Video Transition: Almena your words
Spirit Care 101-103
Thesis: Spirit care is the discipline of allowing the Holy Spirit to shape us, mold us, teach us and help us to mature in our spiritual faith. So, we in turn can help others come to Jesus and grow in Jesus.
Spiritual Care or Growth - is about us intentionally maturing our spirit with a plan and purpose! But we also need the help of Holy Spirit to grow and mature. It’s the Holy Spirit who is to be our teacher and guide in this wicked world we live in – did you hear that thought? We as Christians need to learn from Him and follow His direction in our lives. If we do, we can turn around and help others! If we do not do this, we will never be able to help others or impact our world!
Scripture Text:
Key - Romans 15:1-4: 1We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”4For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Hebrews 6:1: “Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God…”
Colossians 1:9-10: 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God…
Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit and told us why He was sending Him to us – The following are Jesus’ own words:
Key – section - John 14:15-31:
15“If you love Me, keep My commandments.
16And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—
17the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
18I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
19“A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.
20At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
21He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
22Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”
23Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
24He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
25“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.
26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
27Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
28You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.
29“And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe.
30I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.
31But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do. Arise, let us go from here.
What Jesus describes above I can honestly say I have experienced in my own life!
Illustration from my own life: The School of the Holy Spirit.
I remember after accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior and being immersed in the Holy Spirit how I felt directed – really an inner passion arose within me. I had this urgency to grow in my knowledge of the Lord, His ways and His teachings. I choose to let the Holy Spirit teach me lessons from the Bible, from struggles and trials, from life’s failures, from pain and rejection, from books and messages and preachers. It’s been and still is an amazing life I am living – I am still enrolled in the school of the Holy Spirit today – I have learned new things this week – been guide by Him – heard His voice direct me. It’s amazing – please know I am still learning changing – dying to myself – repenting for disobeying His directives – I recall what one preacher on the radio said “When you are through learning you are through!”
So, the lessons I learned quickly from the School of Holy Spirit were to obey His voice, His Word and His instruction:
Introduction:
I see a dilemma today – many pastors coming out of Bible School or seminary want to start at the top – they don’t want to serve small churches because in my view they think it is beneath them.
But when we die to self – God uses us to change communities and peoples lives!
This world needs more spiritually mature Christians who are willing to die to themselves so that they grow! God uses imperfect people “yes” but wow does he use those who mature in Him to impact others. The Lord is looking to use us, but we have to be willing to grow into spiritual maturity so we can help others mature spiritually in Jesus!
But to help others we must learn to do Spirit Care within our inner being – when we do this it leads to spiritual maturity and the doors open for us in Kingdom work.
The need is great today!
Illustration: A few weeks ago I received my monthly magazine from AACC and here was the front page: Christian Counseling Today, “Mental Health Among Today’s Teens and Young Adults, Volume 26:” Immediately the subject struck my heart! I in my message briefly mentioned it but today I want to read you some of the statistics from this magazine.
I opened to one of the articles written by Tim Clinton, President of AACC – I met Tim years ago while attending this convention many years in a row – we chattered and got to know each other I was impressed with his love for Jesus and for the church. His article “Kids, Life and Mental Health” was straight from his heart: He opens his article with this statement, “Growing up should be all about belly laughs, bikes, best friends, sports, being loved, (I say camp, church groups, and services) and maybe ice cream.” But that is not the reality today in our world, he noted the following statistics about today’s young people:
• Since COVID and all that we have been through, suicide is now the second leading cause of death in America among 10- to 24 year olds. It has risen more than 57% in recent years – I say it is definitely a dark time of the soul for many young people today in the USA!
• Mental health emergency room visits in 2020 increased by 24% for children between five and 11 and more than 30% for those ages 12-17.
• Over the past year, 16.39% of America’s youth suffered a major depressive episode.
• Additionally, more than 2.7 million youth in the U.S. encounter severe depression, and multiracial youth are at the greatest risk.
