why is a kingdom shift needed? o because we are “living in a kingdom upside down” o because...
TRANSCRIPT
Kingdom Shift
Why is a Kingdom Shift Needed?
O Because we are “Living in a Kingdom Upside Down”
O Because God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts and as high as the heavens are above the earth so are His thoughts and ways above ours!!!
O …and because “That which does not change remains the same!”
George S Odiorne
The “Same Old” Approaches Produce the “Same Old” Results
Principle: All human behavior is purposeful. People do what makes sense to them.
People filter their desires through their perspective and values to come up with their intentions and then their strategies for achieving those intentions. External behavior flows out of internal intentions and strategies.
OPerspective – how the world works; what it’s made up of; how the components are related; and how life really works, that is, the flow of cause and effect in life, how things really work
OValue System - priorities; a person’s preferences; his/her ranking of relative importance of specific things in life, including personal goals, gratifications, status, money, possessions, other people’s interests, God’s will, etc.
OIntentions – chosen goals based on desires, perspective and value structure
OStrategies – chosen ways to accomplish the intentions based on priorities and how life works
The Kingdom Shift: PERSPECTIVESWe shift to Kingdom perspectives tosee things differently.
The Kingdom Shift: PRIORITIES (Value Structure)We shift to Kingdom priorities and choose differently.
The Kingdom Shift: INTENTIONS (Goals)We shift to Kingdom goals and aim differently.
The Kingdom Shift: STRATEGIES (Plans, Methods)We shift to Kingdom strategies and proceed differently.
Perspectives: We shift to Kingdom
perspectives and see things differently.
Different Outcomes Demand Different…
Colossians 1:9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Romans 10:2-3For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
Perspective exists on at least two levels:
A. The World-View Level
B. The practical Level
The World-View Level – At which one chooses a professed angle on…1. What reality is2. Whether there is a god and, if
so, what that is3. How one knows what is true4. On what basis behavior can be
judged appropriate or inappropriate
The World-View Level – At which one chooses a professed angle on…
5. What humans are/signify6. What happens at death7. What history is about8. What is best in life9. What government should be
and do
The practical Level – One chooses an operational angle on how life works
1. How do the following impact the way my life works?
a. Luck?b. God?c. Fate?d. My efforts?e. Satan and the demonic?f. Anything else?
2. To what extent?a. Do I need to be concerned about
obeying or placating gods/God? To what extent…
i. Are they/He concerned about what I do?
ii. Do they/He impact the events of my life?
iii. Can I avoid or manipulate the gods/God?
b. Can I get away with things that my society says are wrong?
3. What causes what to happen?
a. What causes plans to succeed or to fail?
b. What is the chain of cause and effect in life?
4. What is God’s perspective on:
a. Success?b. The path to success?c. Attitude?d. Authority – using it and
following it?e. Relationships-in family,
church and society?
f. Decision making?g. Career and work?h. Verbal guidelines?i. Handling money and
possessions?j. Dealing with trouble?
USUAL Thinking
BIBLICAL Thinking
My Life is about…
Being happy. Being faithful
Happiness is…
Feeling “up”. A sense of well-being and contentment.
Happiness Comes by…
Being fulfilled-that is, having/doing what I want.
Persevering in doing what God wants.
USUAL Thinking
BIBLICAL Thinking
Success is…
The point at which I have enough resources (money, status, friends, connections, power, beauty) to…• Get/do what I
want, and • Secure my
future ability to do so.
Faithfulness to what God has told us to do.
USUAL Thinking
BIBLICAL Thinking
Work is a way…
Be fulfilled (happy) and make money.
Honor God, bless the larger world and make money.
USUAL Thinking
BIBLICAL Thinking
Money is for…
Me to…• Get/do what I
want and • Secure my
future ability to do that
Me to…• Honor god by
tithing & giving to Kingdom needs,
• Provide for the needs of me and/or my family,
• Help others• Save for difficult
times and • Invest to build
wealth
USUAL Thinking
BIBLICAL Thinking
Security comes by…
Having the resources (money, connections, resume, muscle, skill, beauty) to…
Trusting God.Obeying God as I…• Seek first God’s
Kingdom• Use good sense
and • Take prudent
action.
USUAL Thinking BIBLICAL Thinking
The way my life will get better is to…
Have a less hassling job. Have an adequate amount of fun…• Indulging my “lower
desires” – sex, drinking/drugs, clubbing, partying, have a few “wild” experiences.
• Spending time in fantasy.
• Spending time in sports.
Get married. Have a more cooperative mate.
Ask God’s help.
Change my heart.
Change my strategies and actions.
Persevere in doing right (faithfulness).
USUAL Thinking BIBLICAL Thinking
The way my life will get better is to…
Have my kids preoccupied with something (TV, school, sports, friends, etc.) so that…• My time is not
demanded• I can
rest/relax/recreate.Have better kids-ones who…• Do what I
want/expect• Don’t have many
problems, and • Don’t require much of
me.Divorce so I can have more fun doing what I want when I want.
USUAL Thinking
BIBLICAL Thinking
God is…
Not really…• Concerned that
my… ▫ Views match His. ▫ Actions align with Scripture.• Involved in
making the details of my life happen
Kind, but intends me to learn…• To make my views
match His,• That He governs
reality… ▫ In a detailed way, ▪ and that includes my life. ▫ Such that… ▪ Obedience is rewarded. ▪ Disobedience is punished.
USUAL Thinking
BIBLICAL Thinking
The Bible…
Can be interpreted 1,000 different ways.Cannot be taken literally when it talks on…• Sexual behavior• Moral behavior• Male/female
identity• Marriage
guidelines or roles,
• History (pre-history or ancient history),
• Or any area I disagree with it.
Is fairly plain in most places. In less clear passages, one…• Must use good
hermeneuticsSpeaks decisively on…• Sexual behavior• Gender• Moral behavior, and• Guidelines for all
human… ▫ institutions, including… ▪ marriage ▪ family, etc.Gives a true account of history.
USUAL Thinking
BIBLICAL Thinking
Intelligent views are those which…
• Make sense tome or I feel good about.
• Allow me to pursue…
▫ What I want…. ▫ In the way I want to (the way I think “best”).• My friends
(reference group/peer group) think are “cool”.
Fit with…• Jesus Christ as the
center of truth and reality.
• Valid… ▫ Logic and evidences. ▫ Hermeneutics.• The plain sense of
Scripture.
Romans 12:1-2Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual
act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.