How deep is your relationship with the Lord?
Are you strong in your faith?
Are you growing?
These are questions we need to explore. When the Church was first established, there were outside forces that confused and deceived the young Christians. Looking at Paul’s letter to the church at Colosse, we see that many of those who at first accepted Jesus were being bombarded with forces outside the church to confuse them.
I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.
Colossians 2:1
The hard work of ministry is encouraging the hard work of the saints to spread the gospel and this was Paul’s mission. A new Christian can be full of excitement and share their new found faith with enthusiasm. But over time if they aren’t growing in knowledge and relationship with Christ, all of that enthusiasm will begin to fade away. The saints need to fuel this excitement with stimulating conversations about Christ. Young Christians especially need to grow in their knowledge of who Jesus is and that we see God through him.
Those who admire Christ are not necessarily followers of Christ. Some think he was a heretic, some say he was a prophet, and others say he was a good man.
For a mature Christian it is Christ and Christ alone.
As we encourage those young in the faith we lead them to depth and stability by helping them understand who Christ is; to know the character of God. When we concentrate on the positive characteristics they will be able to spot the false doctrines of those who come as wolves in sheep’s clothing. We embolden them by teaching them of God’s faithfulness. It causes us to trust in God and we become faithful servants who are not afraid to step into the role God has for us.
Paul shares with horizontal conversations with those learning from him just as any teacher relates through discussion as they teach their students. By this we become invested in the people as we witness to them.
But we can’t stop there. Our vertical intercession on behalf of our students is just as important. We talk to God about them. Our prayers are that God would work in their hearts and open their eyes to see the mystery that’s been hidden.
We can’t choose who we share the gospel with. God loves all of his children and we must include people from all walks of life. We must be impartial, no restrictions, no agenda. The goal is encouragement in the heart to grow.
People won’t care about our message if they don’t feel that we love them.
The Holy Spirit helps us be encouragers and that requires intentional action on our part. Choose to love, engage with them.
We must preach truth, hold people accountable, and protect against deception. So many people want us to think they are believers, but they deceive with their words. Always test what they say against the Word of God.
Sin always looks good. That’s why we are so easily deceived. Immaturity, shallowness, fickleness leads to sinfulness. The shiny object tends to catch our attention and we so easily drift away from what we know to be true because what is not pleasing to God makes us feel good, important, or powerful pulls us away from the truth.
We are like a frog who becomes comfortable in the pot of water and don’t notice it’s getting warmer until we’re cooked! Satan counts on that he can just turn up the heat and before we know it we’re in so deep we don’t see a way out of our sin. Satan wants to obscure the truth.
You want to be revolutionary? Follow Jesus! Study the Word so you can recognize false teachers.
Faith in Christ is the key. Grow in knowledge to grow in faith.
The application for today:
- Our walk should be consistent with our conversion
- Characterized by genuine repentance and childlike faith
- Submitting to the Lordship of Christ – Lord
- Intimately united with Jesus Christ
- Live your lives in him
Our lives should leave the shallow end and overflow with thankfulness for all he is!
Another sermon that opens my eyes to the depth of his love for us. Thankful for a love that I don’t deserve and the clarity brought by leadership to remind me to keep my eyes on Jesus.
That’s it for today. I can’t wait to share more…
In Faith,
Pam
Where God Leads 