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Title
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#1,328: God Wants You to Grow Spiritually
18 Sep 2025
00:05:14
The author of the Book of Hebrews makes the case that we simply can’t stay with the basic, elementary teachings about faith and spiritual growth. We must move forward to a deeper and more mature understanding of our life in Christ. This makes sense, doesn’t it?
Main Points:
1. Here’s an important truth: God wants you to grow spiritually. He wants you to mature and develop a strong faith. He wants your understanding of his Word to grow so that you can move past the elementary stages and move on to deeper doctrines.
2. We grow by being diligent in our pursuit of knowing God. We read and study His Word. We develop a consistent prayer life. We grow as we regularly gather with other believers and we share our faith together.
3. If you want to grow in your faith, begin to take small steps of obedience to Jesus. With every step, you move away from the basic, elementary teaching and advance to maturity.
Today’s Scripture Verses:
Hebrews 6:1 New Living Translation - “So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.”
2 Timothy 2:15 - “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
James 1:22 - “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”
Jesus paid our debt on the cross. He bore our sins upon his body. He suffered and died in our place, as our substitute. Jesus took the shame, condemnation, and pain we were to bear. He carried our cross and paid the ultimate price. It was a very high price to pay for our forgiveness.
Main Points:
1. Forgiveness comes at a cost. If you forgive someone, you bear the cost rather than insisting that the wrongdoer does. And that is what Jesus, the Mighty God, was doing when he came to earth and lived as a man and died a criminal's death on a wooden cross.
2. Here is an important understanding about our forgiveness: Jesus didn’t have to do it. He was not obligated to take our penalty. He was not forced to do so. He did not have to love us. We are not worthy of his love. Yet, Christ chose to love us. He chose to take our place. He chose to lay down his life for us.
3. What a great and awful price was paid for our freedom. Let us never forget there was a high cost to our forgiveness, but it was a cost Jesus was willing to pay.
Today’s Scripture Verses:
1 Peter 1:18-19 - “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”
John 10:18 - "No one takes my life from me; I lay it down of my own accord.”
Galatians 2:20 - “The life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.”
I’m convinced that most of us listening today would say we have been blessed by God. In fact, many would say that we have been greatly blessed and blessed beyond what they deserve. God has been so good to us. So what do we do with our blessings?
Main Points:
1. Jesus teaches us that the blessing is found in the giving. The blessing is found in the serving. The blessing is found in ministering to the needs of others.
2. Continually, the scripture speaks to the heart and motive behind our actions. The Bible teaches us that if we give to be seen by others, well, then we have our reward. If our motive in giving is to receive something back, we give with the wrong motive.
3. Remember this truth today: We have been blessed to be a blessing. What are we to do with our blessings? We are to bless others. Proverbs teaches that those who hoard their blessings will no longer be blessed. The blessing is found in the giving.
Today’s Scripture Verses:
Acts 20:35 - “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Proverbs 11:25 - “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.”
You and I know a powerful truth very well. Words have power. Our words have the power to bless, encourage, inspire, uplift, and bring hope. Our words also have the power to wound, critique, discourage, and cause pain. Every day we get a choice of which kind of words we will use.
Main Points:
1. What are “reckless words?” How do we know if we are using them? Many types of speech can be considered reckless and potentially hurtful. I think of unnecessary criticism, sarcasm, insensitive comments, blame-shifting, offensive jokes, public humiliation, and personal attacks.
2. Given that our words are so important, how do we guard our hearts against reckless words? How can we make sure our words bless others and bring healing? We begin by recognizing the importance of our words and by asking God to give us wisdom in what we say.
3. When we slow down and when we truly listen to others, we are less likely to speak reckless words. Why? Because genuine listening requires that we care about others. What they say matters. It means something to us. It’s a demonstration of love.
Today’s Scripture Verses:
Proverbs 12:18 - “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Proverbs 15:4 - “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”
Matthew 12:36 - “…every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
James 1:19 - “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…”
Psalm 141:3 - “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name? Is there any significance to this? Are these just words? Do these words have any meaning? Do they have power?
Praying in Jesus’ name means praying with His authority and asking God the Father to act upon our prayers because we come in the name of His Son, Jesus.
