➕ A . Usage of Spiritual Thermometer/SG Model
Usage of SG Model-specifically for “tests (including temptations & trials)”
The Spiritual Thermometer / Spiritual Guidance Mode helps the user to achieve the following attitude towards life “Prevent/prepare-Alert-Attack-Unbreakable faith-Glory”, “PAAUG” (pronounced “fear of evil” in Cantonese, meaning: fear of doing what is considered evil in the eyes of God):
1. Prevent/prepare yourself at all times.
2. Be alert to temptations from the devil or to God's discipline.
3. Take the initiative to protect yourself from temptation, or wait for the right opportunity to make an attack or breakthrough to get away from temptation, or even escape from temptation.
4. Confirm your unbreakable faith in God and His promises regarding the discipline from God, and endure until the completion of the training of this trial, just as the Lord Jesus Christ endured many sufferings and was finally nailed to the cross, completing the salvation of atonement for the sins of mankind.
5. No matter what you experience in your life as a traveller, believe that God is in control and watches over you, and glorify Him with your experiences.
Usage of SG Model-specifically for “temptations”
God has a unique plan for each of us because each one of us was purchased by God at a great price. Spiritual exercise is for each person to find a way to communicate effectively and intimately with God, and then slowly and willingly allow God to mold us so that we can be more effective in our lives. Then, slowly and willingly, we allow God to create us, so that we can naturally display some of God's traits in our lives, live out the image of God in us, and be blessed. God's image in us is that we are the children of God whom God is pleased with. There is always a temptation nearby, and the new tool of the “SG Model” helps us to recognize ourselves and manage our current spiritual situation. Although the Lord's Prayer teaches us not to encounter temptation, there is always a temptation near us. There is always a temptation in our neighborhood. When faced with temptation, we can rely on God's grace to meet it with prevention/preparedness, alertness, activeness, attack, and escape.
a/ Prepare yourself;
b/ Be alert to temptations;
c/ Take the initiative to actively protect ourselves from temptation;
d/ Waiting for an opportunity to make an attack or breakthrough to get away from the temptation; and
e/ to escape from the temptation.
The Spiritual Thermometer / Spiritual Guidance Mode helps the user to achieve the following attitude towards life “Prevent/prepare-Alert-Attack-Unbreakable faith-Glory”, “PAAUG” (pronounced “fear of evil” in Cantonese, meaning: fear of doing what is considered evil in the eyes of God):
1. Prevent/prepare yourself at all times.
2. Be alert to temptations from the devil or to God's discipline.
3. Take the initiative to protect yourself from temptation, or wait for the right opportunity to make an attack or breakthrough to get away from temptation, or even escape from temptation.
4. Confirm your unbreakable faith in God and His promises regarding the discipline from God, and endure until the completion of the training of this trial, just as the Lord Jesus Christ endured many sufferings and was finally nailed to the cross, completing the salvation of atonement for the sins of mankind.
5. No matter what you experience in your life as a traveller, believe that God is in control and watches over you, and glorify Him with your experiences.
Usage of SG Model-specifically for “temptations”
God has a unique plan for each of us because each one of us was purchased by God at a great price. Spiritual exercise is for each person to find a way to communicate effectively and intimately with God, and then slowly and willingly allow God to mold us so that we can be more effective in our lives. Then, slowly and willingly, we allow God to create us, so that we can naturally display some of God's traits in our lives, live out the image of God in us, and be blessed. God's image in us is that we are the children of God whom God is pleased with. There is always a temptation nearby, and the new tool of the “SG Model” helps us to recognize ourselves and manage our current spiritual situation. Although the Lord's Prayer teaches us not to encounter temptation, there is always a temptation near us. There is always a temptation in our neighborhood. When faced with temptation, we can rely on God's grace to meet it with prevention/preparedness, alertness, activeness, attack, and escape.
a/ Prepare yourself;
b/ Be alert to temptations;
c/ Take the initiative to actively protect ourselves from temptation;
d/ Waiting for an opportunity to make an attack or breakthrough to get away from the temptation; and
e/ to escape from the temptation.
➕ B . The Seven Fundamental Beliefs of the Spiritual Guidance (SG) Model
The Seven Fundamental Beliefs of the Spiritual Guidance (SG) Model (Basic Beliefs of Our Faith)
“Spiritual Thermometer” pp. 8-12, “Spiritual Thermometer II” pp.51-69
1. the user is a Christian
2. the user has a comprehensive understanding of God's attributes
3. the user believes that all people (believers) are priests
4. the user believes that God has the best plan for him/her.
