ like love and wisdom of my first pastor, his wife and the church they led. Pastor Jim and Julie Maley and the people of what is now the Pueblo Christian Center taught me by example what the Good News of Jesus looked like in everyday life.

My journey as a believer has also been shaped by others in the Kingdom of God who have written books which are important in adding to or understanding of what we are a part of and just how our Worldview impacts our usefulness to God. One of the many books that have impacted me is below.

This book opened my eyes to the area of Worldview many years ago and is still around, now in its 4th addition. James Sire's "The Universe Next Door" is a wonderful resource and should be mandatory reading for all Christians who interact with anyone who was not been raised in the Church. Sub titled 'A Basic Worldview Catalog' the reader of this book is treated to insights, such as how the Church's weakened Spiritual state led to the rise of false religions and a dependency on science as the underpinning of mankind’s belief systems.

If you want to know more go to the IVP web site http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=2780 or the Equippers Tool Box @ http://equipperstoolbox.blogspot.com/

The primary reason for mentioning this book is the comparison of the transformational results and power of a Biblical immersion in the Word and Spirit of God and the contrasting de-transformational results of a life which is not filled with the truth and power of God.

When Jesus came he spent three plus years proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Many could not or would not allow their worldview to be changed by the truth and power He proclaimed through a life that did the will of the Father and that was empowered by the Holy Spirit. One of the most fascinating Biblical accounts of Jesus' impact on people is the aacount of the disciples on the road to Emmaus.

Lk 24:13-18
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a
village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were
talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they
talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and
walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things
that have happened there in these days?" They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
19 "What things?" he asked. "About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a
prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The
chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and
they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to
redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took
place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb
early this morning 23 but didn't find his body. They came and told us that
they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our
companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see." 25 He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it
is nearly evening; the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it
and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each
other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the
road and opened the Scriptures to us?"

Their hearts burned within them! The fire of God not only illuminates it also burns away the impure and all that is not of God.

Will you allow God to immerse you in His Word and Spirit, allowing His Spirit to illuminate and burn away all that is not of Him?

Your World View will Change to His World View even as Moses' was changed when he spent 40 days and nights in the presence of God!!

The light of His glory will not fade, but it will transform us as we immerse ourselves in His Word and Spirit continuously!

Contending With God

The LORD said to Job: Job 40:1-1440:1
2 "Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!"
3 Then Job answered the LORD:
4 "I am unworthy — how can I reply to you?I put my hand over my mouth.
5 I spoke once, but I have no answer — twice, but I will say no more."
6 Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm:
7 "Brace yourself like a man;I will question you,and you shall answer me.
8 "Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
9 Do you have an arm like God's,and can your voice thunder like his?
10 Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.
11 Unleash the fury of your wrath,look at every proud man and bring him low,
12 look at every proud man and humble him,crush the wicked where they stand.
13 Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave.
14 Then I myself will admit to you Job that your own right hand can save you. NIV

What Do Three Former Presidents Have In Common?

A preacher of Jesus Christ untarnished by a political agenda, his name, Billy Graham.

I had the opportunity to watch the Billy Graham Library dedication on TV the other day and there they were Bush the senior, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter all praising this humble man of God in their own unique way.

There was Billy looking more like an Old Testament prophet than a 21st Century Evangelist. His long white hair catching the light as if the Glory of God had become visible upon him. Then there were the three presidents, each one with good memories of Rev. Graham and his ministry to them. They were doing what the Bible instructs us to do, "Give honor to whom honor is due."

In a day when believers seem more captured by the politics of the day then the power that has made this man able to minister the Good News to more people than anyone else in history, there he sat frail in body but strong in God!

Then there were the three presidents, each one with good memories of Rev. Graham and his ministry to them. Emotion flowed from them as they shared stories of their time with Billy.

Maybe we need to consider the life and ministry of Billy Graham if we want to truly see our world changed for the better. His single focus on obeying God's will for his life will one day soon cause him to hear the father say, "well done you who are a good and faithful servant."

We have many choices to make each day on how we will spend our life and resources, May God help us to make choices that see the accomplishment of the agenda and work of His Kingdom. I am not saying that a Christian should not be involved in politics. I am saying, our life should be totally His and not our own.

Not everyone is called to be an evangelist, but we are all called to please the one who created us. So, let us each carry out the call He has given us and may we do so, with all our mind and heart and soul!

Thank you God for Billy Graham's example and life!

