August, 2016
Beloved Brothers, Sisters & Friends...
"Spiritual Maturity". How long is it to be assumed that a Christian ceases to be a "spiritual child" to become a mature brother; able to help and bless those around him?
One of the reasons why I'm writing about this topic; it's because I see in the churches I've gone to, brothers and sisters who regularly attend the church for years, & most of them think that, that’s it, they hardly do anything else. In view of this, many people might think that Christianity is just that: go to church on Sundays, possibly a couple more days in the week, being good citizens in the world the rest of the week and that's it; and please do not forget to bring your tithe and offerings to church.
And only a few, very few, are called to be pastors, or ministers in the Church. Now to become a pastor, those who are called have to go to seminaries and schools of theology, become respected members of society, with degrees in theology, pastorates and master's degrees in divinity, etc. Most of these seminaries charge thousands of dollars a month so that a "Christian," wanting to become a pastor has to have lots of money or find someone that does who wants to sponsor him. So in some cases, the under-resourced, even if they are very talented, cannot afford those prices. Is it possible that this is the way to fulfill Christ's calling? Think about it.
In the Bible we read...
Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water to repentance. But He who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire;
Luke 24:49 And behold, I send the promise of My father on you. But you sit in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power, the Holy Spirit coming upon you. And you shall be witnesses to Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
What does it mean to be baptized with the Holy Spirit and "fire"? What did Jesus mean when He said: you will receive power? What I see when we read the book of Acts of the Apostles is that the fire and power of which Jesus spoke about manifested itself in a passion of total surrender to the cause of Christ, the disciples not only testified with passion, but they also healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, and the new converts forsook all their possessions and gave them over to the Church, not to build new temples, but to finance the evangelist work and expenses of all the brethren. The brethren considered it a privilege to be persecuted and scourged for the cause of Christ, and we know that the Church faced great persecutions, to the point that large number of disciples was martyred. They were willing to travel outside their home countries to go and catch up with the lost, etc. In the book of the Acts of the Apostles, which I recommend you read we can see as the demands of Jesus & his promises regarding his calling were fulfilled...
Luk 9:23-24 And He said to all, If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. 24 For whoever will save his life shall lose it, but whoever will lose his life for My sake, he shall save it. 33 So then, everyone of you who does not forsake all his possessions, he cannot be My disciple.
Luk 10:19 Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. And nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Mar 16:17 And miraculous signs will follow to those believing these things: in My name they will cast out demons; they will speak new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will be well.
Jn 14:12 Truly, truly, I say to you, He who believes on Me, the works that I do he shall do also, and greater works than these he shall do, because I go to My Father. 13 And whatever you may ask in My name, that I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority is given to Me in Heaven and in earth. 19 Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things, whatever I commanded you. And, behold, I am with you all the days until the end of the world. Amen.
Jn 20:21 Then Jesus said to them again, Peace to you. As My Father has sent Me, even so I send you.
... as we see when Jesus' stipulations were obeyed, they brought about a transformation in Christ's followers such that they shone with the light and power of the Holy Spirit. In a letter I wrote “Faith to ask for what one wants”, goes with what I say here, I want to tell you that we should not settle for less than the highest of what God is offering to us, much less settle for mediocrity in our Christian walk. We owe as Scripture exhorts us... 1Co 14:1 Follow after love and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophesy.
But it is now imperative that our loving relationship with our Heavenly Father become number one in our lives. If we fill ourselves with His Word we are filling ourselves with Him. Jn 6:63 It is the Spirit that makes alive, the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and are life.
That is why Jesus was very clear... If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself... It may seem difficult, but if we think about it, we realize that only by forsaking our own ways and attitudes can we then be filled with the great things of God. Now what is preferable? Hold on to our own stupidity and remain mediocre for the rest of our life here in this world, or throw it all in the trash and fill ourselves with the greatness of God? Php 3:7-8 But whatever things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 But no, rather, I also count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them to be dung, so that I may win Christ
These passages illustrate some of what I am saying...
Heb 5:11-14 of whom we have much to say, and hard to be explained since you are dull of hearing. 12 For indeed because of the time, you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again what are the first principles of the oracles of God. And you have become in need of milk, and not of solid food. 13 For everyone partaking of milk is unskillful in the Word of Righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, even those who because of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be of this mind. And if in anything you are otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you.
A thought about our walk with the Lord, is the great importance of forgiving those who wronged us.
We don't forgive people who have caused us wrong, or have offended us because they deserve it or ask for forgiveness, & it is not for their sake that we forgive, but for ours. If we don't forgive, then we are the ones carrying a burden that pulls us down & could destroy us. Remember Jesus... Father, forgive them for they know not what they do...
When we don't want to forgive others, it is because we don't want to look at how much we have been forgiven & Jesus taught us...
Mat 6:14-35-36 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Heb 12:14-15 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any fail of the grace of God, or lest any root of bitterness springing up disturb you, and by it many be defiled...
Resentment is as a poisonous snake. When we get rid of it, it's a relief, & we can only do it forgiving from the heart ... We can then turn around & share with others with a clean heart...
Beloved Father, help us to give ourselves to you completely. We ask you to help us forsake absolutely everything in this life that is not yours, to do your will, so we may become the Sons that you have called us to be… in Jesus Name… Amen..!!!
Blessings… Alejandro
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