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Spiritual Development November 2017

As a disciple of Jesus, we have been given a new nature and identity.  Our heart has been transformed, our eyes have been opened, and our lives have been set on a path of dedication to our new Lord, Jesus Christ.  I don’t know about you, but many times I need to be reminded of these truths and more specifically about what the Bible says about who I am in Christ.  I want to use this opportunity to remind you and encourage you to cling to these promises and unshakeable realities that are true if you have trusted in Christ.  There are many distractions and temptations that will take our eyes off of these truths, but we can respond back in the same  assurance that John Newton had when he said "Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior."

• Through Christ, I am dead to sin (Romans 6:11).
• Through Christ, I am spiritually alive (Romans 6:11; 1 Corinthians 15:22).
• Through Christ, I am forgiven (Colossians 2:13; 1 John 2:12).
• Through Christ, I am declared righteous (1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21).
• Through Christ, I am God’s possession (Titus 2:14).
• Through Christ, I am an heir of God (Romans 8:17).
• Through Christ, I am blessed with all spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3).
• Through Christ, I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20).
• Through Christ, I am free from the law (Romans 8:2).
• Through Christ, I am crucified with him (Galatians 2:20).
• Through Christ, I am free from the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:24).
• Through Christ, I am declared blameless and innocent (Philippians 2:15).
• Through Christ, I am a light in the world (Matthew 5:14-15; Philippians 2:15).
• Through Christ, I am victorious over Satan (Luke 10:19).
• Through Christ, I am cleansed from sin (1 John 1:7).
• Through Christ, I am set free in Christ from the power of sin (Colossians 2:11-15).
• Through Christ, I am secure in him (1 Peter 1:3-5).
• Through Christ, I am at peace with God (Romans 5:1; Philippians 4:6-9).
• Through Christ, I am loved by God (1 John 4:10).

(List from Gospel Coach pgs. 71-72)

Recommended Resource— Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
Life is hard. But even in that difficulty God remains trustworthy. This book helps us to think through why God is trustworthy and why we should run to Him in our trials and sufferings instead of anything else. Because God is in control of this world and is intimately involved in the workings of our lives we can believe that even when answers may escape us we can trust God who is working everything together for our good.

Spiritual Development October 2017

Knowing the Will of God

How would you define the phrase, “the will of God”? In the broadest sense, God’s will is  expressed in all the commands and principles of Scripture.  Specifically, the Bible says that God’s will includes that followers of Christ would be saved (1 Tim. 2:4,   2 Peter 3:9), Spirit-filled (Eph. 5:17-18), sanctified (1 Thess. 4:3-8), submissive (1 Peter 2:13-15), and content in suffering (1 Peter 3:17). Pastor Kevin DeYoung offers this definition of God’s will from his book Just Do Something: “God’s will for our lives is much simpler than the conventional approach. The will of God for our lives is that we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. The most important decision we face is the daily decision to live for Christ and die to self.”

Acknowledging God’s will affirms His sovereignty over all aspects of life. We live and    function only because God wills it. Living according to the will of God could be identified as a test of genuine saving faith. True Christians are characterized as “doing the will of God from the heart” (Eph. 6:6). On the other hand, a constant disregard for or lack of interest in God’s will is a mark of self-centeredness and pride in your life.  Disregarding the will of God is the same as  saying, "I am in charge of my life. I know what is best.” or “Things are working out pretty well for me right now.  I don’t really want to mess it up by changing it.” A follower of Jesus will diligently seek to live according to God’s desires.  “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
Many of the questions that people have about whether specific events or choices are part of God’s will can be answered by knowing and applying biblical wisdom. Therefore, it is very important that Christians rely on the words that God has given us.  Consider your own spiritual habits.  How much time per week do you spend hearing God’s Word preached/taught? Reading God’s Word? Studying God’s Word? Memorizing God’s Word? Meditating on God’s Word? All of these disciplines are ways that God reveals his will specifically to us.  The good news about this is that God’s will is not hidden from us. It is revealed to us in the Bible. He has already revealed what should be the primary direction of our lives, namely that we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.