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Stumbling blocks to spiritual growth (part 2)

Posted on February 7, 2014 by | Comments Off on Stumbling blocks to spiritual growth (part 2)

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A couple of weeks ago, I posted the first part of this devotional topic. For those of you who are regular readers of mine, you know that God has placed a burden on my heart to teach Christian discipleship as a means to help others to reach a deeper, richer, more fuller faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Back in January, I began to think about the things in my own life that have held me back from true spiritual growth.  What I came up with were things that not only kept me from spiritual growth but kept me from enjoying the fullness of my faith.

The first post of this series was on January 17th and covered two areas of Christian life that can become spiritual stumbling blocks for younger Christians. These were:

  • We are tempted to return to our old lifestyle
  • We are not obedient in following the Lord Jesus Christ in baptism

Any one of these two can stop our spiritual growth in its tracks.  Unfortunately, there are a lot more things that can keep us from true spiritual growth and from my experience, rarely is it just one area of our life that keeps us from enjoying spiritual growth and the richness of fellowship we can have with the Lord Jesus Christ.  As I mentioned in the first devotional of this series, there are several things that keeps us from having the spiritual growth we should want to have.

We do not have an active and meaningful prayer life:

When I first accepted Jesus as my personal Savior, I didn’t understand the importance of prayer.  Sure, the first church I attended, First Baptist Church of Perkinston, had a great pastor and Sunday school teachers, but for someone who did not grow up in a Christian home, the only real model for prayer I really had been from Sunday morning services when I began regularly attending and what was demonstrated on Wednesday night.  Sure, the television offered the world’s version of prayers which was often done with a mocking, ridiculing attitude.  It was not until sometime in 1997 that I really began to understand what God wants for our prayer life.  During a devotional reading, I came across this passage: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him (Matthew 6:6-8).

What I noticed was that God does not want Christians to have a “canned” prayer life.  He does not want us to say the same prayers over and over.  He does not want our prayers to be memorized and recited as many of us had to recite Shakespeare for our high school English classes.  Our prayer must include our heartfelt praise for God, as even Paul and Silas demonstrated: And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them (Acts 16:25). We all know the story – out of their praise and prayers, God lifted them up.  God delivered them.  How many times in my own life have I called upon God and failed to give him the praise and honor; even in my distress, God has been there to deliver me, to bless me, and instead of showing gratitude through prayer, I acted like it was His “divine duty” to rescue me.  When we use canned prayers, our prayers will contain canned praise.  Our praise is then no longer from our hearts.

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The things of which we need to “take heed” (part 2)

Posted on February 6, 2014 by | Comments Off on The things of which we need to “take heed” (part 2)

mens-bible-studyAs I introduced yesterday’s devotional, I shared how I do my personal morning devotionals.  When I do my morning Bible study, I use a daily devotional, one chapter of the book of Proverbs, and two chapters of Bible reading. Yesterday morning, as I was reading in the sixth chapter of Matthew a phrase I’ve read many times suddenly caught my eye: Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 6:1; emphasis added).  As I continued my personal devotional time, I noticed that there are fifteen distinct things that the Lord Jesus Christ, the apostles Peter and Paul tell us that we must “take heed.”

Yesterday’s devotional focused on the first four verses where that phrase is found.  Before I share the next four verses where the phrase “take heed” is used, Here’s a brief summary of the first four verses that use that particular phrase, Christians have been told to take heed of:

  • Making sure we give to others as led by the Spirit without drawing attention to ourselves.  This is found in Matthew 6:1.
  • We do nothing to any child that might prevent them from accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. This is found in Matthew 18:10.
  • We do not let others lead us astray from our faith.  This is found in Matthew 24:4.
  • We need to truly listen and make sure we are careful in judgment; whatever standard we set for others will be the standard we are held to.  There is also a responsibility and duty required of us – the more we learn about our faith, the more accountable we are to do it.  This is found in Mark 4:24.
But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them (Mark 13:9).

Jesus knew that at any time and in any kingdom (or nation) on this world, there would be those who would, because of Satan’s influence, want to destroy the church and silence the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The warning from the Lord Jesus Christ continues: And the gospel must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost (Mark 13:10-11).  It should not take us by surprise when we hear stories of Christians facing persecution for their beliefs; in fact, there is a website, www.persecution.org, filled with stories of people who face persecution and in some cases, martyrdom for the cause of Christ.  Jesus even told his early followers, The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil (John 7:7) and If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you (John 15:19).

As demonstrated by Christ’s teaching, if as people, we are called in front of our government to explain our faith, Jesus has told us that the Holy Spirit will provide us with what we need to say.  We have the promise of the Lord Jesus Christ that not only will the Spirit guide us during these times, but a reminder recorded in two of the gospels: And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do (Luke 12:5) and again, And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28). When we do come to the point to where we are brought before the governmental officials seeking out our faith, we should not fear them; sure they can order our deaths or imprison us, but that is the extent they can do.  Jesus promises his children, But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God (Luke 12:7-8).

Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is (Mark 13:33).

One thing that is clearly taught in the New Testament is that we do not know when the Lord is returning for us.  Jesus continues in this particular passage, For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch (Mark 13:34-37). As Christians, we are to be ready for his return at any moment.  Jesus taught during his earthly ministry that I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left (Luke 17:34-37).  This passage clearly shows that we all will be doing something when Jesus returns.

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A warming fire and the warming of God’s word

Posted on February 3, 2014 by | Comments Off on A warming fire and the warming of God’s word

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Since the beginning of winter, my hometown, much like the rest of the nation, has experienced a colder than normal winter.  With temperatures dipping into the single digits and at times, below zero, many people have found the comfort of a warming fire.  In fact, for those of us that do not have fireplaces, there are electric heaters that give the appearance of a fireplace that can be placed in any room.  Just the appearance of a warm fire can warm the heart and mind on even the coldest of winter days.

This morning, as I was reading my daily devotional, I began to think of how the Bible is for Christians – just as the fire warms the body, God’s word should warm your soul.  David, the great king and psalmist, wrote, This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me (Psalms 119:50); when we are in trials, tribulations, and the difficulties of life, we should feel the comforting of the soul that reading the Bible can bring. For the believer, there should never be a spiritual night or desert so cold that the Bible cannot warm us and remind us of the presence of our heavenly Father. I know that often times in my own life when trials and temptations seem to get harder than I can possibly bear, I struggle to remember that the word of the Lord is there to comfort me, to guide me, and to set me on a firm foundation.  Again, David wrote in Psalms, As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him (Psalms 18:30). There is a comfort in knowing that God is there to defend us, to protect us, if we simply trust him.

Towards the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, he mentioned that once he left, his disciples would still be comforted; But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you (John 14:26). As Christians, we also have this Comforter, the Holy Spirit.  I know in my own life I have felt the most peace when I have diligently sought after God’s will for my life through his word.  The psalmist and man after God’s own heart, David, also found comfort during times of distress from the word of God: This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me (Psalms 119:50). There is a comfort in knowing that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalms 46:1). There is a special peace in knowing that God is there to comfort us – even in the quiet moments when we study the Bible.  Just as a hot fire in a fireplace brings enjoyment to a chilled body, God’s word brings joy to the soul. It should not surprise us that we can find comfort in the Bible; just as with our fleshly bodies, we find comfort in the things that we love. As a Christian, my spirit craves and loves spiritual purity and the holiness of God.  It should not be any surprise that even David felt that way, Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it (Psalms 119:140).  For the true believer there is real comfort in reading God’s word.

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