THE FIRST THING...
a Pediatrician does in examining a month old infant is to check the baby's weight and length. That way he or she can know whether the baby is growing properly, or not. Growth is the great principle of life. Anything that does not grow ends up dying!
Thus this principle is vital, not only for our physical being but also for our Spiritual life as well.
Our new birth is produced and begins the moment we accept Christ's gift of Salvation, and put Him into our main focus in life.;-----
John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
This new birth assumes a death to the old self -----
Romans 6:6 "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin."
NOTE (JB) This is "Dying to self", that we need Heaven's help with this and many other things, for a leopard can't change its own spots, and we can't really change out character to the good..
Galatians 2:20-21 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
NOTE: If we could totally and fully, 100% of the time live life within God's Laws, Then Christ NEEDED NOT to have died!
The Father-God calls all to a new life that has Jesus as the center of its focus!
SPIRITUAL GROWTH MUST BE ALWAYS AN UPWARDS TREND,
even though we may fail, many times, yet on a scale, with both downturns and upswings, in our lives, the overall growth should always be in the positive rather than the negative swings. Jesus will give us a helping hand up wherever we fall, as long as we try to get back up on the path of growth.
Ephesians 4:13 "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: "
We will however face a continual struggle against the powers of Darkness, of this world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the Heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
Note: Sorry Dear Reader, but Satan is not above using humans in the world's pulpits to deceive you. As most Christian denominations preach about the Immortality of the Soul--Die and go to your reward! Eternal torture in hellfire, and Sunday sacredness. All three have NO FOUNDATION within the Bible, thus it's but a Tradition of men!
Colossians 2:8 "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ".
How, then can we gain victory in this struggle in which no holds are barred?
The good news is..... that the VICTORY has already been won! During His earthly ministry Jesus demonstrated that He is able to break the power of the demonic forces. And by His death on the Cross ,Jesus and His resurrection He conquered these evil forces for all humanity for all time. They have been RESERVED UNTO JUDGMENT.-----
2 Peter 3:7 "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men." [Jude 1:6,13]
Therefore we face not the enemy alone.....
Luke 10:20 " Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; [ you tell them to get lost, in Jesus' name, and HE removes them from you area!] but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."
Our objective should be to grow in Christ and appropriate His divine merit.!
AIDS TO GROWTH.
Bible Study, no not just reading but actually study, making notes, just as if your still in school cramming for an exam you must pass! This is only possible with prayers, asking for wisdom to understand and properly divide the Word!
2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth"
DIVIDING: orthotomeo [or-that- om- eh'- -o] to make a straight cut, dissect correctly, rightly divide.
There's no growth without nourishment. there is no growth without adequate diet. Bible study is nourishment for our spiritual growth. Jesus spoke clearly about this when He said------
.
Matthew 4:4 " But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
The Psalmist put it even plainer:
Psalms 119:11-12 "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.."
PRAYER:
Just as God speaks through His Word, and the Holy Spirit, Yet knowing His Will is an essential part of our Spiritual Growth--- so too is our communion with Him is NOT complete without prayer..
Note: Can we say that when we get on our knees, ALL of Heaven is put into gear, so to speak? I think so!
Prayer is as the golden bond, that keeps us united with Heaven. IT IS THE nourishment for the human being, WHICH IS, the living soul { Genesis 2:7}.
Look at what Paul thought of prayer:-----
Ephesians 6:18 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"
Note Supplication, requesting intercessions upon others, because at its best, LOVE, is outward looking not inwards, which is love of self!.
Please note, that two of Christ's greatest temptations, those from Satan himself in wilderness, and in the garden of Gethsemane it was only prayer that allowed Him to pass the tests. So if Jesus The Creator of all
{John 1:1-3] needed prayers to overcome sin, why would, anyone of us, think we need not to pray?
Note: Can we say that when we get on our knees, ALL of Heaven is put into gear, so to speak? I think so!
Prayer is as the golden bond, that keeps us united with Heaven. IT IS THE nourishment for the human being, WHICH IS, the living soul { Genesis 2:7}.
Look at what Paul thought of prayer:-----
Ephesians 6:18 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"
Note Supplication, requesting intercessions upon others, because at its best, LOVE, is outward looking not inwards, which is love of self!.
