What does the mercy and grace of the Lord look like? If you are a Christian, you have seen the mercy and grace of the Lord in His death, resurrection, and forgiveness of your sin as well as in the eternal life and home you have waiting. But, the Lord is always merciful and gracious to us in our Christian lives as well and we see it when "good" things happen like a raise, birth of a new child, success in college, etc. So where is the mercy and grace in the "bad" times: times of meager wages, sickness, grief in loss of a loved one, betrayal by a friend, etc.
"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Lam. 3:22-23
"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." John 1:7
In a previous post of mine, I defined grace in light of the Christmas story and the charge that Mary was given. I analyzed her response by putting her trust in the Lord regardless of the difficulty or persecution she would have to endure as a result of a virgin birth. Grace is to be seen as God allowing us to be a part of the spread of the Gospel. Ex. 3:14 reminds us that God is the great I AM and can accomplish all His will with no need for resources or support, yet he chooses to have an intimate relationship with us and uses us to accomplish His will. Now in order to experience that, we must be totally surrendered and trusting in the Lord- completely dependent on Him.
Is it not when our control comes in that the will of the Lord is not accomplished? That's too difficult- I'm too busy, that's too far away Lord, I'm not experienced or gifted for that Lord, I can't risk taking that pay cut Lord, that's not what I expected to do with my life Lord . . . we could go on and on. That's when we get into depression because we have personal expectations of what our lives should be based on personal ideals, planning, or outside peer pressure/expectations. For instance, the infertile woman with friends that are all pregnant. She feels less of a woman because of it and doesn't know if she can stand another baby announcement. The divorced person who was betrayed by their spouse- they feel like less of a person because their spouse was supposed to love them more than anyone and decided one day they didn't anymore.
Life is hard and sometimes we are so discouraged we can't make sense of anything. The devil uses this to paralyze us- to never make new relationships because of fear, to never move forward to a new position because of fear, to not live life fully because you feel as though you have to have someone/something to make you fully complete or happy. As Solomon says, all is vanity! The only one who can satisfy and lead you to your calling in life is the Lord.
So, let's go back to mercy and grace- next time you get a disappointing call that you didn't get the job, you fail a class that you've worked so hard to pass, a boyfriend doesn't work out for the long haul, you feel like you're loneliness will never end . . . remember, all of these things are protection, mercy, and grace of the Lord. Lean on Him and He will give you rest. Stop trying to control and let Him show you His expectations! It will be above and beyond anything you could have ever comprehended! (Eph. 3:20) While we don't know what's going on, why do we fear to trust an unknown future to an all-knowing God! His timing is best- and His blessings are overwhelming for those who trust in Him and wait on Him and rest in Him! Perhaps that "dream job" came with a nightmare boss! Perhaps that boyfriend wasn't actually a Christian but put on a good show, etc. While some things that happen in life are so difficult to manage, remember that the Lord can comfort, fulfill, and strengthen you like no other. He won't necessarily tell you why, but He will show you His mercy, grace, and will which are priceless. Praise the Lord- the Great I AM!
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Friday, March 11, 2016
Tolerance: To Be or Not To Be
It's no secret that there is a constant battle among Christians about
whether accepting sinners or correcting them should be our predominant
focus. So many of us go to great lengths to love the unsaved, treading
lightly, making sure they are not offended by our beliefs. Others of us
make sure the unsaved know that their actions are wrong from first
contact regardless of their response. The Lord makes clear in a very short verse in Hebrews what our
attitude should be in order to show the glory of God. And isn't that
what we're trying to accomplish in the first place?
Hebrews 12: 4 "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"
According to this Scripture, we are to be at peace with all men, and, at the same time, be holy so that these men we are at peace with will see the Lord in our lives. So the answer is, neither camp is wholly correct. We are to both be at peace with the unsaved and show them the glory of the Lord through holiness which the Lord has accomplished in us.
"Follow" could also mean pursuing peace making this an active effort.
I Peter 2:17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Rom. 12: 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
These verses make it clear that as far as we are concerned, we are to honor all men. All men are created by God in His image, and while they are not your spiritual brother/sister as of yet, this doesn't mean that you shouldn't treat them with respect for who they are and their opinions no matter how contrary they are to Christianity. In Romans, we see that sometimes the unsaved will choose to not be at peace with us. A lot of times, people have a fear of or hatred for God. When you bring your love for the Lord to them, you bring that to light too often for them to be comfortable. Why should we expect anything else from an unsaved person (John 15: 18-19)? Isn't their eternal destination much more important than our momentary hurt feelings from rejection? We see this in our government passing laws that directly oppose Biblical principles, and punishing Christians for adhering to Biblical principles as being "intolerant." What do we expect a sinner to do? Sometimes people say they have a restored faith in humanity. What faith should we have in humanity? The Bible tells us we are all deceitfully wicked (Jer.17:9) so why should we expect behavior contrary to that?
Now the basics. Holiness- the part so many of us leave out when we embrace philanthropy. Holiness is achieved by the Holy Spirit in our lives through sanctification and this takes time and constant effort. Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us"The Lord clearly states to be holy, for He is holy. We have to choose to allow God to point out our sin, and we must repent in our desire to turn completely away from that sin. We must be willing to allow the Lord to lead us out of temptation, because He has said He will always provide a way out. If we don't become like Christ, we can't glorify Him, simply put.
What about Jesus' example in all of this?
Matthew 21:12-13
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
First observation- Jesus didn't pick on the individual. His anger was never focused on any one individual. It was focused on the sin going on in the place. When we are angry, we usually take it out on an individual because our anger is based on selfishness. Someone is irritating us, putting us down, taking away from us. Fact of the matter is that sinful anger is selfish. Second, He is God and this was His house. We can't compare us throwing people out of a church because they're doing wrong because we are not almighty, sovereign God. It was His house and only He had the authority to throw people out. The whole culture had defamed His house and He was concerned that it diminished the glory of His Father and Himself. His anger was focused on the glory of God. Jesus was also harsh on the Pharisees calling them hypocrites, etc. several times. However, he didn't exclude them from his teaching groups even though he knew they were there just to criticize and find fault. Also, Pharisees usually started the conversation with a controversial statement, so the Lord answered. He never went seeking a fight with them, although He did provide instruction to the people on why they were not suitable spiritual leaders.
On the other hand, the Lord showed great care for tax collectors and adulteresses entrenched in sin and met their imminent needs. With the adulteress about to be stoned, he protected her from certain death even though it was clear she was guilty. Once she realized He had cared enough for her to protect her in spite of her sin, her life was changed because God applied His holiness to the situation and told her to sin no more (See John 8:3-11). But to get her to listen in the first place, He had to meet her imminent need of protection. Many judged lepers as being punished for sin with their disease, but the Lord healed them meeting their physical needs. Only one leper came back to thank God for what He had done. In the same way, just because we love and help to meet needs does not mean that they will instantly give their life to the Lord, but a seed has been planted. The Lord cared about that one leper who trusted in Him (Luke 17:12-19).
