Real Spiritual Maturity Must Become the Christian’s Priority
This Last Days church will never survive without it.
The power of the gospel to save is as real today as it ever was. Its power to heal our hurts, to comfort our hearts, and to do all kinds of tangible miracles is still available, too.
But what about the power of the gospel to actually mature believers, particularly to bring spiritual maturity to the collective members of a local body so that we are led to measure up to the stature that belongs to Jesus Christ? Is that power still available? Yes! It is still available, too! But it must be believed and appropriated in order to be realized in the same way that the gospel’s power to save, heal, comfort, and do miracles must be.
We are so far from understanding the theme of spiritual maturity that many believers do not even know that it is a part of the gospel message. This is true even among many who believe in spiritual gifts. Only a tiny percentage of Christians really have a vision for the fullness of Jesus Christ in the body, or even see it as a part of the gospel message. But the gospel is a whole life message. It brings change immediately, it saves ultimately, and between the two it grows us up.
How We Got Here
There are several contributing factors which have led to our present spiritual dilemma. The primary one is that for the last 500 years we have prioritized preaching for saving over teaching for spiritual maturity. Another one is that it is much easier to preach the saving part of the gospel than it is to submit to the maturing part of the gospel. And finally, the natural man likes things that can be measured and boasted about, and preaching for saving usually yields a headcount. But there are no immediate grand results from submitting to the power of the gospel for spiritual maturity. They come over time.
Even though Christianity today is accustomed to prioritizing salvation over spiritual maturity, this does not change the fact that we are spiritual creatures, born after God Himself. As spiritual creatures, whether we feel like it or not, our new default is to be spiritual. But the natural man fights the spiritual man for all he is worth (which is not very much, by the way). As born-again believers, we are reprogrammed away from the natural man altogether, but we are all too familiar with how difficult it is to keep him in check. Nonetheless, our new spiritually advanced DNA leads us to preach not only the gospel that saves, but also the gospel that grows us up into the full measure of the stature that belongs to Jesus Christ. I do not discount the great importance of preaching the gospel that saves, but only advocate that we also teach and practice spiritual growth by it, too; and it is through our growing up spiritually that we will see more people saved, anyway.
Reformation but Not Spiritual Maturity
I mentioned earlier that a major contributing factor to our lack of spiritual fitness is that for nearly 500 years we have prioritized numerical growth, giving very little attention to spiritual maturity. Allow me to give an overview to show you what I mean.
By the time of the death of the beloved apostle John, the center for the church for all practical purposes had moved to Rome, under the leadership of Clement of Rome, who was later named the bishop of Rome. Within just a few short generations, succeeding church leaders began dominating Christian thought and doctrine entirely. Having left the Spirit’s leadership and fallen captive to Satan’s religious bondage, the early church evolved into a damning religious institution. Roman Catholicism purposefully set out to bring all people everywhere under its thumb. Its leaders interpreted the scriptures to say that all souls who wanted to claim Christ would have to come under the established church. Thus they taught that any hope of salvation had to come from the Catholic Church; and their dogma reigned supreme throughout much of the world for nearly 1400 years.
Amazingly, it still enslaves more than a billion souls today!
Then, about 500 years ago, God loosed Truth that resulted in the freeing of countless souls throughout the institution’s horrid domain around the world. Whole families and even nations had been under the Roman religious system for generations, but finally God raised up Christian reformers who, in the face of papal authority, established soundly through the scriptures that anyone could be saved by grace through faith in Christ alone – apart from the Catholic Church or any other institution. And with that, the battle for proclaiming Christ alone through open evangelism had begun!
A dozen years or so later, after Martin Luther openly challenged papal supremacy, new authority was assumed by King Henry VIII over the Church of England, and he continued the fight against any unbridled Christian who preached that souls are saved by faith alone. But the cat was already out of the bag; and by the grace of God, within just a few decades, multitudes of people who had lived in the darkest dungeon of humanity’s existence for centuries burst into the glorious light of the gospel! Countless numbers of people were set free to read the Bible for themselves for the first time (at least as quickly as they became available) and to evangelize. And for the first time in more than 1000 years, the world discovered that any and every man, woman, and child was a priest in his or her own right through faith in Jesus Christ. Surely the heavens shouted in delight when, after so many centuries of hellish religious bondage, earthly humanity realized that it was not in Jerusalem, or “in this mountain” (John 4:20-24), or under Rome’s Catholicism, or the Church of England, or anywhere else that they would have to worship! But as wonderful as that was for the gospel to have been loosed, the road to spiritual maturity had only just begun. At this point, the deeper understanding of the believer as a new creation and his enablement by the Spirit to actually grow up into Christ’s image was not even known, much less pursued on a large scale. And since so much of our modern-era evangelical doctrine finds its base in Reformation theology, I dare say that, in spite of great spiritual awakenings around the world over more recent centuries, today’s most vocal voices in Christianity are more influenced by John Calvin from 500 years ago than by the Spirit of God of eternity past! Authentic spiritual understanding for authentic spiritual maturity is provided for by Christ in us, the hope of the glory of God on earth; but mainstream evangelicalism is still in the dark ages on this truth.
The apostle Paul knew this revelation was deep and easy to overlook. He prayed earnestly that believers everywhere would come to an understanding of all that had been accomplished through the work of Jesus Christ for His glory to be revealed in us here and now, as well as for our eternal glory (Ephesians 1:15-23)! It is in knowing and appropriating those benefits which we have received for this age that we are made a truly spiritual people in this age – something that only segments of Christianity have touched in recent centuries.
Is there any wonder why we are not growing up into the image of Christ? And what about taking on the demonic battles that are lurking at our doorstep? How many among the Christian community are ready to take on Satan’s spiritual forces as he marches against this Last Days church? Can you not hear the Spirit of the Lord crying out to you and me that we MUST become a spiritually mature church if we expect to endure victoriously the times in which we live? Let us look at more evidence of why we are still spiritual babies, not ready for this late hour.
