h1>Lesson for February 26, 2023

The Victorious Christian Way of Life

Lesson 9

The Problem-Solving Devices as a System of Life

Within the Protocol Plan of God, there are Ten Problem-Solving Devices. The Problem-Solving Devices encompass every aspect of the Christian way of life, the victorious life that God has planned for every believer. The Problem-Solving Devices are to be used as a system of problem solving for every Christian, regardless of their stage of growth in the Christian life. In other words, no one ever outgrows the need to use all ten. Depending on the problem to be solved, believers will use one or more of the devices simultaneously as the solution to any of life’s challenges. When learned, believed, and applied, this system will stabilize, sustain, empower, and liberate any believer. Consistently using the system will advance believers far beyond what they can imagine, to a lifestyle of a relaxed mental attitude toward circumstances, toward self, toward others, and most importantly, toward God, knowing that He is a loving and kind Father Who only wants the best for us.

The Ten Problem-Solving Devices

1. Rebound – to name, admit, acknowledge, or cite your sins to God. When we name, admit, acknowledge, or cite our known sins to God, He forgives us and cleanses us from all sins, even those we have perhaps forgotten. This restores us to fellowship with God, resulting in being filled with the Holy Spirit. Remember, the filling of the Holy Spirit is temporary. Personal sin removes the filling of the Holy Spirit; fellowship with God restores it. (I John 1:7-9)
2. Filling of the Holy Spirit – being influenced, empowered, and guided by the Holy Spirit. It is the supernatural power that we need in order to learn and apply the accurate Bible doctrine that we need to live the Victorious Christian Way of Life. At any given time, you are either being fully influenced by the Holy Spirit or being fully influenced your sin nature. (Ephesians 5:18; I John 1:5-10; I Corinthians 2:9-16)
3. Faith-Rest Technique – mixing the promises of God with your faith, reaching the correct doctrinal conclusion, and applying the correct doctrine. Rather than seeking counsel from others who don’t know accurate doctrine, we are to claim the promises of God by faith. This means that the promises of God should be more real to us that our experiences, our emotions, our problems, or our circumstances. This technique, when properly used, results in a relaxed mental attitude about the circumstances of life. Using the Faith-Rest Technique eliminates mental attitude sins such as fear, worry, and anxiety. (Hebrews 4:1-3)
4. Grace Orientation – becoming familiar with God’s grace policy for salvation and the spiritual life, and the fantastic blessings that accompany each. Grace orientation is realization that everything we have as believers is due to God’s grace. Being grace oriented means we are learning to apply God’s grace policies to every situation. Being grace oriented also means that we are learning humility – the attitude of teachability. Grace orientation solves the problem of human works for salvation and spirituality. (Ephesians 2:8-9; James 4:6)
5. Doctrinal Orientation – learning and applying Bible doctrine, which is the mind of Christ – Divine Viewpoint Thinking. Doctrinal orientation means that we are learning to think as Christ thought and applying that thinking to our circumstances. Bible doctrine, learned and believed, changes our norms and standards from human to divine, which enables us to trust God for everything, make good decisions, and use the Problem-Solving Devices constantly. Doctrinal orientation solves the problems of not knowing God, His instructions, and His perfect will for our life. This device also solves the problem of Human Viewpoint Thinking, human norms and standards, and reliance upon human ability. (Romans 12:1-2)
6. Personal Sense of Destiny – understanding that God has a plan for every believer and that He wants each of us to fulfill that plan with a view to what is waiting for us in the future. Having a personal sense of destiny therefore means a believer is living the Victorious Christian Way of Life that God planned for them. Having a personal sense of destiny changes the way we talk to ourselves, to others, and to God. This device solves the problem of not knowing our importance to God, His individual plan for our lives, and what the future holds. (Philippians 1:21; I Peter 1:3-5)
7. Personal Love for God – as Royal Priests, we are to love God. You can love God only if you know Him through the study of His Word. We learn about God by learning about His character and His attributes. Love for God motivates us to allow Him to develop the character of Christ in our souls. Love for God develops confidence in God’s plan to sustain us as we live the Victorious Christian Way of Life. Personal love for God solves the problem of lack of gratitude regarding all of God’s provisions, and the lack of motivation we need in order to execute His plan for our lives. (Deuteronomy 6:5; I Peter 1:8)
8. Impersonal Love for all Mankind – as Royal Ambassadors, we are to love the entire human race. Impersonal love is a relaxed mental attitude that exhibits the character of Christ towards everyone. It is unconditional love because it does not depend on the object of your love – it depends on the character of God in your soul. When we have developed impersonal love, we treat others with kindness, patience, forgiveness, and respect. We also set aside our “pet prejudices” regarding race, social status, ability, appearance, or what a person can or cannot do for us. Impersonal love for all mankind solves the problem of your relationships with, and your attitude towards people. (James 2:8)
9. Sharing the Happiness of God – this means that we are tapping into God’s happiness by following His predesigned plan for us, which produces a permanent contentment in our soul. We must first create an environment in our souls for happiness. God’s happiness is based on the truth of His Word. Therefore, we can share His happiness only if we have truth (Bible doctrine) stored in our souls. Sharing God’s happiness is not for the weak, uninformed novice believer, because you can’t share in something you know nothing about. As we stay in fellowship with God, and consistently apply His Word, we share His joy (happiness). This means that our happiness does not depend on people or circumstances. God’s happiness replaces the conditional, temporary, emotional, false happiness of Satan’s world system. Sharing God’s happiness solves the problems of unhappiness, pessimism, worry, complaining, and lack of confidence. (John 15:11)
10. Occupation with Christ – this means we are following Christ’s example as our perfect role model by learning to think divine viewpoint like He did, obey divine mandates as He did, make good decisions from a position of strength as He did, and use the Problem-Solving Devices as He did.Christ used eight of the ten problem solving devices to always maintain a perfect mental attitude (He didn’t need Rebound or Occupation with Christ) and to live an impeccable life. It is impossible to be occupied with someone you do not know personally. You can get to know Jesus personally only by learning, believing, and applying the truth of His Word, which is the source for all truth about Jesus Christ. Occupation with Christ solves the problem of self-deception, self-justification, and self-absorption. (Ephesians 3:19; Hebrews 12:1-2; Philippians 2:5)

Conclusion

A perfect God has a perfect plan for you. It is God’s desire for every believer to live a happy, successful, victorious life. All the solutions to life’s problems are wrapped up in the Problem-Solving Device System. God knew everything that would ever happen to each of us, and made provision for us. From the Rebound recovery system and the filling of the Holy Spirit to occupation with Christ, God did not forget to provide us with all the necessary equipment we need to glorify Him. The question is whether we will choose to use His equipment. No one can force you to tap into God’s divine system. However, as a believer in Jesus Christ, tapping into God’s system is the only way you will ever experience true happiness while on this earth. 

As a believer in Christ, you can live your life outside of God’s will and still go to Heaven, but what an opportunity you will have missed! So, why not choose the victorious life that God offers you, which leads to fantastic blessings and rewards. It is God’s desire that we all grow up spiritually so that He can bless us to the maximum! (Isaiah 30:18; Matthew 6:33; I Thessalonians 1:11-12; I Peter 3:18)

Romans 12:1-2, “I beg you by the grace of God that you present yourselves as a living sacrifice, set apart and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this World System, rather be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you might discover God’s perfect will for you.”