Tuesday 30 June 2015

What does God say about Homosexuality?

heart emoticon WHAT IS GOD'S VIEW & DISPOSITION TOWARDS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE?" COMMON QUESTIONS & STATEMENTS ANSWERED BY GOD HIMSELF FROM THE BIBLE
1) "YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT MY SEXUAL ORIENTATION, ONLY GOD CAN JUDGE."
like emoticon GOD'S ANSWER: Very true! And He has already judged it, so we all can be in the know. Here is his clear disposition towards homosexuality and same-sex marriage for those who would like to know:
 Leviticus 18:22—"And you must not lie down with a male the same as you lie down with a woman. It is a detestable thing."
 Romans 1:26,27—"That is why God gave them up to disgraceful sexual appetites, for both their females changed the natural use of themselves into one contrary to nature; 27 likewise also the males left the natural use* (or natural relations) of the female and became violently inflamed in their lust toward one another, males with males, working what is obscene and receiving in themselves the full penalty, which was due for their error."
 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10—"Do not be misled. Those who are sexually immoral,... men who submit to homosexual acts, men who practice homosexuality, ... will not inherit God’s Kingdom."
It is unnatural and contrary to nature
 2) "BUT GOD MADE ME LIKE THIS."
like emoticon GOD'S ANSWER: No, he did not.
 1 Corinthians 11: 9—"man was not created for the sake of the woman, but woman for the sake of the man." (not referring to sexism [which is another man-made defective exploitation] but rather indicating the fact that opposite sexes were made for each other, not same sexes i.e man for man, woman for woman)
 Genesis 2:18—Then Jehovah God said: “It is not good for the man to continue to be alone. I am going to make a helper for him, as a complement of him.”
 Genesis 1:27,28—"MALE and FEMALE, he created them. God said be fruitful and become many."
 3) "IF HOMOSEXUALITY IS NOT NATURAL THEN WHY DO SOME PEOPLE FEEL THIS WAY?"
like emoticon GOD'S ANSWER: Due to the following factors:
------> A) Due to moral decay which is a sign of the end times:
• 2 Timothy 3:1-5—"But know this, that in the last days...For men will be lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God,
• Isaiah 5:20—"Woe to those who say that good is bad and bad is good"
• Malachi 2:17— “You have made Jehovah weary with your words. ... By saying, ‘Everyone who does bad is good in the eyes of Jehovah, and he finds pleasure in him,’"
• Jude 17, 18—"As for you, beloved ones, call to mind the sayings that have been previously spoken by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18...“In the last time there will be ridiculers, following their own desires for ungodly things.”
-------> B) Due to the dwelling on and nurturing of improper desires:
• James 1:14, 15—"But each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed* by his own desire. 15 Then the desire, when it has become fertile, gives birth to sin; in turn sin, when it has been carried out, brings forth death.
• 2 Timothy 4:3, 4—"For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the wholesome* teaching, but according to their own desires, they will surround themselves with teachers to have their ears tickled.* 4 They will turn away from listening to the truth and give attention to false stories.
-------> C) Due to biological defects such as hormonal imbalances or other biologically/psychological malfunctions in the body caused by human imperfection that can influence inappropriate sexual attractions which when DWELT on and nurtured can produce homosexual feelings and behavior.
Because of sin and imperfection, humans today can often unfortunately be born with many biological defects or acquire them later on in life that steer them to engage in actions that are harmful and unnatural. Being born with a defect that is out of harmony with how God created us and so is therefore harmful, doesn't make it natural, and they can still be controlled rather than nurtured.
To illustrate, some people are born with a defect in the biological makeup of the brain that causes them to have an insensitive gratification from violence. If put in environments exposed to violence, such individuals can acquire personality disorders that cause them to desire to engage in cold and insensitive acts of violence or aggression. This doesn't make it "natural" or "normal."
Being born with a biological defect that can steer one to have desires and behavioral patterns contrary to nature and how we are designed doesn't make it "natural." In such unfortunate cases God wants us to take spiritual and perhaps if needed medical practical steps to control improper and unnatural desires rather than acting in harmony with them.
• Colossians 3:5—"Deaden, therefore, your body members that are on the earth as respects sexual immorality, uncleanness, uncontrolled sexual passion,..."
or
Colossians 3:5—"Don't be controlled by your body. Kill every desire for the wrong kind of sex." (The contemporary English version of the bible)
Because of inheriting sin and imperfection from our first human parents who developed biological defects, got sick, and eventually got old and died, all humans as their descendants have inherited imperfection including it's varying illnesses and the potential for developing biological defects as well. Soon God purposes to fix all illness and biological defects humans are prone to acquire due to inheriting imperfection from our first human parents.
• Romans 5:12—“Through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned.”
• Isaiah 33:24—"no resident* will say: “I am sick.” The people dwelling in the land will be pardoned for their error." (Talking about residents living under God's Kingdom.)
• Revelation 21:4—"And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.” (Talking about life under God's Kingdom)
-------> D) Due to corruption from misleading humans, world rulers, & governments that deliberately use different strategies to encourage & promote homosexuality through media, propaganda taught in the educational system, and biological modifications of food and water that can cause homosexual desires.
• 1 Timothy 3:13—"But wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse, misleading and being misled."
• 1 Corinthians 3:19—"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God"
• Manufacturing companies put chemicals in food and water that encourage reproductive malfunctions & homosexual tendencies
 4) "AS LONG AS I'M NOT HURTING ANYONE ELSE, WHY IS WHO I CHOOSE TO BE ATTRACTED TO ANYONE ELSE'S BUSINESS?"
