finalweek8Spiritual Formation

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MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 1 My Emerging Model of Spiritual Formation Mauricio Guerra School of Divinity, Liberty University

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 2 My Emerging Model of Spiritual Formation Part One Introduction According to Biological, social, and physical scientists, we live “in a universe more akin to a spider’s web or power grid than to telephone lines strung between poles.” (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p. 11). An ecology in which people live together and “are connected in one form or another and therefore mutually influence each other to varying degrees.” (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p. 22). This environment helps the individual to grow together with believers for the benefit of the ecosystem as a whole. God intends to have His children become connected so that there could be "harmony of this divinely created, cosmic ecology…" (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p. 22). Overview In this environment of mutual influence, spiritual formation has a better opportunity to grow and expand in the person and throughout the body of Christ. In this ecology of Christian formation, one must understand the importance of adhering to the steps needed to ensure a desirable outcome. Pettit calls these steps “preconditions for doing distinctively evangelical spiritual formation” (Pettit, 2008, p. 33). From these preconditions, a high view of Scripture, through the Holy Spirit and the Christian community , we learn the importance of unity and working for one common outcome: have a strong, clear, and sound spiritual formation to be able to accomplish what God is calling us to achieve as His church. Share the gospel of Jesus Christ according to Scripture, being led by God's Holy Spirit and united as one body of Christ.

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 3 High View of Scripture Pettit begins with the first precondition of having a high view of Scripture so that the believer can understand that in the middle of everything that is being said and done in today's world, the Word of God has not changed. God has not changed. For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore, you, the sons of Jacob, have not come to an end. Malachi 3:6 (NASB) in Hebrew 13:8 (NASB) says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Indeed, the Absolute truth remains in God's Word and is the starting point for every believer to embrace to allow actual spiritual formation to develop. It is the responsibility of every believer to affirm that objective truth is possible to see, know, and share because it is found in the very Word of God. (Pettit, 2008). Holy Spirit Pettit's second precondition is through the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ said in John 16:33 (NIV) When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. From this Scripture, it is safe to believe that one clear objective of God's Holy Spirit is to lead the believer into a clear understanding of God's Word. Only through God's Holy Spirit can the believer understand what God is saying through His Word. The revelation of God's message to His people comes through the fellowship the individual has with the Holy Spirit. Christian Community. The third precondition has to do with the importance of the Christian Community. As the vertical relationship with God is being built stronger through God’s Word and the individual’s fellowship with God’s Holy Spirit, the horizontal relationship must be nurtured and allowed to

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 4 grow stronger as one whole part comprises multiple individual parts. "The dynamic ecology of the body of Christ creates the perfect environment for spiritual growth." (Lowe & Lowe, 2008, p. 62). God's purpose for His ecology was not to split it into billions of individuals doing their own thing. Still, on the contrary, each individual does its part together with everyone else to make up a whole. Jesus said in John 17:22-23 (NIV) I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one I in them and you in me so that they may be brought to complete unity. The objective of this paper will be to demonstrate that if the believer desires to grow in his spiritual formation, he must be willing to let the Word of God be the road ahead, as God's Holy Spirit gives the clarity and wisdom to be able to grow individually and as a whole body of Christ. My Emerging Model of Spiritual Formation Part Two Biblical Element of Spiritual Formation Through the Word As stated in part one of this paper, God intends to have His children become connected so that there could be "harmony of this divinely created, cosmic ecology…" (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p. 22). The believer can develop a strong leadership foundation if the foundation flows from a high view of Scripture. In this part of the paper, the writer will dive into what is needed to remain connected in this divine ecology and grow in maturity so that authentic leadership can be attained. Apostle Paul points out the importance of keeping the unity of the believer and Christ. In Scripture, we find multiple verses in which Paul teaches the believer that the harmony and unity that is needed for the believer to live life as God has intended begins by being united with Christ.

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 5 “Paul’s instruction and insight are intriguing in how compatible they are with the ecological model of spiritual formation we have pursued.” (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p. 22). Spiritual formation will develop as the believer understands how important it is to be connected with Jesus. Twenty- one syn-compounds "speak of the believer's association with Christ" (Harvey, 1992, p. 143). One reads in Ephesians 2:5-6 (NIV), " Made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgression-it is by grace you have been saved, and God raised us with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. Here is Scripture teaching the believer how believers are with Christ through the complete work of Christ. "We were first made alive together with Christ, and then we were raised with Him from death." (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p. 144). It is also critical to understand that the believer's need to be united with Christ comes from the very need of the individual to come back to God's original plan. Sin separated God's created beings, and only through Jesus could humanity be made alive once again. A significant disruption occurred once man allowed sin to enter the perfect ecology of God's Garden of Eden. The "perfect fellowship with God in the garden, all harmony, peace, and wholeness no longer existed, and in its place, we find spiritual alienation, divine hostility, and social fragmentation." (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p. 139). Indeed, the believer needs to have a high view of Scripture so that the believer can be united with Christ and remain in the spiritual ecosystem created by God since the beginning. Romans 8:17 (NIV) Now if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if indeed we share in his suffering so that we may also share in his glory. Biblical Element of Spiritual Formation Through the Holy Spirit

MY EMERGING MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION 6 The Holy Spirit gives the wisdom, clear understanding, and knowledge of what Scripture says. No believer can grow spiritually without the presence and work of God's Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 16:13 (NIV), But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. The presence and work of God's Holy Spirit will ensure that the believer is growing in wisdom and knowledge as Scripture comes alive in the believer's heart, mind, and body. This requires the believer to come into "obedience of faith" (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p. 147). The Holy Spirit’s work is to lead the believer to become obedient to God’s Word, and this will always bring growth in every area of life, including growing as a mature leader in the family, home, and church. Through the Holy Spirit’s teaching of obedience, one can grow, be renewed, put on the new self, be kind, and forgive each other. All this can be a reality only “through the power provided by the work of the Holy Spirit.” (Lowe & Lowe, 2018, p. 148). Another work of the Holy Spirit is to keep the believer on target. Writing under the anointing of God’s Holy Spirit, Paul said, I run toward the goal, so I can win the prize of being called to heaven. Philippians 3:14 (NIV). In his presentation "The Targeted Outcome of Spiritual Formation," Lowe says, "Target acquisition is the number one priority in any shooting competition. It is also a number one priority in ministry." As the believer grows spiritually, the sight of the goal must stay within its purpose. United with Christ and led by God's Holy Spirit, the believers move forward, building more robust pillars in the spiritual ecosystem that are necessary to the individual believer and the whole community of believers. Biblical Elements of Spiritual Formation Through the Body of Believers (Church) As stated, "The dynamic ecology of the body of Christ creates the perfect environment for spiritual growth." (Lowe & Lowe, 2008, p. 62). God's purpose for His ecology was not to

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