Video Transition: Clay
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 14:15-18:
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.
Introduction:
Quote from Richard Wafford from sermoncentral.com: A.B. Simpson says in his book "A Larger than Christian life" and I quote: “It is all connected with a living person. We are not filled with an influence; we are not filled with a sensation; we are not filled with a set of ideas and truths; we are not filled with a blessing, but we are filled with a person. This is very strange and striking. It is wholly different from all other teaching. Human systems of philosophy and religion all deal mainly with intellectual truths, moral conditions or external acts. Greek philosophy was a system of ideas; Confucianism is a system of morals; Judaism is a system of laws and ceremonies; Christianity all centers in a living person, and its very essence is the indwelling life of Christ himself.”
What Jesus describes above I can honestly say I have experienced in my own life – The Holy Spirit is a person who lives inside you!
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.
So, the lessons I learned quickly from the School of Holy Spirit were to obey His voice, His Word and His instruction:
I see a dilemma today in Christianity in America: Christian’s do not want to die to their flesh and self, but instead they actually serve and worship themselves and in the wake of this idol worship, they cause destruction and division and call it the Lord’s doing.
But when we die to our self we grow spiritually, and God uses that to change communities and peoples lives!
This world needs more spiritually mature Christians who are willing to die to themselves so that they grow and serve others! God uses imperfect people “yes”, but wow does he use those who are mature in Him to impact others. The Lord is looking to use us, but we have to be willing to grow into spiritual mature Christian’s, He desires us to be mature – Why? So, we can help others mature spiritually in Jesus too!
The need is great today!
Illustration: A few weeks ago, I shared about, receiving 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 and I have been pressing on you the great need among the young people of today!
Question: What can you and I do to stop the tsunami that has already made landfall in our country with young people?
• 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.
• Grow spiritually and mentor others!
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. Practical teaching/preaching (from the Bible) – Hearing, learning and then the application of what you learned by doing it - are all keys to growing in our faith walk.
• A key spiritual principle: God wants us to not just know the Bible but do the Bible.
• 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.
? James 1:22: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
• Max Lucado Says, "The Bible Has Been Banned, ... Contributed by Steve Malone on sermoncentral.com - Nov 5, 2004:
o Max Lucado says, “The Bible has been banned, burned, scoffed, and ridiculed. Scholars have mocked it as foolish. Kings have branded it as illegal. A thousand times over, the grave has been dug and the dirge has begun, but somehow the Bible never stays in the grave. Not only has it survived, it has thrived. It’s the single most popular book in all of history. It has been the best-selling book in the world for years.”
? 1 Peter 1:24,25 - “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.”
b. 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 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?
• 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?
? Share the story from Don Pipers book: “People I met at the Gates of Heaven”
c. Private Spiritual disciplines – these include prayer, and giving and striving to stretch us in our faith so it will grow – so we will grow.
• 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 Examples of spiritual disciplines: Prayer, fasting, devotions, personal Bible Study, going to church, and acts of self-denial or sacrifice.
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.”
• 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?
o 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)
d. 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.
• Romans 12:1: 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.
o 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.
o 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.
• SERVANTHOOD AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH:
o Quote: When asked, "To what extent has your ministry or service to others affected your spiritual growth?," 92 percent answered positively. None responded that ministry had a negative effect on their spiritual growth. Sixty-three percent indicated that service was equally significant in their spiritual growth compared to other spiritual disciplines, such as Bible study and prayer. Twenty-four percent responded that ministry or service to others had been "a more significant factor" to their spiritual growth than Bible study or prayer. Over half (58 percent) of those who were not actively ministering to others felt either "not satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" with their level of spiritual growth. [Eric Swanson What You Get from Giving (Leadership Journal, Spring 2003), p. 37]
? The survey shows what the Bible has said for centuries: "Serving is good for you because it will make you happy and it will have eternal value." The problem comes into serving when the person who serves comes with the wrong attitude.
? Listen to what Bill Hybels has to say about serving: "The right motivation for Christian service is love.”
e. Pivotal circumstances – Life is filled with unexpected surprises. But each unexpected event is a divine opportunity to grow spiritually through it or not.
• These circumstances can be good, can be trials, can be stressful or be stages of life! But in these situations, God wants us to grow through them to teach us His faithfulness and to build our confidence and faith in Him.
• See Acts 11:1-4 for an example of this: 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.