Praying in Jesus’s name is not…. - Merely the conclusion of our prayer time - A magic formula - A religious ritual or chant
To pray in Jesus’ name is to submit your will to the will of Jesus, just as He offered His will to His Heavenly Father. Can we bring ourselves to say, “Lord Jesus, I want what you want”? The only thing that matters is the will of God.
John 14:12-14 - “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
The Bible has a lot to say about spiritual gifts. There are at least 20 of them listed in the Bible. You can read about them in these passages of Scripture: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4.
It’s important to understand that these gifts from God are different from our natural abilities. Everyone has natural ability. But only believers have spiritual gifts.
Your spiritual gift reveals how God wants to use your life.
Ask God to reveal to you your spiritual gift. Ask others to tell you how they see God using your life. God doesn’t want to keep your spiritual gift a mystery. He wants to tell you. Step out in faith and allow God to use your life.
1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
Romans 12:6 – “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.”
If you are feeling lonely today, I want to remind you of the promises of God. He has promised that you will not be alone, you will not be abandoned. Even if your family and friends forsake you, the Lord will still be with you.
Though others turn away, He will not. If you belong to Him He has promised that no matter what comes up along the way, he will never leave you or forsake you.
Despite your feelings and your emotions, determine today to stand upon the promises of God. You might feel abandoned, but you are not.
Let’s decide to confront our fears with the truth of God’s Word. We will not let our emotions control us. We will be encouraged by the promise of God to never leave us or abandon us. Let’s thank God for his constant presence in our lives.
Psalm 27:10 says, “Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.”
2 Timothy 4:16-17 - “At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.”
My heart longs to see the church come alive. I want to see the church awakened to the presence of God. We must come to a place of repentance and surrender before God. I desire to see us filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and reaching our communities for Christ.
Revival is the visitation of God which brings to life Christians who have been sleeping and restores a deep sense of God's near presence and holiness. It brings sense of sin and a profound exercise of heart in repentance, praise, and love, with an evangelistic outflow. - James Packer
What could happen if Christ followers like you and I began to diligently pray and seek God? What could happen if we asked God to revive his church and to let it begin with us. What could happen if the church came together in unity of purpose and mission?
As we study revivals that have occurred throughout history, we learn that are several signs that accompany a true revival. Revival always begins with believers seeking God in prayer. Revivals are accompanied by faithful Bible preaching, repentance of sins, unity of believers, and a commitment to evangelism.
Psalm 85:6 - “Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?”
After all the lessons Jesus imparted, he had one more thing to say. After Jesus’ resurrection, he spent 40 final days with his disciples before his ascension back to the Father. He had a final opportunity to give them instructions. What would he say?
Today we call these verses Jesus’ Great Commission. Jesus had prepared his disciples for three years. Now they were ready. They would take the message of Jesus to their local community and around the world. Just as they had been made disciples by Jesus, they would follow his example and make other disciples.
After his departure, Jesus would baptize his followers with the power of the Holy Spirit. The task he gave them would be too great for them to accomplish in their own strength. They would need a power that is greater than their own. They would need the power of God.
But here’s what is truly amazing. You and I have been given the same mission as the disciples. God has called you and I to make disciples of all nations. We are to spread the good news of Jesus Christ locally, and globally. If you feel inadequate to the challenge, you would be right. Like the disciples, you and I need the power of the Holy Spirit as well.
Matthew 28:19-20 - “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Acts 1:4-5 - “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Experiencing God’s love is the most life changing thing a person could ever encounter. God created us to love us. Yet, many feel that because of their mistakes and failures God couldn’t possibly love them. The great news is that God’s love is unearned and undeserved.
Human love is generally a response to conditions and circumstances around us. We love because someone pleases us, or because they seem attractive, or because they pay attention to us, or because they make us laugh, or because we feel fulfilled around them.
But God’s love comes without human cause. He loves because that is the kind of God He is. Nothing in us causes him to love us. Not our beauty, not our wealth, not our wisdom, not our good deeds, and not our promise to love him back.
No matter who you are, where you are from, what you have done, how many times you have failed, and even if you don’t love yourself, God loves you!
Psalm 86:15 says, “But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness."
Jesus tells us there are far more important things than looking out for what we think we are entitled to. Instead of focusing so much on ourselves, and what we think we deserve, we should instead put our focus on others, and love them like Jesus did.
