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How to be transformed by the renewing of your mind!. The solution to “stinking thinking!”. Consider our problems!. We don’t think like God; therefore . . . Nothing we think is right; therefore . . . Nothing we do is right; therefore . . .
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How to be transformed by the renewing of your mind! The solution to “stinking thinking!” A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
Consider our problems! • We don’t think like God; therefore . . . • Nothing we think is right; therefore . . . • Nothing we do is right; therefore . . . • Everything that seems right leads to death; therefore . . . • All we do is sin; therefore . . . • Our inherent and natural destiny is to be dead for all eternity! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
Our problems, con’d • Sin dwells in us from birth; therefore . . . • We are enslaved to sin and cannot free ourselves; therefore . . . • We live what the Bible says in Eph. 2:1-3, 11-12. • But God did not create us to fail; therefore . . . • Success is our REAL DESTINY! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
The human body symbolizes success! • Individually! • Collectively, as a team! • Organizationally, as the Church • It’s a matter of being principle-centered: • Trustworthiness at the personal level • Trust at the interpersonal level • Empowerment at the management level • Alignment at the organizational level A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
God explains the process of systematic success in Rom. 12:1-21 • In view of God’s mercy, present your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God • Do not conform any longer to the ways of this world! • Be transformed by the renewing of your mind • Consider the payoff: • Then you will be able to test and approve God’s good, pleasing and perfect will! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
Learn to think, not about self, but to think soberly! • God has dealt to every born again child of God a measure of faith; therefore, I must become trustworthy by the faith God has given me; and trusting by the faith God has given my born again brothers and sisters! • This principle applies individually, collectively as we work together as a team! • This principle applies particularly to the Church! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
V.4: “For as we have many members in one body, all members have not the same office!” • The body is a system—a collection of components, working together for a common, beneficial outcome! • Involuntary components work together • Voluntary components often work contrary one to another • Systems unaffected by our sinful nature work together • Systems affected by our sinful nature work in conflict! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
Individually, we are a “team” of specialized members! • Collectively, whether it’s two or more, we are a “team” of specialized members! • This principle applies to the Church as well: • V. 5: “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and everyone members one of another!” • We all—in the body of Christ belong to each other, just as each member of our individual bodies belong to all other members! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
Notice how the body works! • Each part of our body serves all other parts, accepting the mutual benefit of service! • No part involved in involuntary services considers the repetition to be boring; nor begrudges the rest of the body the benefit of its work! • Examples: heart, lungs, the digestive system! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
All conflict in our body is caused by the sinful nature! • The sinful nature manipulates certain parts of the body to serve the desires of that nature, (see Rom. 8:5-11). • All works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21) occur because the sinful nature uses members of our body to serve the sinful nature, not to benefit the body and others! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
All parts of the body are gifted! • Therefore, our human bodies do not achieve ultimate benefit unless each part contributes its giftedness to the mutual benefit of the body! • In the same way, each of us are gifted to serve the rest of us! • All born again children of God have been given spiritual gifts for the benefit of our spiritual brothers and sisters, to the glory of God! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
Consider verses 6-13 • If your gift is prophesy, use it, proportionately to the faith God has given you! • In the same way, use serving, teaching, encouraging, contributing to the needs of others, leadership, and showing mercy! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
Notice verses 14-21 • Bless persecutors! • Rejoice with the rejoicing! • Mourn with the mourning! • Live in harmony with one another! • Avoid pride and conceit! • Act rightly with great care! • Live at peace with everyone! • Avoid revenge! • Conquer evil! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
Why don’t we live this way? • We ignore the initial step! • Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world! • But how? • Jesus reveals the process in John 8:31-32! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
Consider advice from the Christ: • Jesus said to the Jews who (1) BELIEVED Him . . . • If you (2) HOLD TO MY TEACHING, you are really my disciples! • The (3) YOU WILL KNOW THE TRUTH! (see John 14:6) • And (4) THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE! • This process frees us from being conformed to the ways of this world! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
