[July 6. 2008] YOUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH PLAN
- pastor Dennis Leonard (Heritage christian Center in Denver, Colorado, the US)
Proverbs 21:5, Hebrews 5:12-14
The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
For though by this time you ought to be teacher, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
1. When athletes try out for a team, they will condition themselves to the best of their abilities.
a. They will eat the right foods, get the proper amount of sleep, and mentally prepare themselves for the test ahead.
2. As a Christian, you must be conditioned properly everyday or you will fall into the danger of getting hurt.
a. As part of your spiritual growth plan, you need to read your Bible, pray, and lean on the Lord everyday.
b. You need to pay your tithes with great joy, because it's part of your growth plan.
3. You will never grow up in Christ, until you decide to live a life of soiritual discipline.
a. You will never be able to put away childish behavior until you are spiritually disciplined and pick up the cross and follow Christ Jesus.
4. Discipline wil determine how far you go in life.
a. If you expect to excel spiritually, then you will have to make some changes.
b. If you are not growing in the Lord, it's because you are not pressing toward maturity.
5. Maturing in Christ means doing things that your flesh doesn't want to do.
a. It means you go t church even when ou are tired.
b. It emans you forgive people who don't deserve yor forgiveness.
6. If you want more of God, then he will have to have more of you.
a. Draw near to God and he will draw near to you (James 4:8)
7. Sometimes it hurts to get in shape; as long as working out is painful, then you are not in shape.
a. If it still hurts to forgive people then you are not in shape.
b. If it still hurts to tithe then you are not in shape.
8. When you don't condition yourself properly, the enemy can blindside you and injure you.
a. The moment you stop conditioning yourself properly injuried can come your way.
9. The Bible says that our God is no respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34)
a. If you are unhappy with your life then you have to have a plan t bring about change.
b. If you are unhappy concerning your walk with the Lord, then you have to have a plan to make some changes.
c. If you want to lose weight or get your body in shape, then you have to have a plan.
10. Apostle Paul said that you have been seved for years and you ought to me teachers by now. (Hebrews 5:12)
a. You are a spiritual baby and you will never see your destiny fulfilled, because you won't press toward maturity.
b. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away chilish things. (1 Corinthians 13:11)
11. Discipline is necessary if you are going to excel in anything in this life.
a. If you don't like where you are, you need to make some changes.
b. If you want to get stronger, you have to stretch your muscles and work out.
12. You know you're maturing when:
a. You don't know how you are going to pay your bills, but you tithe anyway.
b. You have a good excuse for not coming to church, but you show up anyway.
c. You decide to submit to people in authority, and you stop causing undercurrents.
13. When you are growing up in Christ, you press toward the mark.
a. You have too much invested to blow it now.
b. You have to much favor to throw it away.
14. You may be in the wilderness today, but you know it's only a matter of time until God brings you out.
a. Jesus said, "...In the world you will jave tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
b. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of then all. (Psalm 34:19)
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Pastor said, "Do you want avoid to feel lonely? Let your mind not be alone. This sounds ridiculous, I know, but Lord gave family, friends, something of relationship."
Sometimes, I felt loney, and i complained of my loneliness. However, I realized that i was wrong after i listend to today's sermon. My Lord gives me the relationship to care my loneliness. I should thank my Lord for giving help.
