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The
Celtic
Cross
Rule of Seven By
Monk Preston
"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 3:14
The Celtic Cross Rule of Seven One Desire, Four Goals, Two Devotions. Draw near to God. Right Belief, Right Life, Right Witness, Right Ministry. Prayer and the Word of God. |
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Right Witness
Christian Growth: "We love him, because He first loved us." -I John 4:19 "And he said to them all, If anyone will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." -Luke 9:22-24 Four Goals: "We make the Sign of the Cross from head to heart, and shoulder to shoulder, "In the Name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Making the Sign of the Cross can also remind us of Four Goals of the Christian life: Right Belief, Right Life, Right Witness, and Right Ministry (Colossians 1:9-10), to help us focus on our desire to be a "good and faithful servant" of Christ. There is no power in ourselves (in our flesh) to accomplish this godly desire which God has placed within us. All power for living the Christian life comes from Christ through the Holy Spirit. It is absolutely necessary to stay in constant communion with Christ: this is the importance of Prayer and the Word of God. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He that abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing." -John 15:5 The ring on the Celtic Cross, a symbol of eternity, is a representation of our communion with the eternal God, made possible by Christ (symbolized by the Cross) through the power of the Holy Spirit. In this communion we speak to God in prayer and God speaks to us through His Word; both occur by the power of the Holy Spirit. "Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." -1Thessalonians 5:17-18 "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." -Ephesians
6:16 -Romans 10:17 _______________ |
One Desire: Draw near to God. Four Goals: Right Belief Right Life Two Devotions: Prayer and the Word of God. Scripture References: ______________________________ Draw near to God. "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you." -James 4:8 Right Belief (orthodoxy): "...and increasing in the knowledge of God;" -Colossians 1:10 "Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." -II Timothy 2:15 “And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." -II Timothy 3:15 Summary: The Nicene Creed (related page: Nicene Creed: Scripture Basis). ____________________________________ Right Life (orthozoe): "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing," -Colossians 1:10 "But as He who has called you is holy, so be you holy in all manner of conduct, Because it is written, 'Be ye holy; for I am holy'." -I Peter 1:15-16 "What, know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." -I Corinthians 6:19-20 "And be not conformed to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."-Romans 12:2Summary: The Fruit of the Spirit: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:" -Galatians 5:22-23 ___________________________________ Right Witness (orthomartus): "...being fruitful in every good work," -Colossians 1:10 "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you..." -I Peter 3:15 "...so that, even if some of them refuse to obey the word, they may be won over without a word through your conduct..." -I Peter 3:1 Summary: Christ's "Great Commission." "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." -Mark 16:15 ____________________________________ Right Ministry (orthodiakonia): "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;" -Colossians 1:9 "A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." -Proverbs 16:9 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." -Proverbs 3:5-6 Summary: "Lord, what would you have me do today?" The 23rd Psalm ____________________________________ Right Belief, Right Life, Right Witness, Right Ministry "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (Right Ministry); That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing (Right Life), being fruitful in every good work (Right Witness), and increasing in the knowledge of God (Right Belief);" -Colossians 1:9-10 ____________________________________ Prayer and the Word of God. "But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word." -Acts 6:4 Related Pages:
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Right Ministry
New Testament Greek Terms for the Four Goals: ________________________________ The four New Testament Greek terms for the Four Goals of Right Belief, Right Life, Right Witness, and Right Ministry are: ... orthodoxy (or orthodoxia), orthozoe, orthomartus, and orthodiakonia. The word ortho in Greek means right; doxy (or doxia) means belief; zoe means life; martus means witness; and diakonia means ministry. ________________________ "...and increasing in the knowledge of God;" -Colossians 1:10
________________________ "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing," -Colossians 1:10
________________________ "...being fruitful in every good work," -Colossians 1:10
________________________ "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;" -Colossians 1:9
"...this one thing I do...""Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 3:8-9,13-14 "Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was encumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are full of care and troubled about many things: and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." -Luke 10:38-42 Christ in us...us in Christ. The power and the fruit of the Holy Spirit manifesting through us. We desire to serve Christ with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And when we appear before Christ in Heaven, our greatest desire is to have Him say to us, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." -Monk Preston Copyright © 2008 S.G.P. All rights reserved. Daily Prayer: Praying the Hours PRAYER Category
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