F4S: You and I can grow spiritually. We can worship and mature in the Word of God. What is better than that? I can't think of anything.

Monday, November 11, 2013

You and I can grow spiritually. We can worship and mature in the Word of God. What is better than that? I can't think of anything.

I was just visiting with four people today from other countries. They are from that area over in the 10/40 window where the Gospel is rarely even heard. There just aren't very many believers or strong believers livin' there. Yes, and there aren't many Bible teaching churches over in that whole area either.. when you think about the whole population around there. Anyways, these were four precious individuals who were open to the idea of coming to know the Lord in a personal way, and after that open to maturing in a close walk with Christ ..according to the written Word of God. 

How cool is that! I'm going to keep talking with them. 

Man, I didn't even need to buy a plane ticket or pack any luggage and I believe that God will bring people from the different mission-fields of the world to your doorstep for the Gospel's sake. He's already been doing that with millions of Muslim migrants headed to Western nations trying to invade. Let's be wise and tell them the whole nine yards if ya will of the Gospel.  

"A state of mind that sees God in everything is evidence of growth in grace and a thankful heart." ~ Charles Finney

"Adversity is not simply a tool. It is God's most effective tool for the advancement of our spiritual lives. The circumstances and events that we see as setbacks are oftentimes the very things that launch us into periods of intense spiritual growth. Once we begin to understand this, and accept it as a spiritual fact of life, adversity becomes easier to bear." ~ Charles Stanley

"All growth that is not toward God, is growing to decay." ~ George MacDonald

What a blessing it is for me to meet, to listen, to ask questions and to hear the hearts of four guys from far away.. who were humble enough to hear the truth. God loves all individuals on earth and so should we. Let's be wise as ser Are you open and needing God at this time? 

Carefully listening to hurting and other individuals is so So SO important, cuz we can miss a ministry opportunity that the Holy Spirit has prepared for us. There have been times in the past where I've been in a hurry and have failed to listen as I should. But two of these guys shared their hearts, turned to, and then by faith trusted Christ for the very first time. Then two of them who had somehow become distracted by other things and drifted away from God, simply repented and rededicated their lives back over to Jesus as Lord. It can happen pretty quickly when they are open. You know how there is a time for seed-planting [and some believer(s) had already planted the seeds] and there is a time for reaping into God's eternal Kingdom. We each need to be prayed-up so to speak and be ready.  

Man, I'm always excited to hear honest questions from honest hungry hearts. And I want you to grow in your walk with God as well. The Bible says in Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Growing in the center of the will of God..growing up in the living Word of God..that's what it's all about. Such a good place to be spiritually - no safer place to be! 

Listen, today if you want to grow, then I also want you to hear some of the encouragement that I was giving these others. Seek the Lord with all your heart, rather than half-heartedly. 

Perhaps you are a new Christian who hasn't yet found a Bible teaching church yet, and you need to hear about the basic doctrines and basic disciplines of growth (just let me know). Beginning our journey of faith with God requires that we totally immerse ourselves in His Word, that we know His essentials, that we understand His teachings. Therefore, prayerfully read your Bible every day if you can. If you miss a day, no sweat, just pick it up the next day and grow some more. Some Christians and Christian teachers stop reading God's Word and they can willfully get way off course ..even to the point of hindering or hurting others in their journey of faith. That's when we should gently but firmly admonish em, and try to lovingly work with them if we can. We so want every Christian being productive for Christ. 

The Bible says, "This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth." (Tit. 1: 13-14). 

Rather than getting off, we each can learn about God's love instead. We can learn to trust Him more, to understand His equitable justice, to grasp the worth a bit of His great mercy, and to learn about His wonderful plan as we read our Bibles. 

We must cultivate this most important vertical relationship. Our most important ministry is to Him in worship. Remember Mary and uber-busy Martha? 

Yes, we can prayerfully form an excellent relationship with God the Father through the Word, so that we can know God well, become well spiritually, and personally know His Son daily, Jesus Christ. "And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (Jn. 17:3). We can and should ask the Lord to reveal Himself to us in His Word and this will change us from the inside out. Dead religious people (though perhaps well-meaning in their minds..) might try to change each of us from the outside in, but God gently does the opposite inside us. And He can illuminate His good truth to your mind and to your spirit today. It's a good day to read Christian books by sound ministers and believers as well. 