If we hold onto our right to personal respect, our immediate reaction is going to be an insult back. But here, Jesus is calling us to give up that right and to refuse to retaliate because we live with a higher value - to honor Jesus with every word and every action.
We resist the temptation to seek revenge. It’s tempting to do to others what they’ve done to us. We are called to show grace—to be kind and caring to someone, even when they don’t deserve it.
This is the heart of the gospel…Christ humbled Himself; He took on Him the form of a servant, and He laid down His life for us.
It’s hard to lay down our rights, but we must see that any right surrendered to God will result in greater freedom in Christ. Let’s surrender it all to Jesus.
Matthew 5:38-42 - “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.”
Most of us know people who once walked with Christ. They were passionate about Jesus. They had such a strong faith and relationship with God. But over time, they lost their passion and their love grew cold. We wonder what happened.
What a tragedy for our love for Jesus to grow cold. When we love the world and the things of this life, there is little room left for Jesus.
It’s vital that we guard our hearts. We must seek Jesus first and above all things. We organize our lives around our relationship with God. We pursue Him daily. We stoke the fire to the keep the flames burning.
The coldness of our love for Christ doesn’t begin in public. It begins in private. It’s not evident right away. We can still go through the public motions of our outward faith. Meanwhile, inwardly our love has grown cold. Tragically, a cold soul eventually becomes evident to all. Speaking of believers, Jesus said we would know them by their fruit.
Matthew 24:12 - “ Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
When we are brand new Christian and we just learning to follow Christ, we are at the beginning stages. There is much to learn and so many areas in which we grow and change to be like Jesus.
Growing in Christ is something that should never stop. There is more to experience. There are deeper depths and hight heights. There are more steps of faith to take. There is a richer experience in Christ. We just have to seek for it.
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the result of the Holy Spirit’s presence in the life of a Christian. The fruit is the character of Jesus. As we abide in Christ, as we seek him and pursue him, we bear more fruit. In fact we cannot produces spiritual fruit apart from abiding with Jesus.
Do a checkup of your spiritual health. Are there visible signs that you are growing in your relationship with Christ? With intentionality, begin to pursue a closer walk with God. As you do, the spiritual fruit will become evident.
1 Peter 2:2 says, “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation”
Like Moses, most of us have our favorite excuses. We are too busy. We are not qualified. We are not ready. We struggle to see how and even why God would want to use our lives. We often fail to see what God sees in us.
Why does God put such a great treasure in such weak vessels? In other words, why does God want to use my life, with my flaws, my failures, and my weaknesses? So that the greatness of the power may be of God and not of us. So that it would be evident to anyone who had eyes to see that the work was being done by the power of God, not the power of the vessel.
God wants to use your life for his glory. He wants to use your life to display his power. He wants to use you so that your life had purpose and meaning. He wants your life to be a blessing to others.'
Let’s surrender our excuses and step out in faith. Let God use your life. He may want to use your voice, your time, your resources, your experience, or your talents. Let go of why you can’t and trust God. You’ll be amazed at what he can do through you.
Exodus 3:11 - “But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”
My prayer for you today is that you will let nothing move you. Remain steadfast. Stand firm in the truth. When others compromise their beliefs and when others crumble under the pressure to water down the truth, I pray you will remain strong for Christ.
Main Points:
1. “Will we stand and will we remain unmoved in our faith, our beliefs, and our biblical convictions?
2. Just continue. Continue to preach the gospel. Continue to stand for truth and righteousness. Continue to pray and seek for the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Continue to believe in God to move in your generation. Just keep going in those things which you are convinced of.
3. Continue in the truth you know and hold dear. Remember, times change, but God’s Word remains the same.
Today’s Scripture Verses:
2 Timothy 3:14 - “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it…”
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)
The Bible presents us with the spiritual discipline of meditation on scripture. This is the practice of thinking about the Word of God. How many times have you read some Bible verses in the morning as you started your day, only to never think of them again?
What would happen if you began to meditate on Scripture? What if you picked a verse for the day or the week and you intentionally thought about the verse throughout the day? Imagine getting God’s Word into your heart. Imagine thinking about what the verse means and how you would apply it to your life.
As the Holy Spirit directs you, select a verse of scripture to memorize. Continue to meditate on this verse throughout the week. Ask God to speak to you from this verse and be quick to apply it to your life.
Psalm 1:1-3 - “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.”
