Part 2-
Fallow ... continued
The
general message of our Lord Jesus to the churches in the west and to the U.S.A.
in particular is to press on toward maturity. In other words, we as a church in
this country are immature in our Christianity. Now we would all agree that this
is true.
However,
if one studies the letters to the churches in Rev. 2 & 3, we see how the
Lord Jesus addresses His churches for their growth and maturity. He first says
that He loves and cares for them. He then commends them for the good things
they are doing. He then reveals what they are doing wrong, in other words ...
He points out their sin and flaws and then He gives instruction (2Tim. 3:14-17)
on how to correct the problems. He then shows what they receive when they
overcome and He once again reminds them that He loves them.
We need
to be able to do it the same way our Lord Jesus does as He has made the way for
us. Let us not just point out the sin and shortcomings according to Scripture
but also the solution about the deception that gives entrance to the sin and
flaws according to Scripture by the leading of Holy Spirit.
A few
definitions to be aware of: (Webster's Dictionary)
DISCIPLINE:
training that develops self-control, character, or orderliness and efficiency;
the result of such training and acceptance of and submission to authority and
control. (*NOTE-the word Disciple comes from DISCIPLINE*)
A quote
from "Victory over the Darkness" by Neil T. Anderson p.235
“ Discipleship
requires mental discipline. People who will not assume responsibility for their
thoughts cannot be disciplined.” Please read 2 Cor. 10:3-5(NLT)- We are human,
but we don’t wage war with human plans and methods. We use God’s mighty
weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds. With
these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing
God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to
obey Christ. Romans
12: 2 (NLT)- Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God
transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will
know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and
perfect his will really is. Phil. 4:8-9(NLT)- And now, dear brothers and sisters,
let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is
true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and
admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep
putting into practice all you learned from me and heard from me and saw me
doing, and the God of peace will be with you.
MATURE: (maturity)
full-grown, fully developed, as a person in body, soul, mind and spirit; the
state or quality of being mature. (We are in the PROCESS of maturing-
sanctification) Please read 1 Cor. 2:4-6(NLT)- And my message and my
preaching were very plain. I did not use wise and persuasive speeches, but the
Holy Spirit was powerful among you. I did this so that you might trust the
power of God rather than human wisdom. Yet when I am among mature Christians, I
do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this
world, and not the kind that appeals to the rulers of this world, who are being
brought to nothing. 1 Cor. 11: 13 (NLT)- It’s like this: When I was a child, I
spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I grew up, I put away
childish things. 1 Cor. 14:20(NLT)- Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in
your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to
evil, but be mature and wise in understanding matters of this kind. Phil. 3: 12-15(NLT)- I don’t mean
to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached
perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that
Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. No, dear brothers and sisters, I
am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one
thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to
reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ
Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. I hope all of you who are mature Christians
will agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will
make it plain to you. Heb. 5: 14- 6:1(NLT)- Solid food is for those who are
mature, who have trained themselves to recognize the difference between right
and wrong and then do what is right. So let us stop going over the basics of
Christianity again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our
understanding. Surely we don’t need to start all over again with the importance
of turning away from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.
KNOWLEDGE:
acquaintance with the facts as perceived and grasped by the mind. (We seem to a
nation of knowledge seekers, but God is concerned with the type of knowledge we
acquire.) Prov. 1:7(NLT)- Fear of the Lord
is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline. Eph. 4:23-24(NLT)-
Instead, there must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and
attitudes. You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created
in God’s likeness—righteous, holy, and true. And a stern warning about the kind of
knowledge we need to seek Hosea 4:6(NKJV)- My people are destroyed for lack of
knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from
being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also
will forget your children.
UNDERSTANDING:
the power to comprehend; discernment (*NOTE- this is the bridge between
knowledge and wisdom and is activated by the Holy Spirit to spiritual things.)
John 16:13-15(NLT)- When the Spirit of truth comes; he will guide you into all truth.
He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has
heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by revealing
to you whatever he receives from me. All that the Father has is mine; this is
what I mean when I say that the Spirit will reveal to you whatever he receives
from me. Prov.
14:12 & 16:25(NLT) {both say the same thing and are set in the context of
the difference between a wise person & a fool} There is a
path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. The KJV & NKJV both
a way that SEEMS right. And the psalmist says in Psa. 127: 1(NLT) Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the
builders is useless. Unless the Lord
protects a city guarding it with sentries will do no good.
WISDOM:
rightly judging and then following the soundest course of action
(*Wisdom is applied
knowledge*) This has as much to do with mature Christian discernment as any
knowledge of the Scriptures for Holy Spirit says in James 3: 13-18(NLT)- If you are
wise and understand God’s ways, live a life of steady goodness so that only
good deeds will pour forth. And if you don’t brag about the good you do, then
you will be truly wise! But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in
your hearts, don’t brag about being wise. That is the worst kind of lie. For
jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly,
unspiritual, and motivated by the Devil. For wherever there is jealousy and
selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and every kind of evil. But the wisdom that comes from heaven
is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing
to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality
and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace
and reap a harvest of goodness.
Most of
us know from previous teaching of Holy Spirit that there are 4 types of folks
sitting in our churches and/or that we deal with in our daily lives including
our own homes...
1. Unsaved,
unregenerate...not born again ... sinners who sin
2. Saved,
born-again and new to the kingdom of God and the ways and thoughts of the God.
(an unregenerate mind and lifestyle)
3. Saved
and baptized in Holy Spirit but maturing in the things of the Spirit. (learning
regeneration)
4. Saved
and baptized in Holy Spirit and following after the Spirit and doing the work
of the ministry of God in a mature way.
Now read
over the following three (3) pages and meditate on the information.
Questions:
1.
Determine
your weaknesses by the information provided.
2.
Determine
your strengths by the information provided.
3.
Now apply
this knowledge to your field to determine where you need to work on your field.
(INFO SHEETS come from a book called ‘Victory Over The Darkness’ by
Neil T. Anderson)
In the
joy of Jesus,
Pepper
Skeen, Tree of Life Ministries Update June 2001
