THE NEW YOU: “Paradigm Shift”
Romans 8:11 - 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
The New Year brings new resolutions. Many are tired of what they have become, and make a choice to make a change.
Isn’t it amazing how so many then decide that making the change is too inconvenient – causing them to slip back into what they were tired of being in the first place.
The journey I walked this past year was not really a New Year’s resolution. I didn’t start to the end of January.
But I can say this – I have been resolute in continuing this journey through 2010.
I will be resolute in finishing this journey in 2011!
Change did not come easy to me this year. But the change I have experienced has made me a new person.
Is there something that needs to change within you? Do you live in the life given to you by the Spirit of God as followers of Christ? Have you slipped back into the convenient way of living that you detested in the first place?
Be inspired by one of the greatest preachers in last 300 years:
Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758), from the Works of Jonathan Edwards, Vol. 1
Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humble entreat Him, by His grace, to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to His will, for Christ's sake. [I will] remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.
Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general.
Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.
Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.
Resolved, Never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.
Resolved, Never to do anything out of revenge.
Resolved, Never to speak evil of any one, so that it shall tend to his dishonour, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.
Resolved, To study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly, and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive, myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
Resolved, Never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession which I cannot hope God will accept.
Resolved, To ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month, and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better.
Resolved, Never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.
Resolved, After afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them; what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.
Resolved, Always to do that which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Let there be something of benevolence in all that I speak.
The only things inevitable in life are death, taxes and CHANGE!
Technology advances occur almost daily. Paradigm shifts seem to occur every few months!
In 1962, Thomas Kuhn was the originator of the term “paradigm shift” and made this statement – “Scientific advancement is not evolutionary, but rather is a "series of peaceful interludes punctuated by intellectually violent revolutions", and in those revolutions "one conceptual world view is replaced by another."
A paradigm shift is changing from one way of thinking to another.
It’s amazing how often that occurs in our society today.
The question we have to ask ourselves is do we need a paradigm shift within ourselves?!
Society seems to think in terms of selfishness, greed, malice, sexual immorality, corruption, humanism, etc.
1 Peter 2:11 - 11Beloved, I implore you as aliens and strangers and exiles [in this world] to abstain from the sensual urges (the evil desires, the passions of the flesh, your lower nature) that wage war against the soul. (Amplified Bible)
How should we as strangers and aliens to this world think?
1 Corinthians 15:34 - 34 Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.
Philippians 4:8 - 8For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. (Amplified Bible)
Paul, in Philippians 4, encourages the church at Philippi with these things:
Vs. 4 – Rejoice in the Lord always (delight, gladden), and then rejoice again.
Vs. 5 – Live unselfish lives (be considerate)
Vs. 6 – Don’t worry about anything. When you have a need, come to God with your prayers and specific requests, with thanks giving, no matter how big or small you may thing the circumstance may be.
Vs. 7 – Let the peace of God that transcends all understanding garrison (a body of troops guarding a specific zone) you and mount guard over your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
This type of peace is the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with whatever comes one’s way.
When we allow this paradigm shift to take place within ourselves, then vs. 9 becomes a reality:
Philippians 4:9 - 9Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you.
When we get to this point, when it comes to our spiritual condition, we need to be resolute in our commitment to stand firm!
This month we will be looking at The New You from the angles of Youth-Minded, Overcomer, and Unity.