As followers of Christ, you and I are in the midst of a spiritual transformation. While we have received complete forgiveness of our sins, we are still in the process of becoming like Jesus.
Sanctification is a process of separation from our old way of living before we met Christ. We are letting go of old values, old patterns of behavior, and old ways of living that conflict with the Word of God. It is also taking on the new nature and the new life we have in Christ.
If you are wondering what God wants to do in and through your life. This is it. Sanctification. God is at work to make you like Jesus. I want to cooperate with this process. I want my words to reflect the character of Christ. I want my attitude to be the same as Jesus. I want my actions, choices, and decisions to reflect my Christian faith.
Simply to place yourself in God’s hands. Cooperate with the Master Designer as he shapes you into the image of Jesus. Say, “Lord, here am I. Make me what you want me to be.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 - “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”
I believe one of Satan’s strategies is to tempt us to be offended over the words, actions, and even inactions of others. Becoming offended at someone is a choice. We don’t have to become offended, but we often do.
Offense is a hidden trap set by the enemy. The reason it works is because we feel justified in our emotions and our response. Tragically, there are people who have been trapped for many years by an offense. They fail to see that their bitterness is a prison. It keeps them from living in the joy and peace of God. The good news is that we hold within our hand the key that unlocks the prison door. It is the key of forgiveness.
We must see that we don’t have to give into the offense. We can love, we can learn to be quick to forgive, we can pray for others, we can believe the best, and we can put the matter in the hands of God.
If you have taken the bait and have fallen for the enemy’s trap, recognize that being offended is a choice. You don’t have to give in. Because Jesus offers you his forgiveness, you can offer it others. In doing so you’ll find freedom.
Proverbs 19:11 Solomon wrote “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.”
The questions of death and eternity are questions we all face. I believe the Christian faith offers the only solid answers to the final questions. The Bible tells us everything we need to know about life after death and it tells us everything we need to know with certainty.
For the Christian, we are to live our lives with eternity in view. We know this life is not all there is. In fact, the shortest part of our existence is the life we live here on earth. This life is about preparation for the next. We have the promise of eternal life and we will live forever with the Lord.
The more we live with eternity in view, the less we are consumed with this world. God has so much in store for us. Think about this…God already has our eternal life planned and prepared. It’s waiting for us. This truth causes us to live with an eternal perspective and to not be overwhelmed by the challenges of this temporary life.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 - “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart.”
Given to us by Jesus himself, this is the Christian ethic. How you would like to be treated, that’s how you should treat others.” Obedience to Jesus’ “Golden Rule” has the power to transform all of our relationships.
It is a call to put God and others first in all that we do. This verse shows us how to truly love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
We must remember this verse is a biblical principle. It is not simply a moralistic statement like…be kind to your neighbor. It is not a pity quote. Like everything else Jesus has taught us in the Sermon on the Mount, it requires the power of God to live out this verse.
Join me in making this our daily prayer. Lord, help us to put you and others first in our live. As we do, we trust that you will meet our needs.
Matthew 7:12 - “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Galatians 5:14 - “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Isn’t it true that we grow the most in the hard times? When going through a struggle or a difficult season, I often ask myself, “What is God saying to me? What can I learn from this?” I don’t want to miss the lesson.
Sufferings can lead us to God, cause us to pay more attention to his Word, and lead us to open our ears to his voice. So many people have the testimony of finding God and surrendering their lives to God during times of adversity.
It’s here, if we are listening, we hear his voice of reassurance. He promises to never leave us or forsake us. He speaks peace, comfort, strength, and even joy in the midst of our sorrow.
If you are in a season of pain, suffering, or adversity, be sure to listen for God’s voice because He is speaking. Press into him, draw closer to him during this difficult time. You are about to experience God in a way you never have before.
Job 36:15 says “He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity”.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 - “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
There are many personal implications for the doctrine of God’s omniscience. One is that our lives are an open book before God. We cannot hide from him. He knows what no one else knows about us. He knows the complete truth. He even knows the motives of our hearts.
This truth should humble us and bring us to a place of repentance and surrender. We can’t hide from God and we become miserable in the attempt. What’s amazing is that God knows everything about us and He still loves us, he doesn’t give up on us. The Holy Spirit continues to call us to a place of surrender.
Romans 11:33-34 - “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”
Jeremiah 23:24 - “Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.”
