Appendix 2L; Intentional Christian Conduct
Decide today whom you will serve!
What drives your decision-making? As a Christian, you have the power to overcome temptation, do you use it?
Be intentional
Count the costs prior to decision-making. Don't be fooled by the appeal of immediate gratification from fulfilled physical desires. Use a steady supply of self-discipline mixed with the positive expectations of your Christian faith to practice the truth of God’s Word (John 17:19, 1 Thessalonians 5:19). Let God’s love and trustworthiness motivate you to follow Him so you'll “do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
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Choose to to break the chains of sin (1 Corinthians 10:13, Galatians 5:1). Express your hope filled attitude by doing good works, trusting God for the results.
ShinE ! Express the Spirit of God in you!
Let Hope Inspire Change
Cultivate your spiritual seed and grow to become one new person in Christ (Mark 4:8, 4:31-32, Colossians 2:6-7, 1 Peter 1:22). God’s gift of spiritual transformation is instantaneous! To act it out physically in your body and soul, however, is an on-going process of learning as you grow your faith (Appendix 1F). 2 Corinthians 5:17 and
Colossians 3:1-17 describes the transformation process that occurs in you for the purpose of establishing a new normal in Christ. Using your natural personality, you can act compassionately not inconsiderately, making what is true spiritually also true physically in both soul and body (Psalm 119:93, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Zechariah 7:8-10, John 10:10). It’s the power of Christ’s Spirit flowing through you, together with your decision to make Jesus the Lord (not just Savior) of your life, that makes this physical transformation possible. The Holy Spirit is the power source with which God equips you to make this happen in your physical daily life. He is your guide throughout this sanctification process. It is a refinement process that happens incrementally, so you learn to walk in Divine Love both securely and habitually (Isaiah 45:9, Romans 8:28, 12:2, 2 Timothy 2:21, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, Hebrews 12:14, 1 Peter 1:15-16).
Free will expression of faith
Look at the transformation process as occurring in 2 phases;
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Justification occurs by God; when you find yourself God-dependent - at the foot of the cross, and
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Sanctification occurs by your daily decision to use your self-discipline and trust the power of the Holy Spirit to strengthen you to overcome the temptation to wander (unlike the experience of the prodical son in Luke 15:11-24.
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You can rest comfortably and confidently in Christ when you use what you know about your faith in Him to lead your way (Luke 16:19-31).
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Read Judges 20:18-48 to see an example of God at work even when you do not see any immediate help (Romans 8:28).