Great Awakenings but Not Spiritual Maturity
The Great Awakenings of the 1700s and 1800s boosted preaching for salvation and renewal for those already saved – and it was very effectual. God used a few inspired men to call the world to attention. Men such as Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and John Wesley started, followed in the next century by Charles Finney, James McCready, Barton Stone, and others. These led tens of thousands into repentance from sin and faith toward God. Their preaching set on fire hundreds of other fiery preachers, then thousands. From England to America, makeshift pulpits popped up on busy streets and in the open fields, wherever there were people. And this was wonderful! Oh, how many of us would love to see this kind of revival preaching now! But it would have to happen on the streets and in the fields, since the churches far and wide, large and small, are in their own Dark Age and will NOT let God in! And many do not even realize it! Again our point is made that, as wonderful as this power preaching for salvation was then, there was still no knowledge of or emphasis given to spiritual maturity as it relates to the whole body coming into the image of Christ.
In the same way, there is lack in that area today. In the largest denomination in America, in fact, the call for salvation (watered down though it usually is) is still the focus of preaching every Sunday – even to those who are already saved! Is there any wonder why the body of Christ is so spiritually immature? Oh, what a spiritual awakening we need to get us out of the nursery! Limiting ourselves to the traditions and priorities of revivals past will not allow God’s people to come into lasting spiritual maturity – which was God’s goal from the beginning, and which is an absolute MUST if we are to endure these last chapters of these Last Days, not to mention our need to become His spotless, glorious bride!
Sunday School / Bible Studies but Not Spiritual Maturity
In the continuing evolution of evangelical Christianity, Bible study was first given emphasis through what came to be known as Sunday School. Most historians attribute its origin to Sunday Bible-reading lessons for children that took place in England, starting in the 1780s. As a part of the industrial revolution, thousands of young children were forced to work in awful conditions and for unthinkable hours six days a week, making it impossible for them to attend school; so God raised up a man named Robert Raikes, an Anglican evangelical, to start teaching these underprivileged children to read the Bible on Sundays, their only day off. From that was born Sunday School, which eventually spread to America. From that humble beginning, Bible study became a regular part of early elementary education. Then approximately 100 years later, when the state began to take over the responsibility of educating children, Bible training began to be moved out to the churches for Sunday study only, where it became a mainstay for the next 100 years. More recently, evangelicalism has largely turned from authentic Bible study in Sunday School to opinion-based discussions about God, with perhaps an accompanying Bible reference or two to support free thinking. Even so, the early Sunday School program set the pattern for regimented Bible study among 20th century evangelicals. Of course, there have been many other outstanding programs for Bible study that have contributed to excellent Bible training as well. But the point is that even 200 years of consistent Bible study has not solved the believer’s handicap of Spirit-life underdevelopment. Again, this is primarily due to our unwillingness to progress beyond doctrines and traditions established in centuries past.
There are those believers who, in their earnest pursuit to walk with the Lord, have returned to the land where He and His apostles walked. They have gone to Israel, as well as to the lands of Paul’s missionary journeys. Other believers have pursued a closer walk with Him by going back to get seminary training, and some have even learned a little Greek and/or Hebrew, so they can read the Bible in its own language; but few have come away from any of those things having grown deeper in their spiritual understanding of all that has been accomplished through Christ for us in real time. To truly walk as Jesus walked still seems far away; and to pursue the fullness of Christ in the body is, for all practical purposes, foreign. Once again, Christianity as a religious practice has failed to actually yield Spirit-filled Christ-likeness on a large scale. Millions and millions of genuine believers today have been kept in the state of the natural man by traditional thinking and doing which can be traced back to early religious ideas since the Reformation. Oh, if only we could break out of the nursery and enter into Bible study and fellowship with spiritual understanding that would lead us all to spiritual maturity! Indeed, the world is waiting!
Pentecostal Denominationalism but Not Spiritual Maturity
Consider the Pentecostal denominations. Their origins can usually be traced back to truly authentic spiritual awakenings at the turn of the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s. Some churches that considered themselves Pentecostal genuinely sought to allow the Spirit to have His way. Their meetings were obviously accompanied by the Spirit’s presence, evidenced by the activity of spiritual gifts just as was the case with the church of Corinth. The opportunity was certainly there for believers to develop into spiritual maturity and deep Christ-likeness. In the end, however, they followed in the footsteps of the church at Corinth, too. They had all the gifts but never reached spiritual maturity. Eventually they gave in to a religious form, and the Spirit’s power faded; but they continued to duplicate the habits and practices of their early stages, nonetheless, not knowing that the Spirit had moved out.
The largest Pentecostal denominations in the world have become nothing more than giant religious institutions. Just like their more spiritually conservative brothers and sisters in Christ have done, their system is tiered, weighty, and burdensome on local churches. They have long snuffed out any hope for true spiritual development. Here again, the effort of the Spirit to bring about deep spiritual understanding that leads to a deep spiritual walk was overwhelmed by Christianity becoming religious.
The Charismatic Movement but Not Spiritual Maturity
I should not neglect to mention a genuine move of the Holy Spirit that started in America in the 1950s and spread around the world, called the Charismatic Movement. The Spirit of the Lord moved afresh on God’s people of every denomination. Tens of thousands of churches were started in America alone by believers who came out of traditional churches which refused to allow the Spirit His liberty in their meetings. Many of those newly organized churches sought to mature spiritually – not only in their worship meetings, but also as corporate bodies growing up into the measure of the stature of Christ. But they experienced burnout when too many became so emotionally driven that they moved away from a truly Biblical foundation. Today, theology among the remnants of the Charismatic Movement, for the most part, is about as emotionally exaggerated and theologically twisted as it could ever be. Yet when evaluating that movement along with all the others, we must separate what men have done from what God was trying to do through men. If we discern between God’s way and men’s results, we can take the good and grow while leaving the bad behind.
Even though God’s work in that season of spiritual awakening did not lead to widespread spiritual maturity, it was certainly an authentic work which impacted the body of Christ around the world on a scale that no previous move had done. Yet we still groan within ourselves to become more like Him. God has not failed; we have. And even though we know there is something missing, and we read the scriptures spelling it out, we have yet to make the connection for the long-term. Oh, that God would take us to the fullness of Christ’s measure soon!