like emoticon GOD'S ANSWER: Because it DOES have a harmful effect both on yourself, others, and future generations to come. God created life according to a perfect dynamic. Any perversion in that balanced dynamic causes a detrimental ripple effect that damages the quality of life either immediately and/or in the long run, destroying the prospect of humans being able to enjoy perfect life free from all forms of suffering—which was, always has been, and still is God's original purpose. God as the creator understands and can see what this perfect balanced dynamic according to how he created it is suppose to be, that is, how one thing effects the other—Imperfect humans cannot.
 Ecclesiastes 8:9—"All of this I have seen, ... that man has dominated man to his harm."
 Proverbs 16:25—"There is a way that seems right to a man, But in the end it leads to death."
 5) "HOW IS HOMOSEXUALITY HARMFUL THEN?"
like emoticon GOD'S ANSWER:
 Matthew 19:4—"Have you not read that the one who created them from the beginning made them male and female."
 Genesis 2:22-24—"And Jehovah God built the rib that he had taken from the man into a woman, and he brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said: “This is at last bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh. This one will be called Woman, Because from man she was taken.” 24 That is why a man will leave his father and his mother and he will stick to* his WIFE , and they will become one flesh"
like emoticon The Hebrew word for "wife" is the same hebrew word for "woman," and the "helper" or "complement" and wife to the man was to be a woman i.e. female.
 Genesis 2:18—Then Jehovah God said: “It is not good for the man to continue to be alone. I am going to make a helper for him, as a complement of him.”
like emoticon The word "complement" means a thing that completes or brings to perfection. To add to (something) in a way that enhances or improves it; make perfect.
 Genesis 1:27,28—"MALE and FEMALE, he created them. Further, God blessed them and God said to them: God said be fruitful and become many and fill the earth and subdue it"
The woman's unique makeup both physically, psychologically, and emotionally complement the man's. Based off the differences between this unique gender makeup, there are roles and needs that only females can fulfill and roles and needs only males can fulfill. The coming together of the two according to how they were designed with their unique attributes contribute to the overall well-balanced psychological, functional, and emotional makeup of every human being as well as secure the healthy preservation and expansion of human life through their reproductive organs which were obviously and specifically designed to interface with each other. This is why only males and females can reproduce between each other.
The healthy and properly balanced male/female relationship dynamic that God created within the family setting creates a dynamic that contributes towards healthy, perfectly balanced individuals, healthy communities, healthy societies, and healthy planets.
Maintaining this perfect balance between male and female relations and the marital and family arrangement creates a balanced society with healthy functioning humans, so they "be fruitful and become many" and enjoy life without problems and unpredicted repercussions.
Therefore, men and women are designed by God to complement each other so they may be capable of satisfying each others emotional and sexual needs as well as provide children and raise up healthy functioning families.
The way life is suppose to be to be kept in perfect balance is the way God originally created it to be—"male and female he created them " with "The woman being created for the man as his partner and complement."(1 Corinthians 11: 9)
 6) "WHY WOULD THE WORLD PROMOTE HOMOSEXUALITY AS IF IT'S OKAY THEN IF GOD SAYS IT'S HARMFUL, AND WHY WOULD THEY WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE BECOME HOMOSEXUALS?"
like emoticon GOD'S ANSWER: Because the world's ruler is satan the devil who wants to turn everything God made in balance upside down, backwards, degraded, and corrupt. The bible states world rulers are directly under the influence of wicked spirit forces doing their bidding.
 1 John 5:19—"We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one."
 Luke 4:6— "Then the Devil said to him: “I will give you all this authority and their glory, because it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish."
 Revelation 12:9—"So down the great dragon was hurled, ...the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him."
 Ephesians 6:12— “We have a wrestling, not against blood and flesh, but against the governments, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places.”
Satan and his demons exploit their power by using government, media, and false religions to promote an "Anything-goes" morality and the evil, deceptive notion that humans are "free" and can acquire "freedom" by indulging in immorality. (Ephesians 2:1-3)
What they don't want humans to know is that living a life "doing as thou wilt" that is out of harmony with the laws of nature we were designed according too causes repercussions and defects that ultimately lead to human extinction—which is not truly living "free." Hence, immorality of every kind, including sexual perversions, is rife today, and humans are enslaved to the sufferings and problems and death resulting from sinning, or doing things out of harmony with how God designed it.
True FREE living is the wisdom of knowing HOW to exist in perfect balance so as to a enjoy life in peace without accidentally causing painful repercussions and consequences due to harmful actions and lifestyles that in some way rob that balance and peace. Just as we understand the need to consult a manufacturers guidance to learn a complex device—the far more complexities of how to live in PERFECT BALANCE can only be learned correctly from life's "manufacturer"—Jehovah God.
Satan wants to be god; therefore, by using the strategy of promoting immorality he wants everyone to turn against God and be on his side worshiping him. Satan's intention is to either cause humans to eventually destroy themselves after turning against God, or wind up being destroyed at Armageddon. In both instances, there is no future hope for them, and this serves his purpose in trying to be god and thwart God's right to rule. Satan is therefore using humans as the bait in order to accomplish his own selfish desire to be god without any care or compassion about the human outcome.