However, what you don't see is Jesus accepting the sin in the life of the unsaved. The Lord made the relationship with the purpose of leading them to Himself and His power. This is the point of our relationships with the unsaved- the Bible states clearly that we are not to be close friends or spouses with the unsaved (Prov.24:1, 2 Cor. 6:14), but we are to be at peace with them. The point of our existence is to glorify God. If that is truly the desire of our heart, the unsaved will see the difference and will become curious eventually. Even if they don't, it will come up in conversation at some point. Even if that person avoids you from now on, the seed has been planted and God will do the work in his/her heart.
Holiness is of vital important because without it, there is no difference for the unsaved to see- sometimes when all we do is accept them so well that we support their sin, they see no need to change. Instead of pro-life beliefs with exclusions such as incest and rape, we should compassionately educate the young lady on the realities of what abortion is, and share the gospel with her so the Lord can change her mind and heart. Instead of shunning our homosexual family member, we should explain to them the importance of Biblical marriage in light of the gospel and let God change the heart. Remember, the goal of a relationship with the unsaved is to glorify the Lord through sharing the gospel (Mark 16:15). Simply put, when we are at peace with others, our holiness has a foundation because not only can the unsaved see the difference, they realize that the difference is the reason you are willing to be at peace with them.
Hebrews 12: 4 "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"
According to this Scripture, we are to be at peace with all men, and, at the same time, be holy so that these men we are at peace with will see the Lord in our lives. So the answer is, neither camp is wholly correct. We are to both be at peace with the unsaved and show them the glory of the Lord through holiness which the Lord has accomplished in us.
"Follow" could also mean pursuing peace making this an active effort.
I Peter 2:17 Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Rom. 12: 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
These verses make it clear that as far as we are concerned, we are to honor all men. All men are created by God in His image, and while they are not your spiritual brother/sister as of yet, this doesn't mean that you shouldn't treat them with respect for who they are and their opinions no matter how contrary they are to Christianity. In Romans, we see that sometimes the unsaved will choose to not be at peace with us. A lot of times, people have a fear of or hatred for God. When you bring your love for the Lord to them, you bring that to light too often for them to be comfortable. Why should we expect anything else from an unsaved person (John 15: 18-19)? Isn't their eternal destination much more important than our momentary hurt feelings from rejection? We see this in our government passing laws that directly oppose Biblical principles, and punishing Christians for adhering to Biblical principles as being "intolerant." What do we expect a sinner to do? Sometimes people say they have a restored faith in humanity. What faith should we have in humanity? The Bible tells us we are all deceitfully wicked (Jer.17:9) so why should we expect behavior contrary to that?
Now the basics. Holiness- the part so many of us leave out when we embrace philanthropy. Holiness is achieved by the Holy Spirit in our lives through sanctification and this takes time and constant effort. Hebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us"The Lord clearly states to be holy, for He is holy. We have to choose to allow God to point out our sin, and we must repent in our desire to turn completely away from that sin. We must be willing to allow the Lord to lead us out of temptation, because He has said He will always provide a way out. If we don't become like Christ, we can't glorify Him, simply put.
What about Jesus' example in all of this?
Matthew 21:12-13
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
First observation- Jesus didn't pick on the individual. His anger was never focused on any one individual. It was focused on the sin going on in the place. When we are angry, we usually take it out on an individual because our anger is based on selfishness. Someone is irritating us, putting us down, taking away from us. Fact of the matter is that sinful anger is selfish. Second, He is God and this was His house. We can't compare us throwing people out of a church because they're doing wrong because we are not almighty, sovereign God. It was His house and only He had the authority to throw people out. The whole culture had defamed His house and He was concerned that it diminished the glory of His Father and Himself. His anger was focused on the glory of God. Jesus was also harsh on the Pharisees calling them hypocrites, etc. several times. However, he didn't exclude them from his teaching groups even though he knew they were there just to criticize and find fault. Also, Pharisees usually started the conversation with a controversial statement, so the Lord answered. He never went seeking a fight with them, although He did provide instruction to the people on why they were not suitable spiritual leaders.
On the other hand, the Lord showed great care for tax collectors and adulteresses entrenched in sin and met their imminent needs. With the adulteress about to be stoned, he protected her from certain death even though it was clear she was guilty. Once she realized He had cared enough for her to protect her in spite of her sin, her life was changed because God applied His holiness to the situation and told her to sin no more (See John 8:3-11). But to get her to listen in the first place, He had to meet her imminent need of protection. Many judged lepers as being punished for sin with their disease, but the Lord healed them meeting their physical needs. Only one leper came back to thank God for what He had done. In the same way, just because we love and help to meet needs does not mean that they will instantly give their life to the Lord, but a seed has been planted. The Lord cared about that one leper who trusted in Him (Luke 17:12-19).
However, what you don't see is Jesus accepting the sin in the life of the unsaved. The Lord made the relationship with the purpose of leading them to Himself and His power. This is the point of our relationships with the unsaved- the Bible states clearly that we are not to be close friends or spouses with the unsaved (Prov.24:1, 2 Cor. 6:14), but we are to be at peace with them. The point of our existence is to glorify God. If that is truly the desire of our heart, the unsaved will see the difference and will become curious eventually. Even if they don't, it will come up in conversation at some point. Even if that person avoids you from now on, the seed has been planted and God will do the work in his/her heart.
Holiness is of vital important because without it, there is no difference for the unsaved to see- sometimes when all we do is accept them so well that we support their sin, they see no need to change. Instead of pro-life beliefs with exclusions such as incest and rape, we should compassionately educate the young lady on the realities of what abortion is, and share the gospel with her so the Lord can change her mind and heart. Instead of shunning our homosexual family member, we should explain to them the importance of Biblical marriage in light of the gospel and let God change the heart. Remember, the goal of a relationship with the unsaved is to glorify the Lord through sharing the gospel (Mark 16:15). Simply put, when we are at peace with others, our holiness has a foundation because not only can the unsaved see the difference, they realize that the difference is the reason you are willing to be at peace with them.
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Emotions vs. Biblical Principles [Spiritual Maturity 4]
In this section, we conclude on the topic of spiritual maturity by discussing faith, confidence in the Lord, and acting based on truth and not emotion.
7. Active faith vs. cautious apathy and doubt*
Do we doubt the Lord's promises easily when we don't see how it's going to be accomplished? Do we base our decisions on fear of something or someone? Do we have peace that the Lord is always working even when we don't understand or feel overwhelmed?
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." James 1:5-7
When we doubt God, we are prideful because we assume that we have to control the situation in some way for it to get better or resolve. The wisdom of the Lord is not the same as the wisdom of man. God is ready to lead with His wisdom, and the mature Christian will have peace in praying about an unsettling situation because He has studied the Lord and knows that He is faithful and works all together for good to them who love the Lord and abide in His will. An immature Christian is easily persuaded by family members, friends, etc. to an opinion that may be good, but is not of God. As you can see, all of these points tie together. Our last point was about careful study of the Word- knowing what you believe and why, so that we can base our actions on these truths, and live in peace instead of fear. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17 God does not change His character, and He will not turn on you like gods would in Greek mythology. He gives good gifts and He loves you- faith in Him is a choice as well as something that the Lord develops in you as you grow in your walk with the Lord. Faith=action. Obey the Lord in the simple things and He will lead you to His will. This leads into the next point perfectly . . .
