2nd Peter 1:5-11 tells us how to grow as a Christian:
Growth demands diligence, stay at it. Each step builds on the next. Growth is not automatic!
Add to saving faith a life of moral excellence or virtue. Keep your mind clean!
Build knowledge onto moral excellence. Learn how to know God from His Bible.
Knowing God and what pleases Him will build self control. This means controling yourself.
Onto self control build patient endurance which means to control yourself a long time.
This endurance is like staying power; people can count on you to represent Christ all the time.
To endurance we add Godliness which God enables through His Holy Spirit inside us. The Holy Spirit is our power for all of this, get to know Him. He's ready any time you make time to get serious.
FInally, Godliness leads to a ginune love for all people, espedially other Christians. To be like God is to love people sacrificially like Christ.
Spiritual growth is not hard. We just have to stay focused.
It also helps to bring people along with you in the journey.
On a journey, it's much more profitable to focus on where you are going than
take a wrong exit and wind up in the wrong place. Preparation and focus!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Looking into a Mirror
James 1:22 gives an illustration on how Introspective GOd's view of us is.
Here is what Wiersby has to say: "The Word of God reveals what we are on the inside, just as a mirror reveals how we appear on the outside. When Christians look into the Word, they see themselves as God sees them and thus are able to examine their hearts and confess their sins.
But it is not enough merely to look into the Word and read it; we must obey what we read. A person who merely hears the Word but does not obey it is like a man who glances casually into the mirror, sees that his face is dirty, and goes on his way without doing anything about it.
Such a man thinks he has bettered himself spiritually when he has actually harmed himself."
Here is what Wiersby has to say: "The Word of God reveals what we are on the inside, just as a mirror reveals how we appear on the outside. When Christians look into the Word, they see themselves as God sees them and thus are able to examine their hearts and confess their sins.
But it is not enough merely to look into the Word and read it; we must obey what we read. A person who merely hears the Word but does not obey it is like a man who glances casually into the mirror, sees that his face is dirty, and goes on his way without doing anything about it.
Such a man thinks he has bettered himself spiritually when he has actually harmed himself."
Friday, October 17, 2008
The Miracle Of FIRE
The Holy Spirit wrote all the books of the Bible. Each time a future child of God or present child reads the Bible the same author helps us turn on the light bulb called spiritual enlightenment (2 Tim. 3:15-16). I define spiritual enlightenment as anything the Holy Spirit compels us to incorporate into the presentation of our daily lives that gives God glory (v16).
Depending on His purpose in our lives, the Holy Spirit may rebuke, encourage, or simply teach. Again, we learn when we subject ourselves to His teaching in His Holy Scriptures that He wrote.
There is literally a miracle every time we choose to combine three things that make FIRE for the child that wants to grow spiritually.
• The Holy Scriptures.
• A devoted, receptive heart to the Holy Spirit’s instruction.
• Time to listen and pray what you learned.
The second commandment tells us that God is jealous of our time and attention. Take time to make FIRE with God.
PS. The results of other people’s fire will make more since and bless you properly if we give God His time to lay His custom foundation for our lives at His FIRE first.
Depending on His purpose in our lives, the Holy Spirit may rebuke, encourage, or simply teach. Again, we learn when we subject ourselves to His teaching in His Holy Scriptures that He wrote.
There is literally a miracle every time we choose to combine three things that make FIRE for the child that wants to grow spiritually.
• The Holy Scriptures.
• A devoted, receptive heart to the Holy Spirit’s instruction.
• Time to listen and pray what you learned.
The second commandment tells us that God is jealous of our time and attention. Take time to make FIRE with God.
PS. The results of other people’s fire will make more since and bless you properly if we give God His time to lay His custom foundation for our lives at His FIRE first.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Spiritual Relationship Starts With Time
The only way to increase our spiritual relationship with God is to learn and act on every matter of obedience, even the smallest. Learning our role as a humble obedient child can start any day we decide.
This contrasts our sin nature we are born with. This independent, selfish, control pattern will take over at the slightest opportunity of rebellion, our default mode.
God owns time, he invented it. The first way we obey is to spend His time with Him. This is how we learn what to do for each day.
Listen to the Spirit, especially when reading the Bible. Act on what you hear. Then exercise your faith – growing in confidence as a Child of God. (John 14:21)
This contrasts our sin nature we are born with. This independent, selfish, control pattern will take over at the slightest opportunity of rebellion, our default mode.
God owns time, he invented it. The first way we obey is to spend His time with Him. This is how we learn what to do for each day.
Listen to the Spirit, especially when reading the Bible. Act on what you hear. Then exercise your faith – growing in confidence as a Child of God. (John 14:21)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
God's Will = 3 be's
Always be joyful.