You and I have a God-given design. He created us as he desired. This is so important for us to understand, to believe, and to accept. So many today are confused about who they are. We have clarity when we understand we have a creator.
Imagine this…the God who is so powerful that he spoke and the world came into existence is still personally involved in the details of our development. He knit us together in our mother’s womb.
I believe God was at work in our mother’s womb forming us and even giving us personality, talent, spiritual gifts, and potential.
God knew how he wanted to use your life before you were even born. He was preparing you for your purpose, your calling, and your God-given potential.
Psalm 139:13-14 - “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
While forgetting things is common, there is one thing we must not, and cannot forget, and that is the Word of God.
Sometimes I’m guilty of the same thing. I get my eyes on the storm. I’m overwhelmed at my circumstances. I become anxious and afraid and I temporarily forget what God has said.
My thoughts, emotions, circumstances, problems, struggles, and uncertainties don’t change what God has said. His Word remains true forever.
What is essential is for us to remember what He has said. The only way I know to do this is to have the Word of God on our hearts and minds day and night. I love to start and end my day with scripture so I won’t forget his Word.
Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever”
Not only has Jesus taken your place on the cross, not only has God forgiven you of your sin, but on the basis of the cross, God has declared you innocent and the record of your offense has been erased.
The simple way to think of justification is a play on words: just as if we had never sinned.
Sinners are in the wrong before God. They have broken his laws, they deserve punishment, but on the cross Christ took their place. Now, when they put their trust in Christ, they are declared to be in the right, acquitted, justified.
Romans 5:1-2 - “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”
Hebrews 8:12 - “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
#1,226: Is It Rude to Share Your Faith With Others?
25 Apr 2025
00:05:41
Regardless of what our culture has come to believe, as a Christian, you have a mandate from Christ himself, to share the gospel with others. We cannot believe that evangelism is a calling for someone else. We cannot leave the responsibility to others. No, we are all called by Jesus to be His witnesses.
Main Points:
1. In my lifetime there has been a growing sentiment in our society that it’s wrong to talk about matters of faith. People have come to believe it’s improper to try to convert someone to become a follower of Jesus. Many now feel it’s insensitive, impolite, and even rude to witness to them about Christ.
2. Your message is good news. The truth that Jesus saves, forgives, heals, and delivers is good news. We live in a society filled with bad news, negativity, pessimism, gloom, and hopelessness. Amid all this darkness, people are desperate for some good news.
3. Begin by telling people your story. Let them know what Jesus has done in your life and what He means to you. Remember, God, has given you the Holy Spirit to empower you to be bold and courageous. You have everything you need to be an effective witness for Christ.
Today’s Scripture Verses:
Acts 1:8 - “ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
1 Peter 3:15 - “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”
As we grow to become more like Jesus, an attitude of humility is something we should aspire to. We can pray and ask God to give us a humble spirit.
It’s always challenging to talk about humility. How do you know if you are humble? In fact, if you think you finally exhibit humility, it’s in that moment you have probably lost it.
Humility is an accurate estimation of our self-importance in relation to God and others. Here’s another definition I like… “Having a right view of yourself because you have a right view of God.”
Philippians 1:4-6 NLT - “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.”
The Israelites never knew when the pillar of cloud or fire would move. They didn’t know from day to day what God would do. So, it was essential they stayed near the cloud and the fire. When it was time to move, God would move and the people would follow.
While God doesn’t manifest himself today as cloud or fire, the principle is still the same. It’s vital that we stay close to God. We do this by pursuing him everyday. We pray, we seek his face, and read and follow His Word. As we do, we’ll be ready for God to guide and direct our steps through life.
Choose to follow God and let him guide your steps. You don’t know the future and you don’t know the way. Following God’s directions is essential. If we follow, He’ll lead us to the promised land.
Exodus 13:21-22 - “By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people.”
Wouldn’t you all agree that we need a cause, a cause to believe in, a cause that in greater than ourselves, a cause to live for and even to die for.
We have a cause. That cause is our participation in the building of God’s Kingdom. We each have a role. We each play a part in spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. Imagine the impact we could make if every day we looked for opportunities to live out our purpose and our cause.
The enemy of our soul will do everything he can to distract us and to keep us from our cause. He will attempt to keep us afraid and quiet. He’ll tempt us to fill our lives with so much busyness that there is nothing left to give our cause.