8. Confidence vs. fear
Do we expect an easy life because we follow God? Do we live with crippling fear on a daily basis?
2 Tim. 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
Rom. 8:28
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Fear is not from God. We might experience fear, but when we turn to Him we have peace because He bestows upon us the spirit of power, love and a clear mind. The mature Christians KNOWS beyond any shadow of doubt that every circumstance will work together for good. He also knows that "good" means for the glory of God, not for the comfort of the Christian to an easy life full of material blessings. Do we have confidence that the Lord is going to accomplish good through every circumstance? When faced with fear, do we remember the promises of God and the character of God, and then exchange that fear with peace? Again, this point ties perfectly into the last . . .
9. Feelings and experiences evaluated in the light of God's Word vs. experiences evaluated according to feelings*
Emotions can overtake us as humans sometimes to make rash, foolish decisions. The immature Christians will be led by his/her feelings of fear, being offended, etc. and consequently act on those feelings which can be disastrous to the body of Christ and the immature Christian's testimony. A mature Christian takes a minute to evaluate their circumstances and feelings in the light of Christ and His power which they have available to them to sustain them. They act upon facts of the Word of God, not emotions of the human. Gal. 5:19-26
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.
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.
In
a very clear picture, the "works of the flesh" which are of the human
are contrasted to the "fruit of the Spirit" which is only achieved by
the power of Christ growing in the Christian. Emotions are involved in
all these works of the flesh, and if that's the motivation for our
actions, there is some spiritual immaturity to be dealt with. Are you
constantly offended about menial things that you then dislike a person because of it? Do you lose your temper easily and say things you regret? Do you doubt God because others you trust fail you? Do you make decisions and form opinions on how your emotions line up with the issue?
7. Active faith vs. cautious apathy and doubt*
Do we doubt the Lord's promises easily when we don't see how it's going to be accomplished? Do we base our decisions on fear of something or someone? Do we have peace that the Lord is always working even when we don't understand or feel overwhelmed?
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord." James 1:5-7
When we doubt God, we are prideful because we assume that we have to control the situation in some way for it to get better or resolve. The wisdom of the Lord is not the same as the wisdom of man. God is ready to lead with His wisdom, and the mature Christian will have peace in praying about an unsettling situation because He has studied the Lord and knows that He is faithful and works all together for good to them who love the Lord and abide in His will. An immature Christian is easily persuaded by family members, friends, etc. to an opinion that may be good, but is not of God. As you can see, all of these points tie together. Our last point was about careful study of the Word- knowing what you believe and why, so that we can base our actions on these truths, and live in peace instead of fear. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17 God does not change His character, and He will not turn on you like gods would in Greek mythology. He gives good gifts and He loves you- faith in Him is a choice as well as something that the Lord develops in you as you grow in your walk with the Lord. Faith=action. Obey the Lord in the simple things and He will lead you to His will. This leads into the next point perfectly . . .
8. Confidence vs. fear
Do we expect an easy life because we follow God? Do we live with crippling fear on a daily basis?
2 Tim. 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
Rom. 8:28
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
Fear is not from God. We might experience fear, but when we turn to Him we have peace because He bestows upon us the spirit of power, love and a clear mind. The mature Christians KNOWS beyond any shadow of doubt that every circumstance will work together for good. He also knows that "good" means for the glory of God, not for the comfort of the Christian to an easy life full of material blessings. Do we have confidence that the Lord is going to accomplish good through every circumstance? When faced with fear, do we remember the promises of God and the character of God, and then exchange that fear with peace? Again, this point ties perfectly into the last . . .
9. Feelings and experiences evaluated in the light of God's Word vs. experiences evaluated according to feelings*
Emotions can overtake us as humans sometimes to make rash, foolish decisions. The immature Christians will be led by his/her feelings of fear, being offended, etc. and consequently act on those feelings which can be disastrous to the body of Christ and the immature Christian's testimony. A mature Christian takes a minute to evaluate their circumstances and feelings in the light of Christ and His power which they have available to them to sustain them. They act upon facts of the Word of God, not emotions of the human. Gal. 5:19-26
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.
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.
Hebrew 5:14 "But
strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by
reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and
evil." The mature Christian has discernment as a result of frequent
usage of the principles of God. He will be able to call out the false
teachers, and realize when God's will is not being done. Note that the
word here "exercise" is used, meaning that in order to achieve maturity,
one must work at it! Daily making a choice to see everything in the
light of the Word of God, basing our actions on fact rather than
emotion, we are able to discern the truth of God. When we study and work
hard to learn and meditate on the Word of God, and then totally depend
on Him to lead us, we gain discernment.
Spiritual maturity has nothing to do with physical age. Most Christians today are baby Christians, because they're satisfied with being saved from hell. They want to control their own lives, and are satisfied to get a free pass. What blessings the continual baby Christian misses out on! Are you actively investing in a new Christian? Do you turn to the Scriptures when faced with a moral dilemma and beg the Lord for His perspective to take the place of yours? Are you patient and loving toward the body of Christ you are part of, and are you an active part of that body? Do you base your personal beliefs and lifestyle on Bible verses after careful study? Do you have assurance in your salvation and the peace of God to know that the Lord only has good for you in your circumstance? Like Paul said, let us all "examine" ourselves for marks of immaturity. Most of us have an area where we can isolate it. Then, ask God to help you to be committed as a student of the Word, and ask Him to help you truly know Him, and understand your relationship to Him.
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us," Eph. 3:20
Spiritual maturity has nothing to do with physical age. Most Christians today are baby Christians, because they're satisfied with being saved from hell. They want to control their own lives, and are satisfied to get a free pass. What blessings the continual baby Christian misses out on! Are you actively investing in a new Christian? Do you turn to the Scriptures when faced with a moral dilemma and beg the Lord for His perspective to take the place of yours? Are you patient and loving toward the body of Christ you are part of, and are you an active part of that body? Do you base your personal beliefs and lifestyle on Bible verses after careful study? Do you have assurance in your salvation and the peace of God to know that the Lord only has good for you in your circumstance? Like Paul said, let us all "examine" ourselves for marks of immaturity. Most of us have an area where we can isolate it. Then, ask God to help you to be committed as a student of the Word, and ask Him to help you truly know Him, and understand your relationship to Him.
"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us," Eph. 3:20
Personal Desires and Opinions [Spiritual Maturity 3]
In the next section, we are going to focus on our effort in spiritual growth, and the desires of our heart.
Numbered List Taken from Life Application Study Bible
5. Desiring spiritual challenges vs. desiring entertainment
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
2 Tim. 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
What is your motive for going to church? To learn and then apply truths to your life? Or just be spoon fed small tidbits of truth that make you feel good through the week? Do you make it a point to study the Word of God on your own? Has the Lord laid a ministry or person to be involved with on your heart that you're too fearful to do?