But Jesus Said: “I will build My church.”
Regardless of the tremendous spiritual warfare that keeps the body of Christ as spiritual babies, our Lord said that He would build His church. Any true believer who honestly evaluates the general spiritual condition of Christianity today would have to concede that the Lord is not the one who put this mess together. He has built the church indeed, in that He is the author of our salvation individually; but we have built ourselves together corporately. Nonetheless, based upon His promise, He will build His corporate body His way; and just like many of you, I can hardly wait to see it come together!
We have all the ingredients. The scriptures declaring what we should become are clearly seen in the Bible. The example of how we are to follow the Father’s perfect way was set by His Son. His aid and guidance are freely offered by the grace of His Spirit within. And His promise is sure.
We need only to ask Him to show us every area in our thought and practice that should be removed, and then remove it, or allow Him to do so. We should seek a continuing infilling of His Spirit and provide a place that is wholly hospitable for Him within. We should abide in His Word and believe it completely. We should come together when He calls us to. We should wait patiently on Him and be sensitive to obey. We should not lose hope but instead take heart. We can appropriate and facilitate His work by doing these things, but only HE can do the work itself. Let us not frustrate His Spirit but yield. This Last Days church will never survive without Him!
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Articles
Understanding Ministry-A Must for all who will be used of God [podcast]
“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5
Brothers and sisters, we are going to feed Jesus’ body as a body – “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body UNTO THE EDIFYING (building up) OF ITSELF in love.” (Ephesians 4:15-16)
MINISTRY is NOT a performance. The Godhead is the only audience that matters and the lord alone can bring forth fruit that glorifies himself through crucified vessels! (2 Corinthians 4:10-12)
…. We feed and serve the members of Jesus’ body as a team as Paul seem to speak so often of in the book of 2 Corinthians. Paul used the word “WE” several times concerning ministry there ….. “WE preach not ourselves but Christ …” (2 Corinthians 4:5) Read Psalms 133:1-3 and may our LORD imbue us with this blessed truth of true unity among His people on the foundation of the eternal truth of His written Word. It’s not about WHO the LORD’s Word comes through but rather that it is simply preached and taught as was the case of the earliest of Christ’s followers who “ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” (Acts 5:42) And how often should Jesus Christ be preached and taught? Weekly? No! – “daily.”
“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts 5:42
“For WE (not just you or me but US collectively) are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9
We must not only kick the “me” habit but also we must kick the weekly (weakly) habit and live out a “daily” relationship with Jesus who often used that very word – “daily” – in relation to walking with Him (Lk. 9:23-24).
Can anyone find a verse in the New Testament that speaks of “weekly” or even as having to go to church on sun? No … Acts 2:42-47 … Heb. 10:25 speaks of … “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” – “daily” NOT once or twice a week …..Heb. 3:13 says “But exhort one another DAILY, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” ….. just WHO has sold us on the weekly gig? Could it be those who prosper by you patronizing their little church business and dropping your coin in their coffers on Sunday morning?
You and I are mere men and therefore aren’t the deal (object of worship) …. no, there’s only ONE that is the magnificent, perfect, divine LORD, Savior, Creator, Sustainer, KING of all kings, and LORD of all lords and that’s Jesus! So, soon as we ‘get over ourselves,’ perhaps God will begin using us (Matt. 5:3; 21:44; Col. 2:8-10; 18-19; Rev. 1:8., etc.).
MINISTRY which pleases God is simply helping people know and grow in the grace of Christ themselves – by the cross life and getting into HIS Word for themselves so they follow HIM, not you or I! God-glorifying ministry always fosters in the hearers faith in God, not the preacher or local church organization! Read 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 2 Corinthians 1:9; 3:5; 4:5.
WHY do people become enraged when a false leader they love is exposed? It’s because their heart affections are attached to those mere men instead of given over to Christ. Cult of personality. They’ve chosen to be sucked in, seduced by the evil spirits working through Satan’s agents who pose as Christ’s leaders (2 Corinthians 11:12-15). Though Satan’s emissaries come in all flavors, those diabolical human agents are very charismatic is most cases. The idolaters therefore created a soul tie with those “idol shepherds” (Ezekiel 11:17) and through their spiritual adulterating on God (Exodus 20:3-4; 34:14).
MINISTRY KEYS
— Load up on the Word. Study God’s Word diligently, daily, relentlessly (2 Timothy 2:15).
— Relentlessly seek the face of God in prayer (1 Chronicles 16:11).
— Be baptized with the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:8; 2:4, etc.).
— Walk in God’s love (John 13:35).
— Preach the pure Word (2 Timothy 4:2).
— Edify, comfort, exhort, admonition, etc., the LORD’s body (1 Thessalonians 5).
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Apostasy
“WHY Don’t Christian Authors Just Give Away Their Books?”
HINT: 1. It costs the ministry for each and every book from the publisher. 2. There is no money tree given to Gospel laborers. In fact, those who preached the LORD’s truth will be shunned, despised, attached, and shorted. 3. The outreach sends books to prisoners every month and that costs. 4. If you’re going to complain, you will be confronted with the request that YOU supply the ministry with the needed funds to operate on so that all the books can then be free. Get a clue!
FYI: The book format, is simply another communication medium, another way to reach more people, to get the Word of God out to the people for whom Jesus died…. a message from Scripture on each page, full of Holy Scripture, always bolded. The small amount that is brought into the ministry on books simply goes into dropping these books into prisons and to ministries. Along with King James Bibles. The ministry outreach is supported by individual saints of Christ who desire to see more people reached with God’s love and Word in this late hour. | Sending the Divine Light into “The Prison House” house
For the record, due to amazon charging us for each book, we do charge for books. By God’s grace, we also give many books away locally, nationally, and send them into prisons. In part, this is made possible when believers are blessed to pay for a ministry book (Acts 20:35). None of us here are independently wealthy and so cannot possibly afford to fund the whole operation. “Wisdom is justified of her children” (Luke 7:35). I’ve also come to the understanding that when people pay for something, including believers, they then value it and read it more (Matthew 6:21). Also, believers spend money in this world EVERY day on frivolous foolish waste, so they can certainly help the work of Christ. If they balk that everything’s not free, that’s their own heart issue. What I tell them is “Well, we’d be glad to give all the books away from now on. That would be great. In order to do that. we need you to personally write a check to fund that project. Here’s our mailing address. When should we expect to receive your offering?”
