How New Christians Can Grow in Love, Faith and Obedience

“Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be firm, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58 New American Standard Bible).

As a new Christian, you may be thinking, “How can I stay faithful?” While faithfulness is important for every Christian regardless of how long he or she has been following Jesus, it is very important for new Christians because they are in the process of making big changes in their lives.

Here’s the encouraging news. Because of His deep love for us, Jesus asked the Father to send the Holy Spirit to us (John 14:15-31). When you were baptized, the Holy Spirit came to live in you (Acts 2:38), so you do not have to rely on your own power but on God’s strength (Colossians 1:11).

What are some practices from the Scriptures that help all believers, including new Christians, to grow in faith so that our hearts and lives reflect our Savior Jesus?

Below are 10 truths that help us build on the foundation of faith. Click on the Scriptures and read what the Bible says about each one. Keep in mind that growth as a Christian is life-long pursuit; however, these principles are very important and will help you remain faithful. Take one step at a time . . . but keep taking those steps!

1. Meet with the church.

Hebrews 10:19-25 teaches and encourages us in many ways, including the importance of gathering together and encouraging one another. While Christians may get together for many reasons – to teach and learn, fellowship, or enjoy a meal, the most important reason is to worship God. By doing so, we are encouraging one another as well!

2. Pray constantly.

One of the shortest verses in the Bible simply says, “Pray without ceasing”                  (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB). We are to have an open line of communication with God, which helps us to remember that Jesus could come back at any time. Certainly there are times when we pray longer prayers (Luke 6:12 tells us that Jesus prayed all night), but this teaching tells us that we can say a short prayer of praise, of thanks, for someone, or to ask for something we need. We are always to pray in the name of Jesus (John 14:13), which refers to praying by His authority, according to His will, based on who He is and not on who we are. Jesus teaches us to believe we have received when we pray and to forgive others so God will forgive us (Mark 11:24-26) assuming that what we ask for is according to God’s will (1 John 5:14-15).

3. Read the Bible.

It is nearly impossible to emphasize enough the importance of reading the Bible, for God inspired its writing (2 Timothy 3:16). While learning God’s Word is important, He also tells us to put it into practice (James 1:22-25). In John 8:31, Jesus tells us to continue in His word. We are taught to desire the word of God so we may grow (1 Peter 2:2). Consistently engaging with and contemplating Scripture enables God’s truth to influence our thoughts, values and choices as His word reveals the nature of Jesus and instructs us how to live in a manner that honors Him.

4. Deal with sin God’s way.

When you sin, confess it to God. 1 John 1:8-10 says all of us sin, but that does not mean we are to disregard it. Bring it before God. Jesus taught us to ask God to forgive our sins AND He adds that we can ask this if we have forgiven others of their sins against us (Matthew 6:9-15).

5. Rely on God’s strength.

Ephesians 6:10-18 is extremely important as we learn not to rely on our own strength and how to fight the battles from our enemy Satan and his army. He tells us we are to “put on the full armor of God” (v. 11 NASB).

  • Rely on the truth of God as your foundation.
  • Be righteous.
  • Be prepared.
  • Use faith as a shield.
  • Remember that we are saved so there is no need to doubt or fear.
  • Use the Word of God (Bible).
  • Pray, including for all Christians.
  • Be alert.
  • Persevere.

6. Think about what He tells us to think about.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8 NASB). Our thinking habits need to change!

7. Increase in these qualities.

2 Peter 1:1-11 (NASB) outlines several characteristics that Christians need to grow in – “moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.” The Scripture wraps up this thought with two extremely important points. “. . . as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you” (v. 10b-11 NASB).

8. Put the Word of God into practice in your life.

In John 14:15, Jesus tells us that keeping His commandments demonstrates our love for Him. If we only hear the word of God and do not obey it, James 1:22 tells us we are just deceiving ourselves. Implementing Jesus’ teaching in our daily lives cultivates a character that resembles Christ and helps us align our lives with God’s intentions.

9. Persevere through trials with hope (not wishful thinking, but confident expectation).

Trust God and seek Him all the time, including during difficult times, including suffering. How else could we face trials with joy as James 1:2-4 teaches?! Romans 5:3-5 teaches us that these difficulties lead to perseverance, which ultimately leads to hope.

10. Serve others in love.

Jesus came to serve (Mark 10:45) and we are to serve others in love (Galatians 5:13). Diligently caring for others through acts of kindness, generosity and humility helps to cultivate a heart like Christ and mirrors Jesus to the world.