• Also in the last year, 6.34% of youth in the U.S. had a substance use disorder.
• The other major issue for young people is accessible mental healthcare (especially Christian/faith-based healthcare).
o Due to location especially rural and urban
o Due to finances
o Due to lack of mental and spiritual healthcare workers and professional mental healthcare workers.
o Children with mental health needs have become one of the most underserved populations in today’s culture.
Question: What can you and I do to stop the oncoming tsunami that has already made landfall in our country?
Practical step: Go to the AACC Convention in Nashville, Tn. September 13-16th “Know Hope” at Opryland Hotel! Subscribe to AACC American Association of Christian Counselors check it out on their website aacc.net.
Decide to work in children’s ministry, youth ministry, start a DNA group with young people. Get trained through Pursue Kingdom ministry to minister to others. Decide to be trained to become one of our lay counselors – through Peer Counseling.
So, the question to answer for today is “How do I care for my spirit and grow to become a spiritually mature Christian?
T.S.: I am so glad you asked me that question today – I am going to answer that question with a few Scripture passages which describe the process of Spiritual care and growth. I want to start with the Fab 5 that lead to spiritual growth from the membership book:
I. Five ways to grow spiritually! The fab 5!
a. The focus of our church is that we all need to be growing in our faith walk with the Lord. It’s imperative that every day we grow spiritually. Here are five proven ways that we grow spiritually in our lives.
i. Practical teaching/preaching – Hearing, learning and then the application of what you learned by doing it - are all keys to growing in our faith walk.
• Making God’s Word practical is the calling of a pastor/teacher.
• A key spiritual principle: God wants us to not just know the Bible but do the Bible.
• We learn by anointed preaching and teaching. This is one of God’s methodologies to have us grow in our faith and our spiritual wisdom.
o Andy Stanley states, “Practical teaching that moves people to action is one of the primary things God uses to grow our faith.”
o The problem in American Churches is too many know the Bible but they do not do what the Bible says to do.
o They hear the Word but they do not apply it or even believe it!
o James 1:22: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
o I shared last week how this helped me too grow spiritually!
• I highlighted last week the desire to read the Word, take notes in sermons, go get involved in services and bible studies, and to listen to preachers on the radio.
o Then after about 6 months of doing the above I received an inner voice again saying, “Mike read Christian Books!” Note: I did not stop doing the above disciplines of spiritual growth, I just added another dimension to my spiritual growth plan to help me mature:
? My first book I ever read as a Christian led by the Spirit was Salem Kirban’s book “Satan’s Angels Exposed.”
? The Holy Spirit used this book – to teach me some amazing revelations of Truth and lies connected to false religious groups. I also learned that there was a spiritual realm that was real and observable if you listened to the direction of the Holy Spirit. .
? I started seeing into the spiritual realm:
• The good – I saw Jesus at work – spiritual forces of good at work – His kingdom and its work – His love and His Great commission. I saw lives changed. I saw communities change. I changed – I grew in the realm of the spirit by the help of the Holy Spirit.
• The bad – I saw into the demonic realm literally, the realm of the cult and occult – the manifestations of demons – I saw the deception and bondage of the people in his grip. I learned the power of the name of Jesus against principalities and powers. I received discerning of spirits.
• The ugly – I saw the flesh of some Christians cause a mees in the church, I observed pride and arrogance destruction in a church, I saw the bait of Satan – the disease of offense and its devastation in the church and in other Christians. I watched a mentor fall away from Jesus. I watched men of God and women of God by into false teachings and be deceived.
? With the completion of each chapter – a revelation of what I just learned transpired – sometimes within minutes or days - but I encountered in real life what I just read about – even the ones I had just read about!
o Listen: My mind was blown by the coincidence’s; my spirit was energized to learn more – to grow more – to know the truth of God and learn to recognize the lies. I learned to be bold with demons in the name of Jesus.