 7) "DOES GOD HATE GAY PEOPLE THEN? I THOUGHT GOD IS NOT PARTIAL & HIS LOVE EXTENDS TO ALL PEOPLE."
like emoticon GOD'S ANSWER: Yes it does! However, the type of love God has for all as described in the bible is a type of love in the greek scriptures referred to as "Agape" love.
 John 3:16—“For God loved (Agape) the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life."
This love is not the type of love that means "divine approval," but it rather has the meaning of being a love of people on the basis of his divine righteous principles. God does not love or approve of the homosexual lifestyle. However this Agape loves moves him to want to help humans change to the proper course so that they don't hurt themselves or others, and he dignifies humans by assuring them that they can choose not to act on improper sexual urges and shows them way to overcome it in his word the bible.—Colossians 3:5; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Corinthians 10:5
God does not approve of gay abuse, homophobia, violence, or hatred expressed towards anyone. All these are equally against Godly standards just as much as homosexuality is. Genuine individuals who love God and want to live perfectly as he intended us too do not hate the person; however, they do not approve of the lifestyle just as Jesus didn't.
To illustrate, many people smoke, and although a true Christian doesn't hate the smoker, it doesn't mean they approve of the harmful act and lifestyle of smoking since it is contrary to God's standards and harms others. It's unfair to cause harm to others, robbing their optimum quality of life because we want to live an unnatural lifestyle that cause a dysfunctional and harmful dynamic. Instead of being "love," it's rather selfishness. God cares about everyone and wants ALL, not just some people, to be able to get the best out of life. And his standards are programmed into existence in PERFECT BALANCE in order to achieve just that. Exercising faith in Jesus includes conforming to God’s moral code, which forbids certain types of conduct—including homosexuality.—Romans 1:26, 27; 1 Peter 2:17
Homosexuality cannot be compared to being of another race—for God created the varying races of colors. It is therefore IN HARMONY with how he created things, and being of another race causes no harm or dysfunction in human society. However homosexuality is not how we were designed and does.
God is not partial in that no matter the nation or background All people who CONFORM to his PERFECT, RIGHTEOUS standards are acceptable to him. (Acts 10:34) By exercising faith in Jesus, individuals will obtain everlasting life."
Because of inherited imperfection from our first sinful parents, Adam and Eve, imperfect humans often have imperfect desires which unfortunately do not produce good aftereffects. God wants all humans to enjoy perfect life free from having to suffer the painful repercussions of immorality, which is the urge to want to satisfy natural, healthy desires in improper and unnatural ways that cause harmful effects imperfect humans may not be able to see right away.
 Jeremiah 29:11 “‘For I well know the thoughts that I am thinking toward you,’ declares Jehovah, ‘thoughts of peace, and not of calamity, to give you a future and a hope.
 Isaiah 48:17, 18—“I, Jehovah, am your God, the One teaching you to benefit yourself, the One causing you to tread in the way in which you should walk. O if only you would actually pay attention to my commandments! Then your peace would become just like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.”
 8) "IF SATAN IS THE ONE BEHIND ALL IF IT, AND IT IS A HARMFUL LIFESTYLE, WHAT IS GOD GOING TO DO ABOUT IT THEN?"
like emoticon GOD ANSWERS:
Isaiah 2:4—"He will render judgment among the nations And set matters straight respecting many peoples."
Psalm 37:10—"Just a little while longer, and the wicked will be no more; You will look at where they were, And they will not be there."
Revelation 11:18—"the appointed time came ...to bring to ruin those ruining the earth."
Isiah 65:17—“Here I am creating new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be called to mind, neither will they come up into the heart.”
Habakkuk 2:14—"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah As the waters cover the sea"
