Chapter
17
How to build a Biblical worldview
....prepare yourself to win spiritual battles ....with God's help
This chapter is pivotal on our QUEST to know God more,
....as we discuss....
WHY you need a Biblical worldview for God's help in spiritual battles.
HOW to build your Biblical worldview with God's help — Eph 6:13-18
....Please stay with me. SMILE, ....we have a lot of important stuff to talk about....
Chess is like life, ....its complicated
My two oldest great-grandsons asked me to teach them how to play chess.
Fast learners, they picked up the basics quickly. ....Chess pieces make different moves forward, backward, side-to-side, and at angles to eliminate opponent pieces from the board. To win, coordinate your moves putting the opponent's king in "checkmate", so it cannot move. "Game over!" ....And yes, it's a little more complicated than that.
Game dynamics are constantly changing and complex. Kinda like life. ....The biggest challenge playing chess is learning the strategy of PLAYING OFFENSE AND DEFENSE AT THE SAME TIME.
And, once again, you are ahead of me ....knowing where this analogy is going. Your life's "chess game" has a very aggressive opponent that you must be wary of....
Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy,
the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith....
— 1 Peter 5:8-9 NLT
Do life expecting this evil opponent to be working against you at every move. And frankly, none of us humans are smart enough or strong enough to defeat the devil on our own in spiritual warfare.
If you "play" without God's help, ....it is already "game over".
So, ask God to help you "SEE" through His eyes the reality of spiritual battles. ....Because WE ARE SPIRITUALLY BLIND WITHOUT GOD'S HELP.
Said another way....
We need a Biblical worldview
....to "SEE" life through God's eyes
....for His help making life's choices.
And why do we need to "SEE" life through God's eyes?
"Because spiritual battles belong to God"
Thank God! He gives us victory over sin
and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
— 1 Corinthians 15:57 NLT
Life's purpose is belonging to Jesus!
.
God designed us for an eternal relationship with Himself.
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is BY HIS GREAT MERCY THAT WE HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept IN HEAVEN FOR YOU.... And THROUGH YOUR FAITH, GOD IS PROTECTING YOU BY HIS POWER....
— 1 Peter 1:3-5 NLT
How did spiritual warfare start?
Here's some background....
Because Archangel Lucifer was full of pride, ....boastful, ....and jealous of God, he wanted to be worshiped as greater than God. So God threw Lucifer out of Heaven (see Isaiah 14:12-15 NKJV; Luke 10:17-18 NKJV), ....and now on earth, Lucifer is called Satan the Devil. Describing him, Jesus said....
He (Devil) was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies."
— John 8:44 NLT
Satan's passion is to destroy people with spiritual death, ....separating them from creator God, ....now and for Eternity. ....To survive, we must comprehend Satan's strategies, ....and know how he plays "life's chess game".
.
Such is the source of spiritual warfare....
For our well-being, we must understand why Satan asked "Did God really say...?" His intent is to corrupt humans' relationship with Creator God, ....starting with Adam and Eve. ....And he is still asking people that question today. Be on guard against it.
Without a relationship with Jesus, we cannot "SEE" through His eyes what spiritual warfare truly is. Thus, ....we are unaware this world is a spiritual war zone.
And being unaware....
makes a person vulnerable....
Why? Because....
Our weapons in spiritual warfare....
"....are not of this world, but are POWERED BY GOD and effective at tearing down the strongholds erected against His TRUTH. WE ARE demolishing ARGUMENTS and IDEAS, every high-and-mighty PHILOSOPHY that pits itself against the knowledge of the one true God. WE ARE taking prisoners of every THOUGHT, every EMOTION, and subduing them into obedience to Jesus."
— 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 The Voice
Think about it. God knew we needed help,
....and gave us Jesus, the Word of God
....for OUR SPIRITUAL PROTECTION, ....as we live by HIS TRUTH.
Okay, ....here's THE strategy for winning spiritual battles ....WITH GOD'S HELP. ....This could be one of the most important conversation we have!
This is a really big deal! Your life TODAY and for
the rest of ETERNITY may depend on it.
BY HIS DIVINE POWER, God has already given us everything we need for living a godly life. WE HAVE RECEIVED ALL OF THIS BY COMING TO KNOW HIM (Jesus, the Word of God)....
— 2 Peter 1:3 NLT
The question is....
Am I wearing God's armor?
....so God can help me fight spiritual battles ....AND WIN!
Because this is....
HOW TO BUILD A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW!
.
IT IS YOUR CHOICE TO "PUT ON"....
....every piece of God’s armor (1. ACTIVELY ENGAGE) so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
Stand your ground (2. NOT RUN IN FEAR), putting on the belt of truth (3. LIVE WITH INTEGRITY) and the body armor of God’s righteousness (4. LIVE FOR GOD'S APPROVAL). For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News (5. LIVE IN THE PEACE JESUS GIVES, chapter 16) so that you will be fully prepared.
In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith
(6. PROTECT YOUR HEART) to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet (7. PROTECT YOUR MIND), and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (8. GAIN KNOWLEDGE OF GOD ....TO
PROTECT YOUR GOD-FOCUSED WORLDVIEW).
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert ....be persistent in your prayers.... (9. ALWAYS STAY CONNECTED WITH GOD'S PRESENCE).
— Ephesians 6:13-18 NLT
actively engage? ....understand 2 Peter 1:3-4, 5-7, 8-9
not run in fear? ....meditate on Romans 8:38; 2 Timothy 1:7
live with integrity? ....think about Psalm 119:1; Proverbs 10:9
live for God's approval? ....ponder Phil 2:13; 1 John 2:17
live in the peace Jesus gives? ....consider Phil 4:6-7; 2 Peter 1:2
protect my heart? ....believe Prov 4:23; John 14:1; Col 3:16
protect my mind? ....contemplate John 14:27; Rom 8:6; Phil 4:7
protect my God-focused worldview? ....see Ps 119:9-16; Phil 4:8-9
stay connected with God's presence? ....read Ps 119:10-12; Ps 27:8
Therefore, 2 Peter 1:12 ....because....
God's TRUTHS are yours to receive,
....as you answer this question ....because it is #1
Am I actively engaged in God's Word to build and nurture my Biblical worldview?
The next 3 chapters are written to help build our "3Rs + Prayer" Bible study approach in Chapter 21. Read them personally, ponder them deeply.
Come hungry and thirsty for more of God ....and expect His changes in your life....
May we all travel life's journey ....LIKE THIS....
Those who obey God’s commandments (TRUTHS) remain IN FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM, and HE WITH THEM. And WE KNOW HE LIVES IN US because THE SPIRIT HE GAVE US LIVES IN US.
— 1 John 3:24 NLT
Wow! ....Let's keep going....
* Credits: David and Goliath image from pinimg / chess photos anonymous / reach for apple image anonymous /
road signs from dreamstime
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