Equipper

The Equippers Network Family of Blogs

A Family of Blogs designed to help accomplish His Vision in your life.

The Equippers Network Family of Blogs is a major part of the Equippers Network mission. 'Empowering churches, Individual believers, Market place and Ministry leaders to fulfill God's heart in the earth today according to Ephesians 4:11 -13

To:

1. Fulfill their call to release the Life of Jesus among the people of the earth.

2. Build up fellow believers/followers of Jesus.

3. Encourage and assist believers to grow into maturity, reaching the full stature of Christ.'

The Equippers Network exists to help you fulfill God's calling and to minister His revolutionary life today. The Equippers Network is a resource for Chritians who are experiencing a dramatic change in the ideas and practice of being Church today as we seek to fulfill God's plan to make disciples of all people groups.

George Barna states in Growing True Disciples; "We need to be igniting and nurturing people’s passion for God and get out of their way.” Those with a unique Vision, those who are called by God need continuous mentoring and training if they are to be sent forth as radical believers, healthy people of the Spirit who are focused on accomplishing what Jesus has called them to at all cost.

The Equippers Network vision is to mend, equip, train, mentor and release people into cutting edge Spirit led ministry that flows from God's heart. My passion is to help believers fulfill to the fullest measure God's Call on their life by Coaching and Training them as God works in them, so that they can fulfill Ephesians 4:12-13 to:

1. Birth, Develop and Mature the calling or assignment God has given them vision for.

2. Build up believers by means of connecting them with others who are seeking to fulfill God’s vision for their life.

3. Bring believers to Maturity as passionate followers of Jesus the Messiah by means of Relational Discipleship, Coaching, Mentoring, and Hands on Training and Teaching.

God the Great Creator has given us the His unique ability to create and have the vision to create ministry. These Creative Visions for Ministries flow from His calling in the believer’s life and all that he has created us to uniquely be by His grace and power working in us.

Below is The Equippers Network family of Blogs:

Equippers Network http://equippersnetwork.blogspot.com/ This site has teachings, exhortations and book reviews.

Equippers Edge http://equippersedge.blogspot.com/ This site offers materials for leaders within the Equippers Network.

Equippers Tool Box http://equipperstoolbox.blogspot.com/ This site reviews books, music and other resources and suggest materials for leaders so that they might more effectively be used of Jesus today.

Equipper's Blog http://equippersnetwork.vox.com/ Speaking Light To Those Who Follow Jesus, So that they can be a part of What He is doing In The Earth Today.

The Equipper's Resume http://equippersresume.blogspot.com/ This Blog tells "My Story". It is about the opportunities I have had to serve, to lead, to learn and make a living along the way.

It is all ‘By His Grace’

The Equipper

Off-Road Disciplines: Spiritual Adventures of Missional Leaders

We will begin a detailed review of this book on The Equippers Edge Blog in the near future @ http://equippersedge.blogspot.com. Please check that site in about a week to begin the review. Your comments and interaction are invited.
(Equipper)

The material below is from the sites linked below.

"In Off-Road Disciplines, Earl Creps reveals that the on-road practices of prayer and Bible reading should be bolstered by the other kinds of encounters with God that occur unexpectedly—complete with the bumps and bruises that happen when you go “off-road.”

Becoming an off-road leader requires the cultivation of certain spiritual disciplines that allow the presence of the Holy Spirit to arrange your interior life.

Earl Creps explores twelve central spiritual disciplines—six personal and six organizational—that Christian leaders of all ages and denominations need if they are to change themselves and their churches to reach out to the culture around them."http://www.earlcreps.com/

http://www.josseybass.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-0787985201,descCd-tableOfContents.html

Table of Contents

Introduction: Off-Road Disciplines.

Part One: Personal Disciplines.
1. Death: The Discipline of Personal Transformation.
2. Truth: The Discipline of Sacred Realism.
3. Perspective: The Discipline of POV.
4. Learning: The Discipline of Reverse Mentoring.
5. Witness: The Discipline of Spiritual Friendship.
6. Humility: The Discipline of Decreasing.

Part Two: Organizational Disciplines.
7. Assessment: The Discipline of Missional Efficiency.
8. Harmony: The Discipline of Blending Differences.
9. Reflection: The Discipline of Discernment.
10. Opportunity: The Discipline of Making Room.
11. Sacrifice: The Discipline of Surrendering Preferences.
12. Legacy: The Discipline of Passing the Baton.