The opportunity, the privilege of supporting God’s work is the very gift of God to bless your heart to be nearer to Him and to lay up eternal treasure in Heaven with your name on it! (See Matthew 6:19-21.) Do not miss the blessing God ordained for you (Acts 20:35). Each of us has an “account” in Heaven (Philippians 4:17). What’s in yours?
When people pay for something, they value it as their hearts follow their giving. Read Christ’s words in Matt 6:21 closely. Thanks for listening friends.
The Scripture-rich ministry books are merely a medium of communication, a format whereby a message is conveyed, which is what a pulpit is, right? …. Just as is the podcasts and the website platform itself or merely mediums of exchange of a message. We lose money on the books each month because the books are sent to the incarcerated weekly, those who sit in darkness and need the light of God’s truth (though in the past we’ve sent Bibles, all prisoners have Bibles given them by the chaplains). When people purchase the books that’s what helps fund the sending forth of the Born Again book and others to those in prison. Trust me, this ministry never has or ever will have the problem of having too much funding 😉
If we’re going to stop preaching and teaching God’s Word via books, the book format, that means we must cease preaching His Word on the internet, social media platforms, from pulpits, and radio. Right? The medium of exchange isn’t what matters. What matters is the purity of the message. Daniel prophesied of this day of increased communication technology (Daniel 12:4).
At times we hear ministers boasting that they take no royalties for the books they’ve penned as if to pat themselves on the back. Yet, what they aren’t telling you is that they receive enough funding to do such and they live off of that along with being able to forego royalties from their book sales. Or, in rare cases, those ministers are independently wealthy. Either way, the compensation of Christ’s ministers is clearly biblical and allows for other members of His body to participate in this blessed opportunity and receive rewards both now and forever (Matthew 6:19-21; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, etc.).
Elders who labor in God’s Word which is sound doctrine, to feed His blessed flock, warn, and teach and equip them, are to be well compensated for this most infinitely important work Jesus prepared and called them out to do (1 Corinthians 9:1-14; 1 Timothy 5:17-18, etc.). Those who are fed by a ministry are to participate by funding that ministry (Galatians 6:6).
Every so often we receive a fiery message rebuking us for having to charge for the Scripture-rich materials the ministry has produced to help feed, teach, and equip Christ’s body.
KINGDOM PERSPECTIVE
Money collections to do GOD’s work are not a sin but rather an opportunity for God’s people to crucify, to put off the sins of greed and covetousness and to lay up treasure in Heaven as He commanded (Matthew 6:19-21; Ephesians 5:7-9). Also, to say that allowing people to support GOD’s work is wrong, is to declare Jesus to be a sinner because He had a treasurer which could only mean that people chose to support the work.
In Christ’s kingdom, what’s the most, the “MORE blessed” position, giving or receiving?
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35
Perhaps we should ask the general question: Why don’t all Christian ministries just do everything for free? Answer: First off, only a very few ministries were begun by those who are financially independent. Many or most ministries are being operated by simply obedient, humble servants who are obeying Christ’s call for them to do His work.
Question to the Misguided Attackers: If you are so concerned about ministries being able to just give, give, give away everything for free then why don’t YOU write a check right now and give an offering to that particular ministry in question so they will be able to give everything away according to how much you give? Fair enough? Isn’t it time you became a part of the solution and not the problem … a contributor and not a detractor? … a giver and not a taker? …
Never be concerned about the LORD’s servants who are in need more than you are for the eternal souls who sit there and do nothing to support Christ’s servants and work. Those apostate souls are in great jeopardy of soul, make no mistake about that (Matthew 25:30; Luke 12:15-21; 16:19-31).
INTERESTING QUESTION RECEIVED:
“Hello Todd, I have a question for you and hope you will answer. I am not going to refer to anyone in particular but why would a preacher, teacher and that is a Christian sell their Books, especially when it is about the last days, etc? If a person wants folks to know, why would they sell? Thank you.”
REPLY:
Hello. Well, fair question. It’s real simple, one person (Christian, author, called out servant of Jesus) can’t possibly daily and endlessly study, write, collate, order, edit, publish, prepare and teach God’s Word, win and disciple souls, bring food and clothes to the poor, etc., and then work 8-10 hours per day and be expected to foot the bill ….. would he have time to sleep? Does God expect him to do such or has He set up a perfect plan for all His people to participate in and be rewarded for? Are you personally participating in that plan?
You are correct friend…. it is the last days and this is the reason even more so that all of God’s people must be about the “Father’s business” which is the Great Commission His only begotten Son gave us – to win souls and equip His blessed saints (Like 2:49).
For the record: The LORD be thanked for those few who do obediently support the His work in this late hour. This humble ministry has given away dozens upon dozens of books over the last 3 years. That money/provision has to come from somewhere, right? Also, appr. 150 souls have been won to Christ and are being discipled. God is good!
The true Christian author of today (New Testament scribe Matthew 13:52) is simply a divinely called out servant of Jesus Christ, a minister of His love and truth. That servant simply uses the book format to communicate to Christ’s saints and perhaps also lost souls.
As a called out servant, I would love to give the books our ministry has away for free. All we’d need is for you or someone else to make a substantial donation in order to underwrite the cost of doing ministry.
Now, I agree that giving everything away would be great and preferred. So, if anyone wishes to endow this ministry work or any other New Testament (Great Commission) ministry with a ample donation, please do. And, you are welcome to request that we begin to give away all the materials by using that money for such. That would be fair but until then, we will inch along.
Most people understandably do not understand how this all works and so it’s a blessing that this question has come in. In fact, we have gotten this same type question in the past. As a Christian author, let me say that the ministry has to pay for each book that is ordered. There’s not much profit per book and yet the profit goes to support so that we can “stay afloat” per se and be afforded the opportunity to continue doing Christ’s work. Some of us are homeless if that helps.
