Full Counsel of God

Jesus said, "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). He was expressing God's desire that we should become all that we can be in Christ Jesus.

• The Overcoming Life
• Applying The Full Counsel Of God
• Principles Of God's Kingdom
• As You Pray
• Suggested Reading

 

The Overcoming Life

You can have an overcoming, victorious life because of the shed blood of Jesus and because of what you can become in Christ (Revelation 12:10,11).

The Bible says that as you think in your heart, so have you become (Proverbs 23:7). You will think in a godly way as you receive the full counsel of God (Acts 20:27). As you grow in spiritual knowledge and experience, you will gain spiritual maturity and the abundant life that God has promised (3 John 2).

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Applying The Full Counsel Of God

Become "born again" (John 3:3,5). Death reigns over us from our birth (Romans 5:12) because of our sinful nature (1 John 2:16). We think and behave after the lusts (appetites) of our flesh and our eyes, and after the dictates of the pride of life (Galatians 5:19-21).

Jesus came to change your relationship with God (John 3:16). As you pray, confess and repent of your sins. He will save, cleanse and forgive you. And He will give you power (authority) to become a child of God (Romans 10:13; 1 John 1:9; John 1:12). Have you received Him into your heart and life as Saviour and Lord? If not, do so now.

Ask the Lord for the baptism in the Holy Spirit. After you have been saved or born again, adopted, redeemed or converted (all terms describing the experience of salvation), you will find you need power to live the Christian life. This power is available when you are baptized in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will comfort, guide, help and empower you (Luke 11:13; Joel 2:28-32; John 14,16; Acts 1:8;
Mark 16:16-20).

Through the Holy Spirit, your experiences will be similar to those of the first disciples. You will be able to pray and glorify God in praise, and prophecy in a language you have not learned (Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4,11; 10:44-47; 1 Corinthians 14:24a).

You can pray alone to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13), or a Spirit-filled friend, pastor or elder in your church can pray with you and help you in your understanding of the Holy Spirit.

Grow in the "fruit" of the Spirit (love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control). As the Holy Spirit edifies your spirit, you can begin replacing your worldly, fleshly nature with God's nature (Galatians 5:22,23). Receiving the character traits of God is perhaps the most important need a Christian has. The Holy Spirit will work in every experience and detail of your life to produce the fullness of the nature of God (the fruit of the Spirit).

It is important to draw close to God by spending time daily with Him in prayer and His Word. As you do, earnestly ask Him to help you develop the fruit of the Spirit in your life.

Receive spiritual strength through the ministry of the Church. For you to be spiritually built up in the Lord (Ephesians 4:11-13), it is important that you attend a church fellowship regularly where these ministries are present. God has set in the Church, five gifted ministries: 1) apostles -missionaries sent to preach the Gospel and establish churches; 2) prophets -proclaim God's written or newly-revealed, prophetic Word to the Church; 3) evangelists -proclaim His righteousness, holiness, mercy, love, etc., and call people to turn from sinfulness to repentance; 4) pastors; and 5) teachers -providing spiritual aid and nurture.

Put on God's armour God's protection and provison for the battles of life. This includes: truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation and God's Word (your weapon). It is received, put on, and put to use as a result of knowing God's Word. Then, like a soldier, you must maintain your equipment (spiritual armour) through Bible study, the ministry of the Church and diligent prayer (Ephesians 6:11-18). With God's armour, you can stand against spiritual wickedness in all its forms whether in the physical or spiritual realm.

Develop the gifts of the Spirit. Every Christian has a spiritual gift (not necessarily supernatural) of some kind, depending on his/her faith (1 Peter 4:10; motivational gifts - Romans 12:3-9). The baptism in the Holy Spirit makes you eligible for the supernatural gifts of the Spirit to be manifested through you as you do the works of Christ (John 14:12). This includes overcoming sin, sickness, and evil, and ministering to others (2 Cor. 10:4,5). Every Spirit-filled Christian can minister through the supernatural gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7-10,27-31).

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Principles Of God's Kingdom

Practice God's principles. In practicing the principles of God's kingdom, you will receive the fulfillment of God's promises. They will apply to most or all problems you will ever encounter. Become thoroughly familiar with these principles and practice them for victory and growth in your life.

1. Give praises to God. He honours those who honour Him (1 Samuel 2:30b). Honour God, the Problem Solver, rather than honouring a problem, sin, temptation, illness, etc.
2. Be in agreement with God (His Word). The place of agreement is the place of power (Matt. 18:19). Disagreement brings only defeat.
3. Learn the law of reciprocity. As you give, it will be given in return, in even greater measure (Luke 6:38). As you do for others and for God, it will be done for you.
4. Receive favour from the Lord. God favours a just person. He honours those who serve Him (John 12:26). Learn to serve God and walk in His favour.
5. Seek the benefits of prayer and fasting. Desire to hear from God more than you desire food to eat (Job 23:12). If you fast on behalf of another, or for your own need, God's reward to you will include healing, personal recognition, protection, favour and His sure guidance (Isaiah 58:6-12).
6. Help to accomplish God's desires for others through intercession. To intercede means to stand up for those in need, as a friend or defender (Isaiah 59:16). God will move in response to the prayers of the righteous: those in right standing with Him (James 5:16).

In summary, be satisfied with nothing less than God's full counsel for you. As a maturing, equipped Christian, you will be an overcomer in the world, and therefore, will be able to teach others as well.

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As You Pray

Thank and praise God daily as you learn, meditate and grow in the basic areas of God's full counsel. Pray for others you know who need to experience God's fullness in their lives. Pray for an opportunity to speak to them.


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Suggested Reading

Yes, Lord by Harold Bredesen; Favour, The Road to Success by Bob Buess; The Secret Kingdom by Pat Robertson with Bob Slosser; and/or Prison To Praise by Merlin Carothers.

Daily, read God's Word and spend time with Him in prayer. Attend your church regularly and even participate in a good Bible study group. These things will help you to grow in spiritual maturity.


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Crossroads is happy to help.  In fact, that's the whole reason we exist as a ministry.  The daily 100 Huntley Street telecast and the 24-hour-a-day Telephone Ministry line are here for the same reason.  You may want to call us as you are reading this: 1-866-273-4444

God loves you and we love you!  Please give us the privilege of doing our best to help more. For further ministry, you may contact the Crossroads Ministry Centre by writing to:

Crossroads Christian Communications Inc.
Attn: National Ministry Centre
PO Box 5100
Burlington, Ontario     L7R 4M2