Wednesday, June 03, 2015 8:50:09 PM
From the Pastor's Heart - June 2015
Nothing brings quite so much joy as the arrival of a newborn baby. The parents marvel at the perfect gift God has given them and watch with both delight and nostalgia as the child passes each new milestone — sleeping through the night, sitting up, crawling, and finally taking that first step. But what would happen if the baby never grew or learned how to do all those things? The parents would quickly grow concerned.
Now imagine how the Lord feels when we fail to grow spiritually. Like a good parent, He is concerned with His children’s development. That’s why He admonishes us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). The Greek tense of the word rendered grow signifies continuing action.
God’s desire is that we keep growing in spiritual maturity until the day we die.
None of us ever reach a point when we’ve grown enough and can retire in the Christian life. If we stop maturing, we don’t just stay where we are in our relationship with Christ. We begin to slide backwards into old patterns of sin and doubt. Furthermore, a lack of growth leaves us open to deception:
"You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness" ~ 2 Peter 3:17
Cults and false teachers prey on those who don’t know what they believe. If we’re not grounded in the Scriptures, we may fall for whatever new idea or experience is floating around in our culture.
How do we know whether we’re growing spiritually? Unlike physical growth, spiritual maturity can’t be tangibly measured, nor can it be evaluated by the sins we avoid or how often we go to church. Although these are important and can be evidence of growth, genuine maturity is determined by our relationship with the Lord. To help you gauge where you are in your spiritual life, I’d like to suggest a few qualities that demonstrate growth.
• First of all, we’ll have an increasing awareness of our sins and weaknesses.
Spiritual growth results in greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s conviction. What we once considered to be acceptable thoughts, attitudes, or practices will be more clearly seen as sinful in the light of Scripture:
"for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;" ~ Ephesians 5:8-11
Knowing they grieve the Holy Spirit, we’ll quickly confess our wrongs and turn away from them in genuine repentance. Maturity also brings recognition of our weaknesses and a greater understanding of why we feel, think, or respond a certain way. This self-knowledge helps us shore up our weak areas so we don’t fall into temptation:
"Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed." ~ Hebrews 12:12-13
• Second, we will start seeing life from a divine perspective.
When God’s Word shapes our thinking, we will view our problems and hurts through God’s eyes:
"Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law." ~ Psalm 119:18
Instead of being mere hardships, our trials and temptations will be seen as opportunities for growth and greater faith:
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." ~ James 1:2-4
Service will become a high honor rather than a burden or inconvenience. God has planned specific works for each of us to do:
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." ~ Ephesians 2:10
When we discover what they are and give ourselves wholly to them, the Christian life becomes a wonderful and exciting journey. Since God has called me to preach, I’d never truly be happy doing something else. Each time I prepare a sermon, I discover treasures in God’s Word I’ve never noticed before. My service to the Lord is a delight, and it can be the same for you.
No matter what he calls you to do, it is essential to view everything as coming from the Lord — whether blessing or hardship. That’s one of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned. At one point in my life when I was being rejected and reviled, this principle prevented me from becoming bitter, self-defensive, and hostile. I knew the Lord could stop the situation, but He didn’t. Therefore, if He was allowing it, I could trust that He would use it for my good—to test, train, and sanctify me:
"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." ~ Romans 5:3-5
• Another sign of spiritual growth is changing desires.
"I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart." ~ Psalm 40:8
When we become more like Jesus, we’ll want what He desires. The old temptations, which were once so appealing, no longer have a hold on us because we’ve discovered the blessings of obedience. We’ll also delight in gathering with other believers to worship and praise the Lord. Giving will become a joy, and we’ll eagerly talk to others about the Lord and what He’s doing in our lives.
• And finally, maturity brings with it an ever increasing hunger to be with the Lord.
"O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips." ~ Psalm 63:1-5
Prayer and Bible reading will no longer be a duty but a delight. We’ll jealously guard our private time with God because He is the only one who can satisfy our hungry souls. When we’re with Him, we’ll sense His presence and feel His love for us.
So how are you doing? Can you see progress in your Christian life? If you’re feeling disappointed with your rate of growth, remember that maturity takes time. God never gives up on us but promises to complete the good work He’s begun in our lives:
"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 1:6
Be patient, but also be diligent to feed on the Word rather than the spiritual junk food this world offers. Remain faithful, and in time, you will see results.
Prayerfully yours,
Charles F. Stanley
P.S. As we celebrate Father’s Day this month, I am reminded of the immeasurable influence fathers have over the lives of their children. The godly wisdom and affirmation that men pass on to the next generation is powerful enough to transform our world. I encourage you to take a few minutes this month to tell all the dads in your life just how much you appreciate them.
http://intouch.org/get-involved/from-the-pastors-heart
Nothing brings quite so much joy as the arrival of a newborn baby. The parents marvel at the perfect gift God has given them and watch with both delight and nostalgia as the child passes each new milestone — sleeping through the night, sitting up, crawling, and finally taking that first step. But what would happen if the baby never grew or learned how to do all those things? The parents would quickly grow concerned.
