Growth in God
This will be designed to both instruct, encourage, correct and challenge the average Christian believer to help achieve several things by the end.
- Seek Direction - Calling and Destiny in God
- Gain Vision and Purpose - If you don't already have that
- Gain Understanding and Guidance from God and the Bible on what steps to take
- Build - Reinforce - Redirect Habits to a structured daily and weekly course of study
Set Goals - Short Term and Long Term for several things
Bible Study
Personal Time With God - both inside and outside of times set aside for that
Organizing priorities and Directing your steps with a Goal in Mind.
Introduction -
With every single new convert and each new person that steps foot into a church and walks down the aisle to make Jesus the Lord of their life - comes responsibility on other believers around them - at a minimum to encourage and fellowship and friendship with them to keep them interested in God.
There is with every Christian - New or Old a potential to backslide, cool off, get comfortable and complacent about the things of God.
It is with each of these new converts that I see a reflection and memory for myself to review where I am at now compared to there and how I can keep or rekindle some aspect of the zeal and hunger they have.
A New Christian is someone that found the Reality and Truth and Life that is in Christ Jesus - They can nearly hear heaven cheering them on when they accept Him… an older Christian owes it to themselves to recognize that yes the excitement and overzealous zeal may fade… but our passion, drive, and hunger for more of God should not.
The best way to get back to that place - or keep yourself driving forward is in fact through study, personal prayer time with God, and eat every bit of good teaching you can till your stuffed. And One Step Further - Draw on what you know to share it with others in some aspect or another.
Create a well you can draw from - then draw from it!
You cannot breath in unless you breath out - you can't breath out unless you breath in.
Take this example and learn a basic principle - a lot of churches in the world have some fat - happy - but stagnant Christians. They are so full of the Word they may actually pop from the over-stuffing - they didn't find an outlet for what they are learning - have learned - still have to learn. (Have you ever ran into an older christian and they seem almost cranky?)
Find an outlet of ANY description to use what you learn, either through getting involved more at church, sharing with friends and family, at work (don't get fired) or in some aspect of ministry - even in a serving capacity.
Stephen in the Bible preached one of the most amazing messages of his day to the hardest crowd in the world to preach to.
Just a few days before then he was serving in his church - waiting tables - caring for others. It was not just his actions in serving, but he ministered and shared and fellowship-ed with those people at that time.
He used what he was learning himself in an outworking of everyday ministry and caring and helping in the church as well as imparting those teachings to others that He came in contact with.
The modern day christian goes to church so often they have their names on the chairs practically - but their mouths are shut in most situations and times they could be ministering to other people and putting to practice what they know in their hearts to be true.
There is nothing more useless than a blank dictionary in a spelling competition -
there is nothing more sad than a Christian full of the Word and silent when needed.
If you create a draw on what you already know - you will begin a process of needing to know more and wanting to know more in the Word of God that will begin to keep you in a place of hunger, curiosity, and strength of Faith and Confidence in the Word of God.
Taking this as one of your steps to Growth in God is essential - It will show you where you need to study more - and cause you to stay sharp.
A tool that is made for a specific task that gets rusted and sticky and corroded is useless as a tool. So likewise we need to stay sharp and ready to be used when given a chance.
My father and I worked on my first real car together. It is an old pickup truck that has seen better days. We didn't always have the right tools for the job but my father had a favorite tool that if nothing else worked he could reach for this old set of vice-grips and make nearly anything come unstuck or get something fastened as a result.
God is the same. Sometimes we let Him down when He asks us to do something simple as go to so and so and tell them about Jesus. We become nearly like a rusty tool that doesn't do the job.
We as Christians sometimes marvel at the big names in Church history when we think about the miracles and the revivals and the ministry of some of the so called greats. Yes they may have an office and a ministry in their day... but the same skills are available to us. Perhaps not to the same extent as others but the calling is much the same. What makes the Great Men of God so great? They made themselves available and ready to be used and sought to be used as well.
The bible uses several scriptures to get this point across. 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.
Be ready with the Word that is inside you... ready to share it out with others to drive home the point that God was teaching you even so that the others can get the same benefit as you did.
1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
11If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
When you listen to teaching and preaching - listen - not to parrot it back out again given the chance... cults teach their followers to do that. But gain a revelation of it so much so that it becomes part of your strengths and attributes so that when given the chance to help someone else in that area it comes as a ministration not a matter of fact attitude.
There is nothing worse than thinking your helping someone when your really hurting them or insulting them. I remember one time coming out of a conference in Dublin late one evening. A JW was standing at the gate of the Christian Convention trying to hand out leaflets to those coming out of the event. It was a bit humorous to be honest and a bit sad. They had such a smug look of superiority and self justification on their face when the offered leaflets were rejected, inwardly they must have been thinking that they were right to try to force their ways on others. Christian witness should not be that way... Yet many times I have seen it happen as well. For the record I don't witness like that.
How many times have you seen a Christian with the loudhailer standing on the street corner shouting hell fire and damnation on those that pass by. Were you that person?
Anyway. One time in Galveston Texas after Mardi-Gras parade was over... we were out talking to people and sharing the love of God with others. Then it happened. The one man I was talking to gave me a look of disgust and said... Oh Your with them! Get lost.
I looked over to where he was pointing and sure enough on the street corner - there he was... Mr. Loudhailer... only this time he brought a praise and worship band with him.