Final word of encouragement

When Jesus gave the great commission in Matthew 28:18-20, He told his disciples to make followers, baptize them, and teach them to obey everything He taught. This article does not include all that Jesus taught, but it is a start to help you grow in your faith in God.

If you have questions, please send them to NLBIministry@gmail.com.

Special thanks goes to NLBI Trainer Sarah Amani for contributing to this article.

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If you want to learn more about who Jesus and how to follow Him, here’s a short article to help you get started — https://woww.newlifebehavior.org/what-it-means-to-follow-jesus-how-to-become-a-christian/.

There are No Small Random Acts of Kindness

by Beth Fore

Today we often hear about people doing “random acts of kindness.” One example is a person who drives through a fast-food restaurant and gives the attendant enough money to serve the next customer a cup of coffee or a meal. The giver doesn’t know who the receiver will be, so the person receiving the gift may seem random; but the act of kindness is not random.  The giver intentionally decides to be kind to someone and carries through with that desire by paying for the gift before the receiver receives the gift. I also doubt that the receiver is random; rather, I think God places people in our lives whom He knows that we can minister to in a personal, relevant, way.

In the Bible, kindness often refers to being friendly, generous, considerate, gentle, good, compassionate, and merciful. Kindness is often shown to people who are vulnerable and poor, such as widows and orphans, in the Bible. Kind people choose to encourage and assist people who are in need of something to build them up and help them with their unfortunate circumstances in life.

There are scriptures in the Bible that encourage us to be kind to other people.  “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32 New International Version). As Christians, we are told to be kind toward one another in a way that is totally unselfish, acting in the best interest of another person in the same way Christ acted toward people in a very kind, loving, compassionate, forgiving way. To forgive as Christ forgave is a very difficult thing to do, but it is a very high calling for us to attain. When we imitate Christ, His light will shine through us, and other people will respond and desire to follow Him.

An act of kindness should never be considered to be small. A warm smile and a kind word of thanks or a wish for a joyful day may be the perfect medicine for a person who is sad or depressed. Opening the door for someone or giving a person a tip for serving you shows the person that someone notices them and is making them feel appreciated and respected as a person of value. When something goes wrong at home, a person may start their day with a very negative or self-belittling attitude. Wishing them a joyful day, giving them a cup of coffee, complimenting them, or just nodding your head may change the rest of their day.

As Christians, we should ask God to have people cross our path each day who need our encouragement, compassion, and kindness. Then we should ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and our hearts in a loving, generous way so that we will see these people and be ready to serve them. When we truly seek to help people and we seek God’s help and guidance, He will bring us in contact with the people He knows we can help. Keeping gift cards, Scripture cards, magnets or pens with verses written on them in our purses or pockets prepares us to offer people something right on the spot. We can also offer to pray with or for the person, if it is appropriate in the situation.

Oftentimes we think we can’t show kindness towards others because of our own circumstances. We may be sick and confined to our homes, or we may be old and confined to our beds. Regardless of our circumstances, we can still find ways to show kindness to others. We can compliment or thank our caregivers for their love and kindness toward us. We can send a text message, send a card, or call someone else who is lonely and discouraged and check on them to see that they are okay. The amount of money and the value of the gifts we give are not nearly as important as the love in our hearts that motivates us to show kindness because we love Christ and we love our fellow human beings.

Kindness is one of the fruits of the Spirit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23 NIV).  When we seek to do God’s will and we ask for the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth, He will refine us and transform us into the likeness of Christ; and we will grow up and mature into beautiful spiritual beings who produce good fruit, including kindness. People will know that we are Christians by the love we have for God, one another, and for our neighbors.

Kindness is one of those attributes that rewards the giver with as much goodness as it gives the receiver. Usually the receiver is joyful and grateful for the kindness shown to him. Seeing how positively the receiver is makes the giver happy and joyful because he has made someone feel loved, appreciated, and blessed. Kindness improves relationships and everyone involved feels uplifted, encouraged, and recognized. Oftentimes the receiver passes on the kindness to someone else who needs it; and the kindness is like the leaven in bread that rises up and builds up relationships toward God and man.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”  (Colossians 3:12 NIV).

“I-Witnesses” for Christ

By Beth Fore

Jesus chose 12 men to be his apostles.  It was important, and necessary, that each one of these men was an “eyewitness” of Jesus. An “eyewitness” is a person who has personally seen something happen and can give a first-hand description.  These twelve apostles walked and talked and lived life with Jesus for three years of their lives.  They saw Him turn water into wine, heal the blind man and make him see, raise Lazarus from the dead, and perform many miracles right before their eyes.  They also saw their Master and Savior be crucified and resurrected.  These men were eyewitnesses to the words Jesus spoke and the miracles He performed.