Now imagine how the Lord feels when we fail to grow spiritually. Like a good parent, He is concerned with His children’s development. That’s why He admonishes us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). The Greek tense of the word rendered grow signifies continuing action.
God’s desire is that we keep growing in spiritual maturity until the day we die.
None of us ever reach a point when we’ve grown enough and can retire in the Christian life. If we stop maturing, we don’t just stay where we are in our relationship with Christ. We begin to slide backwards into old patterns of sin and doubt. Furthermore, a lack of growth leaves us open to deception:
"You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness" ~ 2 Peter 3:17
Cults and false teachers prey on those who don’t know what they believe. If we’re not grounded in the Scriptures, we may fall for whatever new idea or experience is floating around in our culture.
How do we know whether we’re growing spiritually? Unlike physical growth, spiritual maturity can’t be tangibly measured, nor can it be evaluated by the sins we avoid or how often we go to church. Although these are important and can be evidence of growth, genuine maturity is determined by our relationship with the Lord. To help you gauge where you are in your spiritual life, I’d like to suggest a few qualities that demonstrate growth.
• First of all, we’ll have an increasing awareness of our sins and weaknesses.
Spiritual growth results in greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s conviction. What we once considered to be acceptable thoughts, attitudes, or practices will be more clearly seen as sinful in the light of Scripture:
"for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;" ~ Ephesians 5:8-11
Knowing they grieve the Holy Spirit, we’ll quickly confess our wrongs and turn away from them in genuine repentance. Maturity also brings recognition of our weaknesses and a greater understanding of why we feel, think, or respond a certain way. This self-knowledge helps us shore up our weak areas so we don’t fall into temptation:
"Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed." ~ Hebrews 12:12-13
• Second, we will start seeing life from a divine perspective.
When God’s Word shapes our thinking, we will view our problems and hurts through God’s eyes:
"Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law." ~ Psalm 119:18
Instead of being mere hardships, our trials and temptations will be seen as opportunities for growth and greater faith:
"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." ~ James 1:2-4
Service will become a high honor rather than a burden or inconvenience. God has planned specific works for each of us to do:
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them." ~ Ephesians 2:10
When we discover what they are and give ourselves wholly to them, the Christian life becomes a wonderful and exciting journey. Since God has called me to preach, I’d never truly be happy doing something else. Each time I prepare a sermon, I discover treasures in God’s Word I’ve never noticed before. My service to the Lord is a delight, and it can be the same for you.
No matter what he calls you to do, it is essential to view everything as coming from the Lord — whether blessing or hardship. That’s one of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned. At one point in my life when I was being rejected and reviled, this principle prevented me from becoming bitter, self-defensive, and hostile. I knew the Lord could stop the situation, but He didn’t. Therefore, if He was allowing it, I could trust that He would use it for my good—to test, train, and sanctify me:
"And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." ~ Romans 5:3-5
• Another sign of spiritual growth is changing desires.
"I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart." ~ Psalm 40:8
When we become more like Jesus, we’ll want what He desires. The old temptations, which were once so appealing, no longer have a hold on us because we’ve discovered the blessings of obedience. We’ll also delight in gathering with other believers to worship and praise the Lord. Giving will become a joy, and we’ll eagerly talk to others about the Lord and what He’s doing in our lives.
• And finally, maturity brings with it an ever increasing hunger to be with the Lord.
"O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise You. So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips." ~ Psalm 63:1-5
Prayer and Bible reading will no longer be a duty but a delight. We’ll jealously guard our private time with God because He is the only one who can satisfy our hungry souls. When we’re with Him, we’ll sense His presence and feel His love for us.
So how are you doing? Can you see progress in your Christian life? If you’re feeling disappointed with your rate of growth, remember that maturity takes time. God never gives up on us but promises to complete the good work He’s begun in our lives:
"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." ~ Philippians 1:6
Be patient, but also be diligent to feed on the Word rather than the spiritual junk food this world offers. Remain faithful, and in time, you will see results.
Prayerfully yours,
Charles F. Stanley
P.S. As we celebrate Father’s Day this month, I am reminded of the immeasurable influence fathers have over the lives of their children. The godly wisdom and affirmation that men pass on to the next generation is powerful enough to transform our world. I encourage you to take a few minutes this month to tell all the dads in your life just how much you appreciate them.
http://intouch.org/get-involved/from-the-pastors-heart
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