SEVEN STEPS OF IMAGINATION AND FAITH
PHILIPPIANS 4.8
Lilaclady - Junebug2
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
In 1946, Albert Cassel Wiend published a book THE GOSPEL RECORDS OF THE MESSAGE AND MISSION OF JESUS CHRIST. IN THIS BOOK, HE SET OUT ON PAGE 264, A CHART OF THE SEVEN STEPS OF IMAGINATION AND FAITH.
IT HAS BEEN ON MY HEART TO SHARE THESE SEVEN STEPS, AS THEY SHOW FROM SCRIPTURE THE WAY THAT GOD CAN HELP EACH OF US TO WALK BY FAITH, TO KEEP TRUSTING IN THE LORD.
WE ALL COME TO CHRIST BY SIMPLE FAITH
MY LIGHTHOUSE IS CHRIST LIVING IN ME.
AS I IDENTIFY WITH A LOCAL CHURCH, THEN I BECOME
LINKED TO GOD'S METHOD OF GIVING LIGHT TO THE WORLD.
FIRST - I MUST REVIEW MY RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST JESUS.
1. I MUST ASK MYSELF IF I HAVE ADMITTED
THAT THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE,
AND THAT I AM A SINNER BY NATURE "FOR ALL HAVE SINNED
AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD." Romans 3.23
.2.I MUST ADMIT TO THE TRUTH THAT SIN HAS A PENALTY, AND
THAT I AM UNABLE TO PAY THAT PENALTY.
Romans 6.23
FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD
IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST HIS SON.
3. I MUST GO TO GOD AND THANK HIM
FOR THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST ON THE CROSS,
FOR BY DOING SO, HE PAID MY PENALTY ONCE AND FOR ALL.
Acts 4.12
NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER;
FOR THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN
GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED.
4. TO COME TO GOD BY FAITH, I BECOME A CHILD OF GOD.
GALATIANS 3.26
FOR YE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS.
WHEN YOU BECOME A CHILD OF GOD BY FAITH IN CHRIST JESUS
YOU THEN BECOME A NEW CREATURE, A NEW PERSON
AND YOU BEGIN A LIFE OF LEARNING AND LIVING
AS HIS CHILD.
II CORINTHIANS 5.17 THEREFORE, IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE; OLD THINGS ARE PASSED AWAY, BEHOLD, ALL THINGS ARE BECOME NEW.
AS BIBLELADYJUNEBUG99CASH I PURPOSE TO SHARE MY FAITH AND ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO DISCOVER THE JOY OF LOVING AND SERVING GOD, WALKING IN THE LIGHT, AND LOVING ONE ANOTHER.
FIRST THINK OF IT. BEFORE I WAS SAVED, I WAS A SINNER LOST AND WORTHY OF CONDEMNATION. NOW AS A BELIEVER, I WHO ONCE HAD ONLY ONE NATURE, NOW HAVE BECOME NEW - MY NEW NATURE IS BORN OF GOD, AND HIS SPIRIT DWELLS IN MY BODY AND SOUL AND SPIRIT. I CORINTHIANS 6.19,20 WHAT? KNOW YE NOT THAT YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY GHOST WHICH IS IN YOU, WHICH YE HAVE OF GOD, AND YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN? FOR YE ARE BOUGHT WITH A PRICE: THEREFORE GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY, AND IN YOUR SPIRIT, WHICH ARE GOD'S.
ROMANS 12.1,2 TELLS US - I BESEECH YOU, THEREFORE, MY BELOVED BRETHREN, BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, THAT YE PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY, ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD, WHICH IS YOUR REASONABLE SERVICE...AND BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT BE YE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, THAT YE MAY PROVE WHAT IS THAT GOOD, AND ACCEPTABLE, AND PERFECT, WILL OF GOD.
ROMANS 10.17
FAITH COMETH BY HEARING, AND HEARING BY THE WORD OF GOD.
SO HERE I AM, SEVEN STEPS FOR US TO CONSIDER. FROM THOUGH AND IDEAS WORKING TOWARD THE REALIZATION IN VIRTUE AND CHARACTER..
THINKING - IDEAS - THOUGHTS - HAVING PRINCIPLES - SETTING OUT MY PHILOSOPHY - AND THE SCIENCE OF ALL I KNOW - WRAPPED IN THE TRUE.
2 TIMOTHY 2.15
STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, A WORKMAN THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.
As I dig into God's Word, and RIGHTLY DIVIDE it, it will never contradict itself, and His Spirit will lead me into TRUTH with my ideas, my thoughts which produce all that is TRUE in my life.
SCRIPTURAL STANDARDS
MY DESIRES AND NEEDS
LOOK AROUND MYSELF
LOOK ABOUT MYSELF
LOVE ABOVE MYSELF
LOOK WITHIN ME
LOOK UP TO GOD.
How is my light shining ?
I must take the FACTS OF MY LIFE and weave them together into understanding myself and others. I am to take the facts of life around myself, and weave them into ways of serving God in my life.
LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN...Matthew 5.16
HOW DO I START ?
BY THINKING CONCEPTS
IN PICTURES AND IDEALS
ASSESSING
WHAT CHOICES HAVE I MADE
AND WHAT DO I WANT AS A PERSPECTIVE
1. THE TRUE
2. THE BEAUTIFUL
3. THE GOOD.
4. THE RIGHT.
5. THE WAYS AND MEANS
6. THE METHODS
7. DOING IT - ACTIONS - ENDURANCE - FORTITUDE
TO FOLLOW THESE STEPS IS TO BRING INTO MY LIFE A REALIZATION OF CHARACTER AS I FORM HABITS PUTTING THEM INTO ACTIONS WHICH MAKE UP THE VIRTUES OF CHARACTER.
CONSIDERING THE TRUE
I MUST THINK- I MUST consider by ideas, principles and ways of thinking.
CONSIDER THE BEAUTIFUL
I MUST VISUALIZE AND BEGIN TO FORM IN MY MIND GRAPHICALLY WHAT CONCRETE WAYS I WISH TO PUT THE TRUE INTO REALITY.
CONSIDER THE GOOD
I MUST UNDERSTAND I NEED MOTIVATION TO DO THE TRUE, THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE GOOD....I NEED TO BE REALISTIC IN CONSIDERING WHAT I THINK MY NEEDS ARE, AND GO ABOUT SETTING UP THE ETHICS OF MY LIFE INTO MOTION. I CAN TAKE INTO ACCOUNT WHAT MY INTERESTS AND DESIRES ARE, AND IDENTIFY MY TRUE SELF WITH WHAT I REALLY NEED.
THESE ARE THE FIRST THREE STEPS TO REALIZING CHARACTER.
PHILIPPIANS 4.8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
