New Believers in Christ, Need Encouragement Too

Some people think that only those who have been saved a long time need encouragement when it comes to their spiritual growth.  This is not true.
    New Believers in Christ, Need Encouragement Too. Those who have been saved for a short time struggle with doing what's right just like those who have been saved for a long time do.  So reach, out and be an encouragement to all believers alike today-the old ones, and new ones-for this is important.
     Ephesians 4:29 is a great reminder to us about the important of  using encouraging words. 
  Ephesians 4:29  " Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." 
  *"edifying"- simply means encouraging, that lifts others up
     God wants us to use words that edify, that is encourage, or lifts others up, instead of words that discourage others, or drags them down.   He does not want us to use critical words that are rude,and inconsiderate.
      I Thessalonians 5:11 "Wherefore comfort yourselves together,and edify one another, even as ye also do."    This another reminder to us to comfort those who are sad, and discouraged, and to encourage one another.

      Colosssians 3:8-10  "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off  the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of  him that created him:"  
       God wants us to get rid of  the bad  behavior of our sin nature, daily, like rotten trash, and to behave like the new creatures we are in Christ.

        Colossians 4:2 "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving."
             Remember to keep praying to God who saved  your soul, and made you  whole.
   
         I Thessalonians 5:16  " Rejoice evermore."  *Be joyful.  Keep on being joyful no matter what.

      I   Thessalonians 5:17  "Pray without ceasing."   *Be in a continual state of prayer.  That is pray as God lays something on your heart to pray about. Pray as often as you can.

      I  Thessalonians 5: 22   "Abstain from all appearance of  evil."    *Don't put yourself in a compromising situation. 
    
       II Thessalonians 2:3 " Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a  falling  away first and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;" 
  
       * Don't let anyone trick you into believing lies, or compromising your beliefs, or lifestyle.

       I   Timothy 2:12   "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over man,but to be in silence."   

   * A  woman should not teach grown men (boys aged 19 and up), or  be a preacher at all.
    
      *  God did not intend for  a woman to be a pastor.   Men are called by God to be pastors though.
     
      II Timothy 2:15  "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth."
        
     *All Christians as a whole should study God's word so they can apply it to thier lives (live by what it says more and more) and be able to grow in thier walk with God.
   
     II Timothy 2:16 "But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase more unto ungodliness."
       "shun"-look down upon
      "profane"- filthy, wicked, vulgar speech, cussing, using God's name in an non-reverent manner, worldly speech
      "vain babblings"-quarrels,arguments, useless speech
   
       Ephesians 4:32  " And  be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
         *Be kind to each other, and to  others as a whole, be forgiving.  Forgive both those who ask for forgiveness, and those who do not alike.   Be a peacemaker.

          Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God."
        *We are to submit to one another.  That is to put others needs above our own.

       For those who are married these  are  good reminders:  Ephesians 5:22 -31  "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church:  and he is the saviour of the body.  Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to thier own husbands in every thing.  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that is it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.  For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:For we are members of his body, his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh."
    Epehesians 5:33 " Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and he wife see that she reverence her husband."  
     I Peter 3:1  "Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;"  conversation-manner of life, example 

      Titus 3:9 "But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain." 
     
        Titus 1:6-9  tells us clearly the requirements for a pastor, "If any be blameless,the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.  For a  bishop must be blameless, as the steward of  God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover if hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers." 
      * A   Pastor must meet these requirements to qualify as a real pastor, otherwise, they are a false teacher, a fraud, and not the right person for the job.

      Titus 2:3-5  "The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love thier husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."
       *Women are to teach other women.
      
    Titus 2:6  "Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded."   * Young men are not to be drunk at all,and are to have decent, pure minds too.
    
     
    Hebrews 3:12   "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."
    
      Hebrews  4:12  "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, sharper than any twoedged  sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." 
     
      James 4:7  "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."   * Commit yourself whole heartdly to God.  Reject the devil's temptations.

      James 4:8  "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you..."

      James 4:11  "Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge."