• My own pivotal circumstances:
o The Violet story and God walking me through it:
? Tell the story: The 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.”
? 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!”
• The Bible has much to say about submission: to God (James 4:6-7), to political authorities (Romans 13:1-7), to church leadership (Heb 13:17), within marriage (Col 3:18), and even a general submissiveness of all Christians to one another (Eph 5:21).
• My heart and mind reflected in that time back to another Scripture Titus 3:1-3: “Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.”
• I had to learn as a younger pastor to die to self and respect authority! I had to listen to Holy Spirit as an associate pastor and die to pride. I learned a valuable lesson as the Lord led me through this similar difficult situation with the church authorities over me. I had started to butt heads with the lead pastor of the church over a philosophy of ministry and administration. There was no sin involved in our disagreement. But in the process the Holy Spirit convinced me to stop, not to be right but submit to His leadership.
o I had a choice in this matter to hurt the church, align people to my perspective, position and even recruit others to join my side and go after the Senior Pastor. I had according to some key people say we have 80 people who are on your side. But the Holy Spirit said “No” I decided after some time of prayer that I was to resign my position as associate pastor! Why? Because I refused to discredit or hurt God’s church and malign God’s chosen leadership. I refused to cause mayhem to the church and all the good people who attended. I refused to hurt the school associated with the church.
o I decided to do the Barnabas and Paul (Acts 15:36-41) thing and part ways without causing chaos and hurt to anyone. The pastor and I are still friends to this day and the church was spared division and dissension as two leaders disagreed.
• That church by the way, was Christian Hills Church and God honored me for taking the right path and opened the door for me to go flourish at a church in Wisconsin. I also look back now in time and say Lord thank you for directing me to die myself and my ways and protect your church and people.
o So, I resigned and experienced the miracle summer of provision. I heard the Holy Spirit say, “I have a place for you as lead pastor!”
? Examples of the supernatural provision that summer!
• The comment to Kathy over my resignation. “You will see God provide within a week - because I know that I work and serve Jesus! – He will take care of us!
o Remember when I resigned, she lost her job too as the Kindergarten teacher.
• A week later we decided to go to a revival service as we were hearing great things about the services, We talked in excitement was high the presence of God was there then the worship and halfway thru the worship the pastor got up with a word, “People are here in transition” if that is you come forward for prayer.” About 40-50 people went forward for prayer Kathy and I were in the middle and he was just praying for people he stopped when he came to us – He asked me what are you transitioning from?
o So, I told him. He moved on praying for the others.
o A short time later he got up to take the offering that night for the service – a packed house – As he went to take the offering, he said the Holy Spirit told me to give our entire offering to that pastor and his wife. The going away party and the huge financial blessings.
• The following week the church through me a going away party again huge financial blessings came our way.
• The money started coming in the mail from people and in unexpected ways.
• I candidated at a few different churches and also receiving financial blessings,
• We decided at the end of the summer that we needed to move back to Mn thinking a church south of the city of St Paul is where we would land.
• But in the process of waiting for them to make a decision, I was asked to come speak and candidate at New Life a smaller church offering less money. We knew this was the place! Things progressed they hired me and Kathy said the day I got my first pay check from New Life in Wisconsin is the day the extra miracle money had run out!
o Also to note - my first Sunday as the new pastor I preached and the Lord moved – I came home and the church from MN called to say I was voted on as their new pastor! I declined even though the church was bigger and paid way better.
• The blessing of New Life Community Church – the growth – The New Life halfway home, The Lighthouse Café, The New Beginnings counseling center – The Amery Gospel fests! The award from the city – the salvations and changes lives!
o The return to CHC as lead pastor.
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. 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 understand 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 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:
Reality Check 1: The Bible is your handbook for Spiritual Care and spiritual growth!
Reality Check 2: Life is your classroom – The Holy Spirit teaches you through various life circumstances. The Question is are you listening and obeying His voice?
Reality Check 3: Growing spiritually takes intentionality on your part – we have to take responsibility if we want to grow! We must choose to die to self to grow!
Reality Check 4: We grow spiritually by persevering and walking with the Holy Spirt as we engage in the Fab 5.
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 mature through the Fab 5! We need to have a personal plan to grow spiritually! We need to die to ourselves!
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 spiritually and become a mature saint in Jesus. It’s the only way we can help others and participate with the Holy Spirit in transformation of our community. It’s the only way we will experience a Jesus Revolution.