Please note, that two of Christ's greatest temptations, those from Satan himself in wilderness, and in the garden of Gethsemane it was only prayer that allowed Him to pass the tests. So if Jesus The Creator of all
{John 1:1-3] needed prayers to overcome sin, why would, anyone of us, think we need not to pray?
CHRISTIAN COMPANIONSHIP--FELLOWSHIP:
NOTE: [JB] I compare this too a BBQ with charcoal briquet's, once the fire is hot and all the coals are burning, what happens when we tak3e one coal, away from the fire and leave it there? It's fire goes out!
In addition to prayer and Bible Studies, another essential ingredient of a growing Christian Life is the love and unity with like-minded others. T hose who also, have been "Re-BORN from above, and are called to establish a new community: The Church. Personal growth happens in the context of growth in the "MANY MEMBERED BODY OF CHRIST", His church..For it is here, IN HIS HOUSE, where we enter into into His presence via the Holy Spirit, why?------
Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
Jesus is bringing us together as The Father' s Sons and Daughters, and helping them all to grow in His Grace. Therefore, the Christ-like fellowship among the brothers and sisters, in God's House is a very essential part of our total growth i n Christ!
Sharing with others, as we grow in Christ,d we sense the need to share God's love with others. Witnessing for Christ is not just a Biblical mandate-----
Matthew 28:18-20 "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
John 20:21-22 "Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:"
Witnessing for Christ, is just not a Biblical mandate, but its an essential, and basic part spiritual growth. As Spiritual Growth is always manifested itself in an increasing service to others, without an expected gain!
Matthew 20:25-28 "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
Witnessing for Christ, is just not a Biblical mandate, but its an essential, and basic part spiritual growth. As Spiritual Growth is always manifested itself in an increasing service to others, without an expected gain!
Matthew 20:25-28 "But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
THE HOLY SPIRIT.
We cannot grow apart from the Holy Spirit from dwelling within us.-----
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."
Note: does The Father-God not say here, YOUR body is not your own? That YOU are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, and that YOU are not to defile yourself? defile---- PHTHEIRO--[fthi'-ro] corrupt, defile, destroy. Now how can we NOT do this and still use booze, drugs, tobacco or grass? Or Tattoo and hang all kinds of metal on our selves in piercings? Grind our teeth to points, and have surgery to make one look like a panther? Or split our tongues snake like? Or any other form of defilement?
1 Corinthians 6:20 "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
Note: Yes we can think of Christ's death on the Cross, as HIS buying us back from the clutches of earth's ruler,----- Satan!
John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
It's the HE, The Holy Spirit's working within us that makes us desire to be a new creature, and to have our old character die! And NO HE is not just a force, my J.W. friends.
John 14:17-18 "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."
John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."
He helps us understand the Bible, and will bring to your mind, the memory of a passage, you need to convey your witnessing message. NOTE (JB) He can bring to your mind, nothing that you have not ever put there! Thus the import of Bible study, as in the near future your Bibles will be taken and burned just as it was during the Dark Ages! As no matter how "ECUMENICAL" Rome speaks,she has not changed one iota of her doctrines! She claims world control of religion, and it is she who hold what is heresy and claim the right to kill all heretics, then and now!
John 16:7-8 " Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:"
Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God"
.1 John 3:23-24 "And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."
Finally the "Fruits of the Spirit"-----
Galatians 5:16-18 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."
Note: "...not under the Law" simply telling us, that IF we allow self to be 100% "led by the Holy Spirit" we will not sin, and thus, we are not under the CONDEMNATION of the Law! But know this the Law is eternal!
Galatians 5:19-21 " Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God."
Note: Sadly, are we today not inundated with these human failings, listed above? Do YOU DEAR READER, not wish for all to be as the next verse......
Galatians 5:22-26 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another."
NEXT: The CHURCH.
Thanking YOU for your time....
Questions? Comments? john at www.servant@frontier.com
Visit your Seventh day Adventist Church any Saturday/Sabbath at 9-10AM.And learn that The Father loves you. no matter the type of junk you have taken on, or found self carrying. He can remove it all, at your request and repentance.
Other Sites: www.AFTV.org www.BLBN.org www.amazingdiscoveries.org www.itiswritten.com
John B
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