Let me leave you with this thought. Nothing matters more than serving Jesus Christ. Earthly ambitions pale in comparison to the opportunity to make an eternal difference in the lives of other.
1 Samuel 17:28-29 - “Eliab’s anger was aroused against David, and he said, “Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle.” And David said, “What have I done now? Is there not a cause?”
At some point in just about everyone’s life, we ask the question: Where is God when I am suffering?” Life brings suffering to us all. Whether it’s sickness, family issues and struggles, financial problems, loneliness, stress, or fear; suffering comes to everyone.
The Bible never promises us we won’t face hard times. As we read the Bible we learn all the men and women of the Bible suffered. There is a sobering verse found in 2 Timothy 3:12 that says, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
While suffering comes to us all, what the Scripture promises is God’s presence. He never leaves us and never forsakes us. He is with us in grief, he is with us in sickness, he is with us in pain, he is with us in financial difficulty, and he is with us in relational problems.
This is reassuring because, while we may feel alone in our suffering, the reality is, we are not. We have never been truly alone, and we never will.
Psalm 139:7 – “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?”
Isaiah 43:1-3,5 - “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Do not be afraid, for I am with you”
“Fasting is a matter of exchanging one form of hunger for another. By withholding physical food from our bodies, we elevate the likelihood of developing a spiritual appetite.” - Ben Patterson
Notice Jesus says, “When you fast…” He’s not saying if you fast, but when. Jesus assumes we will fast and pray as a spiritual discipline. He tells us this is something we should do in secret and to not let others know. This spiritual discipline is between us and God.
But fasting’s main benefit is spiritual. I say this because it teaches us self-control and encourages a prolonged undistracted focus on Christ rather than on the temporary pleasures of food.
Matthew 6:16-18 - “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
How many times has it taken a crisis to bring us to our knees in prayer? When we are pushed to the brink. When our back is to the wall. When all the escape routes are closed. It seems that then and only then do many people call on God for help.
I hope today that you are desperate for more of God. I pray you are desperate for his power in your life. I hope you are desperate for a move of God in your church. We need God more than anything, so we reach out to him in desperation.
Nothing else will do. There are no substitutes for what God can do. We need what only he can do. So we set our hearts on him. We pray, we fast, we seek God, we make him our first priority, and we cry out in desperation.
Psalm 34:4,6 says, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.”
I will be the first to admit that I don’t understand everything about God. I don’t know why he does certain things. I don’t always see how he is working. But I stand today upon the truth of scripture and believe that God’s ways are perfect.
At some point in your life you have probably said the words, “I’m not perfect.” Usually, we say this as a defense mechanism when we have messed up. Unlike us, God is perfect. He does not sin. He does not make mistakes. He does not fail. He never needs to repent.
I’m sometimes reminded that God doesn’t owe me an explanation. It doesn’t have to make sense to me. He is God, and I am not.
What is essential is that I trust him. I accept that his ways are right, and not only right, his ways are perfect. Faith calls for us to trust God’s sovereignty. We believe God even when we don't understand and even when he doesn’t make sense to our natural mind.
Psalm 18:30 - “As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”
Anxiety is something we all face. It’s likely that this week you have been anxious about something. Maybe it’s your health, your family, your finances, or your job, but anxiety is something we are all familiar with.
Present your request to God through prayer. God is inviting us to bring our needs to him. He says in every situation, prayer is the answer. This is something all of us can do. It’s not complicated. There are no correct words. If you can talk you can pray. Tell God about it.
It’s very hard to be anxious while you are praising and worshipping God. As you remember his past faithfulness, your heart becomes calm. What once caused anxiety no longer caused you to fear.
As the anxious feelings come over you, follow the biblical pattern Paul offers us. Bring your needs to God in prayer, but don’t forget the thanksgiving part. It’s a critical step. I believe you’ll experience this supernatural peace God offers.
Philippians 4:6-7 - “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
We don’t have to give into the discouragement. We are not powerless. It’s a matter of focus and perspective.
Fighting discouragement is not about pretending you problems are not there. Fighting discouragement is about recognizing the resources of God that are available to you in the midst of your suffering.
Determine that you will put your focus on Christ. Become aware of his presence and power in your life. Make time to worship and fight the discouragement with His strength.
