"striving together for the faith of the gospel." -Phil. 1:27
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Category Archives: Spiritual Growth

Biblically Praying for Others!

Have you ever started praying for someone and have no idea what to pray for?

Here are some common ways we “pray” for others…

  • “Lord, just be with Joe today…”
  • “Lord, help Sally have a good day…”
  • “God, I just pray for Rob today…”

Have you ever prayed like that for someone else? I certainly have. Take a few minutes and turn to Philippians 1:9-11 and learn how to specifically and biblically pray for the spiritual growth in others.

1) Pray for Abounding Love (v.9) – Pray that fellow Christians will have an abounding (overflowing, endless) and increasing love for God, Scripture, and others. Remember, you are always faithful to that which you love.

2) Pray for Excellent Choices (v.10a) – Begin praying that other Christians will mirror God in an excellent way in every decision they make. Pray that they will carefully study, passionately investigate, and wisely determine how each decision will best obey and please the Lord. No one is exempted from the mistake zone.

3) Pray for Internal Integrity (v.10b)– Diligently pray that others will live a Christ-like life that is pure (sincere) and blameless (without offense). Christians who are the real deal! A life that is genuine not only speaks volumes to others, but brings much glory the God!

4) Pray for Fruitful Living (v.11a) – Vigorously pray that other believers will depend on the Holy Spirit to produce a fruitful Christian life. Also see John 15:5 and Galatians 5:22-23.

The purpose in fervently praying for others’ spiritual growth is for “…the glory and praise of God” (v.11b). The chief purpose in life is to glorify God (1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Cor. 10:31) so let’s stop the aimless prayers and start upholding each other in prayer the Bible way.

Now that you know how to specifically and biblically pray for the spiritual growth in others…go do it!

Photo above taken by: eyebiz (www.sxc.hu)

The 2010 Bible!

The 2010 Bible is the one you hold in your hand! This year may bring a lot of unknowns, what are you going to depend on in 2010? Are you going to depend on your own ability to make decisions? Are you going to depend on your skills to get through the tough times? Are you going to depend on your bank account? Are you going to depend upon circumstances? Where are you placing your dependence in 2010?

There are 5 reasons why you can depend on your Bible in 2010. Let’s briefly examine each of them using Psalm 119 as a guide.

1. Your Bible is the best defense against sin (Psalm 119:1-3, 9-11). Sadly, but sin will be at an all time high in 2010. There will be increased hatred and conflicts among nations, children disobeying their parents, teens doing drugs, immorality, and crime, married couples filing for divorce, pastors disqualifying themselves from ministry, gay marriage, and the list goes on and on. However, the good news is God’s Word will still be the best preventative against sin in 2010! This will not change! Remember, Sin will keep you from your Bible or your Bible will keep you from sin.

2. Your Bible illumines God’s will for your life (Psalm 119:105-106). This year you will have to make decisions regarding your life, but are you going to make the right and biblical decision and how will you know? There is no better source than to allow the Word of God light your path. In the Bible times people who wanted to travel at night would carry olive oil lamps in the palm of their hand. The flame would shed just enough light for the person to see his or her next step. This is what we would call an “ancient flashlight.” With that in mind reading this passage makes sense now! God will use His Word to give you enough light to see your next step. The safest place to be in 2010 is in the center of God’s will.

3. Your Bible exposes truth and error (Psalm 119:115-119). This year will bring many “new” ideas, methods, technologies, religions, programs, inventions, etc. The USA Today printed an article (1/5/10) entitled, “In America’s next decade, change and challenges,” take a look at some of the “new” stuff they are predicting in the next 10 years…

  • Space tourism. By 2020, travelers with a few hundred thousands dollars to spare probably will be able to book a real flight to outer space.
  • Brain chip implants. You might be able to control TVs, computers and phones just by thinking of something– provided you’ve an implanted wireless chip in your brain. 
  • Alternative fuels. If customers are willing to buy electric-powered cars– the Chevrolet Volt debuts at the end of 2010.

Some, not all, of “new stuff” will be contrary to God’s Word and will seek to deceive you. However, you can confidently face 2010 and beyond without fear because God’s Word is very clear about discerning truth from error (see Hebrews 4:12; 2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

4. Your Bible reveals the characteristics of God (Various). This year the Bible will be very clear in revealing the character of God and that will not change. Think over all the blessings, mishaps, gains and losses, trials, and provisions that took place in 2009…now think about God’s character during those times. God is seeking to reveal Himself to through His Word. Are you looking forward to how God will reveal Himself to you in 2010?

5. The Bible is still standing the test of time (Psalm 119:160). God promises that His Word will never return void (empty, useless) or become irrelevant (Isaiah 55:11) regardless of the year. For example, here are some major events that took place 100 years ago in 1909 -

  • William Taft becomes the 27th President.
  • Construction begins on the Titanic.
  • The gas station, BP, is incorporated.
  • Alice Ramsey becomes the first female to drive across America (59 days; NY to SF).
  • The Pittsburgh Pirates win the Word Series.
  • US Navy establishes a base in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Guess what?! The Bible was just as true, inerrant, sufficient, profitable, and timeless then as it is now, 100 years later! Although circumstances may change and people come and go God’s Word is forever (1 Peter 1:24-25).