Thankfully God has purposed to soon crush satan and his influence along with all those who are worshiping him and supporting his objectives in promoting harmful lifestyles so humans can finally enjoy PERFECT life in peace. Everything Jehovah does is out of love and for our benefit. He wants us to benefit ourselves, not hurt ourselves or anyone else. He really cares about humans—after all we are his youngest children in his universal family. What parent wouldn't be concerned about their youngest?
Getting rid of satan, his demons, and his earthly organization who are misleading and ruining the earth allows the way to usher in a perfect society under a perfect, righteous, and flawless government ruled by his son Jesus Christ. This was the Kingdom Jesus taught his true followers to pray for and work to be a part of.
Matthew 6:10—"Let your Kingdom come. Let your will take place, as in heaven, also on earth."
Since there is no unnatural behavior in heaven, when God's will takes place "on earth as it is in heaven" there will be no more unnatural behaviors and lifestyles that can harm humans in any way on earth either, so all can enjoy perfect life in perfect balance.
heart emoticon In the face of the world's current climate, people have free will to choose whether or not they want to serve Jehovah. Jehovah's people are not trying to convert everyone. Regardless of what people decide—this is Jehovah's God's firm and unchanging stance and disposition on the matter of homosexuality/same-sex marriage:
heart emoticon Malachi 3:6—“For I am Jehovah; I do not change.
This is not a personal "opinion," or someone's "preferred beliefs,"—it's just what is reality, the way life is suppose to function.
To illustrate, A person may decide to drink water through their nose, and although that's not how we were made, and it's harmful, everyone has free will to choose whether or not they want to function according to how humans and life were designed, or function out of harmony with how we were designed, and they have to accept what the end outcome and realistic consequences will be for their actions.
heart emoticon Some like and agree with God's ways, some don't like God's ways and the way he created things.
For those who don't want Jehovah and perfect life as he intended it, they're free to choose that if they wish. like emoticon We still view and treat them with Agape love, kindness, and respect as human beings. Although both decisions result in very different end outcomes.
True Christians already knew homosexuality would be legalized before the nation did and even before homosexuals did. Why? because it's all in the bible and is fulfilling bible prophecy. The bible also explains why things are the way they are now, where things are going from here, and how it will end up. All one has to do is simply pick it up and read it to find out for themselves. smile emoticon
Although satan in his attempt to attack and rival Jehovah's Godship wants to blind people from seeing what Jehovah has to offer by making people ignorant of God's message to mankind—because it exceedingly offers so much better— Jehovah's knows it's only fair for everyone to have the opportunity to hear the Truth in order to make a conscience choice as to whether or not they want to serve him & live perfectly under his Kingdom just on the horizon, or not, so nobody can complain and say "i wasn't told, I didn't know," if they miss out.
Therefore In imitation of Jesus and motivated by love, our purpose as true Christians is to announce the Kingdom and help people become informed, so they can make a conscience choice; and share the Truth with those who really WANT it so they, too, can benefit from it now and have the prospect of living under the Kingdom and grow back to our original habitat of a paradise earth.
 “For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.” (John 18:37)
 "And this good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)
Want to know more about Jehovah's wonderful personality?
The Truth about who he is, and what he's really like?
How a relationship with him works?
What his purposes are?
What priceless, grand blessings, and big plans he has in store for humans?
Or just have perplexing questions about life?
heart emoticon For more bible answers to life's big questions visit JW.ORG
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Your First Step of Discipleship