These apostles, or eyewitnesses, shared the things they witnessed first-hand with other people so that they could come to know Jesus and believe that the miracles and teachings of God could be made known to all people. Everyone could hear the “good news” and know that Jesus became the lamb offered as a sacrifice on the altar to forgive all of our sins and to cleanse and sanctify us and make us holy in the eyes of our God.  As long as these apostles were alive, there was at least one eyewitness who could verify that Jesus came to earth and lived as a human being, subject to all the trials and temptations of human beings.  They could also verify his divinity as the Son of God who chose to live and to die for all people who would believe in Him and follow Him.

John the Baptist was an eyewitness to the divinity of Jesus, and we read of one very important event he witnessed, along with many other people, where John is baptizing Jesus.  “Then John gave this testimony; ‘I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him’.  And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’  I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen one” (John 1:32-34, New International Version).  John, and other people, witnessed the Holy Spirit of God remain on Jesus as He was baptized and declared to be God’s Chosen one.

Today, Christians cannot be eyewitnesses because Jesus left the earth and returned to heaven and resides there with the Father in His divine spirit.  So, how can Christians witness to people who do not know, or accept, Jesus as our Lord and Savior?   We can be “I-witnesses” for Christ by witnessing the ways we see and experience Him in our everyday lives and the many ways He blesses us and abides with us in every aspect of our lives.

A very effective way to witness for Christ to other people we encounter is to share with them our experiences with Him.  We can converse with people at work, at the grocery store, at the doctor’s office, at a restaurant, or any place where we interact with other people.  When we go somewhere that we will have some time to interact with others, it would be good for us to pray that God will lead us to someone present in that place whose heart is open to receive the gospel.  Then we should seize the moment and call upon the Holy Spirit to speak through us to share the gospel with this person.

There are many ways to open the opportunity to share our own experiences with Jesus with other people.  Here are a few ways you might consider.

  1. The weather is always an easy topic of conversation.  We can thank God for blessing us with rain, pleasant temperatures, or escaping harm in a tornado or hurricane.  God also shows His power and control over the weather.  Include Him in the conversation.  “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail, which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle?” (Job 38:22-23, NIV).
  2. Nature is all around us, and it is an easy topic to share.  We can talk about the beautiful flowers and trees blooming in the spring and share how we marvel at God’s creativity in the colors and shapes of plants and animals.  We can praise God for a beautiful orchid in the grocery store or a colorful crepe myrtle blooming in summer.  “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (Romans 1:20, NIV).
  3. Our jobs and interests often come up in conversation.  We can thank God for leading us to a particular job or group of people who share a mutual interest.  We can talk about praying to God in times of conflict and asking God for peace and wisdom in dealing with it.  “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Philippians 2:3-4, NIV).
  4. Shared experiences allow us to connect with others on a personal level.  If the person you are talking to has a friend who has recently died, has been diagnosed with a disease, or is going through a divorce, you can share how God helped you through a similar time and how you can see His handiwork now that some time has passed.  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV).
  5. We often reminisce about things that have happened in our past that were difficult and challenging at the time, but now we can see that they were an important part of our life story, and we need to share them.  God has a plan for each one of our lives, and He adds pieces to the puzzle along the way.  He unveils the mysteries of how all of these events in our life are part of His plan to bring us to maturity in Him so that we can glorify and honor Him and His Son Jesus above all else.  “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13, New King James Version).
  6. Ask the person if he or she would like you to pray for them for something specific.  If it is convenient, pray for them in place; if not, tell them you definitely will pray for them some time that day.  “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Ephesians 6:18, NIV).
  7. As you visit with this person, look for openings to invite them to a church event or Bible study.  Suggest a good spiritual book you have read lately or a good gospel music CD.  Tell them how these things have helped you mature in the Lord.  “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15, KJV).

These are some of the ways you can share your faith with other people.  You are the best witness for Jesus Christ.  People want to see people who live lives of faith and truly experience a meaningful relationship with Him.  They are more likely to listen to you when you share the ways God has blessed you and been present in every aspect of your life than they are when you try to teach or preach to them.  You will most likely feel more comfortable, more vulnerable, and more passionate when you speak to others from your heart and share the most important person in your life.

It is our purpose in life to bring honor and glory to our God, and the best way to do this is to share all the good things God has done for us and give him the credit and honor for every good thing in our lives.  “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31, NIV).

How Do We Fight Our Spiritual Battles?

We know in our minds that we wouldn’t even exist if God had not designed us. We probably have heard or read Scriptures about God being the source of our strength.

