Final Eight Principles in Developing Biblical Standards

21. The Principle of Preparedness: I must always be ready for Jesus to return.
22. The Principle of Generosity: It is godly to give.
23. The Principle of Enslavement: As a Christian, I should be controlled by God.
24. The Principle of MYOB: I must mind my own business.
25. The Principle of Worry: God wants me to pray instead of worry.
26. The Principle of Defilement: A little defiles a lot.
27. The Principle of Yieldedness: I must yield my will to God.
28. The Principle of Discipleship: I am to make disciples.

More Principles in Developing Biblical Standards

Here are ten more principles in developing Biblical standards:

11. The Principle of Doubtful Things: When in doubt – don’t!

(If it is doubtful, it is dirty.)
12. The Principle of Temptation: I must avoid temptation, not just sin.
13. The Principle of Purity: It is God’s will for me to be pure.
14. The Principle of Authority: I should follow God-ordained authority.
15. The Principle of Feelings: I must live by the Bible, not by feelings.
16. The Principle of Imitation: I am to imitate Jesus.
17. The Principle of Weights: I must lay aside weights as well as sin.
18. The Principle of Excellence: God wants me to do my best.
19. The Principle of Readiness: I should be ready and able to explain my beliefs.
20. The Principle of Concentration: Do not look back. Do not look around. Do not look down.

Principles in Developing Biblical Standards

Here are the first ten of twenty-eight principles in developing Biblical standards:

1. The Principle of Vision: The eye affects the mind, and the mind affects the body.
2. The Principle of Representation: I represent Christ in everything I do and say.
3. The Principle of Fellowship: God commands me to fellowship with other believers from my church.
4. The Principle of Holiness: Because I belong to God, I must be holy.
5. The Principle of Light and Darkness: As a Christian, I have nothing in common with the world.

6. The Principle of Impact: My actions will influence others.
7. The Principle of Replacement: Wrong must be replaced with right.
8. The Principle of Affections: I must make the eternal more important than the earthly.
9. The Principle of Association: Wrong associations lead to wrong behavior.
10. The Principle of Priorities: Jesus should be Number One.

Barriers To Knowing God's Will

God is always pleased to reveal His will to us. But at times, we cannot receive the message. Something in our life is creating a barrier to hearing Him. Obstacles to the believer include:

Self-will. Sometimes, we decide what we're going to do without God's input. We still talk to Him about our plan, even thinking it is so logical that the Lord must agree. But we have stopped listening for His will.

Influence. It's wise to seek godly counsel. But believers must be careful whom they allow to influence them. Many people will say what someone else wants to hear rather than what is actually needed.

Sin. There are two ways it hinders our ability to know God's will. First, our spirit is clouded so we cannot determine His mind. Second, the Father may not reveal the next step in His plan because He's waiting for us to repent and become willing to obey.

Distraction. One of the most subtle obstructions to knowing God's will is busyness. Our hands and our minds are so full we don't have the patience to wait and listen. The Lord does not chase after us, trying to force us to hear Him. Psalm 46:10—"Be still, and know that I am God"—is His simple solution for clearing the clutter of overbooked lives.

The next time you seem unable to determine the Lord's will, try slowing down so that you can focus on Him. Don't stop in your service to Him; rather find the non-essentials in your life and set them to the side. Then, consider whether you might have allowed one of these barriers to be constructed between you and God. Ask, and He will gladly help you to dismantle it.