QUESTION:
“But doesn’t the Bible say to ‘Buy the truth and sell it not’? (Proverbs 23:23)”
REPLY:
Yes “Buy the truth and sell it not” is referring to obtaining, procuring, grabbing the truth and believing and owning it. That truth is not speaking of paying money for something.
People in ministry do not have a money tree. In fact, if a person is endeavoring to tell the whole counsel truth of God’s Word, they will most likely desperately need your support because not many will support because not many want the whole truth (2 Timothy 4:2-4). They only have what people give in most cases…..that’s the point…. being in true New Testament, Great Commission ministry is not at all to make money but rather to be able to pay for what was already paid for by the ministry and be able to get more Gospel communications done. People in the full time ministry usually have no money because they’ve abandoned themselves to the work of Christ, in obedience to His calling them out, and have little or no income. So for the called out minister to have to have all the money and do all the work is a ridiculous notion, No, in fact, their lack is the gift of God presented as an opportunity to those who know of that outreach….. so they also can participate. Problem is, most people have signed up for and waste most of the money God has allowed them to bring in and will give account before Him. If you read Luke 16:19-31 and Matthew 25:30 you will see that divine judgment will be severe upon those who do not use the LORD’s resources for His glory, that is, a portion of it. What happened to the man who buried – did not use – the resources the LORD gave him? (Matthew 25:30) This is why first portion/fruit giving is such a blessed opportunity. Prov. 3:9-10
OKAY, AS IS THE SUBJECT MATTER HERE, SOME ASK THIS QUESTION: “WHY CAN’T CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES AND AUTHORS JUST GIVE THEIR MATERIALS AWAY?”
My question in return is: Did you ask the managers at the movie theater why they didn’t offer their movies and snacks for free? If not why not? WHY do some believe, of all entities, that ministries should give everything away? How about the grocery store: Do these same people ask the store they shop at for food why they don’t give their food away free? If not, why not?
More questions …. WHY is it that some only expect the ministries of Christ to give away their materials? Where is this coming from? What spirit is behind this? WHY do some find no hesitation or problem with whoring out their wallet/money/checkbook to every peddler of temporal wares who comes along and yet balk when they see a Great Commission ministry that intends to take in a little money for the purpose of winning and discipling souls in obedience to Christ? And, this involves endless hours of labor?
If a person is going to ask the question as to why Christian authors don’t just give away for free all their materials, why wouldn’t that same person be asking why others aren’t giving away all their materials?
What do you do for a living? Do you work for free? Does the company you work for or own give everything away? Is that company and its product and service even considered important in contrast to the winning and care of eternal souls in Christ’s work of the Gospel?
I would ask those who have such a diabolical perspective: “Do you get some kind of sadistic thrill out of seeing God’s servants suffer?”
SAINTS, THE MONEY HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE, RIGHT? IF GOD’S PEOPLE GAVE AS THEY ARE COMMANDED TO DO AND WILL GIVE ACCOUNT FOR, DO YOU BELIEVE ANY GOOD NEW TESTAMENT MINISTRY IN THIS LATE HOUR WOULD HAVE LACK? WHOSE FAULT IS THE LACK? IS IT THE WATCHMEN OR THE PEOPLE WHO STAND BACK AND SAY “AMEN” WITHOUT PRACTICALLY SUPPORTING THAT NEW TESTAMENT WORK?
ANOTHER MESSAGE RECEIVED ON THIS SUBJECT:
“AMEN………..I know some excellent men of GOD who sell their books, but I also know that some of those men have offered those books free to those who could not afford it because they wanted to reach, preach and teach and it’s not about the money for them. My husband and I have no problem buying these books, it is a wise investment for us.
As far as wasting a lot of money eating out, well thankfully I cook better than most restaurants (everyone has gifting’s……praise the LORD this happens to be mine, hubby calls it the gift of hospitality too). We rarely watch anything because we don’t have cable, I dislike concerts or anything secular……the obvious thing is to invest in our spiritual growth and I truly trust the LORD to lead us to what we need to know. Give me a godly book, my morning coffee on my patio or sitting quietly in my room any day…….the rewards are endless in such a simple thing…….Praise the LORD. Pastor Randy spoke highly of one of your books …….ummmm Predators in Our Pulpits I believe or something like that.”
REPLY:
The apostle Paul clearly and outrightly makes the case for those who are called out to do the infinitely most important work in the earth to be support. Anyone who has a problem with that has greed and gold as their god and are in rebellion against the Almighty.
We must look from a much larger perspective than our own self-serving position or need or especially in respect to the many charlatans which reap millions of $ and buy mansions and expensive cars and church buildings, etc. There’s a world to be reached and the monies received from those who buy the books/materials help fund the GREAT COMMISSION Jesus sent us to accomplish. And yes those who contribute in ANY way are going to be rewarded eternally by Him (John 4:36; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11).
The monies received from those who buy the books/materials:
1) Support the minister (s) and ministries so they can pay basic bills and stay afloat (or try to) and KEEP DOING GOD’S WORK. Let’s get a clue saints.
2) That ministry/author/minister can give away books and materials for free to those who can’t afford the materials/books.
Those paying for those materials are contributing to the LORD’s MINISTRY WORK. If they don’t want to pay for it, then they have the choice to not buy the materials. Yet, those same people, perhaps, waste money on the god of self, entertaining and pampering that false god. Yet those self-righteous hypocrites balk to “pay” for a book that elevates Jesus Christ, the One they falsely claim to serve. Yet they don’t think twice to buy desert, expensive meals out, and many other things that have no eternal value. Utterly hypocritical.
For sure Laurellynne. Thank you for your reply. A disciple of Jesus who has labored in God’s Word and doctrine (1 Timothy 5:17-18) is worthy of double honor which means financial reward. That’s God’s Word (Galatians 6:6). So, for someone to pay 15.00 – 20.00 for a book that has taken that man many years or decades to produce is a very small price. Also, they can pass it along to help others. Now, the average Christian who drinks coffee spends 15.00 – 20.00 per week (or more) on coffee which has no godly or eternal value.
