Review of #1 thru #5
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 his 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, the believer may use one or several 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 the believer. Consistent utilization of the system will advance the believer far beyond what he can imagine, to a lifestyle of a relaxed mental attitude toward circumstances, toward self, toward others and most importantly, toward God.
Problem-Solving Device #1 is Rebound
Rebound is for believers only. Rebound (confession of personal sins to God) is a useless activity for an unbeliever and has nothing to do with salvation. Believing in Christ is what the unbeliever needs to do, not confess his sins. Failure to rebound by the believer leads to chain sinning and ultimately to a condition of reversionism. Recovery from reversionism is a process that can take a long period of time, depending on the length of time the believer remains out of fellowship with God. (I John 1:6-9)
Reversionism is referred to in the Bible as prolonged “carnality,” which means a person is being controlled by the “flesh.” Carnality is the condition of the out-of-fellowship believer and “the flesh” is a synonym for the sin nature. There are several stages to reversionism, beginning with a believer who fails to keep “short accounts” with God by naming his personal sins often. When a believer realizes that he has committed a sin, he needs to confess that sin immediately to God. By doing this, the believer can avoid the slide into reversionism.
The importance of rebound cannot be overemphasized. Without the utilization of this important doctrine a believer cannot execute the Christian Way of Life. Without rebound, the filling of the Holy Spirit does not exist in a believer, therefore he does not have the supernatural power required to live his spiritual life. This, of course, means that a believer who is out of fellowship with God has cut off all communication with Him and cannot please or bring glory to Him. This is a sad state to be in as a believer. Therefore, we see the importance of understanding and using the Rebound Technique to solve the problem of being out of fellowship with God.
Problem-Solving Device #2 is The Filling of the Holy Spirit
“Filling” means to be controlled by, guided by and empowered by God the Holy Spirit Who permanently indwells every believer. The filling of the Holy Spirit is the only spiritual asset that is temporary.
The filling of the Holy Spirit is for every believer in Christ. The purpose of this filling is to empower the believer to live the Christian Way of Life. When a believer is living the Christian Way of Life, he brings glory and honor to Christ.
All believers are immediately filled with the Holy Spirit the moment they trust Christ as their Savior. The first time we sin after salvation however, we lose the filling of the Holy Spirit and we are out of fellowship with God. In order to restore both the filling of the Holy Spirit and our fellowship with God, we must simply name our known sins to God. (I John 1:9) We are then commanded to move forward with the execution of the Christian Way of Life, which the Scripture calls “walking in the light.” (I John 1:5-10)
The filling of the Holy Spirit is potential, depending on the volition (free will) of the believer. It is also a command and literally means “keep on being filled with the Spirit.” The filling of the Spirit solves the problem of no power to execute the Christian Way of Life.
Problem-Solving Device #3 is the Faith-Rest Technique
The principle of Faith-Rest is from God, who is perfect. Therefore, the Faith-Rest Technique is perfect. No human deed or work can be added to a perfect provision from God. The believer must cease from human good and enter into a rest where he does no work. The Holy Spirit does the work. The requirement, therefore, for the believer is faith, not human works. Faith is the absence of any human merit, which means, that in and of itself, faith has no value or worth. The value or worth is in the object of our faith. The object of faith for the believer should always be God and His Word.
Faith-Rest is knowing, believing and applying the promises, the principles and the doctrines of the Word of God. (Isaiah 33:6) There are over 7,000 promises in the Bible for the believer. These promises do us no good unless we mix them with faith and apply them to our situation. (Hebrews 4:2) Claiming these promises eliminates mental attitude sins such as fear, worry and anxiety, which cut off Divine Viewpoint Thinking. Faith-Rest will restore Divine Viewpoint Thinking and stabilize the believer in times of pressure and adversity. Faith–Rest results in a relaxed mental attitude, which solves the problem of mental attitude sins. (Matthew 11:28-30)
Problem-Solving Device #4 is Grace Orientation
Grace is all that God is free to do for mankind on the basis of the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Grace is undeserved mercy and unmerited favor. Grace is the title of God’s plan and His policy for mankind. Orientation is defined as familiarization with a particular person, thing or field of knowledge. To orient means to set right by adjusting to facts or principles, to put oneself into correct position or relation and to acquaint oneself with the existing situation.
Grace orientation, therefore, means to become familiar with God’s grace plan and grace policies by adjusting to the facts and principles found in the Word of God, which puts you in correct relation to God and others.
In the Christian life, when allowed to do so, God the Holy Spirit does all the work of producing the character of Jesus Christ in a believer. (Romans 8:29, Galatians 5:22-23) We should be truly thankful that God’s plan does not depend upon us, but upon Him. If you have your eyes on what you are doing for God, or even what someone else is doing for God (even the pastor), you will never be grace-oriented. Our focus should always be on what God is doing. God treats us in grace because of His character. Therefore, we are able to treat others with grace by using Divine Viewpoint Thinking.
God has a perfect plan for each one of us, but it is up to us to discover that plan. The filling of the Holy Spirit, which means we are being controlled and guided by Him, is a grace provision from God. This gives every believer the potential to understand His Word, regardless of education or IQ. Grace orientation solves the problem of legalism.
Problem-Solving Device #5 is Doctrinal Orientation
Bible doctrine is the word of God the Father. (Hebrews 4:12) It is the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16) and the voice of God the Holy Spirit. (Hebrews 3:7)
The Word of God is profitable for doctrine (the body of teaching that we believe), for reproof (the Word of God is a mirror into our souls so that we can evaluate ourselves before God), for correction (once we evaluate ourselves and find there needs to be corrective action, the Word of God gives the correct course of action), and for instruction in righteousness (once we discover the right course of action, the Word of God gives us a blueprint of how to accomplish our goal). (II Timothy 3:16)
The provision of physical and spiritual needs is one of God’s grace blessings to all believers regardless of their spiritual status. Another of these grace blessings that God has provided for us is the freedom and the opportunity to be taught Bible doctrine. We learn Bible doctrine under the filling (control and guidance) ministry of God the Holy Spirit. (John 16:12-13) God has given to the local church certain men with the gift of pastor/teacher for the communication of doctrine, systematically. (Ephesians 4:11-16) We are also commanded to spend time in personal study of God’s Word. (II Timothy 2:15, Isaiah 28:9-10) It is important to remember that no one passage of Scripture stands alone. We must always study by comparing Scripture with Scripture. (II Peter 1:20-21) Doctrinal orientation solves the problem of Human Viewpoint Thinking.
Bible doctrine will set you free. “And you shall know the truth (doctrine) and the truth (doctrine) shall make you free.” (John 8:32) “I will walk in freedom: for I seek thy doctrine.” (Psalms 119:45)