So many times church attendance is based on the fact that it's a ritual we do in the South and so we don't really engage in the church, we just show up and make an appearance. Let me tell you we're hurting no one but ourselves. When we go to church out of habit, we get bored with one kind of church so we start seeking another kind of church based on the type of music they use or because all the church members are our age. While everybody has to find a church where they feel like they can truly grow, sometimes we forget about focusing on our personal part. If we never make an effort to learn from our teachers and preachers, or get involved with being discipled or being a discipleship leader, of course we're going to be dissatisfied with any church. It's like anything- if you don't have a personal desire to pursue it, you're not going to spend time and money on it. I could care less about football, so I'm not going to watch games, and I'm not going to buy tickets to a game. A true football fan learns stats about their favorite players, spends money on tickets and team gear for them to wear, and carves out a time to make sure they can watch every game. We should seek the Lord's help to purify us, and then help us make His desires for us our desires.
"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. . . The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way." Ps. 37:4, 23
I saw a quote and it speaks volumes here: "God does not call the equipped, he equips the called." It's the Lord that gives your spiritual gifts, and only He knows how He will use them. This means that you are going to be called out of your comfort zone. Moses was out of his comfort zone when God called him to free His people- he didn't feel like he was a talented enough speaker. Abraham was out of his comfort zone when God told him to leave everything he knew to pursue a land that was promised to him with no heir as of yet. The Lord's will is going to be accomplished- the question is, are you going to choose to be a part of it? "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" Phil. 1:6
6. Careful study and observation vs. opinions and halfhearted efforts
Do we simply follow church culture to fit in without personal study to see if our actions are right? Do we take verses out of the Bible without studying the culture and context surrounding it? Do we read in to what the Bible states to support personal opinions? Do we believe that the Bible contradicts itself?
Repeat 2 Tim. 2:15: A growing Christian is one that is always learning and studying new things about the Lord. He bases his opinion and actions on solid Biblical truth and knows when he needs to seek more mature help when he doesn't understand. An immature Christian is led by their personal opinions and seeks justification for their opinions from the Bible without putting a good effort into really understanding the context of the Scripture he's reading. So many act like the Old Testament either contradicts the New Testament or is irrelevant to Christian living today, and neither is the case. The Old Testament depicts the Israelites whom God chose to show His glory to a fallen world through. Sacrifices were a foreshadowing of the final sacrifice of the Lord to come. Their laws were so strict because they were to be separate, but didn't have the Holy Spirit yet. God never condoned polygamy or slavery, but both were present because of the culture of that time. The Old Testament does not contradict the new in any way, and is very applicable to us! Without the law, like Paul says, we would not understand that we are sinners in need of a Savior! "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." Gal. 3:24 Yes, we live differently now because we live in the church age, but the Old Testament can reveal so much to us if we study and meditate upon it- not just read a verse that says a slave should obey his master and then start questioning the love of God and inerrancy of the Bible.
Bringing it all back together, let's focus again on the discerning, mature Christian. His natural desire is spiritual challenges- he doesn't relish suffering, but He realizes that the purpose of it is to make him/her equipped for God's glory in their life. They don't fight it, but depend on God's strength to bring them through and accomplish the good work He has for them. He is not comfortable sitting in the pew, and he isn't constantly moving from church to church for superficial reasons. He can discern when his opinion is right or wrong in light of Scripture. He makes sure he knows what he believes and why based on the Scripture. He studies the Bible carefully so he understands the full context of what he's learning before he draws conclusions. He knows he has to depend on the Lord's revelation to understand, and that he may need to ask for help from a more mature Christian. Are we examining ourselves to see if our desire is to grow in the Lord? Do we carve out time to study the Scriptures, and is it the first source of knowledge we turn to when we face a dilemma?
Numbered List Taken from Life Application Study Bible
5. Desiring spiritual challenges vs. desiring entertainment
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
2 Tim. 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
What is your motive for going to church? To learn and then apply truths to your life? Or just be spoon fed small tidbits of truth that make you feel good through the week? Do you make it a point to study the Word of God on your own? Has the Lord laid a ministry or person to be involved with on your heart that you're too fearful to do?
So many times church attendance is based on the fact that it's a ritual we do in the South and so we don't really engage in the church, we just show up and make an appearance. Let me tell you we're hurting no one but ourselves. When we go to church out of habit, we get bored with one kind of church so we start seeking another kind of church based on the type of music they use or because all the church members are our age. While everybody has to find a church where they feel like they can truly grow, sometimes we forget about focusing on our personal part. If we never make an effort to learn from our teachers and preachers, or get involved with being discipled or being a discipleship leader, of course we're going to be dissatisfied with any church. It's like anything- if you don't have a personal desire to pursue it, you're not going to spend time and money on it. I could care less about football, so I'm not going to watch games, and I'm not going to buy tickets to a game. A true football fan learns stats about their favorite players, spends money on tickets and team gear for them to wear, and carves out a time to make sure they can watch every game. We should seek the Lord's help to purify us, and then help us make His desires for us our desires.
"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. . . The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way." Ps. 37:4, 23
I saw a quote and it speaks volumes here: "God does not call the equipped, he equips the called." It's the Lord that gives your spiritual gifts, and only He knows how He will use them. This means that you are going to be called out of your comfort zone. Moses was out of his comfort zone when God called him to free His people- he didn't feel like he was a talented enough speaker. Abraham was out of his comfort zone when God told him to leave everything he knew to pursue a land that was promised to him with no heir as of yet. The Lord's will is going to be accomplished- the question is, are you going to choose to be a part of it? "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" Phil. 1:6
6. Careful study and observation vs. opinions and halfhearted efforts
Do we simply follow church culture to fit in without personal study to see if our actions are right? Do we take verses out of the Bible without studying the culture and context surrounding it? Do we read in to what the Bible states to support personal opinions? Do we believe that the Bible contradicts itself?
Repeat 2 Tim. 2:15: A growing Christian is one that is always learning and studying new things about the Lord. He bases his opinion and actions on solid Biblical truth and knows when he needs to seek more mature help when he doesn't understand. An immature Christian is led by their personal opinions and seeks justification for their opinions from the Bible without putting a good effort into really understanding the context of the Scripture he's reading. So many act like the Old Testament either contradicts the New Testament or is irrelevant to Christian living today, and neither is the case. The Old Testament depicts the Israelites whom God chose to show His glory to a fallen world through. Sacrifices were a foreshadowing of the final sacrifice of the Lord to come. Their laws were so strict because they were to be separate, but didn't have the Holy Spirit yet. God never condoned polygamy or slavery, but both were present because of the culture of that time. The Old Testament does not contradict the new in any way, and is very applicable to us! Without the law, like Paul says, we would not understand that we are sinners in need of a Savior! "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." Gal. 3:24 Yes, we live differently now because we live in the church age, but the Old Testament can reveal so much to us if we study and meditate upon it- not just read a verse that says a slave should obey his master and then start questioning the love of God and inerrancy of the Bible.