? My heart was touched, these people were in bondage, I sought to help these people out of their deceptions. Very seldom worked – but I did share my story and my miracle stories with them when possible.
? My spirit was bursting to become involved in the work of the Kingdom.
? I learned as I served to deny the flesh, not take the Spirit of Offense against others – like some did – this is called the Bait of Satan.
ii. Providential Relationships:
• In our lives we can name key people who have all played divine rolls in helping us to grow in our faith.
o Can you name them?
• Every one of us most likely can tell of a person who has helped us in our spiritual journey. These people all played key roles in growing your faith because God brought them into your life to help you grow.
o Think for a moment – Can you name a few key people in your life who helped you grow?
• God brings people into our lives at just the right moment to help us grow spiritually.
o Can you identify who these people are?
o Can you identify a key teacher – a youth pastor?
• We have an example of this Acts with Paul and Ananias/Barnabas.
o Acts 9:10-19: 26-31: 10In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord,” he answered. 11The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.” 13“Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” 15But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” 17Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and 19after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus…26When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
29He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. 30When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. 31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.
o Now the next question: Who have you helped to grow spiritually?
• People who made a difference in my life spiritually:
o Radio preachers Smith, Swindoll and books by Swindoll, Hagan!
o Pastor Nate M – taught me how to preach with knowledge and being led by the Holy Spirit - balance – He taught me love and grace! He always taught me Grace is greater!
o Pastor Gail M – be bold as a lion Mike when you preach – go after the Devil in His authority.
o Pastor Jill J and Bill J – teaching me the basics of the faith – their loving on me – encouraging me when kicked out of my house.
o Pastors Rufus and Diane T – teaching me the basics of the faith – teaching me about the power of the Holy Spirit – teaching me what not to do!
o Roland H- officer in Salvation Army – discipling me my first years as Christian – letting me move in with him at dorm.
o Bobby Joe J – now a pastor – walked with me through the hard times – break up of Violet – watching others fall away – He was great listener, mentor and counselor!
o Pastor Rich D – How to be ready to preach – arts of speaking, the challenge to start writing and the importance of integrity in ministry.
? Share the story from Don Pipers book: “People I met at the Gates of Heaven”
iii. Private Spiritual disciplines – these include prayer, and giving and striving to stretch us in our faith so it will grow – so we will grow.
• It’s the key concept of discipline or we could call it spiritual growth exercises – Examples of disciplines are physical exercise, diet, budgeting, calling my mom, these are all things we are supposed to do in life. They take commitment and scheduling to happen.
o When we prioritize spiritual disciplines, it helps us grow in our confidence with the Lord. God will use these exercises to help us grow!
o Quote: Andy Stanley: Discipline is all about doing what you don’t what to do now so you can do what you want to do later.
o It’s all about delayed gratification like going to school to become what you want to be.
o Examples of spiritual disciplines: Prayer, fasting, devotions, personal Bible Study, going to church, and acts of self-denial or sacrifice.
? The all-night prayer meetings at Outreach Church– my time at IHOP the first time.
• What God showed me at IHOP – the prophetic word at IHOP.
o Tell the story!
• The regular habit of reading and listening to preachers and teachers and the Word.
o Getting into the Word is a spiritual discipline!
• Being in tune to the voice of the Holy Spirit and going through trials with the right attitude!
• Truth - when you practice the disciplines it’s easier to hear His voice and get direction and comfort.
• Spiritual growth is a biblical assumption for the normal Christian life. As people over the last two thousand years have responded to the redemptive message of the Gospel they have, to varying degrees, matured in their faith experience.
o Thirty years ago, Richard Foster, in the beginning of his book, Celebration of Discipline wrote these words: “Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people. The classical Disciplines of the spiritual life call us to move beyond surface living into the depths.”
o In recent years George Barna has stated, “Christianity would be incredibly influential in our culture if Christians consistently lived their faith. The problem is that millions don’t live like Christians-and that’s partially because they don’t know how.”
o I Corinthians 3:1-3: 1Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly—mere infants in Christ.
