of a promise, which can lead to disillusion with the Scriptures. For example, apply the Faith-rest drill to Jn.16:23b).

Transcription

1

2 Ten Problem Solving Devices (PSD s) Source: Another excerpt from Rodney s forthcoming Book: Wasted Pain. The ten PSD s promise a genuine tranquillity, contentment, and orientation to reality in the midst of the problems and hardships of life are the monopoly of the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Thieme) Previously examined ways of solving problems and living the Christian way of life contain some of the following principles utilising various alterations in vocabulary. Thieme s ten PSD s are favoured here because they are more comprehensive, applicable in every stage of Christian growth, and are effective in meeting every conceivable problem faced by the believer. PSD #1 Rebound, and keep moving. Based on 1Jn.1:9, this PSD is fundamental to maintaining a status of being in fellowship with God (Fellowship with God has nothing to do with salvation. It has everything to do with being in relationship with God without any barrier of sin). Depending solely on God s grace, it includes privacy (between God and yourself) and freedom (of choice). It is not pious living, penance, feeling remorseful, guilty, or even confession to others. PSD #2 The Filling of the Holy Spirit Not to be confused with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (permanent from the point of salvation) or the baptism of the Holy Spirit (one-time initiatory event). Being filled with the Spirit is being empowered by the Holy Spirit as opposed to being controlled by the sin nature. Being filled by the Holy Spirit empowers the believer to understand and apply Bible doctrine, and promotes spiritual growth. Without it (lost by sinning) the believer cannot do any of these things. Ephesians 5:18 mandates the believer to be filled with the Spirit. A word study will reveal that this verse actually says, be filled and keep being filled. There is nothing mystical or emotionally ecstatic, though emotions may be involved, about being filled by the Holy Spirit. This PSD is automatic upon utilising the first PSD. PSD #3 The Faith-Rest Drill When God s promises are more real than the emotions, the experience, the circumstances, or the problem, the Faith-rest drill is in operation. Many use Scripture verses, promises from God s Word, in much the same way as a personal development student would use affirmations, or as a Buddhist would chant, or a Catholic would use the rosary. This reduces the power of faith and the Scriptures in the believer s life to next to nothing. The Faith-rest drill takes a promise from Scripture, studies it (context, word study, doctrine study), and then confident in the appropriate application of that promise to the problem, rests in the Truth of God s Word (Part of a verse taken out of context can often lead to inappropriate application of a promise, which can lead to disillusion with the Scriptures. For example, apply the Faith-rest drill to Jn.16:23b). PSD #4 Grace Orientation When you grasp God s grace policy and how little you deserve the inconceivable bounty He provides, your soul is humbled within. (Thieme) This encapsulates the fourth PSD. Grasping God s grace orients or causes a constant focus in the believer s life. Humility enables the believer to convert problems into spiritual learning and growth experiences. Chris an Biker is published by Rodney J. Osborne. All material in Chris an Biker is protected by the Commonwealth Copyright Act No material may be reproduced without wri en consent. Distributed by Chris an Rider Fellowship. PSD #5 Doctrinal Orientation Being filled with the Spirit is being empowered by the Holy Spirit as opposed to being controlled by the sin nature. Don t allow the word doctrine to throw you off. It is simply the learning to think with the mind of Christ (1Cor.2:16) or to think like Christ would think about the problem. The only way to learn how to have the mind of Christ is to study the Word of God (Jn.1:1).