Consider an example! • Luke 6:38 “Give, and it shall be given unto you: • Good measure • Pressed down • Shaken together • Running over • . . .will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you!” A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
In my business . . . • I offer new HBBO owners $13,757 in products and services for $399! • I take a 30% equity position in their business for three years, or until my commission earns $20,000. In other words, I will have to help them earn at least $66,500 for me to earn about $20,000, and I have to do that in 36 months! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
What measure am I using? • I give 400% more in products and services than the original investment! • This will be a profitable relationship only if I help the customer to earn 70% more than I do! • What measure will God use to have return given to me, pressed down, shaken together and running over? • What would the world say about such a deal? A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
That’s not all! • On the customer’s fifth anniversary, I promise to give the HBBO owner a bonus equal to the original investment! • Does the person take any risk? • What measure am I using to give? • What does that mean to my business? A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
Consider another example! • I recently proposed a venture in which two investors invested $350 each, and will receive 60% perpetual return on their investment. They get 60% of revenue, off the top! • $375 x 5,000 customers = $1,875,000 x .60 = $1,125,000 = $562,500 each! • Is that a good return on an investment? • What would the world say about such a deal? • Would most people believe that this is TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
Will God deliver 5,000 customers to us? • If we contact 9,000 prospects and share the message that gives them opportunity to: • Build equity in their homes three times faster • Pay off their mortgage eight to 12 years sooner • Save $50,000 or more in interest payments • Does God obligate Himself, based upon His righteousness, in Luke 6:30 to deliver 5,400 customers to us? A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
We believe Luke 6:38 promises just that! • How does this belief compare with Mark 11:22-24? • Psa.37:4 A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
What’s the key to receiving the benefits of this principal? • Be a believer!—See John 8:31 • Believe!—See Mark 11:22-25 • Behave as a believer!-- • Trust God to keep His promises as we live in His word! (Col. 3:17) • Act on all of the above! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
Who should be our #1 target market for this service? • Rom. 12:13; Gal. 6:10 • Does God promise to remember these things we do for others, especially God’s people? (Heb. 6:10) • Does God reveal how He remembers? (Mal. 3:16). • Will some of God’s people be suspicious of this new concept? (John 6:32-66) A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
Should we also serve people in the world who need this? • Mark 14:7 • Luke 16:1-13 • Abide in the Word when you have little and you will abide in the Word when God delivers much! • Use worldly wealth as a catalyst to build relationships, particularly in the world. • If God can’t trust you with this world’s wealth, He also can’t trust you with eternal riches [grace, for example]. • You can’t love both God and wealth simultaneously! You can love God and use wealth, but you can’t love wealth and use God • (start 4-12-06) A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
Do these examples illustrate the principles in John 8:31-32? • Who said: “Give and it shall be given to you, a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” • If I apply Luke 6:38 to the pricing strategy in my business, am I holding to (abiding in) His word? • Am I, therefore, His disciple? A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
Now consider how Rom. 12:1-2 applies in these examples: • Would my sinful nature ascribe to this principle? • Therefore, if I apply John 8:31-32 and Luke 6:38, am I sacrificing my “body,” my natural way of thinking, the so-called carnal paradigm? • Am I refusing to conform, in this specific business practice, to the ways of this world? A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
What happens in my relationship with God? • Am I being trustworthy at the personal level? • Am I proposing relationships based upon trust at the interpersonal level? • Are these business proposals mutually empowering at the management level? • Do they put me, partners and customers in alignment with God at the organizational level? • Rom. 8:32! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
The conclusion: • You need seven “tools” to practice spiritual principles: • Get started • Become and remain teachable } • Become and remain coach-able} By the Holy Spirit! • Learn to master systems thinking and the sanctification process • Work S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Relevant and Time-focused) • Work hard • Don’t quit! • These constitute the “trigger” principles of the 40 principles that define the “keys to the kingdom of heaven!” A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
I suggest: • Select something specific and practical in life that you want God to bless you to achieve! • Yield as the Holy Spirit reveals the appropriate governing principle! This principle will always be contrary to what you have “always believed.” • Ask God in prayer to “help your unbelief!” • Remember, Jesus said that some unbelief does not go out except by prayer and fasting! (Matt. 17:21) • Use the seven tools of principle application! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production
Next: How to fight the good fight of faith! Learn how to conquer the enemies of God’s gift of faith! A KOG Unity PLUS Group Production