Bringing it all back together, let's focus again on the discerning, mature Christian. His natural desire is spiritual challenges- he doesn't relish suffering, but He realizes that the purpose of it is to make him/her equipped for God's glory in their life. They don't fight it, but depend on God's strength to bring them through and accomplish the good work He has for them. He is not comfortable sitting in the pew, and he isn't constantly moving from church to church for superficial reasons. He can discern when his opinion is right or wrong in light of Scripture. He makes sure he knows what he believes and why based on the Scripture. He studies the Bible carefully so he understands the full context of what he's learning before he draws conclusions. He knows he has to depend on the Lord's revelation to understand, and that he may need to ask for help from a more mature Christian. Are we examining ourselves to see if our desire is to grow in the Lord? Do we carve out time to study the Scriptures, and is it the first source of knowledge we turn to when we face a dilemma?
Self Evaluation and the Importance of Unity [Spiritual Maturity 2]
Continuing our discussion from spiritual maturity in my first post, we will focus on the importance of how you see yourself as well as the body of Christ that you are a part of.
These numbered points are a continuation of the list from the Life Application Study Bible.
3.Self-evaluation vs. self-criticism
Do we live in a constant state of guilt over our past? Do we feel like our past constantly shadows accomplishing anything in our futures? Do we feel like there's no point in resisting temptation because we're too weak to resist with that sin nature we struggle with constantly?
As Christians, we are joint-heirs with Christ, and so our goal is not to put ourselves down, but ask for the Holy Spirit's help to examine ourselves so that we can be purified and repent of any sin that hinders our relationship with God. Because of the Lord's sacrifice, we are seen as perfection to the Lord- "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." Ps. 103:12 However, this doesn't give us a free card to sin because we know we're not going to hell "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." Rom. 6:18
In relation to taking the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, Paul states, "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." We are not to take the Lord's Supper if our relationship with the Lord has not been examined for purification. Repent of your sin, but then realize that Jesus has already paid the price. We're not to walk around in guilt and defeat, but in the victory that Jesus has already won over all sin and death. Depend on the Lord to take the out that He will always provide when we are tempted. Ask the Lord to expose your weaknesses, so that you can ask for help to correct them and then depend on His power to accomplish that in your life. "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." Rom. 8:37
4. Seeking unity vs. promoting disunity
Do we seem to be in constant conflict with certain people in the church? Do we respect the leadership of the church that was put over us? Do we know what our spiritual gift is, and do we use that gift to work with others to accomplish ministry?
Eph. 4:1-6
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
We are the body of Christ, and a body does not work well without an eye or an arm. God has equipped us with gifts to serve Him in the local church to accomplish His will and bring Him glory as the body of Christ. Paul not only states the importance of unity in the body of Christ, but lists the different aspects of Christianity that are essentials and must be agreed upon before we unify with any church or individual which claims to be Christian.The Bible states here that we are to be humble and kind in relation to our brethren. We are to be patient and love each other.
"Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." Eph. 5:21 While many focus on the husband/wife relationship in this Scripture, submitting to one another or the brethren is the first step. Puts unity in a totally different perspective, doesn't it? This isn't referring to things like women submitting to all men in the church like a husband, but is serving one another with a humble, kind, patient, and loving attitude and motivation. Without unity, the body will not work. So many churches split especially in the south over matters of opinion that are not truly Biblical matters, so please, before getting offended or upset about something, evaluate it in the light of Scripture and prayer. How can a body walk without feet? How can it speak without a mouth?
Bringing it all back together, lets remember in Hebrews 5:14, the mark of spiritual maturity is discernment. We have learned in this section that discernment to see yourself in the light of the gospel means not living in perpetual guilt, but as a conqueror in Christ. It's examining yourself for sin so that it can be repented of and for purification to take place through the strength of the Lord. It is serving one another in the church with a loving, humble attitude that seeks to love and be patient when another hurts us or isn't making wise decisions. It is preserving unity above all else in the body of Christ even if our opinions may differ. Discernment to know when something is worth separating yourself from a church over, and when it is not. Live in the victory of Christ and ask the Lord to help you see your fellow Christians from His perspective.
These numbered points are a continuation of the list from the Life Application Study Bible.
3.Self-evaluation vs. self-criticism
Do we live in a constant state of guilt over our past? Do we feel like our past constantly shadows accomplishing anything in our futures? Do we feel like there's no point in resisting temptation because we're too weak to resist with that sin nature we struggle with constantly?
As Christians, we are joint-heirs with Christ, and so our goal is not to put ourselves down, but ask for the Holy Spirit's help to examine ourselves so that we can be purified and repent of any sin that hinders our relationship with God. Because of the Lord's sacrifice, we are seen as perfection to the Lord- "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." Ps. 103:12 However, this doesn't give us a free card to sin because we know we're not going to hell "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." Rom. 6:18
In relation to taking the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, Paul states, "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." We are not to take the Lord's Supper if our relationship with the Lord has not been examined for purification. Repent of your sin, but then realize that Jesus has already paid the price. We're not to walk around in guilt and defeat, but in the victory that Jesus has already won over all sin and death. Depend on the Lord to take the out that He will always provide when we are tempted. Ask the Lord to expose your weaknesses, so that you can ask for help to correct them and then depend on His power to accomplish that in your life. "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." Rom. 8:37
4. Seeking unity vs. promoting disunity
Do we seem to be in constant conflict with certain people in the church? Do we respect the leadership of the church that was put over us? Do we know what our spiritual gift is, and do we use that gift to work with others to accomplish ministry?
Eph. 4:1-6
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
We are the body of Christ, and a body does not work well without an eye or an arm. God has equipped us with gifts to serve Him in the local church to accomplish His will and bring Him glory as the body of Christ. Paul not only states the importance of unity in the body of Christ, but lists the different aspects of Christianity that are essentials and must be agreed upon before we unify with any church or individual which claims to be Christian.The Bible states here that we are to be humble and kind in relation to our brethren. We are to be patient and love each other.
"Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." Eph. 5:21 While many focus on the husband/wife relationship in this Scripture, submitting to one another or the brethren is the first step. Puts unity in a totally different perspective, doesn't it? This isn't referring to things like women submitting to all men in the church like a husband, but is serving one another with a humble, kind, patient, and loving attitude and motivation. Without unity, the body will not work. So many churches split especially in the south over matters of opinion that are not truly Biblical matters, so please, before getting offended or upset about something, evaluate it in the light of Scripture and prayer. How can a body walk without feet? How can it speak without a mouth?
Bringing it all back together, lets remember in Hebrews 5:14, the mark of spiritual maturity is discernment. We have learned in this section that discernment to see yourself in the light of the gospel means not living in perpetual guilt, but as a conqueror in Christ. It's examining yourself for sin so that it can be repented of and for purification to take place through the strength of the Lord. It is serving one another in the church with a loving, humble attitude that seeks to love and be patient when another hurts us or isn't making wise decisions. It is preserving unity above all else in the body of Christ even if our opinions may differ. Discernment to know when something is worth separating yourself from a church over, and when it is not. Live in the victory of Christ and ask the Lord to help you see your fellow Christians from His perspective.
