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What does it take to be a successful CLU student?

BECOME A BEREAN

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, to see whether those things WERE SO.” (Acts 17:11, emphasis mine)

When the Thessalonians heard Paul’s revolutionary new teaching, they chose to seek to prove him wrong. They come against it, and accused him and sought to kill him (Acts 17:1-10).

When the Bereans heard the same new message, their attitude was to see if they could prove that Paul’s teaching “was so” or was true. They were coming alongside, rather than coming against.

 

The attitude with which you approach anything, especially a new idea, makes all the difference.

 

Satan’s attitude is that he is an “accuser” (Rev. 12:10). It is the attitude of seeking to prove something or someone wrong. The Holy Spirit is the “Comforter” (Jn. 14:16), and the Greek word “paraklētos” means “called alongside to help.”

So if I take the Holy Spirit’s attitude, then I come alongside the new message and see if I can prove it is right or is so.

I can either try to prove things “not so”, or I can try to prove them “so”.  And amazingly, I can often find enough “evidence” to satisfy myself that my position is correct, regardless if I am coming against or coming alongside. This  just goes to show that just because I can marshal up some “supposed evidence” for my position, that does not necessarily mean I have all truth or full truth or even God’s truth. For example, satan took an accusative attitude toward God in the Garden of Eden when he asked Eve, “Has God said…?” and then countered God’s truth with, “You will surely not die” (Gen. 3:1,4). “You will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:5). Well, there was some truth in that accusative stance, and as Eve embraced satan’s “truth” she became her own little god, knowing “man’s truth” while simultaneously being cut off from the tree of life (Gen. 3:24). Ultimately we discover that man’s thoughts are not God’s thoughts (Isa. 55:8,9), so this was not the best truth for her to walk in.

Paul (and I) left Bible college (Phil. 3:1-10) with “accusative” Bible knowledge, and used it to kill those we disagreed with (Acts 9:1). However after Paul spent 3 years alone in the Arabian wilderness with the Holy Spirit (Gal. 1:17,18), he came back speaking of “true knowledge” (Col. 2:2; 3:10). I too discovered God’s true knowledge 5 years after I left Bible college. It happened when I discovered how to hear the voice of my Wonderful Counselor. James speaks of two kinds of knowledge, one that is not God’s but “is earthly, natural and  demonic” (James 3:15) and one that is God’s and is evidenced by the fact that it is pure, peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits (James 3:16-18). I have tasted both.

 

If I try to prove any teaching is not so, by examining Scriptures seeking to find verses AGAINST it, I have taken the accuser’s stance, which, of course, is satan’s. If I try to prove a new teaching is so by examining Scriptures seeking to confirm the truth within this new teaching, I have “come alongside” and in so doing, I have taken the same stance that God and the Holy Spirit takes with me.  We call Christian Leadership University students to embrace the attitude of the Bereans, and examine Scriptures eagerly seeking to prove things so and to experience God’s revelation knowledge. By doing this, you open yourself up to more of God’s grace and provision for your life. We encourage all CLU students to use“The Leaders’ Paradigm” for discovering truth. This is a broad based epistemology which allows God to confirm truth using six different means. Many people have not ever weighted their system for discovering truth against Scriptures to see if it lines up with what the Bible says is God’s way for discovering truth. As a CLU student, we will train you up using God’s approach for discovering His truth.

 

HAVE A LARGE HEART

Learning and growing often involve coming to grips with new ideas which challenge, expand and sometimes even counter previously-held ideas. It requires of the learner that he have largeness of heart to be able to embrace much.

“And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the seashore.” (1 Kings 4:29)

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness [those with an openness to learn] for they shall be filled. Blessed are the meek [the humble] for they shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:6,5). Ask God for largeness of heart and meekness that you may receive all that He wants to give you.

 

It’s okay that it starts out uncomfortable!

 

When you begin a new exercise, there is generally some stretching and pain involved as you master it. This will also be true of your education.

You should anticipate stretching to learn and discover new skills, as well as stretching to get more things done in a week, and being stretched financially as you invest in your future development. Do not shy away from this discomfort. Embrace it and seek it out.

Make sure you are placing enough demand on your life so that you are indeed stretching and multiplying gifts as the Lord Jesus commanded in the parable of the talents. Know that if you let the stretching process do its work, it will make you a larger person. Let that vision take you courageously through the discomfort you temporarily feel. Seek direction on how to best respond to the stretching in a wise and godly manner.

Become a CLU student today!