We had a sweet experience of praise, prayer, and preaching last night during our Wednesday Night Worship Service. We have two teams going on mission. Our high school ministry is headed to Scotland and we have sixteen adults headed to South Asia to the same area I just returned from. We prayed for them and after our time of prayer the place erupted in song, while others were hugging and encouraging their family and friends. All I could think was this is church. This is what it's all about - praising God and loving each other.
Unfortunately, for me with all of our praising and praying I was left with more message than minutes. I ended up rushing through the last few points of the talk and I want to make sure that these truths are taught. They have to do with personal development in Christ. The main point of last night's message was that maturity in Christ leads to greater dependence on God and not less, which comes from a humble heart that approaches God in a childlike, but not childish way.
God in His grace will discipline us according to Hebrews 12. But the mature believers is one that disciplines their own life. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
1 Timothy 4:7 Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.
One of the ways we train our soul is through the study of God's Word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
1. Correct – this deals with behavior and seeking to change it or align it to God’s will.
2. Rebuke - this deals more with correcting the person’s motives by convicting the believer of sin leading to repentance.
3. Encourage – this deals with letting believers know what they are doing that is right.
The Scripture does all three. We must train ourselves with it and discipline our lives.
But reading is only a part of the training. After reading, we must take time to think through what we've read and make that truth a part of our world-view. The Scriptures lead us to a theistic world-view where we are aware that God is at work in the world and His Word shows us where and how and sometimes even why. Psalm 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
Then we must act on what we've read. Each day we should make it a point to live out at least one truth we have read in God's Word. James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
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