There’s nothing sinful about going to a restaurant or buying coffee, etc. Yet, we must examine ourselves if we have money to throw here and there and are tipping God or not giving to His work at all. That’s indicative of the lack of Jesus as first love (Revelation 2:4-5). My concern is for Christ’s flock and that they repent and obey Him in their stewardship for which He will bring them into account on that Day. See Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25. I could care less if some who are misguided take offense.
We should never abandon the truth because some have perverted it. For example: Some false shepherds have abused the sheep by teaching them false doctrine and leading them to do things for their own self-serving purposes (that of the wolves). This in no way removes the responsibility of the true under shepherds to rightly shepherd Christ’s sheep (1 Peter 5:1-6). In the same way, just because greedy wolves have made merchandise of the people (taken money to build their own kingdoms instead of Christ’s) in no way negates the LORD’s program and privilege to involve all of His people in His work. It is the privilege of the individual believer to contribute to Christ’s work. The Bible even tells us that “the LORD loveth a cheerful (hilarious) giver” and He even incentivizes us in that those who sow much will reap much (2 Corinthians 9:6-11).”
Money Tree?
Do you have a money tree? If so, please mail one here or at least the seed to grow one to the true New Testament ministries you know of.
The money has to come from somewhere and that’s exactly why God, from the beginning, set up a program where His people are privileged to give back to Him/His work out of which He has given them and then on top of all that, He is going to reward them here and in eternity. Study stewardship in Scripture and the Levites. Begin in 1 Corinthians 9:1-14 and 1 Timothy 5:17-18. Those whom God Himself has called out to do the infinitely most important and only eternally substantial work in the earth are “worthy of their hire” which means they are worthy to be paid for what they do (1 Corinthians 9, etc.). When Jesus sent forth His disciples to do His work, He said “… for the labourer is worthy of his hire” (Luke 10:7). In fact, in the days of the prophets, God’s people had forsaken Him and spent their resources building their own “ceiled houses” and “temples” (Haggai 1; Hosea 8:14). Read Malachi 3 also. The LORD was very angered and brought judgment on them. We see the same today. People who claim to be following Christ who spend the vast percentage of their monies on frivolous waste for their own self-serving entertainment and temporal comfort and give little or nothing to Christ’s work. This is a betrayal of the LORD who gave them the ability to earn that money and the opportunity to be a good steward over it (Matthew 25 – parable of the talents). Just think: If a small percentage of those claiming to be lovers of the truth and following Christ would give a certain percentage of the “firstfruits” of all they earn into God’s work (Proverbs 3:9-10) … then those ministries Jesus has called out could actually function, pay their bills, and perhaps give materials away.
STEP BACK AND CONSIDER THAT PERHAPS IT’S NOT THOSE CALLED OUT WHO ARE IN SIN, IT’S THOSE WHO ARE BEING FED BY THEM AND STANDING ON THE SIDELINES DOING NOTHING (NOT GIVING) WHO ARE IN DEEP TROUBLE SPIRITUALLY. I’M TALKING ABOUT THE OBEDIENT, HUMBLE WATCHMEN WHO HAVE AND ARE ANSWERING THE CALL OF GOD TO TEACH, WARN, AND PREACH TO HIS FLOCK (COLOSSIANS 1:28: ACTS 20:27-32; 1 CORINTHIANS 9:16, ETC.). PRAISE THE LORD FOR THE FEW WHO SUPPORT THE GREAT COMMISSION WORKERS IN THIS LAST HOUR BEFORE CHRIST’S SOON RETURN.
Reader, do you work for free?
Do you get paid for your work so that you can pay your monthly living expenses?
How long would you continue doing the work you do if you no longer were paid for it?
To that person who still has a problem with men of God being compensated, I would ask: Have you also complained that attorneys, plumbers, accountants, waitresses, and cooks also get paid for what they do?
Why is it that those doing the most important work in the earth are questioned over getting paid by the freely given love offerings of God’s people? Why is it wrong in the minds of some that those answering the divine call to serve can actually pay their bills? Paul had this same railing accusation and question and gave answer to it in 1 Corinthians 9:1-4. Go read that. Some reading this need to de-ignorantize themselves with this knowledge 😉
You see, it’s usually not the Christian author or minister’s fault that he can’t just give away books or materials. No, it’s usually the fact that he can’t survive much less thrive in the LORD’s ministry work due to the refusal of so many to give to Christ’s work. Does this include you? Are you giving regularly to the work of Jesus’ Great Commission? So many will read, learn, be convicted and rebuked by, be equipped for ministry, be sharpened and spiritually nourished yet have no heart or energy to give. Yet these very same people can perhaps be found wasting money on expensive daily coffees and many other frivolous wasteful spending. Example: $3.50 coffee per day x 30 days in a month = $105. They have monies to throw out and to commit to earthly things and yet haven’t committed to Christ by signing up to give a monthly gift to His work. Many who claim Christ as LORD won’t give $10 or $20 per month to Jesus’ Great Commission work. Where is their heart? Jesus tells us exactly where their heart is when He says: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).
Those who support the Great Commission of Jesus are few and yet so very important! Thank God for them!
Be sure of this: No true ministry work of Christ has the problem of having too much money. Regrettably those few who are truly doing His Great Commission work are starving … and won’t tell you. Don’t ask them. Don’t wonder. Just obey God and give to their work. They have to pay their bills too friend! What we do to them we are doing to JESUS (Matthew 25:40-46, etc.). May God give us a clue today in Jesus’ Name!