    * Don't speak evil, badly about other Christians.

   I  Peter  2:1  "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,"  

    I Peter  2:12  "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that , whereas they  speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."

    I Peter 2:17  "Honour all men.  Fear God..."

    * Honour everyone.  Reverence God.

     I  Peter 3: 8  "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrartiwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto  called, that ye should inherit a blessing."
    * Be in unity with one another. Have compassion on those who need it, love your brothers and sisters in the Lord, be polite, be generous, do not repay/seek back evil, for evil.
 
    
        
      

     
    

Be a Good Example in Word and Deed

Jesus Christ would not be popular in today's society.  In fact people would still mock him as they did years ago.   Some people are inconsiderate to visitors at church.  They fail to realize when they do this that Jesus sees this, and that they are not having a Christ like attitude.   For example, a couple comes into a church building.  They do not know any one there.  They have muddy shoes.  Someone else criticizes them for getting the carpet dirty.  Plus, they get onto the couples children for smacking gum during the service.  They don't correct their own children for doing the same thing though. Then, others tell them "Oh, you can't sit there that's  my seat."   Next, a young lady comes in  and sits down in back row. She is shy person, and is sad.  No one offers to shake her hand.   In fact, people just get onto to her for wearing no shoes.  This is the not the kind of thing Christ would be pleased with.  Finally, a  new child joins the school your child attends. The new child  sits alone in the cafeteria, is ignored on the playground during recess,and is struggling to make good grades.
     If Jesus came into a church building with blood on his feet and hands, sadly enough most churches would tell him to leave cause his feet might stain their carpet.  If  Jesus sat next to someone most people would tell him to leave because he was different than them and make them feel uncomfortable.  If  Jesus was at the school your child attends would he be welcome?
     Wake up people!   What is popular, is not always what is right.   So welcome the visitors at church no matter what they look like, wear, or sit down, and  befriend the new child at school.   In just might make a difference in their life.
      Share Christ with others and be a good example to them too!

Keep on Growing Day by day!

It is important to keep growing spiritually day by day!

So keep doing all the following things: Read your Bible,Pray to God (He still listens to and answers prayers),Attend a Bible believing and teaching church,Sing Songs of Praise to God,Sing the psalms, Sing Songs about God's attributes,and other spiritual songs about him,Be a good example to others,Support Missionaries through prayer and financial support,Tithe,Go on short-term missions trips as the Lord leads you too and provides the means to do so,Memorize Bible verses,Apply the word to your life,Tell others about Jesus Christ (hand out gospel tracts,Bibles,tell your testimony,write poems about Jesus Christ,send notes,letters,e-mail messages, or cards with Bible verses that discuss salvation to unsaved realatives,etc.),Encourage Other Believers,and Be Compassionate to the Lost.

Comprise:Never?

