Posted by: Shirley Smith on Mon, Aug 13, 2018
"OBEDIENCE BRINGS SPIRITUAL MATURITY"
Pastor Johnson’s message came from Deuteronomy 31:12-13, Matthew 4:1-10, Corinthians 10:3-6, Ephesians 6:14, Ephesians 3:14-18, and Matthew 3:2-3. The topic was “Obedience Brings Spiritual Maturity” with the following sub topics:
“The Call”
Call them all together, the Lord instructed, men, women, children and foreigners living among you to hear the laws of Goad and to learn his will, so that you will reverence the Lord your God and obey his laws. Do this so that your little children who have not known these laws will hear them and learn how to revere the Lord your God as long as you live in the Promise Land.
“The Temptation”
Then Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit, to be tempted there by Satan. For forty days and forty nights he ate nothing and became very hungry. Then Satan tempted him to get food by changing stones into loaves of bread. It will prove you are the Son of God, he said. But Jesus told him, No! For the Scriptures tell us that bread won’t feed men’s souls: obedience to every word of God is what we need. Then Satan took him to Jerusalem to the roof of the Temple. Jump off, he said, and prove you are the Son of God: for the Scriptures declare, God will send his angels to keep you from harm …they will prevent you from smashing on the rocks below. Jesus retorted, it also says not to put the Lord your God to a foolish test! Next Satan took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him the nations of the world and all their glory. I’ll give it all to you, he said, if you will only kneel and worship me. Get out of here, Satan, Jesus told him. The Scriptures say, Worship only the Lord God. Obey only Him.
“The Weapon>THE WORD OF GOD”
It is true that I am an ordinary, weak human being, but I don’t use human plans and methods to win my battles. I use God’s mighty weapons, not those made by men, to knock down the devil’s strongholds. These weapons can break down every proud argument against God and every wall that can be built to keep me from finding him. With these weapons, I can capture rebels and bring them back to God and change them into men whose hearts’ desire is obedience to Christ. I will use these weapons against every rebel who remains after I have first used them on you yourselves and you surrender to Christ. But to do this, you will need the strong belt of truth and the breastplate of God’s approval. Wear shoes that are able to speed you on as you preach the Good News of peace with God. In every battle you will need faith as your shield to stop the fiery arrows aimed at you by Satan. And you will need the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit- which is the Word of God. Pray all the time. Ask God for anything in line with the Holy Spirit’s wishes. Plead with him, reminding him of your needs, and keep praying earnestly for all Christians everywhere. (Revelation 3:19-22) I continually discipline and punish everyone I love; so I must punish you unless you turn from your indifference and become enthusiastic about the things of God. Look! I have been standing at the door, and I am constantly knocking. If anyone hears me calling him and opens the door, I will come in and fellowship with him and he with me. I will let everyone who conquers sit beside me on my throne, just as I took my place with my Father on his throne when I had conquered. Let those who can hear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
“The Maturity of the Holy Spirit”
For this reason (grasping the greatness of this plan by which Jews and Gentiles are joined together in Christ) I bow my knees (in reverence) before the Father (of our Lord Jesus Christ), from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name (God-the first and ultimate Father). May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, (indwelling your innermost being and personality), so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been (deeply) rooted and securely grounded in love, be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and dept of His love (fully experiencing that amazing, endless love).
“The Preaching of John the Baptist”
In those days, John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the Wilderness of Judea (along the western side of the Dead Sea) and saying, Repent change your inner self-your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life) for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. This is the one who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said, The voice of one shouting in the wilderness, prepare the road for the Lord, make His highways straight (level, direct)!
Read the scriptures and be blessed!
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