Your First Step of Discipleship
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By Rick Warren — Jun 29, 2015
 
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“God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love — like Christ in everything. (Ephesians 4:15 MSG)
God wants you to grow up: “We are not meant to remain as children” (Ephesians 4:14a Phillips).
Your heavenly Father’s goal is for you is to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ, living a life of love and humble service. Sadly, millions of Christians grow older but never grow up.
They’re stuck in perpetual spiritual infancy, remaining in diapers and booties. The reason is because they never intended to grow. Spiritual growth is not automatic; it takes an intentional commitment. You must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing.
Discipleship is the process of becoming like Christ, and it always begins with a decision: “‘Follow me and be my disciple,’ Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him” (Matthew 9:9b NLT, second edition).
When the first disciples chose to follow Jesus, they didn’t understand all the implications of their decision. They simply responded to Jesus’ invitation.
That’s all you need to get started: Decide to become a disciple.
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>
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  • Think of the moment when you chose to follow Jesus. What did you understand about what it meant to be a believer?
  • What are some of the characteristics of Jesus that God has been developing in you?
  • How do you want God to work in your life? Take some time to pray, and ask him to grow you in these areas and for trust and patience as he does it in his time.
  • PowerPoint Today - Daily Devotional
     
    And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.  

    1 John 1:4
     
     
    When the Apostle John wrote this letter so long ago, he was very concerned that we experience the reality of Jesus Christ in our lives and the joy that He gives.

    He was concerned because he knew from experience the many tricks and lies the devil uses to steal our joy.  As he wrote in John 10:10, “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy.  I have come that you might have life, and have it to the full.”

    One of the lies the devil tells us that joy equals happiness. And our culture tells us that “being happy” is one of the loftiest achievements in life. But really, happiness is dependent on our circumstancesand circumstances change so much that it’s impossible to depend on them to ever make us happy!

    True joy, inner happinessonly comes from knowing Jesus Christ.

    So today I want to ask you, are you experiencing the joy that comes from an intimate relationship with the Lord? Or are you letting the circumstances of life steal that joy?

    I’m confident that the more you focus on Jesus—and not all the negative stuff going on around you—the deeper and more real your joy in Christ will be!

    True joy only comes from knowing Jesus Christ.

Monday 29 June 2015

A believer =)


God Is Never in a Hurry

God Is Never in a Hurry
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By Rick Warren — Jun 28, 2015
 
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“Don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed.” (James 1:4 MSG)
Be patient with God and with yourself. One of life’s frustrations is that God’s timetable is rarely the same as ours. We are often in a hurry when God isn’t. You may feel frustrated with the seemingly slow progress you’re making in life.
Remember that God is never in a hurry, but he is always on time. He will use your entire lifetime to prepare you for your role in eternity.
The Bible is filled with examples of how God uses a long process to develop character, especially in leaders. He took 80 years to prepare Moses, including 40 in the wilderness. For 14,600 days Moses kept waiting and wondering, “Is it time yet?” But God kept saying, “Not yet.”
Contrary to popular book titles, there are no “Easy Steps to Maturity” or “Secrets of Instant Sainthood.” When God wants to make a giant oak, he takes a hundred years, but when he wants to make a mushroom, he does it overnight.
Great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering. Be patient with the process. James advised, “Don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed” (James 1:4 MSG).
Don’t get discouraged. When Habakkuk became depressed because he didn’t think God was acting quickly enough, God had this to say: “These things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!” (Habakkuk 2:3 TLB)
Remember how far you’ve come, not just how far you have to go. You are not where you want to be, but neither are you where you used to be. Years ago people wore a popular button with the letters PBPGINFWMY. It stood for “Please Be Patient. God Is Not Finished With Me Yet.” God isn’t finished with you, either, so keep on moving forward. Even the snail reached the ark by persevering!
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>
Talk It Over
  • What are some lessons you have learned when God has delayed something in your life?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x2IpLSfqp8
  • What do you think God wants you to do when you get discouraged with his timing?
  • How can you show patience with others like God is patient with you? How can you encourage people today in their spiritual growth?
  • PowerPoint Today - Daily Devotional
     