The Bible promises that if we seek God, we will find Him, so let's keep seeking Him. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." (Matt. 7:7). And if we allow the Lord to work in and through us as Lord of it all, He will literally transform us into new and clean-ed up people who can discern and know His will in every situation (Sure, read Romans 12:2). Here's one Bible I really enjoy

We have to be willing to die to our old selves and let go of the pride and selfishness that kept us from Him for so long. We can't go by the demands of our old fleshly nature, or by this corrupt world system around us that tells us to do the things that it tells us to do that go against the Bible. 

As God changes us, we will learn to develop the good fruit that comes from the Holy Spirit, who does dwell in all Christians. "But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" (Gal. 5:22-23) also "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." (Jn. 14:17). As we daily walk in the Spirit, allowing the Spirit to control our lives, we will then begin to trust in God more and more and more! Therefore, "let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done" (Col. 2:7).

If our trust in the Lord is going to grow healthy and strong, we will need to learn to step out in faith with His timing, leading, and tact. Yes, 
with right motives for the glory of God.. moving out of our specific comfort-zone that we like so much just to obey God, and taking some smart chances to further His Kingdom - it'll be so good. It'll be exciting to follow the Spirit for His purposes. If we believe that God will sustain us for That Day ahead, we can be free to carry out His will in this day now, regardless of the consequences. Sure, there's no room for spiritual compromise in this day even when other types of friendly compromise are indeed called for and even wise. God said, "Go", so why should we say "No"? Read the Great Commandment and the Great Commission of Jesus. 

Whenever we face daily temptations, we look for that way out so we won't sin and hurt the Lord, instead we'll simply praise the Lord out loud when He shows us His way out. Read about Joseph quickly ditching that lustful wife of his boss. Yes, God has a way for you too, apart from sinning. See 1 Peter 1:7 which says, "These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world". God will use those trials to test our faith and to make us stronger Christians; we will be given some honor too if we can stand strong and not waver in Christ. Yet faith comes from listening to this Message of Good News - the Good News about Christ. "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Rom. 10:17).

Do you need more great resources for real growth in your Christian life? Are you new in walk with Jesus Christ (the Bible Jesus) - read here. Perhaps you have been following Christ for quite a while now and you want some more in-depth lessons. You can also read the Bible online. Bible reading is by far the most important reading that we can do. I personally like to compare different translations of this Bible.

Hey gang. Hey new believer! I will be glad to answer your questions and help you take the next steps to becoming a mature believer if you need some help. And if I don't know the answer yet, then I will try to find it for you okay. I also look forward to knowing how I can pray for you (write me and I will keep it between us and God who can meet all your needs). In fact, I am going to pray for your right now:

Dear Lord God, please bless this dear reader here who really wants to grow strong in You, yes, who has trusted in Jesus and received Your sinless Son as their Lord and Savior. Do help them to grow at a good rate ..in faith by daily reading Your Bible, so that they can be carefully guided by Your good practical teachings and wisdom. And let them be strengthened a lot by attending a good Bible teaching church too.. or a fellowship if they don't have a church with a saved, spiritual pastor in their geographical area where they live. May they obtain a personal understanding of how much You do love all Your children, protecting and providing for their every need even today. Make us a blessing to be around minus weird people-pleasing or wrong compromise. Please keep and use us in a holy way to glorify Yourself. I ask all these things in Your powerful and mighty Name, Jesus, Amen! 

You can choose to grow strong in the Lord today. Please do choose to grow in His love and truth as you all-out seek God's will in Jesus Christ. Let Him, the ultimate Fisher of people, teach you how to worship the Father and to fish for people. Be bold and go tell a friend about this Jesus ..using Scriptures with love. Explain the Gospel to those who are lost or perhaps now off course. Backslidden believers living in sin can easily be restored if they just humble themselves and repent (change) - you know, admit it and quit it, letting Christ lead out. I challenge you to be that faithful witness for God who has called you to be His loyal soldier in His Army if you will. The battle for souls rages on, and Mr Lu-Cifer (the devil) doesn't sleep. But the Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 15:58 says "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord". Oh one other thing.. Dare ya - go Like: facebook.com/shareJesus or at G+