Illustration - Phases for becoming a Man of the Word

This is how to become a man or woman of the Word of God. Notice the last two phases are just as important as the first two when comes to being a disciple of Jesus.

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Restoring the Image (Part 15) - The Word of God: Essential but Neglected

Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
(Acts 17:11)

Except for a new believer, who among us has not heard that it is essential for us to read our Bibles? How many sermons, Sunday school lessons, workshops, and books have we been exposed to that exhorts us to get into the Word of God? And yet according to the Barna Research Group 90% of Americans own a Bible, but less than 20% will ever read it in its entirety. Our problem is not that we haven’t heard, it’s we really don’t believe what we’ve heard. If we truly thought the Word of God was essential to our lives, we would read it. Our problem is not with knowledge, our problem is with our values. We do not value the same things God values.

So how does one change their values? I think that there are three basic problems in this arena;

1. I have not experienced the Bible as being valuable in my personal life (Mk 4.15)

2. I have never been taught how to translate biblical truth into practical day-to-day living (Mk 4.16-17)

3. I have been taught and have experienced this but I choose not to allow the Word of God to influence my life (Mk 4.18-19)

The third problem is a war between values. Other things press in and distract the would be follower of Christ from devotion to His Word. The second is a matter of poor discipleship. How many Christians have started in Genesis and stopped reading at Leviticus, Numbers, or Deuteronomy? We need to do a better job of helping people navigate the scriptures. For some, a little direction and encouragement would be very helpful. And the first is a result of not reading or reading for intellect’s sake only. I believe that teaching a person to look for personal application is key to personal experience.

But there is also the intangible part of disciplemaking. When a follower of Jesus seeks Him in the scriptures, Christ reveals Himself to them. Suddenly the Bible comes alive and now has practical advantage for living (Heb 4.12, 2 Tim 3.16).

If you are seeking Christ in the scriptures daily, press on. Your reward is in the process. But to those who are not, you are robbing yourselves of true spiritual transformation and a deep abiding life with Jesus. Find someone to walk with you daily through the Bible until you gain the strength to read on your own.

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The Parable of a US Army Aviator

One of the great things about my job with the Navigators is to travel to different posts and encourage folks in different ministries. This week I visited Fort Rucker, Home of Army Aviation. WO-1 Siggy Santos shared an excellent devotional at their Thursday Night Bible Study. He drew parallels between flying a helicopter and living a fruitful Christian life. Great devo.

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Restoring the Image (Part 14) - The Word of God: Essential

But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"
(Matthew 4:4)


As we looked at the role of each person of the Trinity, I compare them to the mechanics in the repair shop. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit each have specific roles in the restoration process. And just as a mechanic would use tools to restore a wrecked vehicle, so the persons of the Trinity use tools to restore individuals to the original image of God.

The first tool that comes to my mind is the Word of God. Jesus taught the Word of God was more important to Him than His very food (Mt 4.4). He uses God's Word to sanctify his disciples and change their lives (Jn 17.6,8,17). He saw the Word of God as such a critical factor in the restoration process that He didn't speak his own words but only the words the Father (Jn 12.49).

When it comes to original design, the Word of God facilitates transformation at the deepest levels. His Word can reveal our deepest motives and intentions (Heb 4.12). It guides and leads us on the path of God's desire for our lives (Ps 119.105).The Father designed us to do good works (Eph 2.10). The word of God repairs us in such a way we are able to perform good works (2 Tim 3.16-17).

The word of God is the mind of God. In order for us to fully understand who God is and become like Him, we must be saturated with His Word (Deut 6.5-9). And it is not enough to simply know the Word of God. We must be actively applying it in our day-to-day lives (Jm 1.22). The Bible is far from just ink and paper. Aside from the Trinity itself, the Word of God is our best hope to achieving complete restoration.

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Illustration - My Plan, His Plan, God's Plan

The Key to successful discipleship is lining up the three plans;

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Testimony 6: The Geographical Solution Fails

Chapter 6

Folly is joy to him who lacks sense, But a man of understanding walks straight.
(Proverbs 15:21)

I reported to the 2nd Ranger Battalion as a young Specialist. As I entered the orderly room, I got my first look at Ranger life. Two Platoon Sergeants were wrestling on the floor and the First Sergeant was sitting on the desk as the referee in the fight. Of course when I enter the room, I drew a lot of attention because I wasn’t wearing camouflaged ripstop fatigues (at that time only special operations units wore them as their duty uniform). My solid OD green appearance created a new scuffle between the two men on the floor. Which platoon sergeant would get the newbie? I was quickly escorted to my new room and told I would be starting the Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP) in the morning. No sooner had I dropped my bags then my new Team Leader entered the room. “Do you smoke pot?” he asked abruptly. Of course what other answer would be appropriate in my new unit. And what a strange way to greet the new “wantabe.” NO, Sergeant” I replied standing at a rigid position of parade rest. He looked in to my eyes with the most serious look I have ever seen on a man’s face. In a low growl he said, “Well, if you nark on us, we’ll kill you.” And he walked out of the room. I was right back where I started. My geographical solution didn’t work.

Chapter 1: The Beginning
Chapter 2: Jesus is Watching You
Chapter 3: Paratrooper Religion
Chapter 4: Afraid of being Left Behind
Chapter 5: The Geographical Solution
Chapter 6: The Geographical Solution Fails
Chapter 7: The Seed is Planted

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Restoring the Image (Part 13) - The Holy Spirit:His Work

"He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you."
(John 16:14)

First and foremost, the primary work of the Holy Spirit is to reveal the Son of God and bring glory to Him (Jn 15.26, Jn 16.7-8,14). This makes perfect sense when we keep the restoration process in mind. Jesus, not the Holy Spirit, is the model for mankind to be restored to the image of God. The Holy Spirit is the Parakletos (Gk), “One who comes alongside” to help the disciple become like Jesus. Yet, I have seen individuals and ministries make the Holy Spirit the center piece of their teaching and practice. I believe this is a subtle error that distracts from God’s full intent. Notice that even the Father puts the focus on the Son for our sake (Mk 1.11, Mt 17.5, 28.18). It is not my goal to pit the members of the Trinity one against the other, but for the purpose of restoration, the focus must be on Christ (Jn 14.6). This emphasis on the Son by the other two members of the Godhead is not an issue of rank but one of clarity. Jesus is our clearest example of what God intended for mankind in the original image (Gen 1.26-27).

The Holy Spirit also guides us into truth and teaches us (Jn 14.16-17,26, 16.13) by illuminating the Scriptures and assisting us in prayer (Rom 8.26). As He helps us in the process of becoming like Jesus and the image is being restored, we begin to exhibit the fruit of the original image: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5.22-23). The Holy Spirit also distributes spiritual gifts to the Body for mutual edification and the advancement of God’s Kingdom (1 Co 12). As a result we begin to function as the community that God originally intended.

And the Holy Spirit gives us power to be Jesus’ witnesses (Ac 1.8). This is the reproductive aspect of the image of God and we will discuss this at a later point.

As I stated previously, the Holy Spirit’s role should never be minimized. Without His influence and power, discipleship is not possible. We do well to submit to Him and allow Him to abide in us without resistance or restraint (1 Sam 16.13, Eph 4.30, 5.18, Gal 5.16, 1 Thes 5.19).

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