The Process Towards Maturity (Part 2)


In yesterday’s Pastor’s Pocket, I pointed out reasons why so many Christians never reach maturity, never reach their full potential in Christ.  In review, here they are:

There is resistance that every believer will face in the endeavor to grow. The adversary of every believer, Satan. The nature of the Christian life itself is not one of ease. These obstacles are real, making it difficult to develop and grow, but they can be overcome. 

It begins with a desire.  Every new-born believer must want to grow.  I have observed many people new in the faith and wondered, do they care?  Do they want to grow up or are they content to stay in infancy?  Babies get lots of attention. Just look around after church services conclude on Sundays and where is all the attention? You guessed it – where the babies are. Find a rather large group of people and most likely you’ll find an infant in the middle. The truth is, some infant Christians get addicted to attention.  It’s nice to get attention, but if growth takes place, the need for attention will fade away. Spiritual growth begins with desire. 

Secondly, exercise is a must for growth.  If a person new to the faith will get involved in church, participate in worship, become active in soul-winning, prayer, etc., it is rare if that person doesn’t grow, and grow rapidly. 

Thirdly, intake of spiritual food. The Word of God is a necessity.  There is no getting around it.  If someone is to grow and develop they will have to eat.  What’s true in the natural realm is true in the spiritual realm.  Show me a Christian that studies his or her Bible, sits under good teaching and preaching, and I’ll show you a believer who is growing. 

What does all this lead to? STRENGTH.  And strength helps us to overcome an ungodly culture, the devil, and all the resistance that a Christian must deal with, in order to grow.  Let’s not forget the promise in 1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

 

ThePastor’s Pocket

Pastor Bruce Freeman


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Thank You

Image
Hello everyone, Pastor Bruce here with an important announcement regarding our daily devotionals known as “The Pastor’s Pocket.” After today, these will be discontinued.   I am so thankful to each of you who have enjoyed reading these devotionals and I trust the Lord has encouraged you through each one. I challenge you, as Peter does, to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).   It is my desire that you will continue in your own personal study of the word of God. Learn the Word, Love the Word, Live the Word!   There may come a time when I can write these again, but for now, I will devote my time to other areas of ministry and ways to serve Him! “To HIM be all the glory both now and forever. AMEN!”   The Pastor’s Pocket Pastor Bruce Freeman
Read more

From Christmas to Calvary

Image
Matthew 16:21, “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”   From His birth to His death, Jesus suffered. In the scripture verse for today, Christ is preparing His disciples for the suffering. He was about to endure the final stages of His ministry on earth. He describes how He will suffer, how He will die, and then be raised on the third day. All of this was the Father’s plan for our redemption, our salvation. For that plan to be carried out, Jesus had to enter the world. His entrance came through a lowly manger in Bethlehem.   The sufferings of Christ begin with His birth. Jesus left the glories of heaven and subjected Himself to the limitations of time and space. He confined Himself to a body for the first time. If baby Jesus bit His tongue, He experienced pain. He got thirsty for the first time. He experienced h
Read more

Not Home Yet

Image
 As Christians, we’re destined for something much better than what this world has to offer!  As the old song says, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passin’ through, my treasure is laid up somewhere beyond the blue…And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.” The Bible tells us our time on earth is brief (Psalm 103:15 / James 4:4).  If we’ve trusted Jesus as our Savior, our eternal home is heaven.  Therefore we are seen as pilgrims just passing through here.  We are aliens, strangers to this present, evil world system. Isn’t it silly? We spend so much time trying to “have it all” here and now, when in reality we already have it all “in Christ”.  Abundant life that Jesus told us about doesn’t have anything to do with having an abundance of things.  It has to do with the quality of life we possess with all the spiritual riches that come from knowing Christ. God warns us not to love this world.  We must never get too attached to “stuff”.  The fact is; we will suffer rejection, ex
Read more