Without the Gospel, I am only projecting behavioral modification. Changes of the heart must trump mere change of behavior. So, the goodness of God through the gospel must trump all other thinking in me and in every area of my life.
As a father or a mentor of someone I must learn to think from a biblical perspective for my life? How? By studying and searching for Kingdom principles with help of the Holy Spirit within as HE confirms the Word as it speaks to us. It is God’s desire that his living Word impacts every area of your life to show off his glory and the proof of a living savior called Jesus Christ.
The Holy Spirit is waiting to help guide us but He will never do the work of walking out the gospel in our lives through us, that is only done by living daily by Faith and not by the circumstances around us. According to John 14: 16…Jesus told his disciples before he left this earth…’I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, who will stay with you forever’
Illustration: Manuel found himself in a bad position at work. He was asked to lie on his accounting statement regarding the numbers that were spent working on a job that his company did for a billionaire. What made it more challenging is that the person who asked him to lie was his boss. Manuel was a believer and he did not feel right about what he was asked to do. He knew that this act could cause him his career, job and set him up for public shame if the truth ever got out.
What was he to do?
Manuel recalled the sermon from Sunday morning regarding ‘Integrity’ and that God is always there for us. He recalled the story of how Daniel prayed when he was set up by people whom he worked with and was sentenced to death by being thrown into the Lion’s den to be devoured. He also remembered reading how this same man Daniel was put in a position to compromise his faith when asked to eat foods sacrificed to pagan idols. Manuel decided to fast the evening meal and pray and ask God for a strategy. He knew that anything that he felt to do that was sin according to the Bible was not from God but from the enemy of his mind, the devil.
After he prayed he did not sense God giving him a solution to his problem. He went to bed and before he closed his eyes he said, ‘Lord I am giving this matter to you because you will be up all night, I am going to sleep.’ When he arrived at work the next day he was surprised at the new he was told. The company’s accounting department was conducting an impromptu audit of all financial records. This not only exposed the fact that Manuel had been keeping excellent records he was placed in a position of not compromising his integrity. His boss was brought into question because it was found that there had been past transactions that showed a story of fraudulent practices. When his boss could not justify the records that he was in charge of he was removed from his position.
Manuel was relieved and later promoted to a senior position, however he declined the position to negotiate a position that placed him as a mentor to other accountants. He used this platform to teach and show integrity in business and he used the opportunity as it allowed to share his example of trusting God with those who felt that God and work did not apply to one another.
Meaning: As I continue to include the principles of the kingdom of God in every aspect of my life by studying the scriptures, the Holy Spirit will give me direction from within for every situation. We have to search for passages, verses and stories in the Word where God showed himself strong and ask the Holy Spirit, ‘what are you teaching me through this passage for my life today’. Taking notes and writing down in our journal what he speaks to us specifically for that day.
Reference Scriptures he used:
–-trust in the lord with all your heart lean not on your own understanding
–Proverbs 6:16-19, NIV There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness (dishonest person) who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
–Proverbs 20:17, Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