2I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready.
3You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?
? To become the spiritually mature people God intends us to be will require a disciplined life that will result in a lifestyle that will recognize and consistently respond favorably to God’s presence in our lives.
? Paul, the apostle, in his letter to the Christians at Colossae wrote: “And whatever you do, in word or indeed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)
• I choose to do the disciplines – how about you – like prayer, praise, fasting, reading and study.
iv. Personal ministry – Have you ever volunteered to do something you were not qualified for and discovered it helped you to grow because you were actually doing ministry?
• One way God helps us to grow in our faith is by placing us in places to serve others for the Kingdom and the result is we end up growing.
o Personal Story:
? My willingness to remodel Outreach Church
• The Holy Spirit said, “Mike use your carpenter talents to remodel Outreach Church don’t charge – do it for me!”
• Romans 12:1-8:1Dear friends, God is good. So, I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That’s the most sensible way to serve God. 2Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him. 3I realize how kind God has been to me, and so I tell each of you not to think you are better than you really are. Use good sense and measure yourself by the amount of faith that God has given you.
4 A body is made up of many parts, and each of them has its own use. 5That’s how it is with us. There are many of us, but we each are part of the body of Christ, as well as part of one another. 6 God has also given each of us different gifts to use. If we can prophesy, we should do it according to the amount of faith we have. 7If we can serve others, we should serve. If we can teach, we should teach. 8If we can encourage others, we should encourage them. If we can give, we should be generous. If we are leaders, we should do our best. If we are good to others, we should do it cheerfully.
? My teaching release time in the projects of St. Paul to the Cambodian, Laotian and Vietnamese children during my senior year at NCBC.
? My willingness to do the youth group at Outreach.
? My willingness to do outreach radio ministry at Outreach on Friday nights at midnight.
? My willingness to step out in faith and serve at Outreach.
• Jobs – halfway home – counseling center
o What is God saying to you about serving in His Kingdom?
? Is it a short-term Missions trip?
? My willingness to help people others with building projects and mission trips and new projects.
• Preaching in Canada (5x)
• Mission trips to Mexico (4x)
• Mission trip to Belize
• Mission trip to India – 2x
• Mission trip to Greece
• Mission trip to Liberia – 2x
• Mission trip to Guinea West Africa
• Mission trip to Costa Rica
• Mission trip to Philippians
o This willingness to go fits the category on how to grow spiritually.
? How about serving in your church or in a certain para-church ministry (Like Pass, Morning Star Mission, or Love Inc) this is another venue God will use to grow us spiritually.
• 1 Corinthians 12:4-6: 4There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.
• Ephesians 6:7, 8: 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.
v. Pivotal circumstances – Life is filled with unexpected surprises. But each unexpected event is a divine opportunity to grow through it.
• These circumstances can be good, can be trials, can be stressful or stages of life but in these situations, God wants us to grow through them to teach us His faithfulness and to build our confidence in Him.
• Personal examples: My call to ministry. The call to my first church as pastor.
o Example Acts 10 Peter and Cornelius and a vision from God.
? See Acts 11:1-4: 1The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened: 5“I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance, I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ 8“I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9“The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’ 10This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. 11“Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them.
o The Falling away of Thomas – my choice to grow – his choice to walk away. Others fall away – I stay!
? This was a pivotal circumstance for me – follow them or follow Jesus.
o The Violet story –
? Tell the story:
• Prayer – The ring – Prophetess Kay and her word – the sitting in the park – the breaking up and falling away – the 2nd prophetic word a year later.
o The Holy Spirit said, “Mike “go” to North Central Bible College full time and give up your union carpenter job, but start your own company, I will provide.”
? First, I said, “no” I was even offered a full paid Bible School scholarship to Cambourne England.
