GROWING IN CHRIST-PART 3

Colossians 3: 16, 17
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another, in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the LORD. And whatever ye do in word or deed, do all in the Name of the LORD JESUS, giving thanks to GOD and the Father by Him.

Psalm 51: 6 says: "Behold, Thou desirest truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me know wisdom." The "inward parts" is where the Word of GOD is to dwell richly. To dwell, means to live, move and have being; the Word of GOD is alive and moved by the Holy Spirit to bring forth the purpose for which it was sent by the LORD. When we hide the Word in our heart, the Holy Spirit brings it into motion as we speak it forth. When we speak the Word, it creates a new thing, old things are passed away and behold a new thing becomes visible.

There is another part to the verses from Colossians and that is "songs hymns and spiritual songs". I know, in my life, that Scripture songs and hymns have ministered to me when I needed comfort in my spirit. I know, for a fact, that Psalms have come forth from deep within me to bring wisdom, strength and comfort. Psalms also give instruction and wise counsel. Do not neglect to sing songs of praise and Scripture songs to the LORD, making melody in your heart. David sang to the LORD and the LORD loved His words and music. Let the LORD hear your heart song to Him and listen for Him to sing to you.

MAY THE NAME OF THE LORD BE GLORIFIED.

GROWING IN CHRIST-PART 3

Psalm 119: 9-16
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to Thy Word. With my whole heart have I sought thee; oh, let me not wander from Thy commandments. Thy Word have I hidden in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee. Blessed art Thou, O LORD; teach me Thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the ordinances of Thy mouth, I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways. I will delight myself in Thy statutes; I will not forget Thy Word.

This series of verses from Psalm 119 are very clear about how a person can grow up into the Way of Christ. There are steps in these verses that, when followed, will lead to a deeper and deeper relationship with GOD. The answer to the question,"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?" is very clear and direct.
1. take heed to the Word of the LORD.
2. Seek the LORD with your whole heart.
3. Hide the Word in your heart.
4. Be open to the LORD teaching His Word to you.
5. Speak the Word only.
6. Rejoice in the way of the LORD.
7. Meditate and have respect for the ways of the LORD.
8. Remember the Word, and delight in it.

In our day and time, it is very important for each of us to take these points very seriously and not to neglect the holy Scripture. The Holy Scripture is the Word of the LORD for each of us and is a life-line in the time of need. There are many who perish because of a lack of knowledge; even more perish because of a lack of the knowledge of Scripture. Take the Scripture down from its shelf, dust it off and make a pledge to read it daily, meditate on it day and night and feast on its riches. It will feed your soul and spirit in the time of famine and drought.

GROWING IN CHRIST-PART 3

I Peter 2: 1, 2
Wherefore, laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that ye may grow by it.

GROWING INTO CHRIST

We have discussed in past devotions about the ways in which we are aided in growth into Christ: 1. Prayer; 2. Fellowship; 3. Communion; 4. Trouble, trials and tribulations. These all aid us in growing into a mature Christian.

There is a 5th aid to Christian growth, THE WORD OF THE LORD. This is as important as your regular diet of food. To skip a meal, you diminish your health; to skip reading Scripture, you diminish your spiritual health.

Matthew 4: 4 says: "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of GOD." JESUS equates the Word of GOD with bread, Peter equates it with milk. So we can make the connection that the Word of the LORD is food for the Spirit.

Acts 17:11 speaks about noblemen in Thessalonica who received the Word, searched the Scripture daily. We need to be just like them, searching the Scripture daily to discover the truth of GOD. The Word of GOD is His spoken truth, we will grow as we search for the truth from GOD.

Psalm 119: 11 says "Thy Word have I hidden in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." The only way for the Word to be hidden in our heart is, if we daily meditate on the Word. While we have the Light, let us use the light to read, study and inwardly digest the Scriptures, so that when darkness comes, the Holy Spirit can minister to us with the Holy Word of GOD.

MIRACLES DO HAPPEN

Mark 4: 39
And He arose and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

JESUS SPOKE AND IT WAS SO; SPEAK THE WORD AND MIRACLES FLOW

When JESUS speaks, creation responds. JESUS is the Word of GOD spoken and lived. All created things respond to His Word. JESUS is GOD incarnate; He was before, is now and will be forever; Almighty GOD.

God is our provider; GOD is our healer; GOD is our deliverer; He is true and His word is true. In Verse 40 of Mark 4, JESUS asks two questions in His response to the Disciples terror, ask yourself these two questions: Why are you so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?

