Lesson for February 25, 2018
The Doctrine of Spirituality vs. Carnality
The Divine Dynasphere, Lesson #4
Gate 7: Momentum Testing
6. Thought Testing
Divine Viewpoint vs. Human Viewpoint
Isaiah 55:8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
You are what you think. Your way of life right now is based on what you think. Since you have freewill, you can think whatever you want to think. Proverbs 23:7, “For as he thinks within himself, so he is.”
This World System has a way of thinking that, generally speaking, does not line up with the thinking of God. We call this Human Viewpoint Thinking. Christians and non-Christians alike think human viewpoint on a regular basis.
God’s thinking is found only in the Word of God and is more reliable than anything we see, hear, smell, taste, or feel. It is the Word of God the Father, the mind of Jesus Christ and the voice of the Holy Spirit. We call God’s thinking Divine Viewpoint Thinking. (I Corinthians 2:16; Hebrews 3:7, 4:12; II Peter 1:12-21)
In order to have Divine Viewpoint Thinking, you must know the doctrine taught in the Bible. The more Bible doctrine you know and apply, the more Divine Viewpoint Thinking you will be able to exhibit. The less Bible doctrine you know, the more Human Viewpoint Thinking you will exhibit. The more Human Viewpoint Thinking you exhibit, the more insecure and unstable you are going to be.
Consistent study of God’s Word keeps Divine Viewpoint Thinking fresh in the mind and helps counteract Human Viewpoint Thinking. (Psalm 119:129-135) Thinking your way through life with divine viewpoint will bring victory, peace, power and stability. (Isaiah 26:3-4, 33:6) However, vacillating between Divine Viewpoint Thinking and Human Viewpoint Thinking makes a believer unstable according to James 1:8. An unstable believer is an unhappy, miserable believer. This inner conflict must be dealt with in order for the believer to stabilize his thinking and, thereby, his spiritual life. Mental stabilization comes by means of knowledge and application of Bible doctrine. (II Timothy 2:15, 3:16; Colossians 4:5)
When Divine Viewpoint Thinking is developed through consistent study and application of accurate Bible doctrine, it produces confidence based on the absolute truth of God’s Word. (Hebrews 4:9-16) This confidence in God’s Word leads to spiritual maturity. Study and application takes work. A person can be a Christian for many years and still be a “babe in Christ.” For example, just because you have been married a long time does not necessarily mean that your marriage is successful and happy. Fulfillment in marriage is a result of learning and applying virtue and integrity, resulting in the needs of both parties being met. This is marriage maturity. In our spiritual life (as in our marriage) we should continue to grow and mature.
The Christian Way of Life is all about what you think and you can glorify God by what you think. Once you’re thinking divine viewpoint, what you do will glorify God because right thinking produces right actions.
One biblical example of Divine Viewpoint Thinking is the story of David and Goliath. You may recall this story but with the emphasis usually being placed on what David did. The Bible puts the emphasis on what David thought. (I Samuel 17:33-47) David habitually looked at life from divine viewpoint. He was “the man after God’s own heart.” (I Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22) David’s greatest desire in life seemed to be to know the mind of God. Even in David’s latter life when he got out of line, he knew that only a “cleansed vessel” could serve the Lord. Therefore, David confessed his sin, received his discipline and moved on. (Psalms 32, 38, 51)
The Christian Way of Life is a supernatural way of life, which cannot be lived apart from knowledge of Bible doctrine and the control of God the Holy Spirit. (Romans 7:6, 8:2; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:18) This way of life, of course, requires thinking. All changes in our lives must come from the inside. The true character of the believer is determined by his mental attitude.
The Christian Way of Life began with a change of mental attitude (repentance) towards Jesus Christ, which resulted in salvation. (Acts 3:19) At the moment of salvation, God did at least 40 things for each one of us. We call these Spiritual Assets, and these assets include the things necessary to execute the Christian Way of Life. Choosing to use these assets enables the believer to live in a manner that is acceptable to the Lord, and to think those things which bring honor to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:23; Colossians 3:1-2)
After salvation, we make the choice of what our life is going to be like. God never forces a believer into any course of action. He has, however, provided the potential, but it is still our choice. The Christian Way of Life is designed by God so that you can think, and think properly.
Pressure situations require thinking and thinking requires vocabulary. Divine vocabulary influences what you think and is capable of operating under pressure. In other words, the more of God’s Word you get in you, the more of God’s Word that will be available to you when needed.
God has provided each of us with a sound mind under the filling of the Holy Spirit and Bible doctrine resident in our souls. (II Timothy 1:7) This means that we have the potential for a relaxed mental attitude. The relaxed mental attitude can be developed by consistent intake, and application of Bible doctrine. This relaxed mental attitude produces confidence in the soul. (II Corinthians 5:1-8)
As believers we are told that we have the mind of Christ, which is Divine Viewpoint Thinking. This Divine Viewpoint Thinking can be discovered by study, knowledge and application of Bible doctrine. The result of this kind of thinking is peace, power, stability and victory. This means that all believers are capable of having Divine Viewpoint Thinking. (II Timothy 1:7; II Corinthians 10:5)
During the Church Age, God has chosen to reveal His essence and plan through His written Word. Therefore, our attitude toward the Word of God is our attitude toward God. If we pursue Bible doctrine, we love God; if we only listen or study at our convenience or when we are in trouble then we insult God. If we study and fail to apply the doctrine we are learning, then it does us no good. Application of God’s Word means that it has become a part of us. The best illustration is eating food. You can buy the food, but it does your body no good. You can even prepare the food, but it does your body no good. You can then place it on the table, but it does your body no good. You can even put it in your mouth, but it does your body no good. Not until you chew the food and shallow it does it do your body good. It can then be converted to energy, etc. God’s Word is the same. If the Word of God is not changing your thoughts, attitudes and actions, then you are not applying it. A wise believer (wisdom is application of Bible doctrine) is a believer who uses what he learns.
David knew and applied this principle. David also taught us a divine principle in Psalms 138:2: God, specifically Jesus Christ, has magnified His Word over His name (a reference to His reputation). In no other way can we approach God, understand God, or fulfill God’s plan than to know and apply His Word. God’s blessings are poured out upon those who have and use Bible doctrine because they have developed the capacity to receive blessing. Even nations are blessed because of believers with doctrine in their souls. (Isaiah 53:12; Micah 4:1-6)
BIBLE DOCTRINE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE FOOD WE EAT OR THE AIR WE BREATHE.