2 Corinthians 4… “Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”
The most important decision any of us will make is the decision to place our faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. All other decisions pale in comparison. Why? Because this decision has eternal implications. Placing our faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection for our sins provides us with forgiveness of our sins, and gives us the promise of eternal life.
Main Points:
1. While many know Jesus, they have yet to believe. They still haven’t decided to make Him their Savior and Lord. They are living in a place of indecision. I’ve heard people say, “I’m not ready yet. Maybe someday I’ll become a Christian.”
2. We must see that indecision is a decision. Failing to act, is an action. We don’t know what the future holds. We have no promise of tomorrow. But we do have this moment and this opportunity to decide to follow Jesus. We cannot postpone life’s most important decision.
3. Listen again to the powerful words from Joshua. “Choose today whom you will serve.” I believe this is a word from the Lord to you and me today. Choose whom you will serve. Make a decision. Place your faith in God. Settle the issue. Move forward as aß Christ-follower whose mind is made up.
Today’s Scripture Verses:
Joshua 24:14-15 - “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
Matthew 6:24 - “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other.”
Do we have a battle cry? Those of us whose lives have been transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ, whose sins have been forgiven, do we have a battle cry? As Christians, we do have a battle cry, and our battle cry is that WE ARE FREE!
On the cross, Jesus took our condemnation. Because of our sins we were condemned already, but Jesus stepped in. He took our condemnation. He took our sins upon himself and once and for all, he paid the awful penalty.
The verdict is not “less condemnation.” That’s where a lot of people are at – they think that their standing with Jesus has improved. It hasn’t improved, it’s been completely transformed. There is now no condemnation.
Because of what Jesus did for us at the cross we now can live in freedom: freedom from condemnation, freedom from guilt and shame, and freedom from living powerless to sin.
Romans 8:1-2 - “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
God knew that the fear of man would be a struggle for us. While we struggle to varying degrees, it’s our inner insecurity that causes us to want to please people.
The fear of man manifests itself in many ways: the need for approval and the fear of disapproval, the need for acceptance, peer-pressure, fear of criticism, need for recognition, and so much more.
We overcome the fear of man when we learn to be secure in Christ. The Bible says we have been accepted, we have been chosen, we have been redeemed, we have been forgiven. we are love, we have a purpose, and we have the promise of eternal life.
Proverbs 29:25 - “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.”
Hebrews 13:6 - “So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
We don’t always understand why God asks us to do something, but our simple obedience leads to God’s blessings.
With limited human understanding, we can’t possibly understand everything about why or how God does what he does.
Since we can’t know it all, understand it all, or see it all, have have to trust. We need faith. It’s a decision to believe in God, but it’s also a decision to let him have control of your life. This is what it means to make Jesus the Lord of your life.
You don’t have to know why God is asking you to do something in order to obey him. Just offer God your simple obedience and I believe you’ll be rewarded.
Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
1 John 5:3 says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”
The writer of the book of Hebrews identifies two things we need to let go of. These two things easily entangle us and keep us from running the race God has marked out for us. The two things are sin and everything that hinders.
Repentance is turning away and letting go of sin. When the Holy Spirit makes us aware of our sin, we confess it to God and offer our repentance. This repentance is more than simply feeling sorry for what we have done. It is a turning away and a letting go of the sin.
There are things that may not be sin, but they still hinder our relationship with God. With God’s help, we let them go. Our choices are not always between right and wrong, but between something that may hinder us and something else that may not.
True discipleship is about a sanctifying process of putting off the old life and taking on the new life in Christ. Every time we let go of the carnal life that hinders us, we experience a step forward of spiritual growth.
Hebrews 12:1 - “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
No one has a conflict free life. It’s a part of living in a sinful world. There is conflict in our political system, conflict in our culture, conflict at school and conflict at work, and I know there is conflict in your family. We all experience it.
Conflict happens because we have free choice and we sin. There are 7 billion people on this planet with the freedom to fulfill their selfish desires with the sin of their choice.
We must express our anger in an appropriate way
The Spirit of God is so faithful in our moments of personal conflict to guide us in how we are to respond. Sometimes we ignore the promptings of God’s spirit and act out in our flesh, so we ask God for the ability to pay attention to God’s voice. He is will lead us in what to say or not to say. He will guide us towards a reaction that honors Christ.