In conclusion, you may not know what 2010 specifically holds for you, but you do know your Bible can be depended on this year! Go out and live a life that brings glory and praise to God in 2010!

Are you an O-ring?

This past Sunday my Pastor preached an outstanding and accurate message from Philippians 1:27 about the importance of members in a local church uniting to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ. In making many points about church unity he used a very powerful illustration to show what would happen if ONE church member decided to remain proud and selfish. Here is the illustration…

On January 28, 1986 the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy occurred 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. This fatal shuttle explosion happened because one little o-ring failed to properly operate in the right solid rocket booster. Reports state that this o-ring failure caused a breach in the rocket booster joint allowing pressurized hot gas from within the rocket motor to reach the outside and impinge upon the external fuel tank causing structural failure and disaster (see picture above). All this happened because of one o-ring failing to do its part and the entire space mission was postponed, ended in tragedy, and received worldwide attention.

This real life disaster serves as an effective reminder to Christians that if one church member fails to properly perform his or her part the entire local church mission will be put on hold, will end in disaster, and will receive public attention from unbelievers.

After some meditation on this passage and illustration I have compiled a small list of indicators that reveal whether you are an “o-ring” in your local church and in the universal body of Christ.

Some indicators that you are an O-ring:

  • You have no desire to unite with your church family and advance the gospel.
  • You complain, murmur, and grumble about the Pastoral staff at your church to others, especially other church members.
  • You are quick to note other people in your mind that need to unite and fail to evaluate yourself to see if you could be the problem.
  • You are focused on your own agenda and plans at the church and you will go to great lengths to see them accomplished even if it causes division.
  • You withdraw (disengage) from any service opportunities at your church as a way of “getting back or even” at the church, in particularly the leadership, to show your discontent and disapproval.
  • You have no desire for your church to move forward.
  • You resent outsiders (i.e. visitors) coming to your church because that may mean change.

If any of these indicators are evident in your life then you are missing out on the joyful Christian life and God is not pleased. You can and must repent from your selfish pride (1 John 1:9) and re-engaged in striving together for the faith of the gospel with your local church! They need you!

Your Spiritual Workout Plan!

We all like to be physically fit, trimmed, toned, and in some cases muscular. In order to achieve those goals we would have to consistently hit the gym for a vigorous workout. Effective weightlifters and exercisers establish goals, follow a workout plan, and in some cases hire a trainer in order to successfully progress physically. Next time you see someone who is physically fit it reveals a lot about their determination, discipline, and dedication to take care of their physical body.   

More importantly, and the point of this article, how is your spiritual workout going? Are you spiritually flabby? Have you become lazy in your spiritual “weightlifting”? Have you lost the determination to build spiritual muscle? Have you lost the discipline to hit the “spiritual gym”? Have you lost the dedication to spiritually grow?

Looking at the current condition of many churches, families, individuals, schools, and overall culture the answer would have to be “yes.” Sadly, Christians have become spiritually lazy.  

Take a minute and turn to Philippians 2:12-13. You must biblically understand the believer’s role (v.12) and God’s role (v.13) in sanctification.

1) The Believer’s Role in Sanctification (2:12) – Because of what Christ did for you (Philippians 2:5-11) there is something you now must do and that is to make a concentrated effort to spiritually grow towards Christlikness. The phrase “…work out your own salvation…” is the main verb calling for the energy to bring something to completion, fulfillment, or to the intended goal. In other words, Paul is urging you to keep on growing spiritually. You have the responsibility to aggressively and energetically pursue spiritual growth. You must keep working out your salvation till your glorification (also see Romans 6:19; 2 Corinthians 7:1; Ephesians 4:1; 1 Timothy 6:11-12).

Now, some people incorrectly confuse this phrase by thinking it means to work for your salvation, in other words, works salvation, but Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5 blows that thinking out of the water. Furthermore, if you closely look at this verse it says to WORK OUT. Therefore, as a Christian this means your role in sanctification is to take the time each day to build “spiritual muscle” with fear and trembling, these are proper reactions that seek to avoid sin, spiritual laziness, and dishonor to God.

2) God’s Role in Sanctification (2:13) – The only true and living God takes on the responsibility to make you what He wants you to be! God inwardly energizes you to obey and serve Him by giving you the willingness and ability to spiritually grow! He wants you to purposefully choose, energetically perform, and live what is right and biblical. Why does God do this? Because your spiritual growth is what makes God happy! This is what pleases Him! God receives mega-enjoyment and super-satisfaction when you give Him your best! Wow!     

In summary, your sanctification (spiritual growth) is God actively energizing you inwardly while you carry out that desire outwardly! You must produce on the outside (v.12) what God has planted on the inside (v.13) and that desire is to be more like Christ in every area of your life!

Question: What are some indicators that someone is taking his or her spiritual growth seriously? 

I would love to hear from you and help you in anyway I can.