But, as we go about our daily routines, do we sometimes forget that we, as Christians, are in a spiritual battle and that He is our strength in that battle?

Satan wants to “steal and kill and destroy” us (John 10:10 NIV). His war-waging weapons — gossip, jealousy, slander, verbal attacks (to name a few) — are utterly useless in the spiritual realm. When we give into them, we are giving up. We are not fighting.

In Ephesians 6:10-18, we are told to “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (New International Version) and then the Apostle Paul lists the different parts of the armor — truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, the Word of God, “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (verse 18), be alert and continually pray for all of God’s people.

We need to fight spiritual battles with the full armor that God provides. Why? Because the weapons God provides have divine power (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). We need God’s power in this daily fight.

As we consider these weapons, let us ask God to show us HOW to put them into practice.

  • Certainly we must cling to God’s truth when we are in a spiritual battle; otherwise our armor is as weak as a lie. Let’s face reality for what it is, rather than clinging to an illusion. Let us always speak the truth.
  • Righteousness leads us to do what is right in the sight of God. This is especially important when we are tempted to put our own view or others’ view of what is right above God’s approval.
  • Readiness can only come when we have prepared our hearts with the truth of the Gospel. Preparation for battle comes before the battle!
  • Do we base our decisions on our conviction of God’s truth or on anything else? Faith is a shield that, through the power of God, we can quench all of Satan’s burning arrows. (What wouldn’t his arrows be on fire?)
  • A helmet protects the head. Salvation is our helmet. We know we are saved by the blood of the Jesus and this protects our soul as we are fighting against temptations.
  • The Word of God is referred to as the sword, which is used in battle for stabbing the enemy. We must know the Word to use it in the battle!
  • And pray. Pray with the help of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26). Don’t limit prayer! Pray all the time about everything “with all kinds of prayers and requests.”
  • Stay alert. Continually be on watch. The devil’s schemes are evil and often disguised, so we must be on the lookout.
  • Persevere in prayer for all God’s people. We all need the prayers of all the saints!

In order to change behavior, we must first be committed . . . and then we need to be reminded. Writing the Scripture and placing it where we can see it every day is one way to help us REMEMBER this battle plan. We need to pray about it, asking God to help us put it into practice each day.

May God help us fight the battle with His full armor and never try to do it on our own.

If you want to learn more about who Jesus and how to follow Him, here’s a short article to help you get started — https://woww.newlifebehavior.org/what-it-means-to-follow-jesus-how-to-become-a-christian/.

The Lord Deserves Our Praise!

“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night . . .”

(Psalm 92:1-2 New International Version).

Psalm 92 is a beautiful praise song. It expounds upon God’s character and lists many blessings we receive from God. We praise God for who He is and what He does!

“Love and faithfulness” is a theme throughout the Bible (vv. 1-4).

Remembering His love in the morning helps equip us for the day. Remembering His faithfulness at night reminds us to thank and praise Him.

The writer of this Psalm said the LORD makes him glad because of His deeds. The response? The writer sings for joy (v. 4)!

God has proven His love through His deeds in so many, many ways. Jesus’ obedience by allowing His creation to kill His physical body, causing Him to suffer tremendously demonstrates a love that cannot be paralleled.

He provides what we need to live in this life — food and clothing and other blessings.

What is our response? Let us sing for joy!

God’s works and thoughts are praised (v. 5), and they are worthy of our praise today.

Consider His great love for us. Think about the beauty of His creation. Ponder His righteousness. He is God alone. There is none like Him. Praise Him each and every day!

God’s enemies will be destroyed but He will be elevated forever (vv. 4-9).

Those who oppose God as well as those who do not choose Jesus as Lord and do not obey Him are His enemies. It is incredible that Jesus died for everyone! Even Jesus’ enemies are given the option to follow Him. Ultimately God’s enemies will be destroyed BUT our God’s power and rule will never end! He will be exalted forever!

He gives us strength and a reason to be happy and cheerful (v. 10).

Do we need strength to live in this world? Do we need strength to fight the spiritual battles we face? Do we need strength to persevere?

Yes!

God is the only true source of strength. Nothing we are capable of doing can match His strength and ability to make us strong.

Not only does He give us strength, He is our reason for being happy and cheerful. His love for YOU is unmatched. No one has or is capable of loving YOU like Jesus loves you.

We have His favor, His blessing.

There is NOTHING in this world that can compare to these blessings.

He defeated Israel’s enemies (v. 11) and He has defeated Satan (Hebrews 2:14-15, Colossians 2:6-15).

The Psalmist says he witnessed his enemies’ defeat.