James 4:1 – “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?”
Ephesians 4:26 says, ““In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
Like the young man in the story, we find ourselves in a famine. So many today live in a spiritual famine. They are hungry, they are desperate, and they are eating what the devil offers but it only increases their hunger.
Maybe you are way from God and you wonder if he would accept you and forgive you again. Maybe you wonder after all that has happened does God still love you.
I pray that you will recognized that today you can come back home to the Father. He has not forgotten you, or abandoned you, or rejected you. He is waiting for you with love and compassion. With his grace he will receive you, forgive you, and restore you.
Luke 15:20 - “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.”
You are going to become discouraged if you put your hope in something God never intended you to hope in.
Without a relationship with Christ, we have no hope. We have no peace. We have nothing to put our confidence in.
Hope is a confident expectation based on the unchanging character of God. Since God never changes we can put our complete trust and hope in him.
We have a reason to have hope in God. Our hope is not in vain. It has reasons. For the believer, the reason for our hope begins with the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Isaiah 40:31 says, “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
1 Peter 3:15 says “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
The Christian life is fundamentally a changed life. His change is not something that you can simply do by yourself. It’s going to take the power of God in your life and it’s going to require you to cooperate with God.
God wants to change us so that we will be like his son, Jesus Christ, but the Spirit of God will not force these changes upon our character. We must allow God to change us and to do his work in our lives.
There is so much that God wants to do in your life. He has a plan to make your life like Jesus. His desire is that you would reflect the character of Jesus, so that your life would bless others around you.
To make Jesus the Lord of our lives is to surrender. It’s to give him the control.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” - Corrie Ten Boom
As we read the Bible narrative, we learn that God rarely shares with us the big picture. We don’t see what will happen way down the road, but he always shares the next step.
Either we control our fear, or our fear controls us.
Identify the fear that is keeping you from stepping out in faith and trusting God. Ask God for the courage to trust him as you face your fear. Take a big step of faith and be looking. God is right there.
Psalm 139:16 - “all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
As a church, nothing hinders our witness for Christ like disunity. Jesus said people will know we are followers of Christ by “our love for one another.” This unity only occurs as we are one “in Christ.”
The best advertisement is a unified church! Why does it stand out? Because we live in a world filled with disunity.
The Bible is filled with a focus on unity. God brings us together, in all of our brokenness, in all of our differences and makes us one people….one body.
When we come together with all of conflict, broken relationships, political division, dysfunctional families, and fractured communities…when we come together in unity it is a sign to the world that God is a work here.
“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Jn 13:35)
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23)
If Jesus makes no difference in our lives, then why would anyone serve Him? If Christ-followers live just like those who are unsaved, why would anyone follow? We would all readily acknowledge that we are not perfect, only Jesus is perfect, but wouldn’t you agree that Jesus changes those who believe in Him?
Main Points:
1. I believe one of the questions people around us are silently asking is, “Does Jesus make a difference in your life?” Unbelievers are watching, often without us noticing, and they are wondering, “Is she different? Is he different, now that He is a follower of Jesus?”
2. When we place our faith in Jesus and confess Him as our Lord and Savior, His Spirit comes to reside within us. God’s work of sanctification begins. To “sanctify” means to set apart. God is at work in our lives to set us apart from the unbelieving world by helping us to be like Jesus in our character.
3. By the Holy Spirit, and with our cooperation, God will change us. He will change our attitude, our conversation, our choices, decisions, reactions, and our lifestyle. He will change our desires, our dreams, and our ambitions. Before our relationship with Christ, we lived only for ourselves, now we live for God and His glory.
Today’s Scripture Verses:
Philippians 2:13 - “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Romans 12:1-2 - “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Philippians 1:6 - “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
You and I are no strangers to temptation. We battle with it every single day in various ways. When you stop and think about how many times we have stared temptation in the face only to give into its lure, we begin to realize just our very weak we are.
A very important part of our prayer life is calling on God to give us the strength and the power to live for him every single day.
This simple prayer - “lead us not into temptation” gives us hope that we do not have to fight this battle alone.
Identify the area of your life in which you are currently being tempted the most. Ask for God’s strength and protection so that you will not yield to this temptation. He has promised to provide a way of escape with every temptation we face.
Luke 11:1-4 - “‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.”