God’s GPS for You
God’s GPS for us– Doctrine
*BIBLE – (acronym) “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth”!
* Doctrine- tells us which road to travel. * Reproof-tells us when we are off the road.
* Correction-tells us how to get back on. * Instruction in righteousness-tells us how to stay on God’s road. To stay on course, thrust the compass of God’s Word.
* Authority is in God, and in His written word.
* Only the scriptures are “inspired” Infallibly by God (2 Timothy 3:16). *Preachers, Teachers, Speakers may be inspiring, BUT WE are NOT inspired in this way, as the Actual Hearing of God’s word.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
People are made Strong when preaching, teaching, speaking rivets their “Mind’s Attention” and their “Heart’s Affection” on the “words of God in scripture” in such a way that they can see for themselves:
1. This is what God said!
2. This is what God meant!
*To Know the God of this Word, you have to Know the Word of God.
John 17:3″This is eternal life, that they may KNOW You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
The Bible is not a book about yourself…it is a book about God: His character, principles, will, & glory!
* Does Doctrine Matter?
*Doctrine is, quite literally, the teaching of the Body “the Church” – what the church understands to BE the substance of its faith.
*It is no substitute for personal experience.
Evangelical Christians have given clear witness to the necessity of personal faith in Jesus Christ, but that personal faith is based in some specific understanding of who Jesus Christ is and what He accomplished on the cross.
* After all, we do not call persons to profess faith in faith, but faith in Christ.
There is no Christianity “in general.” Faith in some experience devoid of theological or biblical content- no matter how powerful – is not New Testament Christianity.
**Those who sow disdain and disinterest in biblical doctrine will reap a harvest of rootless and fruitless Christians.
Let’s humbly plant God’s word deep in our hearts. So, instead of dwelling on a temptation in our thoughts and allowing it to morph into sin, we quietly focus our hearts on a TRUTH from scripture such as
*“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are — yet he did not sin.” (Hebrews 5:14)
Regardless of my doubts and fears, God has a plan. Usually it doesn’t look like mine. The experience’s of life have reminded me that my thoughts are not the same as God’s thoughts. He sees the bigger picture. He knows His plans. They also taught me to fall on my knees and relinquish all my fears to God while trusting in His good and perfect will for ALL my needs.
You see, the only power and control you and I have over any fearful thought is to place it in the hands of God. Doing so keeps us from being taunted day and night by “what if?”
Instead, we can rest in the assurance that God’s thoughts, ways and plans are more marvelous than anything we can imagine ourselves.
Dwelling on scripture empowers, rather than drains us. This switch in our thought pattern can save us from wrong choices, unhealthy relationships and self-inflicted heartbreak.
***Get rid of the bad. Plant God’s good Word in that spot instead. Then stand back — patiently now — and watch beautiful blooms begin to appear.
A window of opportunity has opened if you will rise above complacency and be willing to put forth the necessary effort required to accomplish your desires.
The Lord speaks to us who have become relaxed in our attitudes and standards. Our way out of stagnation is to stir ourselves up to do what has been given us to do with renewed vigor and enthusiasm for the Lord, giving all Glory and Praise to HIM.
Your reward awaits you.
Dear Lord, I admit to You the faded flowers of my heart that I have been carrying around for much too long. Grant me courage to pluck them for good. Replace them with Your word planted seriously in my soul in an intentional manner. Let me drink deep of your bottomless nourishment so that the blooms You choose to grow and display in my life might point others to the Savior. In Jesus’ Name, Amen