“Are you a Mature Christian?”

Quick Question: In your growing years as a child or teen, were you ever told this phrase “It’s time for you to grow up.” To my shame, I was told that many times by my parents, teachers and adults. There were times in my younger years, I did not act or behave like a mature adult should act. You know what? In regard to growth, the Christian life is just like our physical life. There are times in which our spiritual life is not very mature. There are times where we all act like baby, immature children.

In Philippians 1:3-4, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul describes just how a mature believer should act. As you watch a person and see how they behave, you can quickly judge if that person is a mature or immature person. Spiritually speaking, we can do the same with believers. What are those indicators that show others that we are growing in our walk with Christ to be more mature?

First of all, a mature believer will have a “thankful” heart. (Philippians 1:3) As a believer in Christ, what are some things we should be thankful for? First, we should be thankful for God’s love. Do you ever sit and meditate and contemplate where your life would be apart from God’s love? Secondly, we should be thankful for the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. We call it the “Gospel of Jesus Christ” that is found in His death, burial and resurrection. Thirdly, we should be thankful for the fellowship of fellow believers. Are you a “Thankful” believer? Allow me to encourage you to read Psalms 100. The Apostle Paul said it best in Colossians 3:15, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”

Secondly, a mature believer is a person of “prayer.” (Philippians 1:4a) Are you a person of prayer? For whom should we pray? Do you pray for your family, friends, co-workers, church, nation, missionaries and yourself? Do you pray for their salvation and sanctification? Do you pray for their spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional needs? Once again, the Apostle Paul stated it best in Romans 1:9 “ For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers” and also in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

Thirdly, a mature believer is a “joyful” person. (Philippians 1:4b) What do you allow to determine your joy? Where are you searching for joy? Are you searching for it in our culture? Are you searching for it in things? Are you searching for it in the health and wealth gospel? If so, you will be left severely and sadly disappointed. Where does the believer find their true joy? It is found in the fruit of the Spirit, is not determined by circumstances and is found in our strength and faithfulness in the Lord. Nehemiah wrote in the best Biblical book on leadership, “Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Are you a thankful person? Are you a person of prayer with and for others? Are you a person of joy? If not, with God’s help you can. Start today! You can be a grown up believer!

Husbands, Love your Wives

When God in His Sovereignty created all things, He ordained four institutions. He ordained the Home, the Government, the Church, and work. He ordained all four of these areas to assist us in bringing Honor and Glory to His name. “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” (Colossians 1:16 ESV) In order for Satan to accomplish his work, he sets out to destroy those four areas. The first area that he has sought to destroy since the beginning of time is the home. In order to destroy the home, he attacks the marriage and husbands in particular. In today’s culture, the institution of marriage is considered something that can be easily got out of and not taken seriously. The divorce rate is astonishing. According to CDC, 3.6 per the population of 1,000 people end in divorce. The divorce in North Carolina is 3.8 per population of 1,000.

One key area that we as believers are for husbands is to love their wives. (Ephesians 5:25-26) How are men to love their wives? How did Christ love the Church?

First, the love that Christ showed for the church is a “Sacrificial” love. This is the kind of love that always gives. It is the same word we see in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Note two important words: Loved and gave. True biblical Agape love always gives. How can a husband show his love through giving? It is a selfless love. It is the kind of love that puts him last and others, especially his wife, first. It is a giving love. He gives of his time, money, and him last. It is a committed love. He is committed “for better or for worse.” He is committed in thought and action. It is a unconditional love. He loves his wife with no strings attached.

Secondly, it is a pure love. (Ephesians 5:26-27) Christ died in order for the church to be set apart, clean, without a spot or wrinkle and holy with no blemishes. Are there any perfect marriages? Of course not. A marriage is two sinners coming together. But it must be our goal as husbands, to have a marriage that is clean and pure.

Thirdly, it is a caring love. (Ephesians 5:28-30) As Christ cares for the church, so must we as husbands care for our wives in the same manner. We must nourish and cherish our wives. We feed clothe and nurture our wives. We treat with tenderness, warmth, affection and appreciation.

Lastly, we are joined together in love. (Ephesians 5:31) How are we joined together in love? We are joined in three ways: Physically, mentally and spiritually.

Husbands, do you love your wives as Christ loved the church? Do you share God’s presence together? Do you share in your salvation and sanctification? Do you share in your church attendance, bible reading and study and witness for Christ together? If not, start now. “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7

God’s Name is Holy

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” Matthew 9:6

Quick question: How many times have you maybe said what is traditionally called “The Lord’s Prayer?” Maybe you have heard it recited as part of a church, community or team event? Have you ever considered the true meaning of that prayer? Have you ever considered to whom you are directing this prayer to?

First of all, why is it important that we learn how to pray? The Lord’s Prayer was not given by Christ for believers and non-believers alike recite as part of a creed or to make us feel better in our prayer life. Christ gave it to us as an outline or an instruction manual to teach us in what manner we are to pray. The Apostle Paul instructed the believers that we are to “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Why pray? First, it gives the believer the time to experience the fullness of communion with God as your Heavenly Father. Secondly, prayer opens the floodgates of Heaven for the believer. Thirdly, it gives the believer an opportunity to know the blessings of God. Do you pray and how often do you pray?

