TESTING GROWTH IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK
(The following message was preached on August 20, 2011 at Huntington Beach during CICF's Beach Day)
In various areas of our life, such as work, school, sports, cultural arts, etc., we are expected to show some kind of improvement in a reasonable amount of time. For example, if I were a long distance runner or a tennis player or a musician, I would do my very best to constantly practice and regularly train myself with the goal of improving.
The question is, How about your Christian walk? Is there noticeable improvement and growth since you've received Christ as your Lord and Savior?
When it comes to spiritual maturity, we cannot simply take for granted that we're growing. We are instructed in God's Word to constantly "examine" and "test" ourselves.
2 Corinthians 13:5 says,
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test?
To evaluate our personal progress, the following seven points are areas we can honestly test ourselves to see if we are truly growing as Christians. Remember, this short list is just a place to start because many more things could be added to the list, but here are seven to consider:
1. You become more aware of God's presence, and who He is.
2. You become increasingly aware of your sinfulness and weaknesses.
3. You respond to sin and conviction with quick repentance.
4. You grow in humility with a teachable spirit.
5. You view trials and temptations as opportunities for growth that God has allowed to happen.
6. You read God's Word with the goal of transforming YOUR heart, and NOT just to finish the task of reading or to puff up your head with knowledge.
7. You have the desire to tell others about Christ and the Christian faith you live.
So how's your Christian walk? Are you growing?
In various areas of our life, such as work, school, sports, cultural arts, etc., we are expected to show some kind of improvement in a reasonable amount of time. For example, if I were a long distance runner or a tennis player or a musician, I would do my very best to constantly practice and regularly train myself with the goal of improving.
The question is, How about your Christian walk? Is there noticeable improvement and growth since you've received Christ as your Lord and Savior?
When it comes to spiritual maturity, we cannot simply take for granted that we're growing. We are instructed in God's Word to constantly "examine" and "test" ourselves.
2 Corinthians 13:5 says,
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test?
To evaluate our personal progress, the following seven points are areas we can honestly test ourselves to see if we are truly growing as Christians. Remember, this short list is just a place to start because many more things could be added to the list, but here are seven to consider:
1. You become more aware of God's presence, and who He is.
2. You become increasingly aware of your sinfulness and weaknesses.
3. You respond to sin and conviction with quick repentance.
4. You grow in humility with a teachable spirit.
5. You view trials and temptations as opportunities for growth that God has allowed to happen.
6. You read God's Word with the goal of transforming YOUR heart, and NOT just to finish the task of reading or to puff up your head with knowledge.
7. You have the desire to tell others about Christ and the Christian faith you live.
So how's your Christian walk? Are you growing?
1 Comments:
I really enjoyed reading the posts on your blog. I would like to invite you to come on over to my blog and check it out. God bless, Lloyd
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