Every time you say “NO” to Satan’s temptations, you are witnessing a portion of His defeat. He is a liar, a thief, and a killer.

“Lord God, help us not to buy into Satan’s lies, not to give in when He tempts us. Help us repent when we do. Forgive us, Father. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”

God makes us fruitful to the very end of our lives, even when we are old (vv. 12-14).

Bearing fruit in this sense means to demonstrate our love of God by obeying Him. When we bear fruit, we glorify God (John 15:8). The Holy Spirit lives in every Christian, and He produces the “fruit of the Spirit” in us (Galatians 5:22-23).

Age doesn’t prevent us from being fruitful. In fact, the writer of Psalm 92 says we will continue to bear fruit even when we are old! What a blessing it is to know that Christians have purpose regardless of age. Thank you, Father!

He is our Rock on which our confidence is built and in whom we take refuge (v. 15).

In Matthew 7, Jesus says that obedience is like building a house on a rock, where it will withstand the weather, instead of on sand, where it will fall.

In this life, we need a rock. But not just any rock. We need God the Father, Jesus our Savior, and Holy Spirit our Counselor as our Rock . . . the one on whom we build our lives, the one in whom we have confidence, the one we can run to for refuge and safety.

“Righteous God, we praise you for Your holiness, Your incredible love, and the joy and strength You give us. We praise You now and forevermore for You are worthy. Thank you for giving us a reason to be happy and cheerful, for making us fruitful even when we are old, and for being the Rock on which we stand. You are worthy of all praise! In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.”

If you want to learn what it means to follow Jesus, check out this article.

Who is Jesus? What does it mean to follow Him?

Freedom from Worldliness

By Victoria Essien, NLBI Women of Worth Worldwide Trainer in Nigeria

What is worldliness?

Worldliness is conforming to the world’s standard. Worldliness is anything that is opposed to being transformed. Worldliness is anything that is not Christ-like or that hinders “Christlikeness”. It is a nail that sin drives into the heart of Christians, separating them from God’s will for them, making their actions incompatible with their spiritual potential because it promotes selfish interest over loving God.

All worldliness is the opposite of spirituality. It is an obsession with temporal, material things, to the exclusion of spiritual growth and to the neglect of spiritual interest. It is a force that sidetracks the Christian from his or her greatest privilege — that of constant personal Christian growth and fruitful service.               

Christians are strongly warned about the dangers of worldliness by the apostle John.

“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever” (1 John 2:15–17 New American Standard Bible).”

No Christian should consider these dangers of worldliness to be trivial matters.

Worldliness Excludes the Love of the Father

John warned that if we love the world, we have no relationship with God. It is impossible to love the world and God at the same time. Love for the world pushes out love for God, and love for God pushes out love for the world. Love for the world cannot coexist with love for God.

The absolute thrust of this statement by John is striking and compels careful and serious reflection. The stakes are high. Because the Father’s kingdom is at war with the kingdom of this world, the two will never coexist peacefully. When love for the world increases, love for God dwindles. No human heart can hold these two opposing loves together. Remember Jesus’ statement in Matthew 6: 24,“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth (NASB).”

Worldliness Embraces the Temporal at the Expense of the Eternal

In 1 John 2:17, John also warned that the world and its lusts are heading towards everlasting destruction, while the obedient Christian is going to live eternally. The world and the genuine Christian do not share the same destiny. Anyone whose heart is set on the perishing world will inherit heartache and misery at the end.

No reasonable person would store treasure where it could be destroyed by rust or insects or place the things they treasure in a location where thieves are likely to steal them, would they? (See Matthew 6:19-21). The apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:31 teaches that the world, with all its fashion and lust, is heading towards eternal peril. This is also affirmed by the apostle Peter in 2 Peter 3:7,10.

So, if we love the glories and the pageantry of this world, we will pass away together with them. We will not only lose our treasure, but also our soul.

Christians, be cautioned: worldliness distracts us from taking delight in things that abide forever, even doing God’s will. Do not even flirt with the world; it will seduce you to destruction. Rather, follow the will of God in Christ Jesus and you will have eternal life.

It Weakens the Power of Evangelism

If our interest is on material acquisition, we likely will not see the need to go out to fish for lost souls. How many of us have ever participated or are willing to be involved in evangelism?

It Can Negatively Affect Our Christian Priorities

It can affect our speech, behaviors and other habits, including the way we dress. Worldliness in these areas influences others negatively. (Eph. 4:29, 1 Cor. 6: 18. I Tim 2:9).       