3 PSD #6 A Personal Sense of Destiny First, and foremost is the recognition of the believer s eternal security, meaning the believer cannot lose their salvation. Then recognition of the believer s individual part in the plan of God comes forth. This is where spiritual self-esteem develops. Now problems are faced with a powerful force of divinely appointed destiny. PSD #7 Personal Love for God the Father The only dependable object of the believer s personal love is God the Father. This is because it is only God the Father that is immutable, or He does not change. Placing personal love towards others is risky business, since everyone changes with the passage of time, circumstances and life events. The result is often verbalised with you are not the same person I married or you are no longer the person I first knew. This can never be said of God, which is an astounding source of confidence in His ability to care, support, and sustain the believer in the face of any adversity. Personal love is loving the other because of who they are. PSD #8 Impersonal Love for all Mankind Most often referred to as unconditional love, meaning love is not withheld because of anything the other does. Unfortunately, part of being human means there are limitations, so true unconditional love becomes a lofty ideal. The use of the word impersonal adds another dimension to how the believer can love all humanity. It is encapsulated in the term as you love yourself (Rom.13:9; Gal.5:14; Jas.2:8). Impersonal love is loving others because of who you are. This is not a reference to self-esteem, but one to spiritual selfesteem. Insults are repaid with patience and humility. Antagonism with compassion and kindness. The negative or disappointing behaviour or words of others are confronted with the fruits of the Spirit filled believer because that is who the believer is. This is one of the highest forms of integrity attainable. PSD #9 Sharing the Happiness of God When optimism, confidence, animation, and joy are dependent on God, the happiness of God is the believer s experience, even in times of adversity, stress, and pressure. It therefore stands to reason that when happiness is not found in the times of testing or problems, the dependence is on people or circumstance. When your spiritual life takes precedence over circumstances, you carry God s happiness with you as a constant companion. (Thieme) PSD #10 Occupation with the Lord Jesus Christ The final and ultimate of PSD s is this one. If the believer is as occupied with Christ as many are occupied with others, most problems would be solved right now. This is the Bibles response to mentoring, iconoclastic arrogance, and celebrity worship. None of these hold a candle to the Lord Jesus Christ. A study of His life will demonstrate the use of every PSD (except the first for He was without sin) resulting in His story becoming the greatest story ever told, raising Him up to be the believers greatest mentor. This has been a brief summary of the ten PSD s only. A more detailed study with a library of supporting information can be found at or from the author s previous book: The Parallax Mk.II. A new Bible study is being developed where each PSD will be examined in detail. This study will be available in weekly instalments via , the Christian Riders Fellowship web site, and a Messenger room. The Parallax Mk.II will be used as a resource and will be available to participants as an E-book or paperback at a discounted rate. Order your paperback copy while stocks last. E-Book $5, Paperback $15

4 There is a word for that! Bellwether: A person or thing that assumes the leadership or forefront. Bonhomie: Frank and simple good-heartedness, good natured, manner; friendliness; geniality Bump ous: offensively self-asser ve He was the bellwether for the ride, doing it in a bonhomie way rather than a bump ous way. Community Bible School Christian Riders Fellowship initiative Providing free on-line courses with a strong focus on Bible teaching. click on the Community Bible School tab and complete the form to enroll. It s really that simple! NEW in progress now God s Armour for Soldiers Request this study by sending a message to: christianridersfellowship777@gmail.com, or Join the Soldiers Armour messenger room. Share this Magazine Please tell others about Chris an Biker, and encourage them to visit our site to download past and future issues. Print out as many copies as you like and give it away. a copy to your contacts Refer them to: anridersfellowship.wordpress.com for more informa on CHRISTIAN BIKER MAGAZINE IS GRATEFUL FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THESE CLUBS/GROUPS TO THIS MAGAZINE ( ) 2016)