Epilogue: Three Coffee Houses.
Notes.
Acknowledgments.
The Author.
Index.

Earl Creps—a popular speaker and leader—is director of the Doctor of Ministry program and associate professor at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS) in Springfield, Missouri. He has been a pastor, ministries consultant, and university professor. Along the way, Creps earned a Ph.D. in communication at Northwestern University and a doctor of ministry degree in leadership at AGTS.

This Title is Part of the Following Series:Leadership Network Publications

Joins the week of January 29th for the beginning of this online interactive study discussion @ http://equippersedge.blogspot.com

America Alone: The End of the World as we Know It

Today we are focused on Mark Stein's book, America Alone: The End of the World as we Know It

I want to refer you to a review listed below.

America Alone: The End of the World as we Know It Is the free West "sleepwalking into a trap of its own making while blissfully ignoring the many danger signs that are everywhere"?

by Harry Antonides @Canada' s Christian Community Online http://www.christianity.ca/entertainment/books/2007/01.001.html

We do not get into politics on this site so please see this article as a chance for the Church to answer some questions;

1.Is the basic tenet of this article and book true?

2. If the the basic arguement of this book is true, what should the Church be doing to bring Christ to our changing world?

3. Do we need to be doing things differently then we currently are?

4. Do we need to fall on our faces and cry out to God to hear from Him or do we believe we just need to work a little harder to accomplish our current plans?

Please read the article and come back to this blog and leave a comment?

"America Alone: The End Of The World As We Know It brings together some of the big themes of Mark's writing in recent years - demography, the unsustainability of the welfare state, a resurgent Islam, and the west's loss of civilizational confidence. The result is an incisive examination of how the world could look the day after tomorrow, on the brink of a new Dark Ages. Permanence is the arrogant assumption of every era, and ours is no exception. But in Europe, the Middle East and beyond history is on the march, and moving very quickly."

from Mark's own site. http://216.92.123.84/product28.html

The Ezra Project

December's featured ministry is the Ezra Project

The Ezra Project offers messages and products to churches and ministries to inspire God’s people to come back to God’s Word. Allen J. Huth, founder, speaker, and author, successfully challenges Christians to personally rekindle their passion for reading, doing, and sharing God’s Word. http://www.ezraproject.net/

Join God's movement to ignite a Bible Revival in the Body of Christ! The Ezra Project inspires Christians to come back to a Biblical view of public and personal issues. Discover how unchanging Biblical principles still relate to 21st century life.

(Allen J. Huth, Executive Director)


Only 29% of men and 43% of women say they read the Bible either weekly or daily
75% of Christians overlook the Bible when shaping their worldview
Only 14% of born-again adults rely on the Bible as their moral compass
41% of Americans rarely or never read the Bible anymore

Ezra Project messages and products challenge you to reconnect with your Biblical heritage of faith!

Christian Podcast Resource

Welcome to the largest directory of Christian audio and video podcasts! @http://www.godcast1000.com/

The Jesus Connection

The Jesus Connection gives us the Power to Turn the World Upside Down. When we examine the New Testament we find a world very much like our own. There was a mixture of cultures, values, religions and beliefs. The demonic spirits which had lied to each culture were at war to gain dominance as the peoples of the world mixed with each other. Demonic principalities and powers did all they could to stop the spread of the Good News. The demonic powers used fear, magic, politics and racial hatred to stop the Gospel and all who were apart of the Way.

(John 14:6) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

When we study the NT we also find the wisdom of God and the Holy Spirit’s power allowed the believers in the Early Church to transform their world despite all of these elements which were aligned against them and the Good News they carried. It is obvious that the Gospel or Good News which Jesus brought engaged every level of society, culture and spirituality. Many see the message of Jesus as a weak and useless outdated philosophy; others see it as a threat to their chosen path, beliefs or culture. It is however God’s Good News to all people groups and has the power to transform lives, families, and nations!

Word Study Note: When you look up the word power in a concordance you will find that it occurs 250 times in NT

The Jesus Connection, Power and Life in the Kingdom of God (Transfer, adoption, death to self and training in the exercise of divine authority)

Col 1:13-14 Transfer

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Gal 3:26-29 Adoption
26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. NIV

ADOPTION
Among oriental nations it was extended to slaves (as Moses) who thereby gained their freedom, but in Greece and Rome it was, with rare exceptions, limited to citizens.
(from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

SONS OF GOD
1. New Testament Terms: John, who lays special emphasis on sonship by birth, uses teknon, while Paul, in emphasizing sonship from the legal side, as referring to adoption, which was current among the Romans but scarcely if at all known to, or if known, practiced by, the Jews, uses the word huios (John 1:12; Rom 8:14,16,19; Gal 4:6-7; 1 John 3:1-2).