Once the world takes over the heart of a Christian, he or she will soon lose the enjoyment of the Father’s love and the desire to do the Father’s will. The Bible can be viewed as boring, and prayer can become a difficult chore. Even Christian fellowship may seem empty and disappointing. It is not that there is something wrong with those Christian activities, but rather, the Christian’s heart has become worldly. If we follow the ways of the world, we may begrudge and murmur the time, money and effort needed in the service of God’s kingdom.

Freedom from Worldliness

There are many Scripture-based actions we can take to focus our lives on God and not the world. Here are a few of them.

  1. Be on your guard against the temptation of worldliness – 1 Peter 5:8; Mark 14:38
  2. Maintain your regular quiet time, using that time for prayer and meditation – Mark 1:35
  3. Weigh every option before you with God’s unchanging word – Psalm 119:11
  4. Make the best use of available spiritual resources – Hebrews 10:25
  5. Maintain clean hands and a pure heart – Psalm 24:3,4
  6. Maintain a life of holiness everywhere – 1 Peter 1:14-16
  7. Practice remembering the constant, abiding presence of God – Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Hebrews 4:13
  8. Be conscious of heaven all the time – John 14:1-3
  9. Be watchful and spiritually alert – Luke 21:36
  10. Be prayerful – Luke 21:36
  11. Do not keep close company with unbelievers because they will lure you away from faith – II Corinthians 6:14-16
  12. Engage in the fellowship of the saints – Hebrews 10:25  
  13. Set both mind and heart on the things of heaven, rather than on earthly things – Colossians 3:1-2
  14. Remember two warnings from Jesus’ – a man’s life does not consist of the things he owns (Luke 12:15) and there is no profit in gaining the entire world but losing our soul (Matthew 16:26).

What’s the Next Step?

Consider sitting quietly before the Lord, confessing and repenting of any worldliness that you may be struggling with.

Confessing these things to a fellow Christian* whom you trust and praying together leads to healing (James 5:16).

You may want to write a Scripture and put it by your bedside to help you remember God’s love for you and His desire for you to be free from the things of this world so you can focus on following Him.

*We suggest that you have these types of discussions with a Christian who is the same gender as you – men confessing to men and women confessing to women.

OPENING YOUR HOME FOR JESUS

By Victoria E. Essien, NLBI Trainer in Nigeria

Challenges of financial hardship, insecurity and uncertainty have caused many to shrink in faith and think that the virtue of kindness as taught by Jesus is difficult to put into practice. In Luke 10:38, we learn that Martha welcomed Jesus into her home. Let us consider how we as Christian women can share with one another, despite the challenges we face.

Whom does Jesus want us to serve?

God has instructed us through several Bible passages to show kindness to others.

“Open your homes to each other, without complaining. Each of you has received a gift to use to serve others. Be good servants of God’s various gifts of grace” (I Peter 4:9-10 New Century Version). This message was written to Christians, so certainly we are to be hospitable to other Christians.

Isn’t it interesting that he says to do this without complaining? Undoubtedly there are times when hosting or helping other Christians is inconvenient. It’s certainly more challenging to help others if we don’t have a servant attitude!

In Romans 15:7, we are told to “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you” (New International Version). Paul is saying that we should receive people the way they are, not looking down on them because of their status. Christ accepted us even though we are sinners. We can show the love of Christ to others, even if they are different from us.

Why should we show hospitality?

Not minding our poor and dirty state, God first showed us love, receiving us with open arms. Even the unloved are loved by God. The story of the prodigal son, recorded in Luke 15:11-31, demonstrates how the Father was compassionate to His son who had been disobedient to God.

We are to show hospitality because we are stewards of God’s gifts. Everything we have comes from God, who has generously given these things to us; therefore, we are to use them wisely by sharing with others (I Timothy 6:17-19, I Chronicles 29:12-14, I Corinthians 4:7).

Consider also that each of us will be in need some day. As humans, our lives are filled with needs and challenges. Since we are living in a world of interdependence (and considering “no man is an Island”), we are bound to need assistance or the support of others at some point in our lives.

In Matthew 5:7, Jesus says the merciful will receive mercy. We should not expect help from others if we have failed to show mercy to another person when the opportunity presents itself. The story of the rich man and Lazarus in Matthew 16:19-31 clearly demonstrates this point.

In Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus taught us to store up treasure in heaven. He reminds us that everything we consider to be a treasure on earth can be consumed by moth and rust or stolen by thieves.  What does Jesus mean by this statement? He is teaching us that we are to use our money and other earthly possessions for the sake of Christ. Doing so honors Christ. It also implies that we should continue in our good works.

