Lesson for September 11, 2019

Spiritual Dynamics

Three Categories of Spiritual Adulthood

Spiritual Self-Esteem

There are three categories of spiritual adulthood: 1) Spiritual self-esteem, which is spiritual self-confidence, the beginning of the effective function of the Ten Problem-Solving Devices of the Protocol Plan of God 2) Spiritual autonomy,which is spiritual independence and the continuation of the effective function of the Ten Problem-Solving Devices of the Protocol Plan of God3) Spiritual maturity,which is spiritual invincibility and the maximum effective function of the Ten Problem-Solving Devices of the Protocol Plan of God.

Self-esteem is defined as respect for self, satisfaction with one’s self or a good opinion of one’s self.  Self-esteem is confidence in what you know, and how to put it into operation. Spiritual self-esteem is all of the above from a spiritual perspective that results in maximum humility on the basis of the Bible doctrine in your soul.  Spiritual self-esteem is confidence in God, and confidence in the Word of God.  It is notconfidence in Human Viewpoint Thinking.  (Romans 12:1-3)

Spiritual self-esteem is attained through building a spiritual life within our souls. Living the spiritual life means understanding how the Christian Way of Life works related to our Portfolio of Invisible Assets, the Problem-Solving Devices and to everything that God has given us. An understanding of the mechanics of the Christian Way of Life is the first step in the development of spiritual self-esteem.  Having attained spiritual self-esteem means you can make proper doctrinal applications so that your life becomes full of meaning, purpose, and definition. 

Spiritual self-esteem means the effective use of the Problem-Solving Devices. A successful Christian experience during life’s disasters includes the following: 1) Occupation with Christ replacing self-absorption (preoccupied with or eyes on self).  Therefore, you meet the disaster, not in preoccupation with self, not in complaining, but through the principle of occupation with Christ.  2) Impersonal love for all mankind replacing preoccupation with people (having your eyes on people).  3) Sharing the happiness of God which includes tranquility of soul and contentment replacing eyes on the circumstances that surround you.

In spiritual self-esteem, a believer keeps priorities aligned with accurate Bible doctrine.  Priority number one is to learn accurate Bible doctrine. Priority number two is to apply what you learn which results in divine production. Spiritual self-esteem keeps Christian service in proper perspective.   Spiritual self-esteem gives you the spiritual knowledge to know the difference between human good and divine good. 

Reaching spiritual self-esteem occurs through the consistent study and application of doctrine which develops doctrinal orientation and the following: 1) humility, without which there is no teachability in life  2) avoidance of selfish ambition and selfish competition 3) spiritual common sense and good judgment related to the divine viewpoint of life  4) correct and accurate application of Bible doctrine which destroys any distortion of the truth and any attempt at self-justification  5) understanding and utilization of the Problem-Solving Devices as a way of life  6) Divine Viewpoint Thinking instead of Human Viewpoint Thinking so the believer is thinking the thoughts of Christ 7) making good decisions from a position of strength to replace bad decisions from a position of weakness.

Spiritual self-esteem is synonymous with a personal sense of destiny.  The doctrinal status of spiritual self-confidence means that doctrinal concepts are fully realized, though perhaps not fully developed.  You have attained the first objective with regard to spiritual self-esteem, but that objective needs to be stabilized by the application of accurate Bible doctrine. Personal love for God the Father and impersonal love for all mankind are stabilizers and motivators for continued spiritual advance.  Spiritual self-esteem eliminates emotion as a criterion for the spiritual life.  The spiritual life is a system of thinking under the filling of the Holy Spirit.

When spiritual self-esteem uses the Problem-Solving Devices of personal love for God the Father and impersonal love for all mankind, it establishes two things which stabilize spiritual self-esteem: an organized system of humility (teachability) and focus on God and His Word which replaces self-absorption (eyes on self).   