5. the user believes that he/she can have a more intimate relationship with God directly.
6. the user believes that his/her life on earth as a traveler has a purpose.
7. the user believes that we live by the Word of God.
“Spiritual Thermometer” pp. 8-12, “Spiritual Thermometer II” pp.51-69
1. the user is a Christian
2. the user has a comprehensive understanding of God's attributes
3. the user believes that all people (believers) are priests
4. the user believes that God has the best plan for him/her.
5. the user believes that he/she can have a more intimate relationship with God directly.
6. the user believes that his/her life on earth as a traveler has a purpose.
7. the user believes that we live by the Word of God.
➕ C . The two main axes of the SG Model
There are two main axes in the SG Model - Spiritual Commitment and Spiritual Competency.
Spiritual Competency”, which represent the degree of one's commitment to God and one's ability, can be understood by a simple concept, that is, the degree of one's commitment rationally and emotionally to God. It can be understood by the simple concepts of commitment (will & heart) and competence (strength) to God. It is a bible-based check of one's spiritual immunity, which is the stage of one's spiritual development, i.e. the varying degrees of one's devotion to God and one's ability to build up one's spiritual life.
Detailed Definition of Devotion to God
Spiritual Commitment to God is an indication of the degree of commitment to the knowledge of God and oneself as an individual, as well as the process of building a relationship between the individual and God. It includes the individual's motivation to know God and himself/herself, and his/her awareness of the stages of his/her spiritual journey. This includes the individual's awareness of the motivation to know God and oneself; the stages of one's spiritual journey; one's experience of faith and growth; the background of one's growth in the church one belongs to; the context, understanding, and experience in the church (denomination, church spiritual path, and culture); one's relationship with God; one's image of God; and one's holistic view of God's nature, one's understanding and acceptance of God's attributes; one's view of the church, society, work, family, etc.
The detailed definition of Spiritual Competency
Spiritual competency is the ability and extent of one's knowledge of God and self； and the ability to construct or enhance one's spiritual capacity through relying on God's guidance. It includes the knowledge of one's faith; confidence in God and oneself; knowledge and acceptance of God's gifts and limitations; ability to discern God's will; self-management of one's emotions; degree of one’s emotional maturity; the ability to pursue spiritual growth; and the ability and skill to accompany oneself (or others) under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual Competency”, which represent the degree of one's commitment to God and one's ability, can be understood by a simple concept, that is, the degree of one's commitment rationally and emotionally to God. It can be understood by the simple concepts of commitment (will & heart) and competence (strength) to God. It is a bible-based check of one's spiritual immunity, which is the stage of one's spiritual development, i.e. the varying degrees of one's devotion to God and one's ability to build up one's spiritual life.
Detailed Definition of Devotion to God
Spiritual Commitment to God is an indication of the degree of commitment to the knowledge of God and oneself as an individual, as well as the process of building a relationship between the individual and God. It includes the individual's motivation to know God and himself/herself, and his/her awareness of the stages of his/her spiritual journey. This includes the individual's awareness of the motivation to know God and oneself; the stages of one's spiritual journey; one's experience of faith and growth; the background of one's growth in the church one belongs to; the context, understanding, and experience in the church (denomination, church spiritual path, and culture); one's relationship with God; one's image of God; and one's holistic view of God's nature, one's understanding and acceptance of God's attributes; one's view of the church, society, work, family, etc.