2. New Testament Doctrine: Men are not by nature the sons of God, at least not in the sense in which believers in Christ are so called. By nature those outside of Jesus Christ are "children of wrath" (Eph 2:3), "of disobedience" (2:2), controlled not by the Spirit of God (Rom 8:14), but by the spirit of disobedience (Eph 2:2-4). Men become sons of God in the regenerative and adoptive sense by the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour (John 1:12 f; Gal 3:26).

The universal brotherhood which the New Testament teaches is that brotherhood which is based on faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the divine and only Saviour of the world. And the same is true of the universal Fatherhood of God. It is true that all men are "his offspring" (Acts 17:28 f) in the sense that they are God's created children; but that the New Testament makes a very clear and striking distinction between sonship by virtue of creation and sonship by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, there can be no reasonable doubt.

Sonship is the present possession of the believer in Christ (1 John 3:2). It will be completed at the second coming of our Lord (Rom 8:23), at which time the believer will throw off his incognito, by reason of which the world may not have recognized his sonship (1 John 3:1-2), and be fully and gloriously revealed as the son of God (2 Cor 5:10). It doth not yet appear, it hath not yet appeared, what we shall be; the revelation of the sons of God is reserved for a coming day of manifestation.

The blessings of sonship are too numerous to mention, save in the briefest way. His sons are objects of God's peculiar love (John 17:23), and His Fatherly care (Luke 12:27-33). They have the family name (Eph 3:14 f; 1 John 3:1); the family likeness (Rom 8:29); family love (John 13:35; 1 John 3:14); a filial spirit (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6); a family service (John 14:23 f; 15:8). They receive fatherly chastisement (Heb 12:5-11); fatherly comfort (2 Cor 1:4), and an inheritance (Rom 8:17; 1 Peter 1:3-5).

Among the evidences of sonship are: being led by the Spirit (Rom 8:14; Gal 5:18); having a childlike confidence in God (Gal 4:5); having liberty of access (Eph 3:12); having love for the brethren (1 John 2:9-11; 5:1), and obedience (1 John 5:1-3).

(from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Col 1:13-22
13[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins. 15[Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation. 16 For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him.
17 And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together). [Prov 8:22-31.] 18 He also is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand first and be preeminent]. 19 For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him permanently. 20 And God purposed that through ( by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross. 21 And although you at one time were estranged and alienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of mind in your wicked activities, 22 Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father's] presence. AMP

UNDERSTANDING THE SETTING

We can see the priority Jesus gave the receiving of the Holy Spirits power which would be necessary if the believers were to continue ‘to do and teach all that Jesus began to do and teach, Acts 1:1-8.’

To gain a good comprehension of the world into which the Gospel (Good News) came after the death and resurrection of Jesus we can read Romans 1:1-32.

We also see that for the Jew who rejected Jesus as the Messiah, Christians or the people of the Way, were seen as turning their world upside down, Acts 17:1-10.

The Gospel was Good news for all who would believe, but for those who made their living from the demonically inspired religions of the day it caused a great disturbance, Acts 19:1-20:1!

You Shall Receive Power Acts 1:1-8 There are two related and key truths in this passage.7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." NIV

Mankind takes a rebellious path from which the Gospel alone has the power to deliver.

The Path of Rebellion
Rom 1:1-32
16 I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." NIV

Power to Turn the Way People Think Upside Down

Acts 17:1-10 6: These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; KJV

The Gospel (the Way of Christ) causes a great disturbance to the world’s way of thinking and doing things!

Power to Cause a Great Disturbance
Acts 19:1-20:1 23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. NIV

People who have connected with Jesus by recieving and believing in Him as God's only Son and Way to the father are people of the Way. In the New Testament as today these people of the Way or followers of Jesus are also called Christians and have the power to turn the world upside down and they did!

Let's humble ourselves before God and ask Him once again to turn the world upside down!

Artwork by Danny Hahlbohm

http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?aid=1592821654&c=c&search=14071

Christian Art

" For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,... ." Hebrews 4:12

A Great site for Christian art is http://www.majesticartworks.com/