Struggling with the Basics [Spiritual Maturity 1]
We're plodding along- everything is pretty ho-hum, needs are met and life is fine. We go to church, get our weekly spiritual inspiration, and help out with the kids' ministry or sing in the choir to do our duty. And then disaster hits- health problems, death of a loved one, loss of a job- and we lose it! Doubt our salvation, doubt that God cares, wallow in despair, and come close to a nervous breakdown altogether. We beg God to take our suffering away, and forget all of His blessings. We reach out for inspirational quotes and even faulty theology in hopes that God is a magician or that earthly treasures are the focus of God's blessings to us, and there are plenty that teach that in our world today. "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" Eph. 4:14
This verse in Ephesians makes it clear what we're struggling with here: spiritual immaturity. And we're not the only ones- apparently Hebrew Christians had the same issue.
Hebrews 5:11-14 seems oddly placed, but spiritual maturity was a must if the Hebrews were ever to fully comprehend and apply the truth of Jesus being their ultimate, eternal High Priest which is a main theme of Hebrews. Instead of merely looking forward to a Savior, they had unlimited access to the throne of God through their Savior. This would be a grave loss of blessing indeed if this truth was not applied to their lives! So, let's read the passage. Hebrews 5:11-14
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
So here we see that the people are "dull of hearing" basically meaning "slow to learn". These Hebrews had been Christians for 10+ years, and yet they were digressing. We see this when the phrase "are become" is used, meaning that their spiritual maturity has declined (Expositor's Bible Commentary). So his main focus were those who should be able to be teachers to babies, instead of babies themselves. It states here that the people had to revisit the basics of Christianity time and time again, and yet they still did not apply these truths to their lives, and consequently never grew in their Christianity like they should have. In Hebrews 6: 1-3, the author lists these basics of Christianity which are essential to follow, but were where the Hebrews stopped learning.
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
And this will we do, if God permit.
So, what are the marks of spiritual immaturity vs. spiritual maturity? We see this in 5:11-14
Numbered points taken from Life Application Study Bible
Mature vs. Immature
1.Teaching Others vs. just being taught
The author clearly states that these Christians have been saved long enough to take on the role of teaching new Christians. Let's think about ourselves. How many times have we doubted our salvation? Do we have a full understanding of the Bible's definition of basic doctrines like existence of the devil and hell, purpose of the local church, etc.?Are we continual students of the Word? Does our testimony line up with what we believe and application of those truths? Are we actively mentoring a new Christian?
We need not go any further than the Great Commission which applies to all Christians, not just those with a spiritual gift of teaching. Matt. 28:19-20 "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." The Lord says to teach all nations of the gospel, and this is a command. Then, He commands to teach new Christians to observe all things which the Lord had taught them when He was on earth. They were to model their lives after these truths and teach new believers. You may only be teaching one person you develop a relationship with, but the point is, we are all to teach new Christians.
It is clear that baby Christians should not be leading baby Christians. 2 Tim 2:2 "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." A teacher needs to understand and apply Biblical truth to their lives, be a lifetime student of the Word, (2 Tim. 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."), and proven him/herself to be faithful to the Lord and Biblical doctrine. While it is true some have the spiritual gift of teaching, we are all responsible to be actively seeking non-Christians to tell them of the gospel, and then teaching new Christians to help them to develop into mature disciples of the Word.
This can be a one on one scenario. This doesn't mean that everyone should teach a Sunday School class as a requirement of church membership, but that when we have reached spiritual maturity, we should mentor others, and that's a command. A lot of the mentoring is accomplished by a testimony that lines up with your belief. While we all have a sin nature in our physical bodies, we should all be striving to repent and move forward in the strength of the Lord. Trying to be a pious Christian who hides their sin is dangerous, because the impurity of the heart will show itself at some point and much damage can be done to the whole church body as a result. Mentoring and being open and vulnerable about your personal struggles and how you manage them is a great comfort to a new Christian as they may feel defeated in their new walk.
2. Developing depth of understanding vs. struggling with the basics
The author again points to this in citing the basic doctrines that the church continually struggled to comprehend and then apply. I imagine the Hebrews would like to add bits and pieces of the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. In other portions of Scripture, we find whole arguments about whether Gentile Christians should be circumcised or not, because under the Old Covenant, Hebrews were to be circumcised to signify separation. Perhaps we struggle with the basics because we think we are too uneducated to understand, or that it's the pastor job to study the Word for us. Don't worry about what you don't understand in the Bible- read the basics like John, and as you learn more about God, your spiritual understanding will grow as well through the work of the Holy Spirit. Don't ever try to read the Bible alone- ask the Holy Spirit to guide you with His truth to understand the basics, and then go from there. Eph. 1:17 "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:" The Lord will reveal to you what He wants you to understand for right now. Don't be concerned that you can't interpret the meaning of Revelation- just focus on what the Lord is teaching you now and He will expand your understanding and reveal to you more and more. Now as it says in 2 Tim. 2:15, we should study and meditate on the Word, but let God do the revealing. That's why teaching through discipleship is of paramount importance- it provides a guide for the new Christian to ensure he/she has a solid foundation in Biblical doctrine to move forward in learning with.
There are more aspects to discuss about spiritual maturity in posts to come. But for now, let's remember how we define maturity. In 5:14, we see that the spiritually mature Christian has discernment as a result of practice. So far, we have seen that the mature Christian has a firm foundation in basic Biblical doctrine, is continually learning beyond the basics, and applies Biblical principles to his/her life so that he/she develops discernment as a natural result of the revelation of the Lord, and continually living in the strength of the Lord. There is nothing wrong with being a baby Christian if you are a chronologically new Christian, but there is an issue if you continually digress over years of time and constantly struggle with the basics. What if every baby Christian was taught and mentored by a mature Christian? Every Christian would know correct doctrine and how to apply it rather than applying emotion or misunderstood context to their lives. What a revival that would begin! Do your part! If you're a baby Christian, seek out a mentor by talking to the the leadership of your church. If you're a mature Christian, reach out to the new Christian and walk with them in this fallen world. Disciples making disciples making disciples- a picture of what the Lord intended the church to be.
This verse in Ephesians makes it clear what we're struggling with here: spiritual immaturity. And we're not the only ones- apparently Hebrew Christians had the same issue.
Hebrews 5:11-14 seems oddly placed, but spiritual maturity was a must if the Hebrews were ever to fully comprehend and apply the truth of Jesus being their ultimate, eternal High Priest which is a main theme of Hebrews. Instead of merely looking forward to a Savior, they had unlimited access to the throne of God through their Savior. This would be a grave loss of blessing indeed if this truth was not applied to their lives! So, let's read the passage. Hebrews 5:11-14
Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
So here we see that the people are "dull of hearing" basically meaning "slow to learn". These Hebrews had been Christians for 10+ years, and yet they were digressing. We see this when the phrase "are become" is used, meaning that their spiritual maturity has declined (Expositor's Bible Commentary). So his main focus were those who should be able to be teachers to babies, instead of babies themselves. It states here that the people had to revisit the basics of Christianity time and time again, and yet they still did not apply these truths to their lives, and consequently never grew in their Christianity like they should have. In Hebrews 6: 1-3, the author lists these basics of Christianity which are essential to follow, but were where the Hebrews stopped learning.
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
And this will we do, if God permit.
