DEVELOPING THE CHRISTIAN MIND. SYNCHRONIZING WITH

GOD’S WILL Adriana Schalkwijk-Ribeiro

Adapted from Dr. Rev. F. L. SchalkwijkDCM - Winter 2009

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DEVELOPING THE CHRISTIAN MIND. SYNCHRONIZING WITH GOD’S WILL

Above all else, guard your heart,for it is the wellspring of life.

Prov. 4:23

Adapted from a lecture given byRev. Dr. Frans Leonard Schalkwijk

to the Lewis’ DCM February 16, 2008 AD

Integration

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Overview

1. FRAMEWORK OF ACTION

a. SOCIAL b. PERSONALc. Our Tools (faculties)

i. Spiritualii. Mindiii. Body

2. God’s Will3. Our Will4. God’s Checkpoints

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1) OUR SOCIETAL FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION

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1) Social Framework:A Godly Framework for ActionHeavenly versus Hellish Hierarchy in Society

The Church

Positive and negative influence of both kingdoms in the Family, Church, Society, State

The active Church Community through Liturgia (public worship), as Prophets, Kings and Priests in society

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1) Societal Framework:Grow in Grace at Your Base

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”

2Pet 3:18

PS: Peter wrote his letters to be “reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking” 2Pet3:1

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A. SOCIAL

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A. Social integration:

God’s ‘Plumb Line’ for the 1. Family house rules (Eph 5 & 6)

a. Loveb. Respect

2. Church (1Pe 5:1-5) Ina. ‘Koinoinia ‘ (sharing in common,

communion) and ‘Liturgia’b. Didascalia (prophet: teacher)

Poimenia (king: shepherd)Diaconia (priest: service)

c. Missiologia

3. Society (Eph 6:5-9)College too!

4. State (Heb 13:1-7)

A Plumb Line

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A. Social integration: Are You a Blessing?

To what Degree? + or -? More paradise or hell?

You make a difference in

your (small or wide) societal

circle!

Hieronymus Bosch9

David’s Prayer of Action

“May those who hope in you        not be disgraced because of me,        O Lord, the LORD Almighty;        may those who seek you        not be put to shame because of me,        O God of Israel” Ps 69:6

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B. PERSONAL

ResourcesOur faculties: body, mind and spirit

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B. PERSONAL: Our Faculties

What faculties do we have? (1 Thes 5:23,24)a) spiritual: heart, Pr 23:26! John Calvin’s seal

(1550) (Ef 6:6) doing His will from the heart• doing the right thing• the right way• the right time• for the right reason

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B. PERSONAL: Our Faculties

b) Mind – intellect, thinking (2Cor 10:5)– feeling, emotions (Phil 4:6,7)– Will (Ps 40:8)

c) Physical (body)– Eyes (1Jo 2:16)– Ears (Ps 40:6)– Hands (Ps 90:17)– Feet (Gen 5:24; 1Jo 1:7)

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2) GOD’S WILL

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2) His Will: To Act

Only to know? No! It is

to do

the will of God

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.” Ps 143:10

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2) His Will: Gods Will, Basic Laws

1. Time and Place are created together (Gen 1:1)

Two focal points of an ellipse “now” and “here” ‘Serve in you here and now’

2. Natural Law: No 2 objects in same place Pride? entering into orbit?

3. Moral law our norm: Paradise = Ex 20 = Mat 5-7 = Mat 22:37-40 = Rom 13:10.

X X

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Do you need specific guidance at intersection of your pilgrim road?

Male

“Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD ? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.”

Ps 25:12

Female

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. “

Ps. 32:8

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3) OUR (MY) WILL

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3) Our Will: Is Like Driving a Car…

• Gearshift stick or automatic?

Order requires obedience (from head, hands to feet)

“To obey is better than sacrifice”

In 1 Sam 15:22 the forbidden areas ‘adiaphora’ are ordered

• Steering‘normal’ tendency to deviate (individuals,

groups)

A warning: Mt 16:12

“Whether you turn to the right

or to the left, your ears will hear

a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Is 30:21

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3) Our Will: Recognize Weak Points

• Lust? cut now (surgery better than tragedy!) (Gen 39:9, 1John 2:16)

• Greed? give tenth’s, give extra for the poor (Lev 25:25)

• Pride? balloon-itis (acute or chronic)? needle of Holy Spirit (1Cor 4:7).

• Engage most ‘soldiers’ in your weak points

• Use the crutch (cane) of God’s Word

“Do not follow the crowd in

doing wrong”

Exodus 23:2

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3) Our Will: My Life Text

Ruanda Revival: Galatians 2:20

Warnings: • Bitter root (Heb 12:15)• Knowledge only? Rather:

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground”

Ps 143:10

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“Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in

these things,for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 4:16

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4) HIS CHECK POINT: CONSCIENCE

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4) His Check Point: Conscience

a) Where? In the heart, but can be

read on all levels (Rom 2:15)

b) What? ‘con-science (with

knowledge)’: ‘co-knowledge’, ‘to know with’ (the will of God)

- Voice of God? echo (in the right spot?)

- Indicator (1Tim 1:5)1. heart = motor2. conscience = gauge3. faith = gasoline

- Compass (need to check it)

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4) His Check Point: Conscience

c) Conscience Checkup (1Tim 1:19)

Faith: shipwrecked? Enter the workshop of the Holy Spirit!

1. Weak (1 Cor 8:7)Does not fight evil Strengthen: pass magnet of

God’s Word (Ps 119:11)

2. Dirty (1 Cor 8:7)‘defiled’Wash up (Heb 9:14) Florence

Nightingale

3. Contaminated (1 Cor 8:7)

Not sick but close! Low Immunity? You need an injection of God’s

Word (Gen 39:9)

4. Half dead? (1Tim 4:2)The devil branded skin? You need a skin transplant

(heart) (Prov 23:26).

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4) His Check Point: Conscience

d) Diagnosis, treatment?1. Psalm 139:23,24;

143:10Say ‘yes’, act ‘yes’ (Mat

9:9; Jam 2:12) 2. Integrated Christian

mind (Prov 23:26; 4:23)

Cur meum… (Calvin)Our Lamb has conquered.

Let us follow Him! (Moravian seal, 1728)

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Joy = ‘Jesus and you and nothing in between’

RejoicePhil 4:4-7

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Shalom, Pax Domini

"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will

have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.“

Jo 16:33 28