Nights of terror, when the wind and the waves of circumstances pound at your little boat of life, do you see JESUS in your boat? Do your know that when He is in the boat, no harm can come to you? Is your faith in JESUS a faith of "believing that He can" or is it "knowing that He will". Most of us believe that JESUS can do all things and has the power to do mighty things, that is one step of faith. Do we go on to the deeper faith of knowing that JESUS will do mighty things for us when we ask?

I challenge you to join me in going deeper into the profound faith of knowing that JESUS will not allow our little boat to sink in the storm. Know that He will arise and rebuke the wind and say "Peace, be still" and there will be a calm.

Faith is not only believing that JESUS can, but knowing that He will.

MIRACLES DO HAPPEN

I Corinthians 2: 4, 5
My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on GOD's power.

Romans 15: 18, 19
I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey GOD by what I have said and done - by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ.

SIGNS AND MIRACLES CONFIRM THAT JESUS HAS ALL POWER AND AUTHORITY.

It is only in the power and authority of JESUS that any conversions to the Living Way of GOD can be accomplished. JESUS is the only way to the Father; JESUS is the only truth and the only Life. We can preach and teach the Good News of the Gospel in our own unique way, but it is the Power of JESUS by His Spirit that bring about Salvation. Those words"what Christ has accomplished through me" stand as the real truth of mission and ministry. Look around at the great teachers and preachers and you will see the mighty work of GOD through them. The books they write, the Crusades they lead, the programs they produce are all vehicles for the LORD to move in the hearts and lives of people. Many people hear for the first time the Good News of GOD in Christ JESUS and they fall on their face before JESUS and worship Him.

Signs and wonders, healing and miracles are the way that GOD confirms that all authority and power are given to JESUS for the salvation of the souls of men. JESUS defeated death, rose from the grave, ascended into heaven and makes intercession for all the saints of GOD. There is no lack of power in the hand of JESUS, He has ALL power and authority.

FAITH IS NOT ONLY BELIEVING THAT GOD CAN; BUT KNOWING THAT GOD WILL save, keep, forgive, heal, restore, Redeem, justify, sanctify and glorify those who call upon His Name. HIS PROMISES ARE YEA AND AMEN.

BELIEVE HIM

MIRACLES DO HAPPEN

Acts 2: 21, 22
And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the Name of the LORD shall be saved. Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of GOD among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which GOD did by Him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know.

MIRACLES TESTIFY THAT JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD.

John 20:30, 31 says: And many other signs truly did JESUS in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these were written, that ye might believe that JESUS is the Christ, the Son of GOD; and that believing ye might have life through His Name.

Signs, wonders and miracles testify to the fact that JESUS is the Son of GOD. Look at your life, do you see any miracles? Write them down and sit and recall the time of the miracle, what happened, and who saw the miracle. Keep a journal of the miracles of JESUS is your life, so that you will never forget that JESUS is working His miracles today through yielded vessels of His. JESUS is the miracle worker.

Never forget that the first great miracle in your life is to be born again. JESUS made this possible for us by His life, death and ascension to the right hand of the Father. When we are born again, we are a new creation, old things are passed away, behold all things become new. Forget all that is behind and press forward toward the mark of the high calling of GOD in Christ JESUS.

The great miracle of Salvation sets us free to bring all souls to Christ by our witness of unconditional love. We are surrounded by the miracles of GOD; many do not notice them. We have the sight to point these miracles out to those who are blind. The fact that JESUS loves us totally, is so overwhelming that it is hard to grasp. Reach out and grasp His Hand and feel the flow of His love for you, then reach out your hand to another and give the miracle of love to them.

Signs, wonders and miracles testify that JESUS is the Son of GOD so that all might believe and have life through Him.

WINNING SOULS

Mark 16: 19, 20
So then, after the LORD had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of GOD. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the LORD working with them, and confirming the Word with signs following. Amen.

THE ASCENDED LORD WORKS WITH US

The words in these verses should strengthen the ministry of every person who reads them. JESUS, who now sits at the Right Hand of GOD works with us to confirm His Word with signs following. We are not the ones who work miracles; JESUS works through us to bear witness to the truth of His Word and confirms that witness with signs and wonders. He also confirms all of prophecy; Matthew 8: 17 says: "That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah, the prophet, saying, 'He Himself took our infirmities, and bore our sickness."

Everything that JESUS said, will come to pass. Everyone who believes on His Name will testify of His greatness in the Land of the Living and will glorify Him for all eternity. The Word of GOD says so, JESUS confirms His Word through dynamic demonstrations of His Love and power.

Do you want a miracle in your life? Ask JESUS and then believe that you have received it. Trust in the Almighty power of the Living GOD to do what He has promised.

JESUS IS LORD