To those who don’t give or give a mere tip to God out of that which He has allowed them to bring in, the LORD would say …… “Consider your ways” (Read Haggai 1). If you repent and choose to begin giving, the LORD may just fill your barns so you can give more to His work. One man once wisely stated that “If God can get it through you, He will get more to you.” Consider Your Ways Audio Message
“Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10
Recap: You see, today, the divinely called out pastoral watchmen are starving. They can’t pay their bills due to 1) people claiming to be serving Jesus who do not repent and begin to steward the resources He puts in their hands His way, and 2) many give to false ministries. So, the called out disciple, called to not entangle himself with the affairs of this life can’t pay his bills – because God’s people (or those claiming such) are not giving to His work. So, the Gospel worker is left to do God’s work (never ending lines of people to be served) and also somehow come up with the money to pay his bills. This is not God’s program. Those who know true Gospel workers who are doing the Great Commission Jesus gave us and equipping the saints to do the same (Ephesians 4:11-12) are to give to those ministries. It’s sickening how people can throw money at renting movies, sun tanning, vacations, buying more clothes and shoes they don’t need, getting their hair and nails done, etc., and yet give nothing to the LORD’s work … you know, the nail scarred, risen Savior they claim to love ….
The LORD doesn’t give His called out servants a money tree…..they cannot get away from the divine calling and yet subject to the disobedience, the crass and ruthless omissions of His people who are rejecting HIM in their hearts …. if they were truly worshipping Him, there would be a cheerful giving back to Him of what He gives them – “ALL things come of thee and of thine own have we given thee” (1 Chron. 29:14). People have no idea the fate, the sufferings that have happened due to the lack suffered by answering God’s call. Ministry is a body operation where each member of Christ’s body does their part. The ministry here has a certain lady who faithfully gives and she thinks she is doing nothing and yet, she has no clue as to how that we have no money to put gas in the vehicle, to buy Bibles and Gospel tracts and food for the hurting unless she gives. She has no clue as to how much her part plays. I’ve laughingly considered getting a cheap body cam lately so she can get a glimpse of those being saved and saints being equipped and the hungry being fed, etc.
I’ve got a book coming out LORD willing that will touch on what happens when people don’t give ….. it’s a personal testimony and hopefully will wake a few up so they give to those who are literally doing the Great Commission….. instead of building their own church business, sitting in a stupid building, wasting tens of thousands of dollars (in many cases monthly) heating and cooling a building ….. no, Jesus, the apostles and today’s true, divinely equipped and called out workers go to the people instead of expecting people to come to them. Jesus left Heaven and came to us. He never told us to come to Heaven to Him. Such would be impossible. Think about this: We are to “Go” as He told us and to do as He did for us – serve the lost.
WATCHMEN ARE PEOPLE TOO AND THEY NEED MONEY TO PAY THEIR BILLS LIKE ANYONE ELSE. REGRETTABLY, IT SEEMS THAT SOME PEOPLE WANT THE LORD’S WATCHMEN PUNISHED ALL BECAUSE THEY ARE ANSWERING THE CALL OF GOD TO MINISTER HIS WORD. THINK ABOUT IT. WHAT SPIRIT IS BEHIND SUCH? THOSE PEOPLE NEED TO REPENT AND BEGIN DOING THEIR PART. THERE ARE SENDERS AND GOERS (ROMANS 10:14-15).
Jesus told us that unfaithful stewards go to eternal damnation (Matthew 25:30, 41, etc.). There’s a “certain man” who was once rich (temporarily in this short life) who has been burning in conscious torment in the flames of hell for some 2,000 years. Go read Luke 16:19-31 and find out exactly why that man is irrevocably in hell and in a million years will still be in hell, “suffering the vengeance of eternal fire” (Jude 7).
Each individual is granted by God the opportunity to be as the priest, the Levite, or the Good Samaritan. We must ask ourselves: WHO AM I IN THIS PARABOLIC teaching of the One I claim to be serving? Am I the priest, the Levite, or the Good Samaritan? God bless us to humbly and honestly examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5). The priest and Levite (religionists without Christ) walked right by the man who was in need, making excuse as to why they were “justified” in not helping him. In contrast, like Christ and His few true followers, the Good Samaritan stopped his life and used his resources to help the man who had been ravaged by the world. The Good Samaritan asked no questions but rather simply jumped to the aid of the man in need. THAT man was JESUS – “Inasmuch as ye HAVE DONE IT unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matthew 25:40).
The priest and the Levite walked right by JESUS when they refused to render aid: “Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal” (Mathew 25:45-46).
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41
“And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 25:30
This week, a guy that the LORD saved a few months ago and is being discipled, called me. He needed a little money. Well, regrettably there’s not much in the coffer. We still gave it to him and yet, hundreds of dollars in bills have stacked up. The ministry is months behind on bills and this is not due to poor stewardship but rather due to the lack of funds. Anyone who gives is not doing God (or this ministry or myself) a favor. No, they are doing themselves a favor (Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11; Proverbs 3:9-10, etc.).
If you are reading this message and claim to be seeking the perfect will of God, I want to exhort you to get before God and to repent of all bad stewardship, including endorsing and furthering the cause of hireling thieves who are building their own church business and using Christ’s name in vain to do so (2 John 7:1-11). Get your slate cleaned afresh saint (1 John 1:3-2:2). Then, find a true called out ministry and give. A ministry work that is glorifying God isn’t wasting HIS money on buildings and the upkeep of them. No, instead that ministry work is actually and literally doing the Great Commission Jesus irrevocably gave us (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; Luke 24:47, etc.). In doing this alone, you will begin to be participating in HIS work. Stop giving HIS money to the wolves who do nothing more than entertain the unrepentant goats.
Regrettably, every worker on this planet gets paid for his work except those who do the infinitely most important work of leading eternal souls out of sin and eternal hell and into glory forevermore. Are you a part of the problem or the solution?
Go ahead and take your anger out on me. I don’t mind. You are actually in rebellion to the LORD Himself because He commands you to “give.” What He’s calling you to do is to truly repent before it’s too late. Your heart is out of His will if these truths convict you and the only wise response is to repent and change your ways. Attacking His messenger will not change your life or destiny.
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FEEDBACK:
“Well said with regard to the giving away of ministerial books for free. I think there’s another question that should be raised. Why are the authors who publish books that tickle the ears of God’s people by telling them what they prefer to hear about laying up treasures on earth being bought in the millions to become best sellers without questioning their cost of sale while those who are publishing truth of scripture that focuses on laying up treasures in heaven through warnings, corrections, and instructions in righteousness go begging and their authors are questioned about covering their costs of sale? Could it be that the vast majority of God’s people haven’t set their affections on things above but on things of this earth?
