Exodus 23:30 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land.
This verse occurs in the story as the people of Israel are being told how God intends to give them the Promised Land. God will give them the land! Doubting that God will give them the land is not part of the equation!
Realizing that it was going to be costly, require effort and time was part of the equation. He said very clearly that by little and little He would give them the land until they grew to the point that they could inherit all the land.
This is how it works in our spiritual life. You were born again and immediately expect God to take you to maturity in Christ. That is not how it works. Salvation is a gift-a free gift-to you and me!
Growth is actually a free gift also because He that birthed us will mature us (Philippians 1:6). But to grow we will have to work, invest time, pay a price. We will get all the promises that God has for us. He came to give us an abundant life (John 10:10).
He has greater plans for us than we could ever have imagined (1Corinthians 2:9). We have victory over sin (Romans 6:9).
We do take steps to this victory however! (Colossians 3:1-17).
One of the things that most frustrated me when I first got saved and still frustrates me often is that I want so desperately to arrive-to be all that God has for me but I know that I have so much growing to do!
I need to realize that He already loves me with everything and that I will never be more loved or for that matter less loved! However I need to continue feeding myself with the Word of God. Get into fellowship with other believers, fill my heart with the Scriptures, pray and little by little all that He has done will show forth in me.
Christian growth is a process. I am under no threat or guilt but I want to grow. I want to be more like Jesus just like the children of Israel would have wanted to inherit all that God had for them.
Victory is guaranteed. It is just a matter of the process. So little by little I challenge you to just keep adding to! Read these verses and you will get the idea! 2Peter 1:5-6
All parents of dating age kids should read this article by Cary Schmidt!
This is the first in a series of three articles.
Over the years, the Lord has allowed me the privilege to serve families and students in their journey together. Hundreds of teens have graduated from our student ministry, and the vast majority of them are living faithfully for the Lord—all by God’s grace and to His glory. In the day to day efforts, my wife and I have been involved as counselors, mentors, and sometimes disciplinarians in literally hundreds of budding and developing “dating relationships.” Not long ago, we sat down together and listed the ten most common mistakes that we see parents make when it comes to their teenager’s romantic attractions.
Exodus 13:14 And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come saying What is this that thou shalt say unto him
This verse occurs just after the nation of Israel has been rescued from the nation of Egypt. God has by miracle brought them out. They have seen God send 10 plagues. They have seen God open and shut the Red Sea. They have seen God do great and mighty things.
Then God through His servant tells them that they will tell these stories to their children. They were to sacrifice the firstborn and redeem the first born. Their children would not understand. They would want to know why and what was going on.
The parents were to be prepared to explain to their children why they were doing what they were doing. This brings several questions to my mind.
Could it be that the reason our children or many young people today are not satisfied with church and Christianity is that parents follow the ritual but have forgotten why and certainly have never explained to their children what is going on.
Why do we worship God? Why do we sing those words? What do they mean? Why do we get so excited about salvation, God, the church, the Bible, preaching, etc.
Maybe a better question would be do we? Do we get excited about those things or do we not even know the answers for ourselves.
Every child is going to ask questions. They should be allowed to ask questions. You need never worry about whether or not God or His Word can stand up to their scrutiny because it can. The question is are you able to answer the questions.
Have you become such a lazy Christian that you have the form of godliness but deny the power? Do you just go through the routine, the ritual but have no real relationship?
Let this today challenge you to get into the Word of God! Let it cause you to get involved in discipleship to learn the lessons and make them yours. Decide today to grow in grace.
You have little ones following you and they want to know WHY! Get ready to answer them. 1Peter 3:15
I am regularly asked about what music to use in worship. I think that there has been much controversy over very little Bible content. Reading the following article I think that the author makes some good Biblical points and want to invite you to read his article by clicking here.
Worship Music Should Be Intentionally Scriptural
Worship Music Should Be Intentionally God-Glorifying
Worship Music Should Be Intentionally Christ-Centered
Worship Music Should Be Intentionally Congregational
On Thursday night we will have the regular Quiz that we have been doing-but a warning-the questions this week will have to do with Heaven!
I have been asked recently to know more about Heaven-Here is your chance-come-be ready for a lively discussion!
On Sunday night we will have our questions from the floor. You can begin emailing them in, writing them on a sheet of paper or texting them to one of the office guys phones-just get them in. I will answer without preparation as they are placed on the screen.
Then here is the answers to the Christmas quiz since we were unable to get to all of them. There is always much to be discussed so if you find something you want to talk more about then Sunday night is your time.
Philip has posted the answers in the next post so check them out and ask questions if you want!