So, what are the marks of spiritual immaturity vs. spiritual maturity? We see this in 5:11-14
Numbered points taken from Life Application Study Bible
Mature vs. Immature
1.Teaching Others vs. just being taught
The author clearly states that these Christians have been saved long enough to take on the role of teaching new Christians. Let's think about ourselves. How many times have we doubted our salvation? Do we have a full understanding of the Bible's definition of basic doctrines like existence of the devil and hell, purpose of the local church, etc.?Are we continual students of the Word? Does our testimony line up with what we believe and application of those truths? Are we actively mentoring a new Christian?
We need not go any further than the Great Commission which applies to all Christians, not just those with a spiritual gift of teaching. Matt. 28:19-20 "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." The Lord says to teach all nations of the gospel, and this is a command. Then, He commands to teach new Christians to observe all things which the Lord had taught them when He was on earth. They were to model their lives after these truths and teach new believers. You may only be teaching one person you develop a relationship with, but the point is, we are all to teach new Christians.
It is clear that baby Christians should not be leading baby Christians. 2 Tim 2:2 "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." A teacher needs to understand and apply Biblical truth to their lives, be a lifetime student of the Word, (2 Tim. 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."), and proven him/herself to be faithful to the Lord and Biblical doctrine. While it is true some have the spiritual gift of teaching, we are all responsible to be actively seeking non-Christians to tell them of the gospel, and then teaching new Christians to help them to develop into mature disciples of the Word.
This can be a one on one scenario. This doesn't mean that everyone should teach a Sunday School class as a requirement of church membership, but that when we have reached spiritual maturity, we should mentor others, and that's a command. A lot of the mentoring is accomplished by a testimony that lines up with your belief. While we all have a sin nature in our physical bodies, we should all be striving to repent and move forward in the strength of the Lord. Trying to be a pious Christian who hides their sin is dangerous, because the impurity of the heart will show itself at some point and much damage can be done to the whole church body as a result. Mentoring and being open and vulnerable about your personal struggles and how you manage them is a great comfort to a new Christian as they may feel defeated in their new walk.
"And
what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust
to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
- See more at:
http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/bible-verses-about-teachers.html#sthash.C4uW2bzS.dpuf
"And
what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust
to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."
- See more at:
http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/bible-verses-about-teachers.html#sthash.C4uW2bzS.dpuf
2. Developing depth of understanding vs. struggling with the basics
The author again points to this in citing the basic doctrines that the church continually struggled to comprehend and then apply. I imagine the Hebrews would like to add bits and pieces of the Old Covenant with the New Covenant. In other portions of Scripture, we find whole arguments about whether Gentile Christians should be circumcised or not, because under the Old Covenant, Hebrews were to be circumcised to signify separation. Perhaps we struggle with the basics because we think we are too uneducated to understand, or that it's the pastor job to study the Word for us. Don't worry about what you don't understand in the Bible- read the basics like John, and as you learn more about God, your spiritual understanding will grow as well through the work of the Holy Spirit. Don't ever try to read the Bible alone- ask the Holy Spirit to guide you with His truth to understand the basics, and then go from there. Eph. 1:17 "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:" The Lord will reveal to you what He wants you to understand for right now. Don't be concerned that you can't interpret the meaning of Revelation- just focus on what the Lord is teaching you now and He will expand your understanding and reveal to you more and more. Now as it says in 2 Tim. 2:15, we should study and meditate on the Word, but let God do the revealing. That's why teaching through discipleship is of paramount importance- it provides a guide for the new Christian to ensure he/she has a solid foundation in Biblical doctrine to move forward in learning with.
There are more aspects to discuss about spiritual maturity in posts to come. But for now, let's remember how we define maturity. In 5:14, we see that the spiritually mature Christian has discernment as a result of practice. So far, we have seen that the mature Christian has a firm foundation in basic Biblical doctrine, is continually learning beyond the basics, and applies Biblical principles to his/her life so that he/she develops discernment as a natural result of the revelation of the Lord, and continually living in the strength of the Lord. There is nothing wrong with being a baby Christian if you are a chronologically new Christian, but there is an issue if you continually digress over years of time and constantly struggle with the basics. What if every baby Christian was taught and mentored by a mature Christian? Every Christian would know correct doctrine and how to apply it rather than applying emotion or misunderstood context to their lives. What a revival that would begin! Do your part! If you're a baby Christian, seek out a mentor by talking to the the leadership of your church. If you're a mature Christian, reach out to the new Christian and walk with them in this fallen world. Disciples making disciples making disciples- a picture of what the Lord intended the church to be.
Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Prayer: How to Know God
Romans 8: 26-28
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
I have to admit when I first saw these verses, I looked at them from a totally incorrect viewpoint. When I saw the the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings that we aren't able to verbalize, I thought immediately what was being said is that when you're hurting so much that all you can do is groan, that the Holy Spirit prays for you because you don't understand what's going on or how to pray about it. I even thought of when Hannah prayed for a son at the temple for years and couldn't even speak out loud she was so sorrowful, and God answered her prayers, right? Stop . . . and rewind.
Why would I want the Holy Spirit to only intercede when I'm so frustrated or sad I don't know what to say? I mean, I don't know the Lord's will, so why should I control my prayer until I can't handle life anymore? That is the wrong way of thinking on so many levels. First of all, it's saying that we only go to God when we feel like we can't handle life anymore (aka only during the bad times) Prov. 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Not to mention, our suffering is really the grace of God to us because it reveals the glory of God in us and in turn allows us to be part of the spread of the Gospel. Rom. 8:16-18
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
So what are these groanings? And is the Holy Spirit always interceding for us? Romans 8:19-25
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
It says here that all of creation groans and travails (like a women in childbirth in other versions) and that we as Christians (clearly speaking about Christians due to the statment that we "have the firstfruits of the Spirit") also groan in our waiting- for what?
All of creation is effected by sin- If you think about it, when Adam had sinned he now had to till the land- there were thorns and weeds that effected creation. Sin is why childbirth is painful, why we must be clothed, etc. Needless to say, this world is full of sin and everyone and every part of creation is effected by it. Rom. 5:12&15
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
So our groanings are simply our limitation on this sin-bound planet living in our imperfect bodies and minds. We as Christians have been forgiven and have unlimited access to the throne of grace, but we still live in a sinful world with an inherent sin nature. However, we have hope because we know we will be fully redeemed finally in heaven and all our sorrow, physical weakness, and sin nature will be gone! We will live with our Lord in Heaven, when we finally get to claim all of what we have gained as being a joint-heir in Christ! We all "groan" and yearn in anticipation of that time! Paul struggled with this himself in Romans 7:21-25
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
( **Note- this does not mean that we are helpless to sin!! The Holy Spirit lives within us and we have all that power to resist the devil. There is always the option to say no to sin- we are joint-heirs with Christ and while no one is perfect yet, the Lord has made us conquerors over sin and death! see I Cor. 10:13)
It's very typical of all of us to immediately jump to the conclusion that prayer is centered around us and the needs that we want God to so desperately fix. We have it all wrong- where we see a crisis, God sees His will, yet we beg Him to snatch us out of it in fear. How our lives would be transformed if God was truly the center of our prayer!