His lesson about the judgment day as presented in Matthew 25:31-46 clearly teaches that whatever we do to assist anybody, or fail to do, we are doing to Him. This presentation by Jesus Christ is a clear indication that our acts of service to others while here on earth are recorded and will be used in our favor — or against us — on the judgment day.

Biblical examples of people who opened their doors for others and were blessed

Abraham and Sarah opened their home to some visitors as recorded in Genesis 18: 1-15. They provided the visitors with water to wash themselves and food to eat. This act of kindness by Abraham and Sarah brought a special blessing to them, the birth of the promised son Isaac, although both of them were advanced in age. Not only were they blessed with a child, but Abraham also saved the life of his nephew Lot from destruction in the land of Sodom and Gomorrah, even though Lot’s wife was disobedient to her own peril.

In I Kings 17:7-16, we learn about the widow of Zarephath. This is another interesting and strong story that teaches the blessing of opening our homes to others, especially those who seek our help. She shared the little she had with the man of God. God’s promises were fulfilled in her life — she never lacked food for her family and even her dead son was raised back to life. What an overflow of divine blessings!!

Rehab the harlot hid the two spies sent out by Joshua to spy the land of Jericho, which God had given to the Israelites, as recorded in Joshua 2. Because she took in the spies and refused to release them to be killed by the people of Jericho, not only was her life spared, but God also spared the lives of others in her household when the Israelites overtook Jericho (Joshua 6:7).

From all the passages mentioned above, we learn that every act of kindness will be rewarded with blessings.

Conclusion

As Christians, we have been admonished to show kindness and love to people even when it hurts. We have been called to exhibit Christ-like characteristics each day (Colossians 3:12-14). When we do this, we store treasures for ourselves in heaven.

Spiritual Beings Created in the Image of God

by Beth Fore

Human beings are the greatest and most complex things God created.  The human body is composed of many different systems, each of which is a miraculous wonder within itself.  The fact that the systems all work together in harmony and accomplish their purposes, even under stress and duress, is a marvelous feat that only the most creative, imaginative, imminent, powerful Creator could produce.

In addition to the physical body, human beings also have minds, souls, hearts, emotions, and spirits.  Anyone who looks at a healthy human being surely should be in awe of the one who created such a remarkable, inconceivable, complex, integrated being.  And we marvel even more when we see the symphonies, the plays, the books, the architecture, the artwork, and all the other products human beings can produce.  God is truly an awesome God, and He alone is worthy of our honor, our praise, and our worship!

The Bible acknowledges God as the creator of human beings, created in likeness to the Creator.  In Genesis 1:26-28, we read, “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’  So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.  Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground’” (New International Version).

In this Scripture, God tells us that He (God the Father), Jesus Christ (His Son), and the Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit) together created mankind in their image, or likeness.  Since mankind has seen only Jesus Christ in a physical body, the image, or likeness, to which God is referring must be a spiritual image, or likeness.  Therefore, human beings (both male and female) have spirits that are like the spirit of God, and these spirits are housed within their physical bodies.

God created both male and female human beings in His image, and He told them to be fruitful and have many children to fill the earth. He also gave them the rule over all the fish, the birds, and all living creatures other than mankind. 

Human beings are fearfully and wonderfully made, and God created them; it is His desire that they believe Him, accept His gift, and obey Him so that He will receive the honor and glory that is due Him.   It is the spirit of man that must do these things.  The body of human beings carries out all the physical functions of mankind, and it will grow old and die; however, it is the spirit of human beings that carries out all of the spiritual aspects of mankind, and it will live on forever.

I Corinthians 15:42-49 says, “So will it be with the resurrection of the dead.  The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.  If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.  So it is written: ‘The first man Adam became a living being’; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.  The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.  The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven.  As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven.  And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man’” (NIV).

The body of mankind is perishable; it was created from dust, and it will die, decay, and return to dust.  The spirit of man is imperishable; God created it and placed it in mankind, and it will live forever, leaving the body when the body returns to dust.  So, it is the spirit of mankind that is the essence of each person, which is made in the image of God; and it is the part of mankind that will live on eternally.  It seems very logical that our spirit is the most important part of us, the part we should spend most of our time nurturing and maturing so that we can produce the gifts of the Spirit and honor and glorify our God.

It seems that most human beings spend a disproportionate amount of time focusing their energy and resources on the physical body, rather than the spirit.  Perhaps we should take an inventory of our time to see how much of it we spend on our physical appearance, the food and drink we enjoy, the entertainment and pleasure which bring us temporary satisfaction, and keeping our bodies healthy and in the least amount of pain possible.  For most people, the majority of their time is probably spent on these physical things.