A believer with spiritual self-esteem continues to make Bible doctrine the number one priority and fulfills the command of Philippians 3:16, “Let us keep on living by that same standard to which we have attained.”  A believer with spiritual self-esteem is not discouraged by the setbacks in life.  Therefore, he is free from self-pity, which is the function of self-absorption.  The momentum of spiritual self-esteem eliminates the three risk factors upon entering the adult spiritual life: 1) sins of arrogance 2) emotion as a criterion for the spiritual life and 3) incompetent problem solving.  Spiritual self-esteem begins with the effective harmonizing of all the Problem-Solving Devices into one effective system.  

Spiritual self-esteem is related to all ten of the Problem-Solving Devices of the Protocol Plan of God.  Spiritual self-esteem means confidence in the Rebound Technique rather than in the shock of one’s sins.  A person’s personal sins are never as important as what our Lord Jesus Christ did on the Cross about our sins.  We will fail and shock ourselves from time to time, but we will never shock God.   Spiritual self-esteem is the knowledge that after Rebound, the believer has recovered fellowship with God and is filled with the Holy Spirit no matter how he feels.  How you feel about your sin or failure is never the issue; the issue is what the Bible says and applying that knowledge. 

Spiritual self-esteem emphasizes the reality of the Faith-Rest Drill over the reality of one’s problems, adversities, disasters and stress situations.  Spiritual self-esteem is grace orientation rather than circumstance orientation.  Too often, we think that our happiness depends on the circumstances around us. Our circumstances are not the issue in the Christian Way of Life. Bible doctrine must be more real to us than our circumstances.Spiritual self-esteem is sharing the happiness of God in every circumstance of life whether it is good or bad.

The believer who keeps learning and applying accurate Bible doctrine eventually gains spiritual self-esteem.  Spiritual self-esteem is not arrogance; it’s wisdom.  Wisdom is the result of the study and application of Bible doctrine to our daily experiences. 

Bible doctrine in the soul is guarded by the rate of learning exceeding the rate of forgetting.  Scar tissue of the soul replaces doctrine when the rate of forgetting doctrine exceeds the rate of learning doctrine.  This means that believers must be consistent and persistent in Rebound when necessary so that your spiritual life stays on track.

Spiritual self-esteem functions through “the mirror into the soul” concept.  No Bible doctrine in the soul results in no “mirror into the soul.” 

Knowing who you are in Christ and what you have as a result of the study and application of Bible doctrine develops the Christian life into a life of  humility (teachability), Christian integrity (a strict adherence to the truth of the Word of God) and consistent utilization of the Problem-Solving Devices. 

Spiritual self-esteem is that virtue (strength of character) of the Protocol Plan of God whereby a believer’s self-confidence is based on accurate Bible doctrine which has been learned and properly applied. The secret to spiritual self-esteem is love and respect for God and His Word and understanding the tremendous difference it will make in your life when you attain it.

Many privileges are given to believers at the moment of salvation and many are given after salvation.  However, opportunities must be seized by personal volition.  As a believer, you are the most privileged person on the face of the earth, but at the same time you may be missing the opportunities for fantastic blessing by not executing God’s plan, purpose and will for your life.  Spiritual victory comes over a period of time as a believer makes thousands of right decisions regarding God, himself, others and circumstances.  Winning the spiritual victory is done by a believer who is being empowered by God the Holy Spirit as he organizes his life around right priorities: Jesus Christ must be the most important Person in your life, learning and applying accurate Bible doctrine must be placed above personal pleasure, others or your career, and a strict adherence to the truth of God’s Word must drive every decision you make in life. (Ephesians 4:14-15)

Privilege in life is always accompanied by responsibility.  This is also true with the Royal Family of God.  Our first responsibility is to God as Royal Priests, and we also have a responsibility to others as Royal Ambassadors.  Christ’s victory on the Cross secured potentialfor us to win spiritual battles and ultimately win the spiritual victory.  As believers, we all have equal privilege and equal opportunity to live the Christian Way of Life.  Some believers will choose to do so, and some will not.  Those who choose to embrace and fulfill their responsibility to God will experience a victorious life of peace, happiness, success and fulfillment that only God can provide.

Spiritual self-esteem is characterized by the status of “Christ being formed in you.”(Galatians 4:19)