? I turned it down. I had other plans for my life and becoming a pastor was not one of them.
? Later, I also said “No, I cannot afford school” after declining the scholarship.
? Then I had the situation of hurting my back on the job and the unjust treatment by my employer and then winning the lawsuit which paid for school.
• I received the following word from Romans “When you are judged by sinful men you shall prevail!”
? The supernatural provision for work while in college for 4 years – never without work – the open doors – the miracles – the financial blessings of God’s provision.
? The affirmation the first day in Chapel that I was to be there!
? The Holy Spirit reaffirmed during the process, “I want you to become a full-time pastor/teacher for the Kingdom – I want you to become a man after my own heart – I want you sacrifice for the Kingdom your time, your talent, your life! And I will bless you with the Abundant life promised by me - Jesus!”
• At first - I resisted – “No thank you Lord, I will just be a great Christian carpenter for the Kingdom!”
• Run my company for you!
• I said, “Lord the cost is to much – I will not be able to pay my bills.”
• The Lord said, “I will provide!”
• The radio preacher on the day I was turning down my first church!
o His words “If you are letting money dictate whether you take a pastor position you are missing God.”
o The dilemma – the choice – the faith step to grow spiritually.
o The Lord speaks to me and Kathy to go!
o You are to make a difference for the Kingdom of Heaven!
o Liberty Chapel time of trial and growth.
? Liberty Chapel growth – packed out service - Release Time – Royal rangers and Missionettes -impact in community – the opposition from within – the legal pad list of what was wrong with me – the split - the church did eventually close (about 10 years ago) – it’s an empty building in this small city and a spirit of criticalness’ and division brought it down.
o The story as Associate Pastor
? The growth – the disagreement – the choice - I had to die to self.
• Tell the story: “Mike you are to stop!”
• I have a place for you as lead pastor – the supernatural provision that summer!
o The blessing of New Life Community Church – the growth – The New Life half way home, The Lighthouse Café, The New Beginnings counseling center – The Amery Gospel fests!
o The return to CHC.
o The Cancer Journey – lessons learned in this unexpected journey!
? Psalm 23:
• Psalm 23 - A Psalm of David.
• 1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
• 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
• 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness. For His name’s sake.
• 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
• 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
• 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
? God is with me, and the doves keep showing up – revealed that He keeps His promise and His Word!
• My current journey with cancer – cancer free – my maintenance treatment over in August!
T.S. - You have to be intentional about growing your spiritual faith and you have to trust God to work in and through your life to create those spiritual growth opportunities.
II. 2 Scripture: 2 Peter 1:5-8: The process of spiritual care and growth and becoming a mature Saint.
a. 5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
b. There is a process of spiritual growth according to this Scripture text:
i. Spiritual growth happens through living life and being led by the Holy Spirit!
1. It starts with understanding the goodness of God and the gift of salvation! It comes from experiencing God’s forgiveness and grace – His goodness!
a. God has provided this for us through faith or belief in Jesus Christ. We don’t earn it - we accept it as a gift!
2. It is also connected with knowledge – understanding the goodness and the grace of God leads us to knowledge – This knowledge of Him comes from a relationship with Him and it also comes from knowing His teachings and words in the Bible. Through the process of gaining knowledge of God comes the illumination of the Holy Spirit to God’s words found in the Bible. In other words – the words of the Bible come alive – they live, they breathe life and insight in how to live and know God better. We hear them and it changes us from within.
a. Once again: This knowledge is enlightened by God’s wisdom which also comes through the Holy Spirit and as we get to know the Word of God - we grow closer in our relationship with the Lord.