Those whose affections are set on the things of this earth, are focused on earthly pleasures, and laying up treasures on earth buy books which tell them what they want to hear regarding earthly pleasures and prosperity regardless the price because these books foster the carnal errors they hold dear which appeal to the lust of their flesh, the lust of their eye, and their pride of life. They don’t question the authors of these books regarding the prices they charge since these books readily support those things they want to hear. People are willing to pay the price for that which they value most.
If God’s people really had their affections set on things above and valued their eternal destination in heaven above a temporal 70+ year life span here on earth they would be more than willing to pay the price of a book which publishes the truth knowing that there’s nothing they have or will accumulate on earth that they can take with them into eternity where the treasures they have laid up in heaven will be the only assets they will enjoy on a forever basis. If God’s people had singleness of eye and would set their affections exclusively on things above and regard godliness with contentment as great gain rather than being in a lukewarm state by trying to serve both God and mammon, they could save more than enough money to buy the necessary books that will help them to lay up treasures in heaven and the question of cost would become moot.” Paul Roberts
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Abiding
“Buried with Him by Baptism into Death” [podcast]
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3
Every person “hid with Christ in God” is saved and under divine grace, saved by Christ.
Everyone not “hid with Christ in God” is going away in judgment (Colossians 3:3; Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:19-21, 24). When we are “hid with Christ in God,” we are safe, secure, and under the blessings of His divine grace instead of His condemnation.
“Of the doctrine of baptisms” Hebrews 6:2
Baptized into Jesus Christ and Baptized into His Death
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?” Romans 6:3
Jesus defeated death, hell, sin, and satan by dying (Hebrews 2:14)…. whereby He was then resurrected and redemption was completed. Redemption culminated, was finalized in the resurrection of Christ.
In the same way, God calls us to die downward with Christ so that He can raise us upward into His victory…. letting go and letting God, not a striving or struggle but rather a surrender, we are to let Christ consume us, as we surrender (John 3:30).
“And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” Luke 23:46
Are we willing to declare today to declare with our LORD Jesus that we are submitting our spirit into His holy hands?
“death is swallowed up in victory” – death results in God raising us upward, into His full victory, ultimately into final, eternal victory, glory with the Father, Son, and the saints of the ages.
We can be sure, completely confident that as we die downward and are buried with Christ, God is going to raise us up into His victory God’s answer to death and burial is resurrection.
The resurrection is the victory and in order to experience His resurrection life, we must be dead and buried and ultimately raised up into eternal glory with Him.
“Thou fool, that which thou sowest (plant downward) is not quickened (made alive), except it die:” 1 Corinthians 15:36
“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1 Corinthians 15:54
Romans 6
“Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
v3 – “baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death”
v4 – “buried with him by baptism into death”
v5 – “his death … his resurrection”
Notice that death and buried, being immersed into the death and burial of Christ must of necessity precede, must come before the resurrection we experience with Christ through the daily cross life.
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
When He saves us we are baptized with Him “into his death” …. “I am crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20)
“When a person is saved, he is baptized into Christ Jesus in the sense that he is identified with Christ in His death and resurrection. This is not the same as the baptism in (or of) the Spirit, though both occur simultaneously. The latter baptism places the believer in the body of Christ (1Co_12:13); it is not a baptism into death. The baptism into Christ means that in the reckoning of God, the believer has died with Christ and has risen with Him.
When Paul speaks of baptism here, he is thinking both of our spiritual identification with Christ and of its portrayal in water baptism. But as the argument advances, he seems to shift his emphasis in a special way to water baptism as he reminds his readers how they were “buried” and “planted together” in the “likeness” of Christ’s death.
The NT never contemplates the abnormal situation of an unbaptized believer. It assumes that those who are converted submit to baptism right away. Thus our Lord could speak of faith and baptism in the same breath: “he who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mrk_16:16). Though baptism is not a requirement for salvation, it should be the invariable public sign of it.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
Baptized into the body of Christ
“For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13
“1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized, etc. – As the body of man, though composed of many members, is informed and influenced by one soul; so the Church of Christ, which is his body, though composed of many members, is informed and influenced by one Spirit, the Holy Ghost; actuating and working by his spiritual body, as the human soul does in the body of man.
To drink into one Spirit – We are to understand being made partakers of the gifts and graces of the Holy Ghost agreeably to the words of our Lord, Jhn_7:37, etc.: If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink: this he spake of the Spirit which they that believed on him should receive.
On this verse there is a great profusion of various readings, which may be found in Griesbach, but cannot be conveniently noticed here.” Adam Clarke
“Baptism is more than just getting wet! When we go down into the water it signifies we are now dead and buried and our “life is hid with Christ in God.” Col 3:3. Coming up out of the water is our resurrection life! We are then raised up into newness of life! Our old man is crucified and we no longer serve sin but we have a new Master! Jesus Christ is the new Master of our lives! We now serve God and not sin. And should be bearing fruit of rightness and holiness! Romans 6. When we embrace the crucified life we are given overflowing rivers of new life! New life is breathed into us. Walking in the flesh only makes our soul sick with sin! And sin kills and destroys! (Romans 6:23). Rotting us from the inside out! But the way of the cross brings life to our flesh! (Proverbs 3:8, 4:22). Our flesh meaning our whole spirit, soul and body. 1 Thessalonians 5:23. We cannot be a whole person until we are completely given over to the Lord! And this can only happen through the cross. When we are dead and buried and raised up in the newness of life Jesus offers us! Then the joy of the Lord will fill our hearts!” Karen Cochran
What some don’t realize is that just because they were saved in the past in no way means they are still in Christ. This is why we read things like this throughout Scripture:
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5
We must judge ourselves against God’s Word.
“For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31-32
Prayer: Father please penetrate my heart with Your holy conviction, granting true repentance and obedience. LORD, I want to be dead and buried with You. I am crucified with Christ and I know You are raising me up and will ultimately raise me up with You into eternal glory… I am not planted together in the likeness of His death and burial and I know You are raising me up into the victory. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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