Here is a formula Max Lucado developed some time ago, which many have found to be very helpful in assessing just where they are in this thing called spiritual growth. Perhaps you will find it useful in your life as well. It consists of seven simple facts, each one leading to the other in a natural and inevitable sequence of healthy growth.
Fact #1 — healthy things grow. This is a fact. If you want to be healthy, you are going to grow. This is true of many things; whether it be people, plants, businesses, marriages, churches, investments, or whatever — if it is healthy, it will grow. Fact #2 — growing things change. This is how we know they are growing. They are different than when we last saw them. Fact #3 — changing things challenge us. Mark Twain said, "The only person that likes change is a wet baby." Basically, we like things to stay the way we like them. We are creatures of habit and comfort, and so enjoy things to be left alone when we have them just the way we think they ought to be. When change happens, it presents us with challenge. The greater the change; the greater the challenge. Fact #4 — challenging things force us to trust God. I mean, what else are you going to do — quit? Challenge requires that we trust God, especially when we are faced with something that seems to be more than we can handle. God knows your limits. He knows exactly where to apply the pressure to cause you to turn to Him in faith. What might be a test for someone else may be a walk in the park for you — and vice versa. It is not a test until it forces you to turn to God in simple trust. Fact #5 — trust leads to obedience. The old Gospel song writer said it best, "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey." If we truly trust the Lord, He will reveal His will to us; show us what to do. Thus, trust leads to obedience. The only question now is, will we obey? Fact #6 — obedience makes us healthy. Jesus said, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me. For My yoke is easy, and My burden light; and you shall find rest for your souls." When we obey the Lord, His joy floods our souls and His peace fills our lives. There is no rest for the wicked; but those who do God's will find their lives filled with blessing. And Fact #7 — healthy things grow! Now we are back to where we started. That's how it works; it is the cycle of spiritual growth every child of God experiences. Even now you are somewhere in this cycle — that is, if you want to be healthy. Review these seven phases and consider where you are in the process. You'll end up in a good place, praising God for bringing you through it all. GRANDSON'S FIRST DAY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL
3 year old Jamie came home from his first day at Sunday School and was asked what the story was about. (The story had been illustrated on a slightly too small flannelgraph board and so the figures and animals etc were a bit close together.) Jamie's response: 'Well, we had this story about a man, and a lady, and a snake, and the snake bit the lady on the bum! ~**~**~**~** THE GOOD SAMARITAN A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan, in which a man was beaten, robbed and left for dead. She described the situation in vivid detail so her students would catch the drama. Then, she asked the class, "If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?" A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, "I think I'd throw up." The Christian is called to suffer (1 Peter 2:21) and we are called to have
genuine love toward our brothers so that we may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:9). He calls us to love life, to see good days and to have our prayers answered (1 Peter 3:10-12). What a consolation these admonitions would have been to those who were enduring heated trials (1 Peter 1:7). These blessings do not nullify mistreatment. Though the chances of harm decrease among a person who lives righteously, righteous living will bring about persecution (1 Peter 3:13; Matthew 5:10- 11). In such instances, when confronted with danger, the man of God faces the temptation to fear as other men outside the provision of Christ. Peter admonishes the brothers in his day to remember the words of Isaiah the prophet(Isaiah 8:12-14; cf. 1 Peter 3:14-15). The hearts of the people of Judah in Isaiah's day "trembled like trees of a forest shaking in a wind" (Isaiah 7:2-7). They feared the destruction through war. God would quickly dispose of Rezin and Pekah through the Assyrian army (Isaiah 7:4-9, Isaiah 8:4). Nested within this judgment were the burning rays of light found in the Messianic hope (Isaiah 7:14-15). Sadly, many of those disparaging the promises of God feared the hosts, but not the Lord of hosts. They began consulting spirits, but not the Spirit (Isaiah 8:19). They made alliances with foreign nations to insure their security (Isaiah 8:12). Instead they were admonished to "regard only the Lord of hosts as holy…He will be a sanctuary." To those who rebelled — they would stumble, fall, and be broken (Isaiah 8:14-15). Yet when the floods of destruction came the way of Judah, they could cry "Immanuel!"—"God is with us" (Isaiah 8:8-10) Let's note this rich text's relevance for today (1 Peter 3:14-15). While these verses were probably more relevant to Christians in the days of physical persecution, Christians today, have a very real reason to fear and to be troubled. We must resist the temptation to react to destructive political policies out of fear and worry. Peter admonishes us to submit to men in authority even the crooked and despotic (1 Peter 2:12- 7, 18). This ensures that we do not bring reproach upon God because of our zealotry but bring glory to him who deserves all (2:11-12). We have no reason to fear but regard the Lord as holy and as a sanctuary. Peter, with an inspired stroke of his pen, declares Jesus as the LORD (Yahweh) This is an insurmountable claim of Christ being Yahweh. We serve a Messiah who is God — praise be to his name! May we never fear mankind. Those who oppose the will of God and do not believe the truth, stumble similarly to the men of Isaiah's day (Isaiah 8:14-15), at the chief corner stone - the Christ himself (1 Peter 2:7-8). Where as we, as God's chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, people of his possession, will never be put to shame (1 Peter 2:6). God is our sanctuary (I Peter 2:4-5; Isaiah 8:13.) When the floods feel as though they are coming up to our necks and we need deliverance. We must always remember to cry "Immanuel!" - "God is with us," Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14, 8:8-10) as we are "casting all our cares upon Him," because he truly does care for us (1 Peter 5:5). Because of these great blessings that we have through Immanuel we can, "give a reason for the hope that is with in us" (1 Peter 3:15). Yet, we must be careful, lest we boast too arrogantly and give the enemy occasion to denounce the Christian life (1 Peter 3:17). Christians, we must always give this defense with "gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:16). Amen. "I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread." (Job 23:12)