I am now 77 years old, and I have Parkinson’s disease and many other physical ailments which make it very difficult for me to have the energy, or the ability, to accomplish the tasks I used to do easily.  It takes much more time and effort to perform the necessary tasks to take care of myself, such as dressing, bathing, eating, and getting up out of chairs and beds.  I realize that most of my time is spent just trying to accommodate the basic needs of my life!

Perhaps this is God’s way of making sure He has our attention and helping us really understand that we need Him in every area of our lives.  We are no longer the independent, do-it-yourself, self-sufficient, egocentric people we once were.  There are many things we cannot do for ourselves, and we need the help of others to live our lives. 

Once a person has unraveled this mystery of life, or God has unraveled it for him, the person realizes that the body is only a house, a dwelling place for the spirit.  Regardless of the house, whether it be a 50-room mansion or a one-room shack, it is only temporary; and one day it will be destroyed.  But the spirit of man can live in any house, thriving and being joyful and fruitful.  The spirit of man thrives when it is in harmony with the Holy Spirit of God who lives with man’s spirit inside of him. For this reason, the disciple James could say, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4 NIV).

Every person, including Christians, will face trials and temptations of many kinds in this life. These things test a person’s faith, and the person who withstands the trials and perseveres through all of them will become a mature and complete Christian. That is the goal for each Christian’s life. So, a Christian should not ask God to spare him from every trial and temptation in life; rather, a Christian should ask God to give him the strength and perseverance to remain faithful and strong in the Lord throughout these trials and temptations.  Only then can a person become mature and complete in Christ.

Before Jesus ascended to heaven after His resurrection, He promised to leave the Holy Spirit with the apostles to lead them into all truth and to guide and lead them where they needed to go. They would never be alone!

Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.  The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him.  But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:15-17 NIV).

God’s Holy Spirit lives in the heart of the Christian.  He is our advocate, and He will help us and be with us forever!  What a blessing and wonderful thought for us to ponder!  God doesn’t just send us a wonderful spiritual mentor; He gives His own Holy Spirit to live with us and in us and to be present in our lives always!  That is an incomparable blessing and gift from our God!   It also reminds us that our physical bodies also house the Holy Spirit of God.  This should encourage us to take the best care of our bodies because the body of each Christian is the temple of God.

Jesus also prayed for all believers that they would be unified and be as one.  He prayed, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.  May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.   I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity.  Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:20-23 NIV).

Since human beings are God’s creation, and He has made us in His image, our spirits are in harmony with Christ and the Holy Spirit who live within us and give us everything we need to be fruitful and shine the light in the darkness, so that people will know God and His Son, Jesus Christ.  We also need to remind ourselves daily that God is imminent over every person and every thing, and we have nothing to fear.  The evil forces may harm, and even kill, our physical bodies, but they can’t kill our spirit because the Scripture says, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (I John 4:4 NIV).

The Spirit Within Us

Human beings are God’s mastery in creation,

formed in His image from His imagination.

It is our spirit within us that defines each one of us,

not our fleshly bodies which God formed from the dust.

The spirit within us is not defined by our gender;

neither male nor female does the Creator prefer.

Though the body is physical and only temporary,

the spirit is spiritual and will live on eternally.

The fleshly body that houses our spirit within

may be an extravagant mansion or a cave-like den.

It may be healthy and beautiful, appealing to the eye,

or it may be diseased and ugly, “repulsive” we decry!

The body has limitations which affect our perspective

and it influences the way we feel, think, and live;

but the spirit within us is boundless and free

and can delight in the LORD, filled with joy abundantly.

Just as our bodies need food, water, and air,

so our spirits need spiritual nurturance and care.

Our spirits long to live with God’s Spirit in unity

and to live with other people in peace and harmony.

The body of a Christian is God’s temple, His residing place,

where human spirits live and enjoy His amazing grace.

Though the body grows old and returns to dust forevermore,

the human spirit lives eternally with Christ, whom we adore!

Discussion Questions

  1. How would you explain the scripture, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness….”  (Genesis 1:26)?
  2. Why do you think we spend so much more time on the body, rather than the spirit?
  3. What are some ways you can focus more on your inner spirit?
  4. Why is it so important to understand that the body is perishable and the spirit is imperishable?
  5. Why are trials and temptations so important to the Christian?
  6. What does it mean to you that both Christ and the Holy Spirit dwell within you?
  7. What are some specific ways that this indwelling of God in you makes you a much stronger and joyful person?
  8. How does an understanding of the importance of your spirit help you better cope with physical illnesses?
  9. As a mature Christian, what advice would you give a young Christian about dealing with the trials and tribulations he will face?