Secondly, what is the believer acknowledging when we pray, “Our Father, which art in Heaven?” First, we are acknowledging to God that your throne is in Heaven and I am anticipating spending eternity with you. Secondly, I thank you that you are in Heaven as my Heavenly Father. Thirdly, I thank you for your promise of spending eternity in Heaven with you. Do you know if you will or will not be spending eternity with God in Heaven?

Thirdly, what is meant by the term “Hallowed be thy name?” First, the name of God is to be treated as Holy, righteous and pure. “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7) Secondly, the first thing we must do when praying is to give praise and honor to God as our Heavenly Father. Thirdly, The first purpose of man is to glorify and honor God with his or her life. Fourth, God’s glory is the very reason why Christ came to earth. (John 17) Fifth,

To finish up, I have two quick questions for you. Do you acknowledge God as the Sovereign God of the universe? “The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.” (Ps. 103:19) Do you acknowledge that God’s name is Holy and must be treated so? For the High and Exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy says this:I live in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and lowly of spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the oppressed.” (Isaiah 57:15)

The Relevance of the message of John the Baptist

Who is your favorite character of the Scriptures? I have several. In the Old Testament, there is Joshua, Gideon, King David, Daniel and the Prophets. In the New Testament, we have the 12 Apostles, The Apostle Paul, and of course, Jesus Christ. One of my favorites is the first cousin of Jesus Christ, the man known as John the Baptist. What is it about John the Baptist that makes him relevant to today? After all, he was an odd individual. He wore odd clothes, ate odd food and preached an odd message and was fearless in his message. What can we learn from this very important man in Scripture and apply to our lives of today.

First of all, let us take a look at the message John the Baptist preached to all people. He preached a message of repentance from sin, that we must be prepared for the coming of the Messiah and confess sin. In Matthew 3:1-2, the Scripture says, “In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (ESV) He preached that in order for men to be prepared and ready for the coming of the Messiah, they must repent from sin. What does it mean to repent? Does it mean to simply feel sorry for our sin? To repent means to “turn from sin.” In other words, you realize that your sin is leading you to destruction and you make a conscious decision to turn from your sin and turn to the Gospel of the finished work of Jesus Christ. To be prepared for the coming of the Messiah means to live a life in preparation for the second return of Christ. Acts 1:10-11 says, “And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” Are you prepared for the second coming of Christ? What does it mean to confess sin? The word “confess” means to be in complete agreement with God that your sin is an offense to Him. What does all of this mean? It means that you have come to a point through the drawing of God unto Himself the need for repentance of sin in order to be prepared for the second coming of His son and be in constant confession of sin in your life.

Secondly, there was the intended audience of John’s message-the religious establishment. In Matthew 3:7-10, he is speaking to the Pharisees and Sadducees’. In today’s society, they would be the religious professionals. John’s message was fourfold: First, Flee from the wrath to come. (John 3:36) Secondly, repent from verbal repentance. A Change of conduct is needed. Thirdly Spiritual heritage means nothing. Fourthly, Judgment is coming.

Thirdly, John preached Christ. This is noted in Matthew 3:11-12. He emphasized Christ is to be exalted above all names. Christ shall baptize and Christ shall judge and purge.

In conclusion, let’s look at three very important questions: Are you prepared for the coming Kingdom? Are you truly converted? Is Christ being exalted in your life?

How Materialism is destroying our Spirituality

As human beings, we are naturally “things” oriented. I’m just like you in that I love nice things. All of us love nice things. We would all love to have nicer homes, cars, clothes, and make more money. However, what we have allowed to occur is our love of material things has ruined our love for God and His desire for our lives.

It was no different in the days of Christ. Christ confronted Materialism in Matthew 6:19-24 in which He exhorted His followers to store up our treasures in Heaven, not on earth. He also confronted the Religious leaders of His day in Luke 16 when Christ discussed the subject of stewardship and true riches. In verse 14, the Pharisees were described as being “covetous.” All of us must be careful not to fall in the same trap as the Pharisees of Christ’s day. How do we do that?

First, we must have the right viewpoint of what Christ said concerning two kinds of riches. In Matthew 6:19-20, Christ said “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:” What was Christ saying in these two verses? Earthly riches lead to corruption and covetousness. Earthly riches lead to idol worship. Earthly riches never satisfy. Christ stated that as Believers in the finished work of Christ, we are to focus our priorities on Heavenly riches. What are those riches? There are the riches of eternal life, forgiveness of sin, a home in Heaven and sanctification. Heavenly riches lead to righteousness and eternal reward. Heavenly riches lead us to worship God the Father, Christ the Savior, and the Holy Spirit our Comforter. Heavenly riches last for eternity.

Secondly, we must have the right viewpoint of what Christ said concerning two kinds of hearts. In Matthew 6:21-23 Christ said, ^“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” First there is the good heart. The good heart is a heart that is focused on a citizenship in Heaven. (Philippians 3:20-21) A good heart is a heart that is seeks treasures that are in eternal. (2 Cor. 4:18) Secondly, there is the heart that is bad. (2 Cor. 4:4) What is a bad heart? A bad heart cannot focus on what is eternal. A bad heart is full of corruption. A bad heart is blind to that which is light.

Thirdly, we must have the right viewpoint of what Christ said concerning two masters. (Matthew 6:24) “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (ESV) You will either hate one and love the other or you will either cleave to one or despise the other.

Three final questions: Who or what are you worshipping? What kind of heart do you possess? Who is your master?