3. As we grow in experiencing the goodness of God and in knowledge of Him from the Bible - we then progress to the next step of Spiritual care which is learning self-control – self-control comes through Christian spiritual maturity – it comes through learning and choosing to die to the self.
a. When we have grown in our self-control – when we die to the flesh and let the Spirit lead us - we gain the next level of spiritual care and growth which is the ability to persevere through the hardships of life.
i. We learn that getting our way at any cost is wrong.
ii. Got question notes: The concept of “dying to self” is found throughout the New Testament. It expresses the true essence of the Christian life, in which we take up our cross and follow Christ. Dying to self is part of being born again; the old self dies and the new self comes to life (John 3:3–7). Not only are Christians born again when we come to salvation, but we also continue dying to self as part of the process of sanctification. As such, dying to self is both a one-time event and a lifelong process.
1. https://www.gotquestions.org/dying-to-self.html
iii. Dying to self gives us the strength to press through hardships of life!
4. Perseverance is so crucial in the Christian walk because so many give up on God, become angry with God and some fall away from God because they give up and do not push through the hard times of life – or through the Storms of life.
a. If we learn to persevere then the next level of Spiritual Care and growth is godliness – the spiritual state of living for the lord in a holy and reverent way for Him. To honor him with the way we live our life. To live godly in a ungodly world makes us stand out as light in the midst of darkness – this is what we are designed by God to do daily in our lives.
b. We come to the understanding that God does not owe us – we owe Him!
i. Matt Slick stated, “One of the best things I learned in Seminary was when a professor wrote on the board "There is a God. You are not Him." Boy, has that proven true! Over the years I've discovered how unwise, inexperienced, and ignorant I really am. Also, I've noticed that God doesn't consult me with making decisions about running the universe. And, if that isn't humiliating enough, He doesn't take any of my suggestions about how things ought to be in my own life. I don't understand why God doesn't take my suggestions. But, it comes down to one thing: There is a God. I am not Him!”
ii. He adds, “"There is a God. You are not Him," is a delightful piece of truth. Think about it. Who created the universe? Was it the infinite and wise God, or was it me... or you? I have not heard whether if God consulted any of you about how universe should be run. If He has, please let me know. But as it stands now, He doesn't need our help.”
1. Above from https://carm.org/christianity/devotions/there-god-you-are-not-him
iii. Matt adds, “If you truly understand that there is a God and that you are not Him, then you can begin to relinquish your own rights, hopes, desires, and wants and submit them to His will.”
iv. Quote: “The apostle Paul in writing to the Philippians gives them the admonition to be “anxious for nothing,” telling them that the cure for anxiety and dark times of the soul is found on one’s knees, that it is the peace of God that calms our spirit and dissipates anxiety. Again, we can be anxious and nervous and worried without finally submitting to ultimate despair.”
1. From http://www.gotquestions.org/dark-night-soul.html#ixzz3PUBdfVUc
5. Godliness leads to kindness toward others – it has an empathy for others – a heart that cares about other people and their struggles, their faith, their doubts and reaches out to them as God reached out to us through the sacrifice of Jesus.
a. Today in our world a lot of people lack kindness for others – even Christian for other Christians!
b. Kindness – our world has lost this Spiritual exercise and level of spiritual maturity – just spend a little time on social media – just watch the news – just listen to how people treat each other in marriages – in church – in schools and at work.
c. Kindness is a level of spiritual maturity that seems missing today – we need to cultivate it again.
6. The process of Spiritual care and growth always leads to a Christian acting like a saint (Romans 1:1-7) a person who loves others more than themselves!
a. Love- that quality of Jesus we all so admire – His willingness to forgive the sinners – to love the unwanted of society – to love the sick and deformed – to love unconditionally! To see the good in others when others cannot.
b. 2 Peter 3:18: 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
c. Hebrews 5:11-14: 11We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn.
12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
d. Hebrews 6:1: 1Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God…
T.S. – Growing spiritually is a process that we must learn and walk through in this journey of life.