    My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

    Proverbs 1:1
     
     
    If someone dumped a pile of smelly, dirty trash in your family room, you’d probably be incensed! Yet how many families allow the garbage of our culture into our homes every single day?

    Did you know the average home today has three TVs and 7 internet connected devices? That’s a lot of the world getting into our family’s heads! And that’s a lot of the impurity and depravity of this world getting into our homes.

    The best parental control isn’t the movie rating system or the television and video game rating system. The best parental control system is you, moms and dads!

    Why? Because we’re called to protect our children’s purity.

    The way we do this is by providing reasonable rules and boundaries regarding media consumption, computer use, dress, and your kids’ friends.

    First Peter 5:8 says, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” This includes your kids and mine!

    So we must fight the good fight of faith, and that includes displeasing our kids at times in order to protect their purity.

    Wise families accept the challenge to live morally pure lives.

Sunday 28 June 2015

Create a Spiritual Growth Chart

Create a Spiritual Growth Chart
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By Rick Warren — Jun 27, 2015
 
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“It’s crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we’ve heard so that we don’t drift off.” (Hebrews 2:1 MSG)
As you grow to spiritual maturity, you will have to cooperate with God in the process.
One way to do that is to believe God is working in your life, even when you don’t feel it. Spiritual growth is sometimes tedious work, one small step at a time. Expect gradual improvement. The Bible says,“Everything on earth has its own time and its own season” (Ecclesiastes 3:1 CEV).
There are seasons in your spiritual life, too. Sometimes you will have a short, intense burst of growth (springtime) followed by a period of stabilizing and testing (fall and winter).
What about those problems, habits, and hurts you would like miraculously removed? It’s fine to pray for a miracle, but don’t be disappointed if the answer comes through a gradual change. Over time, a slow, steady stream of water will erode the hardest rock and turn giant boulders into pebbles. Over time, a little sprout can turn into a giant redwood tree towering 350 feet tall.
Keep a notebook or journal of lessons learned. This is not a diary of events, but a record of what you are learning. Write down the insights and life lessons God teaches you about him, yourself, life, relationships, and everything else. Record these so you can review and remember them and pass them on to the next generation (Psalm 102:18; 2 Timothy 3:14).
The reason we must relearn lessons is that we forget them. Reviewing your spiritual journal regularly can spare you a lot of unnecessary pain and heartache. The Bible says, “It’s crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we’ve heard so that we don’t drift off” (Hebrews 2:1 MSG).
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >>
Talk It Over
  • How have you seen yourself grow in spiritual maturity in the last month? The last year?
  • What season of spiritual growth are you in right now?
  • What are some ways that you can keep a spiritual journal without having to use pen and paper?
  • Today’s Scripture
    “For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
    (Matthew 7:8, NIV)
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    Keep Asking
    Is there something you are believing God for? Does it seem like it’s taking a long time to come to pass? Be encouraged today because the Bible says that through faith and patience, you will inherit God's promises. So don’t give up! Keep thanking God for His faithfulness in your life. Trust that His Word is true. Keep praying and keep an attitude of faith and expectancy. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking on the door, and it will be opened to you. It may seem like it’s taking a long time, but know this: God is working behind the scenes on your behalf. He is orchestrating things in your favor. His timing is always perfect! As you stay faithful in your prayers and thanksgiving, the Lord will move mightily on your behalf. He’ll take you places that you’ve never dreamed!
    A Prayer for Today
    “Father, thank You for giving me a diligent spirit. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Give me strength to stand until I see Your promises fulfilled in my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
    PS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vh4qiU6AFhs