5 Associa ons, Clubs, and Groups Directory (To be listed here, Name, , website, city & state, and contact number.) Chris an Riders Fellowship Illawarra, NSW chris Web: chris anridersfellowship.wordpress.com Apostles CMC Penrith, NSW God s Squad CMC Interna onal sydney@gscmc.com Web: Soldiers of the Cross CMC Illawarra, NSW southernstardeveloments@gmail.com Your Associa on, club or group details can go here (no charge). Send us your details now: chris anridersfellowship777@gmail.com Runs, Rides, Meets & Church Soldiers of the Cross Bible Study: Monday nights (1st & 3rd) Camden, Monday nights (2nd & 4th) in Wollongong. Call for details. Open & Combined BBQ: Last Monday of every month. Rodney for details. Apostles open meeting: Friday nights 6.30pm, 97 Gascoigne Street, Kingswood. Serving every Thursday night at Kingswood Railway station with the street feed held by "Christ Mission Possible" and we also Serve one Friday every month with "Hands and Feet Ministries" at Martin Place and Tent City at Central Railway. apostlescmc@gmail.com God s Squad (Sydney) : BIBLE STUDIES Sylvania: Thursday evenings: Contact Garry garry@gscmc.com, Hornsby: Tuesday evenings: Contact Fred: fred@gscmc.com, St Clair: Alternate Thursday evenings: Contact Neil: neil@gscmc.com, SHED NIGHTS: Londonderry: Alternate Thursdays alternating with St Clair bible study: Contact Michael mike@gscmc.com OPEN RUNS: Shall be advertised on Facebook, EVENT AND GENERAL ENQUIRES: sydney@gscmc.com Does your club or group have rides and meetings that you would like to invite others to? Send in the details: christianridersfellowship777@gmail.com

6 Junee NSW 2017

7 God s Armour for Soldiers By Rodney Osborne A Sample of a weekly Bible study available to download from Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Eph 6:10-13) Nowhere in this key text does it approve of the believer launching an attack on our enemy, even if we call it spiritual warfare. Find references that say or indicate that it is the Lord who fights for us. Find any, if you can that say we should fight the enemy. The thing we do know for certain, is the devil attacks. The focus of our study, he will attack the believer, hence the need for the armour of God. Satan s objective in attacking believers is: to infiltrate believers minds with human viewpoint rendering them as casualties in the bigger spiritual battle called the angelic conflict, preventing any spiritual advance of the will of God. Read 2Cor.2:11 Here are fourteen schemes used against the believer. (Note: none of these are spooky or mystical just plain real): 1. Accuses believers: Read Rev.12:10b. He relishes any opportunity to present any member of the Body of Christ as hypocritical, ignorant, faithless, or weak. Read also Job 1:6-11; Zech.3:1 Even Satan would not dare bring a false accusation before God, therefore the hard question is, are you giving him any grounds for these accusations? Without hesitation read 1 John 2:1-2. What does this tell you about God s grace?

8 2. Luring away from the Word: Read Hosea 4:6 (note: knowledge is synonymous with what we would call today Bible Doctrine and law is synonymous with the Word of God) Read Eph.4:17-18 Can you connect Hosea 4:6 with these verses? alienation from the spiritual life is not the consequence of any misbehaviour or sin but the result of ignorance of doctrine. Read Rom.12:2. Neglecting the Word of God is tantamount to renting space in your mind to the devil! Skip to 6. Fallacy of works: for any type of service to be effective in God s plan, it must result in the production of divine good, as opposed to human good. It is the enabling power of the Holy Spirit that determines divine good. We don t do good works to spiritually grow. As we spiritually grow our works become good. Discuss this. Read Col.1:10;1Cor.3:12-13; Col3: Tempting to worry: worry is such an effective attack used on believers because it isn t even seen as a sin. Believers then treat it lightly and end up worrying and developing anxiety. Worry effectively causes the believer to ignore or doubt the promises in God s Word, the sufficiency of His grace and love, as well as the superiority of God s plan for the believer. Read 2Tim.1:7 Discuss how worry breaks fellowship with God, distracts from the spiritual life, detrimental to spiritual growth, and blasphemes the character of God Read Phil.4:6-7; 1Pt.5:7; Isa.41:10Prov.12:25 Skip to 10. Eyes on self: this is the person who is preoccupied with their own feelings, desires, and selfimage. The world revolves around this person. They become hypersensitive, hypochondriac, paranoid and self-absorbed Read Jeremiah chapter 9 for an example of eyes on self. Self-esteem is often promoted in our churches. This is a covert attack on believers where the enemy has penetrated our lines of defence. Discuss this statement. 11. Eyes on people: an inordinate preoccupation with others disliked or greatly admired. This attack shows up when believers compare, compete, lust after, conform to standards, and tear down others. Unrealistic expectations are placed on others, and when they fail to meet those expectations, the door for every kind of mental attitude sin is flung open (mental attitude sins include: jealousy, bitterness, implacability, revenge motivation, anger, hatred, and self-pity). Read Jer.17:5b; Heb.12:2-3 Can you think of any examples where you have seen this attack take place? 12. Eyes on circumstances: this is the old (to be read in the tonality of Maxwell Smart) grass looks