The detailed definition of Spiritual Competency
Spiritual competency is the ability and extent of one's knowledge of God and self； and the ability to construct or enhance one's spiritual capacity through relying on God's guidance. It includes the knowledge of one's faith; confidence in God and oneself; knowledge and acceptance of God's gifts and limitations; ability to discern God's will; self-management of one's emotions; degree of one’s emotional maturity; the ability to pursue spiritual growth; and the ability and skill to accompany oneself (or others) under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
➕ D. Summary of Spiritual Guidance Actions/Methods with Corresponding Spiritual Development Stages
Summary of Spiritual Guidance Actions/Methods with Relative Stages of Spiritual Development
| Spiritual Guidance Actions/Methods | Stages of Spiritual Development | |
|---|---|---|
| SGA1 | SDS1 | |
| 1 | SGA1a - Low Supportive Behavior and High Facilitative Behavior | SDS1a - High Spiritual Commitment and Low Spiritual Competency |
| 2 | SGA1b-Moderate Supportive Behavior and High Facilitative Behavior | SDS1b-Moderate Spiritual Commitment and Low Spiritual Competency |
| SGA2 | SDS2 | |
| 3 | SGA2a - High Supportive Behavior and High Facilitative Behavior | SDS2a - Low Spiritual Commitment and Low Spiritual Competency |
| 4 | SGA2b - High Supportive Behavior and Moderate/Medium facilitative Behavior | SDS2b - Low Spiritual Commitment and Moderate/Medium Spiritual Competency |
| SGA3 | SDS3 | |
| 5 | SGA3a - Moderate/Medium Supportive Behavior and Moderate/Medium Facilitative Behavior | SDS3a - Moderate/Medium Spiritual Commitment and Moderate/Medium Spiritual Competency |
| 6 | SGA3b - Moderate/Medium supportive behavior and Low Facilitative behavior | SDS3b - Moderate/Medium Spiritual Commitment and High Spiritual Competency |
| 7 | SGA3c - Low Supportive Behavior and Moderate/Medium Facilitative Behavior | SDS3c - High Spiritual Commitment and Moderate/Medium Spiritual Competency |
| 8 | SGA3d - High Supportive Behavior and Low Facilitative Behavior | SDS3d - Low Spiritual Commitment and High Spiritual Competency |
| SGA4 | SDS4 | |
| 9 | Low Supportive Behavior and Low Facilitative Behavior | High Spiritual Commitment and High Spiritual Competency |
➕ E . After checking the spiritual condition with a Spiritual Thermometer/SG Model, the user can have the following four choices
Spiritual thermometer users (beginners are encouraged to do this with the accompaniment/assistance of a spiritual director) should check their spiritual immunity status (i.e. their spiritual development stages (divided into four stages SDS1-4)), and then, relying on the words of the Holy Bible, choose the appropriate solution from the following four methods to enhance their spiritual immunity, build up a close relationship with God (Spirit), and then improve their ability to face tests (including temptations, trials, etc.) through their hearts and mind (Heart), to live out God's will for individual believers, and to build up mutual edification (Body) to increase the ability to face trials (including temptations, trials, etc.), to live out God's original creation, to live out God's will for individual believers, and to build up a community of mutual edification (Community).
After using Spiritual Thermometer/SG Model to check the spiritual condition, the user can have the following four choices:-
(1) Continue to walk with God and rely on God's grace to maintain our spirituality in a way to preserve one’s life (i.e., health care, body maintenance, and maintaining good health) to maintain our spirituality. We will continue to maintain a high level of spiritual immunity and maintain a very close relationship with God at all times. (Believers in the SDS4 stage of spiritual development)
(2) Continue to walk with God and rely on God's grace in a way that is like preventing the disease before it occurs (i.e., take appropriate measures to maintain our health and prevent the occurrence and development of disease) to enhance our spirituality. We will continue to improve our spiritual immunity and seek to build a closer relationship with God. (Believers in the SDS3 stage of spiritual development)
(3) Praying for God's walk and grace to heal the sick (i.e., to take various medical measures to eliminate the disease so that the patients can recover and maintain his/her health) in the same way as he/she has been healed to carefully examine our spirituality, and to improve our spiritual immunity by prescribing the right medicine for the disease. The goal is to restore or establish a closer relationship with God (Believers in the SDS1 & SDS2 stages of spiritual development)
(4) Giving up their relationship with God and the grace He has given them, and choosing to live a life that is pleasing to them but not to God. (Believers whose spiritual development stage is SDS0)
After using Spiritual Thermometer/SG Model to check the spiritual condition, the user can have the following four choices:-
(1) Continue to walk with God and rely on God's grace to maintain our spirituality in a way to preserve one’s life (i.e., health care, body maintenance, and maintaining good health) to maintain our spirituality. We will continue to maintain a high level of spiritual immunity and maintain a very close relationship with God at all times. (Believers in the SDS4 stage of spiritual development)
(2) Continue to walk with God and rely on God's grace in a way that is like preventing the disease before it occurs (i.e., take appropriate measures to maintain our health and prevent the occurrence and development of disease) to enhance our spirituality. We will continue to improve our spiritual immunity and seek to build a closer relationship with God. (Believers in the SDS3 stage of spiritual development)
(3) Praying for God's walk and grace to heal the sick (i.e., to take various medical measures to eliminate the disease so that the patients can recover and maintain his/her health) in the same way as he/she has been healed to carefully examine our spirituality, and to improve our spiritual immunity by prescribing the right medicine for the disease. The goal is to restore or establish a closer relationship with God (Believers in the SDS1 & SDS2 stages of spiritual development)
(4) Giving up their relationship with God and the grace He has given them, and choosing to live a life that is pleasing to them but not to God. (Believers whose spiritual development stage is SDS0)