Phil. 4:6-7
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
I think we all desperately seek that peace, but don't allow God to give it to us. It is yours now, child of God, so claim it! We may pray sincerely and it may be against God's will because we don't know His will (e.g.- healing of a family member that dies from the disease), but the Holy Spirit knows and the will of God will be accomplished! In a beautiful picture of the trinity, we see Christ understanding the mind of the Spirit that intercedes for the will of the Father to be done in us. So next time you see an "unanswered prayer," realize that God's will is being accomplished and is perfect, and you are an imperfect person who God will lead even when you don't understand, and then . . . be at peace!
The Lord's Will is going to be accomplished- so the real question is, are you going to allow God to do the work in you needed to be able to be a part of what God is doing? When God works in you through suffering, do you merely see an unanswered prayer?
So let's get to the practical application: Prayer is something that we should ask for help with. I know a lot of times prayer is our laundry list- we confess (as we should) for sins that have been committed, but are we seeking the Holy Spirit's help to reveal sin in our lives that we are not aware of? We bring our requests to the Lord (as we should), but do we allow the Holy Spirit to teach us how God can meet those needs by focusing on the many names and attributes of the Lord that are appropriate to that need? David does this in the Psalms numerous times! (Taken from Praying With Your Eyes Open referenced below)
Ps. 85:4
Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
Ps.31:3
For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
Prayer is more about learning to surrender to God and allowing Him to reveal Himself to you than it is a daily laundry list or a repetition. Are your prayers focused on God Himself or are they just focused on what you hope He will do? God already has your needs covered-but He wants you to depend on Him and learn more about Him by bringing your sins and requests to the Lord. He then empowers you to live a victorious life by removing the sin that only He sees, and showing you Himself in the needs you have. Have we ever prayed to simply learn more about God and ask Him to reveal Himself to us so that He can be more revealed in us?
You come to prayer with fear and guilt. You leave with a renewed love and confidence in the Lord and sufficiency of His sacrifice over your sin, and peace because His will is going to be accomplished. You praise Him for it, and you easily yield to His will because of your peace.
Rom. 8: 28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Can you say you truly know?
After reading these scriptures thoroughly, I suggest reading Pray with Your Eyes Open by Richard L. Pratt, Jr. He offers practical insight into ways we can learn to make God the center of our prayer lives.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
I have to admit when I first saw these verses, I looked at them from a totally incorrect viewpoint. When I saw the the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings that we aren't able to verbalize, I thought immediately what was being said is that when you're hurting so much that all you can do is groan, that the Holy Spirit prays for you because you don't understand what's going on or how to pray about it. I even thought of when Hannah prayed for a son at the temple for years and couldn't even speak out loud she was so sorrowful, and God answered her prayers, right? Stop . . . and rewind.
Why would I want the Holy Spirit to only intercede when I'm so frustrated or sad I don't know what to say? I mean, I don't know the Lord's will, so why should I control my prayer until I can't handle life anymore? That is the wrong way of thinking on so many levels. First of all, it's saying that we only go to God when we feel like we can't handle life anymore (aka only during the bad times) Prov. 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Not to mention, our suffering is really the grace of God to us because it reveals the glory of God in us and in turn allows us to be part of the spread of the Gospel. Rom. 8:16-18
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
So what are these groanings? And is the Holy Spirit always interceding for us? Romans 8:19-25
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
It says here that all of creation groans and travails (like a women in childbirth in other versions) and that we as Christians (clearly speaking about Christians due to the statment that we "have the firstfruits of the Spirit") also groan in our waiting- for what?
All of creation is effected by sin- If you think about it, when Adam had sinned he now had to till the land- there were thorns and weeds that effected creation. Sin is why childbirth is painful, why we must be clothed, etc. Needless to say, this world is full of sin and everyone and every part of creation is effected by it. Rom. 5:12&15
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
So our groanings are simply our limitation on this sin-bound planet living in our imperfect bodies and minds. We as Christians have been forgiven and have unlimited access to the throne of grace, but we still live in a sinful world with an inherent sin nature. However, we have hope because we know we will be fully redeemed finally in heaven and all our sorrow, physical weakness, and sin nature will be gone! We will live with our Lord in Heaven, when we finally get to claim all of what we have gained as being a joint-heir in Christ! We all "groan" and yearn in anticipation of that time! Paul struggled with this himself in Romans 7:21-25
So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
( **Note- this does not mean that we are helpless to sin!! The Holy Spirit lives within us and we have all that power to resist the devil. There is always the option to say no to sin- we are joint-heirs with Christ and while no one is perfect yet, the Lord has made us conquerors over sin and death! see I Cor. 10:13)
It's very typical of all of us to immediately jump to the conclusion that prayer is centered around us and the needs that we want God to so desperately fix. We have it all wrong- where we see a crisis, God sees His will, yet we beg Him to snatch us out of it in fear. How our lives would be transformed if God was truly the center of our prayer!
Phil. 4:6-7
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
I think we all desperately seek that peace, but don't allow God to give it to us. It is yours now, child of God, so claim it! We may pray sincerely and it may be against God's will because we don't know His will (e.g.- healing of a family member that dies from the disease), but the Holy Spirit knows and the will of God will be accomplished! In a beautiful picture of the trinity, we see Christ understanding the mind of the Spirit that intercedes for the will of the Father to be done in us. So next time you see an "unanswered prayer," realize that God's will is being accomplished and is perfect, and you are an imperfect person who God will lead even when you don't understand, and then . . . be at peace!
The Lord's Will is going to be accomplished- so the real question is, are you going to allow God to do the work in you needed to be able to be a part of what God is doing? When God works in you through suffering, do you merely see an unanswered prayer?
So let's get to the practical application: Prayer is something that we should ask for help with. I know a lot of times prayer is our laundry list- we confess (as we should) for sins that have been committed, but are we seeking the Holy Spirit's help to reveal sin in our lives that we are not aware of? We bring our requests to the Lord (as we should), but do we allow the Holy Spirit to teach us how God can meet those needs by focusing on the many names and attributes of the Lord that are appropriate to that need? David does this in the Psalms numerous times! (Taken from Praying With Your Eyes Open referenced below)
Ps. 85:4
Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
Ps.31:3
For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.
Prayer is more about learning to surrender to God and allowing Him to reveal Himself to you than it is a daily laundry list or a repetition. Are your prayers focused on God Himself or are they just focused on what you hope He will do? God already has your needs covered-but He wants you to depend on Him and learn more about Him by bringing your sins and requests to the Lord. He then empowers you to live a victorious life by removing the sin that only He sees, and showing you Himself in the needs you have. Have we ever prayed to simply learn more about God and ask Him to reveal Himself to us so that He can be more revealed in us?
You come to prayer with fear and guilt. You leave with a renewed love and confidence in the Lord and sufficiency of His sacrifice over your sin, and peace because His will is going to be accomplished. You praise Him for it, and you easily yield to His will because of your peace.
Rom. 8: 28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Can you say you truly know?
After reading these scriptures thoroughly, I suggest reading Pray with Your Eyes Open by Richard L. Pratt, Jr. He offers practical insight into ways we can learn to make God the center of our prayer lives.
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