9 greener on the other side trick. The believer s attention is diverted to focused attention on our environment. Environment includes: natural, political, and social. Discuss how each of these have distracted believers from what the Word of God says about natural, political, and social circumstances? What does Jn.15:11 & James 1:2-4 say about how the believer sees circumstances? Read Phil.4: Eyes on wealth and possessions: The bible is descriptive of the believer falling for this attack: Read Prov.28:22. This is the attack of materialism. Material wealth is the desperate means to strength, power, self-worth, and love for the spiritually bankrupt. Read the warning Heb.13:5. Be careful not to understand this as the atheist does when attacking Christianity. Nothing right or wrong with money. It s the love of money (or as we have seen already the love of self, others, or circumstances). Read 2Pt.2:19b Discuss what this has to do with attack number Promoting the fear of dying: The believer need not fear dying (1Cor.15:54; Rev.21:4; 1Cor15:42; 2Cor.5:8; Jn.14:2; Phil.1:21) If we look around, we find examples of non-believers who did not fear death. Why do you think this is? False Evidence Appearing Real What is the false evidence Satan presents us to cause any kind of fear? What do you fear (expose the false evidence and replace it with the Word of God) Read Rom.14:7-8 Equipment for Spiritual conflict (Eph6:14-17) Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, (Eph 6:14-17) Read Rev.20:2 who, does this verse say will bind, cast-out, and incarcerate Satan? With that in mind, what role does the believer play? This question may spark up a great deal of conflicting discussion but do not be distracted from the point of the rest of this study: the armour of God is for defensive action, for the believer to stand and keep the ground gained by the Lord Jesus Christ. Read James 4:7 and discuss this: There are two divine commands in this verse: submit and resist. Our only legitimate offensive action is to submit to God Our defensive mandate from God to resist the devil (resist anthistemi: to stand your ground against).

10 Read 1Pt.5:8-9 The belt of truth (6:14a) Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth The belt Paul was looking at was a leather studded belt with a scabbard (for the sword) and. Why do you think Paul starts with the belt? What is the belts function in regards to the rest of the armour? Why is it called the belt of truth? Truth is often used as a synonym of the Word of God (Jn.17:17), but on examination, it is much more. Truth as it is used here describes something that has been drawn out, or a conclusion made by the studying of God s Word. Putting on the belt of truth could mean being able to quote Scripture and it could mean having a full understanding of the doctrines associated with that Scripture. Is truth acquired from any other source? Read Jn.8:48 What is Satan s belt? What are the ramifications of using other truth as a belt for your spiritual armour? If it is the armour of God, should we not use exclusively God s truth for the belt? Next: The breastplate of Righteousness This has been a summary of the first three studies on God s armour for Soldiers. Full lessons are available for free download from: There is also a virtual Bible Study room which anyone can join on Messenger called Soldiers Armour. This is a great place to discuss and ask questions about the study. Please restrict the discussion to the subject.

11 Books by Rodney Osborne Ut, He was with me Strangers & Aliens The Parallax Top row tles: $15 each Bo om row: $25 each The Parallax Mk.II Wasted Pain (available in Order from: If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, you can do so, right now, right where you are, by placing faith alone in Christ alone. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (Joh 3:36). This is your opportunity. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Rom 10:13) If you made this decision, let us know so we can send you some helpful informa on. Contact Us Give us a call for more information about our services and products Christian Riders Fellowship Mob christianridersfellowship777@gmail.com wwwwwww.christianridersfellowship.wordpress.com