by Vijay Manuel
Written February, 2008
The Doxa Message was simple and to the point. It went something like this: 1) There is a God who knows you, loves you, and created you for a purpose (John 3:16), 2) The sin in our lives gets in the way of the relationship we could have with God (Romans 3:23, 6:23), 3) God sent His son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sin through His death on the cross (Romans 5:8, John 14:6, I Corinthians 15:3-6), 4) You may receive forgiveness from your sins by simply confessing your sins to God, acknowedging Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, and asking God's Holy Spirit to take control of your life (I John 1:9, Revelation 3:20, Ephesians 2:8-9).
Sound familiar? It should because it is essentially the Four Spiritual Laws. I had learned how to share this through my work with Athletes in Action in the early 1990s. I had been astounded as a young man of 20 to see that the simplest of messages combined with my personal faith story could yield such amazing results. Young athletes would take their stand for Jesus and make a decision to live for him. I would meet many of these athletes much later and hear their stories. It was an experience that would change me forever.
In addition to the Gospel message above, there were a number of themes that emerged as 'Doxa' messages through the six years that the ministry was active in the Fraser Valley of British Columbia. I've attempted to capture them here so that they may benefit you in your walk with God and perhaps inspire you to take some of these themes to your friends and family.
----------
THEME 1: What is true worship?
My late teens and early twenties were focussed on worship of God. Initially the concept of worship involved little more than music: music in church is worship. As I grew in my walk with God, the concept of worship also began to grow. It actually became simpler and my thinking led me to something along these lines: If the King walks into the room, you choose to either bow down and worship him or not. You should not need to be coaxed to do it with good music or anything else. If you love Him, you will honour Him. Secondly, what’s in your heart is the most important thing, not the outward appearance of your worship, so don’t put on a show. Honour God with your attitude and heart and let the outward expression flow from that starting point. The band isn’t what drives you to worship; your love for God does.
-->Matthew 15:1-20
THEME 2: God has a plan for you!
The one and only God wants the absolute best for you. Imagine that He created you with a purpose in mind; that you weren't a fluke of nature, but someone with a reason for existence. Now imagine that once you find that purpose and begin walking in it, your life will be more joy-filled than you've ever known before. Imagine no more because this is the reality of God's love for you.
-->Jeremiah 29:11-13, John 15:16
THEME 3: Simply tell your story
Have you experienced the power of God in your life? Has the Holy Spirit moved in a way that you can't explain through common sense? Have you spoken the name of Jesus and seen miraculous things happen? If you've answered yes to any of these, it's time you began telling anyone and everyone your story. The results will astound you.
-->John 4:1-42
THEME 4: Hold on tight to Jesus
Each of us needs to be sustained by someone or something. Our bodies need physical nourishment and our soul does as well. What is feeding your soul? Are you pumping the equivalent of junk food into the depths or who you are? God has a plan to fill you with the best food for your soul. It's time for you to plug into Jesus.
-->John 15:1-17
THEME 5: The importance of a humble heart
Some of the greatest evidences of God at work in my life can be seen when I've been at the lowest levels of my personal pride. There's a big difference between confidence and pride. Pride is something that claims to have all the answers on one's own. Confidence, on the other hand, can claim to have the answers but by the power of God. If you want to live a life of power, learn to walk humbly with your God.
-->James 4:1-12, Phillipians 2:1-11
THEME 6: Give God all the glory
In any and every circumstance, give the glory of your successes to God. If you've tackled various challenges by first asking Him for guidance and strength, when you see the success at the end of the tunnel, let everyone know who you went to first. Joseph demonstrates this powerfully for us after a life filled with injustice and pain, he finally ends up standing before Phaoroh. His answer to the most powerful man in the world is the ultimate example of giving all the glory to God.
-->Genesis 37, 39-50
THEME 7: Put your trust in God
Who can you trust? It’s difficult for any of us to put our trust into someone else's hands, particularly if we've been previously hurt. Many have their trust fully embedded in their wealth and financial security. There’s one you can trust with all your being, however, and never be disappointed in the results. Learn to put your trust in God. A fool trusts in mere mortals; put your trust in the creator of all things and live a life of purpose and fullfillment.
-->Daniel 3, Proverbs 11:28, Proverbs 23:4-5, Isaiah 2:22
THEME 8: Live a life of purity
God expects us to live a life that is free of sin. Not only does He expect it and require it, he has given us the tools to make it happen. Once you’ve given your life to Christ, you are no longer a slave to sin; instead, you have the oportunity to live by the Spirit! Do what is right, and then keep on doing it over and over again.
-->Ephesians 4:17-21
(c) Shikina Publishing 2008