III. Scripture text 3 Romans 5:2-6: The process of spiritual care and growth and becoming a mature Saint.
a. 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
b. The process of Spiritual Care and Spiritual growth which leads to us becoming mature Saints.
i. Spiritual Care and spiritual growth move’s us from the beginning of grace – that understanding and the experiencing of the goodness of God. This stage of spiritual growth develops us into the Saint who is becoming more spiritually mature and who is able to rejoice in the hope of the glory of God – which is Jesus.
ii. But we also learn through this text that as we do spiritual care and grow in Christ – we start to understand what grace is - then this level of maturity helps us to rejoice in our sufferings – this is another level of Spiritual growth toward maturity as a Saint.
• Rejoicing in suffering is a huge step in the Spiritual care process of spiritual growth.
a. 2 Cor. 4:7-10: “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.”
b. Hebrews 6:19: We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain…
• In times of suffering which will come we need to understand that God has a plan for you in this moment?
a. Jesus said, “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” — John 17: 15 NIV
b. Cordeiro states, “If we fail to listen to what God is trying to teach us through these experiences, we end up misreading God’s language.”
i. He also adds, “God must first accomplish something in you before he can accomplish something through you.”
• John Ortberg states, “If you ask people who don’t believe in God why they don’t, the number one reason will be suffering. If you ask people who believe in God when they grew most spiritually, the number one answer will be suffering (Soul Keeping: Caring for the Most Important Part of You (p. 179).
a. Romans 12:1-2: Living Sacrifices
1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
iii. Suffering if gone through biblically will always lead us to spiritual growth and the ability to persevere through the hardships of this life.
• Perseverance is a must spiritual quality to have in the type of world we live in.
a. This world does not like Christians or God’s Word.
• Throughout Scripture the Christian believer is told to stand firm in his faith. We are exhorted by the Gospel and Old Testament writers to stand firm. I believe that this church as well needs to stand firm. We need to plant ourselves on the Word of God and stand.
• Jesus said, “Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape…and stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36 NLT)
a. John Eldredge states from his book Resilient, “The words from Jesus “Strong enough to escape- that’s who and what we want to be. Strong enough to be survivors, the triumphant ones. To make it through the storm. This is no ordinary strength Jesus is offering. This isn’t optimism, this isn’t simply feeling refreshed for a new day. Hard times require something more than willpower. Jesus warns us, urges us, practically commands us to ask for strength. The Greek word used here is katischuo’ at it means:
i. To be strong to another’s detriment
ii. To prevail against
iii. To be superior in strength
iv. To overcome
v. To prevail”
1. Eldredge page 40-41
b. John notes this Greek word is used one more time in Scripture by Jesus in Matthew 16:18:
i. 18And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (NKJV)
1. 18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it (NIV).
2. He adds, “We need the strength of heart, strength of mind, strength of spirit. A strength that prevails. Because there are forces urging us to quit” (42).
a. We must persevere through this stuff to grow spiritually mature in Christ!
iv. Perseverance leads to the next level of spiritual maturity character!
• Character is not what you believe but how you act – what you do!
a. Character is revealed through your actions in your life!
• Character is essential in this journey of life – and character comes through spiritual growth, dying to self and sacrifice but it also comes through hardship!
a. Romans 8:8-17: 8Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. 9You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. 12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co–heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
v. When you have grown in character then you develop a mindset filled with hope and faith!
Conclusion:
What do we need to know?
Answer:
Real life Truth 1: The Bible is your handbook for Spiritual Care
Real Life Truth 2: Life is your classroom – The Holy Spirit teaches you through various life circumstances. Question is are you listening and obeying?
Real Life Truth 3: Growing spiritually takes intentionality on your part – we have to take responsibility to want to grow! We have to choose to die to self to grow!
What do we need to do?
Answer: We need to get into the Bible and discover more of God’s Word and then allow the Holy Spirit to teach us through the lessons of life. We need to have a personal plan to grow spiritually!
Why do we need to do this?
Answer: This is the only way to do Spirit Care and it’s the only way to grow and become a mature saint in Jesus.