Do not compromise! To all out there who are true Christians do not give up on God! He has not given up on you.
*Remember how he rescued Daniel from the Lion's Den?
*Remember how he helped David slay the Giant Goliath?
*Remember how kept the three Hebrew children from being burned in the fiery furnace?
*Remember how he protected Elijah the prophet from the wicked king Ahab,and his wife Jezebel's murderous plot against him?
* Remember how he used Rahab to keep the spies safe from those who wanted to cause them harm?
*Remember how he used Queen Esther to help rescue the Jews from thier enemies?
*Remember how he used Moses to help free the Jews from slavery in the land of Egypt?
*Remember how he used Gideon to defeat the Median nation?
*Remember how he used the Apostle Paul to help reach the nations with the good news of Jesus Christ?
* Remember how he used the Apostle Paul and Silas to reach the Philippian jailor,and his family with good news of Jesus Christ?
* Remeber how he used Joshua to help the nation of Isarel to make it to the promised land?
* Remeber how he used Isaiah to preach the truth to others during a time in which they needed it though they might not have all realized it at the time?
* Remeber how he used Nehemiah to help rebuild the wall and the city of Jerusalem after it was destroyed in the past?
*Remeber how he turned a shepherd boy into a king?
* Remeber how he used Solomon to build the temple in Jerusalem?
* Remeber how he used the Judges in the Bible to help the Jews to turn back to him after they had turned astray to serve idols instead?
* Remeber how he used Noah to build the ark,even though it had never rained before then?
* Remeber how he used Aaron to tell Moses what he wanted him to say to the Jewish nation?
* Remeber how he used the Scriptures to show the Pharisees,Saducces, and Sanhedrin that they were hyocrites,a generation of vipers,who loved the praise of men, more than they did the things of God?
* Remeber he h used a poor widow lady to feed Elijah during a time of famine in the land of Isarel?
*Remeber how he blessed her ,and never let her oil, or flour run out?
*Remeber how he used his word, the Bible, to help convict you of your sin, and draw you to himself?
*Remeber how he used his Son,Jesus Christ,the only perfect,and sinless one to die on the cross as an atonement for sin?
* Remeber how he used a storm at sea,to convict Jonah,of his wrong in not telling those in Nineveh about him the first time around?
* Remeber how he used a big fish to swallow Jonah when he was thrown overboard?
*Remeber how he used Jonah to reach the Ninevehites with the truth of the gospel after he had the fish puck him up on dry land?
*Remeber how he used a shade tree,that wilted to convict Jonah over his uncompassionate,unloving,and racist character?
*Remeber how he used Malachi to write the last book in the Old Testament,to prophize about the coming great day of the LORD, also known as the Tribulation period?
* Remeber how he used John to write the books John,I John, II John and III John all in the New Testament part of the Bible?
* Remeber how he used John,while he was in exile ,to write the last book in the New Testament,and of the Bible itself, Revelation?
* Remeber how he used the death,of Lazarus to bring glory and honor to him,so that he could rise Lazarus from the dead?
* Remeber how he rose from the dead himself,on the third day just as he said he would?
* Remeber how he promised to build a mansion in heaven for those who accept him as LORD and Saviour?
* Remeber how he promised to come again?
*Remeber how he kept all the promises he gave about his first coming to earth as God incarnate-God in the flesh?
*Remeber how he used ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things in both the Old and New Testaments?
*Remeber?
* Good cause all this remebering how he has used others to accomplish his plans in the past,should remind you that as a Christian God can use you accomplish many things for him,but only if you will let him,and continue to let him do so for that matter!
*So what ever you do, do not compromise!
*Keep on Obeying God!
* Never Compromise!
*Cause if you do it will make it harder to do the right thing by God later in life.
* So keep on Obeying him Now,and Later Too!

Keep on Growing!

You have heard of that phrase," When the going gets tough try ,try again!"
How about instead thank of this "When the growing gets hard,continue to rely on Christ! He will never let you down!"
Keep on keeping on!
Continue to grow spiritually!
Amen!

Spiritual Growth: Is it still possible?

Spiritual Growth may...
1. Seem like a thing of the past.
2. Good news: It is not!
a. It is possible even in today's worldly society.
b. how?
c. By reading the Bible
d. Memorizing Scripture
e. Praying to God
f. Listening to his answers.
g. Telling others about Jesus!
h. Continuing to tithe,and attend a local Bible teaching church!
i. Listening to psalms, hymns and spiritual songs
1. on the radio- k-love station
2. online at www. klove.com
j. Singing to God,about him
k. Applying things you learn to your life!
l. Resisting the devils temptations
m. Keep on keeping on serving God each and every day and night!

Spiritual Growth Still Important Now!

Spiritual growth is still as important now as it was in January of this year!

• Now that it is February, Satan will try to tempt you to slack off.
• Do not listen to the devil!
• Keep reading the Bible!
• Keep praying!
• Keeping memorizing Scripture!
• Keeping being a good example!
• Keeping witnessing to the lost!
• Keep attending a Bible believing church!
• Keep singing psalms,hymns and spiritual songs!
  
• Keep tithing!
• Keep supporting missionaries!
• Keep on applying God's Word to your life!
• Keep on serving God!
• Do not give up.