There are those who would never think of going a full day without eating something — anything. Yet many of these hefty hoofers slug though life without ever taking so much as a nibble of the one thing they truly need more than anything — a word from God. Jesus taught us to specifically pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11). Obviously, He is not speaking here about the floury stuff we buy at the Grocers. While we trust the Lord to meet our physical needs on a daily basis, what He is telling us to ask for — and to expect — is a word from God in our lives every day. Jesus elsewhere said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." Thus, we understand that "bread" and "word from God" are synonymous; alike in meaning or significance. Certainly we are to ask the Lord for our daily food which sustains our bodies, but how much more so are we to ask Him for a word from God — that sustains our very lives? It is bread from the Palace. Yes, what we need more than anything else is a word from God. And when we treasure His words more than our necessary food, His voice will supply us with daily bread. The Psalmist wrote, "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103). The prophet Jeremiah expressed the same sentiment, "When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty" (Jeremiah 15:16). Jesus Himself enjoyed the bread from the Palace — "I have food to eat that you know nothing about" (John 4:32). Don't you think, therefore, that you and I ought to lift our bowls heavenward, and receive our daily portion of this bread from the Palace? Weet jy van die ware vriendskap wat daar bestaan tussen jou oë?
Hulle knip saam.. Hulle beweeg saam.. Hulle huil saam... Hulle sien dinge saam... En dit alles ten spyte van die feit dat hulle mekaar nie kan sien nie. Vriendskap is veronderstel om ook so te wees Die lewe is leeg sonder vriende. Psalm 65:11
'You crown the year with Your goodness, and richness overflows wherever You are.' - What a privilege it is to be able to enjoy a new year. - There is nothing to fear, because God will undertake. - May HE cause this year to be filled with His goodness. - From the beginning until the end of this year, He is with you! PRAYER: Lord, as I start this next year, I pray that You will fill my year with Your goodness and bounty. I dedicate my life and my future into Your faithful hands. Amen. Ephesians 2:8For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is
the gift of God, Many a time, people ask me, “Pastor Prince, I know that God’s promises are true, but how can I be sure that His promises will come true in my life?” My friend, if you want God’s promises to be sure in your life, you cannot depend on yourself. If you depend on yourself—your obedience, goodness, service and even faith—you will not be able to receive God’s promises. But when you depend on God’s grace—His unmerited, unearned, undeserved favor toward you—that is when His promises become sure in your life. This was true of the woman with the issue of blood. (Matthew 9:20–22) She didn’t go around saying, “I must have faith…I hope that I have enough faith…I will have faith…I will not lose faith.” No, she was only conscious of the grace of Jesus—how He always healed the sick, how powerful He was in raising the dead and how willing He was to use that power for her healing. She just saw His grace abounding toward her, so much so that she said, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” And when she came behind Jesus and touched the very hem of His garment, she was healed. At that same moment, Jesus stopped, turned around and said to her, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” When the woman saw His grace, God saw her faith! And so it was by grace, through faith, that God’s promise became sure in her life. God wants you to see His grace. And when you see His grace, He sees your faith. God says, “For by grace are you saved through faith.” The Greek word for “saved”, sozo, doesn’t just mean to save from hell, but also to heal, preserve and make whole. So it is by grace that you are made whole, kept healthy, preserved and blessed. It is by grace through faith that God’s promises become sure in your life. My friend, don’t worry if you feel that you lack faith. Begin to see God’s grace in your situation and He will see that as faith. And because He sees your faith, you will receive the breakthrough you need! "Daniël het homself voorgeneem om hom nie met die koning se kos en wyn te verontreinig nie..." Daniël en sy vriende het reeds geweet wat hulle gaan doen, brandende oond of nie. "Ons het ons God vir wie ons dien. Hy het die mag om ons te red... en Hy sal ons ook red... Selfs as Hy dit nie doen nie, moet u weet dat ons nie u god sal dien nie..." (Dan 3:17-18 NV). Wat glo jy oor God? As jy dink dat Hy jou dalk in die steek mag laat, het jy jouself nog nooit ten volle aan Hom oorgegee nie. Toewyding is iets wat geleidelik groei! Die drie Hebreeuse jongmense het geweier om die koning se kos te eet, en later kon hulle weier om sy afgode te aanbid. Jy kry nie sommer eensklaps daardie soort geloof nie. Die meeste van ons kan 'n punt identifiseer waar ons lewens dramaties verander het. Ons het 'n besluit geneem wat ons lewens van daardie punt af vorentoe sou beïnvloed. Voordat jy jouself egter waarlik aan iets kan verbind, moet jy drie probleme oorkom:
Vra jouself dus af: "Is ek oorgerus of het ek oorgegee?" Sielskos: Hand 10-11; Matt 9:1-13; Ps 118:19-29; Spr 15:33 |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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