Seriously this could not be any more contradictory. The band was singing the praises of God and how Good He was and how wonderful... and the man behind the mic was shouting at everyone saying God hates them. Seriously! I would not make this sort of thing up.
SO - when I say that you need to find a way to draw out the things that you have learned - I mean seriously find a real and genuine way to draw it out. Because if you try to fake it in front of others they will see it. If you learn about how God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son that WHOSOEVER believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life... and that GOD is not willing that any should perish... WHERE IN THE WORLD do you get that God hates people???
Anyway. Share what you know like you know it and believe it yourself. Show it also in your actions.
One time on the street I was talking to a man who said he believed in God but didn't think that God would or could ever talk to him and have the kind of relationship I talked to him about. Instead of quoting a hundred and one scriptures at him I asked him about his own life. He told me that he was living with his girlfriend and he had a son. At that point it was easy to tell this man about the love of God.
I said to him... "You love your son very much? You would do anything for him wouldn't you. You want the best for him and want to see him grow up safe and strong and prepared for everything this world could throw at him" Of course he agreed "How much more would God - who put those loving and protective attributes in you to have for your son... want that kind of relationship with you."
Anyway - in wrapping up... Know that you have to put something in to be able to draw something out... and seek and be ready for opportunities to draw out from that which God has put inside you... in LOVE.
- Seek Direction - Calling and Destiny in God
Some people have the concept that God is going to ask them to do something strange or dangerous or be sent to some distant land if they ask Him for direction and calling on their lives.
Nonsense. God loves you and wants the best for your life. Simple. Take it to the bank. Now. Think about what you would LOVE to do for God. Think about your interests your hobbies your deepest desire in life. Chances are (if its a righteous desire) that God will give you those desires and sense of fulfillment as well in those areas.
One of my friends in Ireland told me straight one day that he was scared to death that if he asked God what he was meant to do with his life that God was going to send him to deepest darkest Africa or worse. I asked him if he was serious and he told me that he was. I asked him what his dream calling was - what he wanted to do most deep down.
He told me about his music desires and aspirations and said above all else he wanted to minister to others in music and to teach others about using music to praise God.
Years later. Guess what he is doing now?
When you seek God's will for your life - it is not random. It is not against who you are. It is not even against who you want to be. It fits you perfectly and as you go that direction it gives you such a sense of fulfillment that nuclear war would not persuade you to do anything else.
In Seeking Gods will for your life keep in mind that we are talking destination. The final place. In the meanwhile though you have to work and train to get to that destination. Do you think my friend would be where he is now unless he actually KNEW how to play an instrument? There is work involved and steps to take.
This portion is called Seeking Direction. The reason is to get to your destination you will have to do several things.
Ask Where You are Going.
Know where your going.
Go in that direction.
Take steps to correct your course if needed.
Keep an eye on the path your on.
Find someone that is already there and seek leadership and guidance.
Make a plan and take action if you find yourself off your course.
Keep moving and don't build a house along the way miles off your target.
Arrive at your destination and Keep growing!
If a person gets lost in the woods or in the desert you will see several things happen.
The path they think they are walking they think is straight... isn't.
They tend to walk in circles.
If they lean a bit to one side they tend to walk that way.
If they are weak on one side or in an area of their body they tend to over compensate and get off course.
They tend to do the opposite of the things they should do when they have no direction.
Also true. If they have something they can see in the distance they can make their way straighter than if they were just picking a direction at random and trying to walk a straight line towards it.
With this in mind let us examine destiny and purpose.
It is easier to know what you are training for and to build yourself up in certain areas if you know what is coming up.
A tool is most suited for the task and use it was designed for. Its easier to stay sharp as a praise and worship leader and not do silly things like take up a hobby as a sword swallower or something else silly that could cause damage to your throat.
Likewise youth and young Christians will find it easier to say no to things in the world when they know its not part of who they are and what they are about. Knowing your purpose in life is one of the most amazing things in the world. Likewise - when you know your off course... its easier to tell - your inward self tells you.
So... you see the mountain top in the distance and you have no idea how you are going to get there. Start walking anyway.
Start by picking up the knowledge the skills and seek Godly leadership that will help you get to that destination. They won't pick you up and set you down there. But they can certainly assist you in avoiding certain pitfalls they found along the way and help make it easier by sharing their knowledge and experience they have with you along the way.
Psalm 119:104-106 (King James Version)
104Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
105Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
106I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.
Seek Gods wisdom and truth above all else.
- Gain Vision and Purpose - If you don't already have that
In your walk with God and as you seek to know more of Him and get closer to Him in your own relationship... You will grow to know His ways and His voice more and more. In that process you gain a sense of purpose for your life. A tool that does not know what it is made for is useless. But in the right hands that tool made for the job that only the crafter knows... is the most valuable tool at that moment.
There is a concept in the church that is strange and very wrong. Christians sometimes pray that GOD will move and do things for them. Yet its US that God sends to get things done. Then the opposite happens... we think we are the ONLY ones doing it right and there is no one else.
9And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
12And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
13And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
15And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
16And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
17And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
18Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
I want you to get a concept in your mind now... think about this... You are God's first choice. You may not be the only one that He has asked to do something. But you are His first choice. He sent YOU. So follow what He tells you to do and put aside all else that may hinder you and do what God asks you to do.
Galatians 5
1Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Hebrews 12
1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
More to be added in next post -