Keep on praying.
No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thess 5:16 - 18NLT
The simplicity of God’s will is laid out in these verses; be joyful, be praying, and be thankful. We make the mystery of God’s will for our lives so hard. However, these three “be’s” are essential for staying in a relational mindset (attitude), ready to listen.
Attitude is not automatic.
The three be’s help us transform our minds (Rom. 12:2) toward knowing God. It’s who we know, then what/why we do it that matters to God.
Keep on praying.
No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thess 5:16 - 18NLT
The simplicity of God’s will is laid out in these verses; be joyful, be praying, and be thankful. We make the mystery of God’s will for our lives so hard. However, these three “be’s” are essential for staying in a relational mindset (attitude), ready to listen.
Attitude is not automatic.
The three be’s help us transform our minds (Rom. 12:2) toward knowing God. It’s who we know, then what/why we do it that matters to God.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Humilty Meets Soul Stillness
Humility is the best communication path for honest communication with God.
Humility is a label for absolutely no posing.
How do you talk to the God of all wisdom?
*Without any religious phrases, you simply speak honestly from your heart, no matter what is there. Remember, if you are a child of God, God resides in you in the form of the Holy Spirit. He knows you already! We usually don’t take time to relate. God’s character and wisdom is written in the Bible. The Holy Spirit can use the Bible to personally tutor us toward living life in His wisdom and character, like His son Jesus.
How long does it take you to speak honestly with God about what is really in your heart?
* It varies; how long does it take for your mind and soul to get still and focus?
* How long does it take you to get your brain around who you really are?
What keeps us from speaking honestly with God?
* We fail to schedule “down time” to listen and allow a soul stillness.
* Business gives us a false superiority and easy avoidance of humility.
* Sin (selfish control) and guilt keep us conveniently preoccupied.
* What really motivates you from the inside? Have you told/confessed to God what really excites you in this life He gave you?
Speaking honestly with God is one of the first ways we exercise our faith. Confessing sin (selfish control) takes trust and faith, but faith increases.
Here is what Oswald Chambers says about humility and everyday life.
"After every time of exaltation, we are brought down with a sudden rush into things as they really are, where it is neither beautiful, poetic, nor thrilling. The height of the mountaintop is measured by the dismal drudgery of the valley, but it is in the valley that we have to live for the glory of God. We see His glory on the mountain, but we never live for His glory there. It is in the place of humiliation that we find our true worth to God—that is where our faithfulness is revealed. Most of us can do things if we are always at some heroic level of intensity, simply because of the natural selfishness of our own hearts. But God wants us to be at the drab everyday level, where we live in the valley according to our personal relationship with Him. Peter thought it would be a wonderful thing for them to remain on the mountain, but Jesus Christ took the disciples down from the mountain and into the valley, where the true meaning of the vision was explained."
Humility is a label for absolutely no posing.
How do you talk to the God of all wisdom?
*Without any religious phrases, you simply speak honestly from your heart, no matter what is there. Remember, if you are a child of God, God resides in you in the form of the Holy Spirit. He knows you already! We usually don’t take time to relate. God’s character and wisdom is written in the Bible. The Holy Spirit can use the Bible to personally tutor us toward living life in His wisdom and character, like His son Jesus.
How long does it take you to speak honestly with God about what is really in your heart?
* It varies; how long does it take for your mind and soul to get still and focus?
* How long does it take you to get your brain around who you really are?
What keeps us from speaking honestly with God?
* We fail to schedule “down time” to listen and allow a soul stillness.
* Business gives us a false superiority and easy avoidance of humility.
* Sin (selfish control) and guilt keep us conveniently preoccupied.
* What really motivates you from the inside? Have you told/confessed to God what really excites you in this life He gave you?
Speaking honestly with God is one of the first ways we exercise our faith. Confessing sin (selfish control) takes trust and faith, but faith increases.
Here is what Oswald Chambers says about humility and everyday life.
"After every time of exaltation, we are brought down with a sudden rush into things as they really are, where it is neither beautiful, poetic, nor thrilling. The height of the mountaintop is measured by the dismal drudgery of the valley, but it is in the valley that we have to live for the glory of God. We see His glory on the mountain, but we never live for His glory there. It is in the place of humiliation that we find our true worth to God—that is where our faithfulness is revealed. Most of us can do things if we are always at some heroic level of intensity, simply because of the natural selfishness of our own hearts. But God wants us to be at the drab everyday level, where we live in the valley according to our personal relationship with Him. Peter thought it would be a wonderful thing for them to remain on the mountain, but Jesus Christ took the disciples down from the mountain and into the valley, where the true meaning of the vision was explained."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
