WALKING AND GROWING IN THE LORD

TOPIC: WALKING AND GROWING IN THE LORD

TEXT:  Rom. 8:1-14

(A). OVERTURE: You made the most important decision of your life, the moment you chose to receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord.  At that moment, you were born into God’s family (John 3:1-5) and you received everything you need to live the abundant Christian life that is found in John 15:1-10.   When the believers walk together in faith, they will also grow to become a formidable body that will stand as a threat for Satan and his Cohorts.

(B).   WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WALK AND GROW IN THE LORD?

(1) It simply means to enter into an intimate relationship with God through faith in His Son (Heb. 10:22).

(2) Again, it means to have an unquenchable desire to please and satisfy God. Jesus said: My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work (John 4:34; 6:38, NIV).

(3) ‘Walking and growing’ in the Lord means to be in close proximity wit God.(hear his voice, listen and share your heart with him). A.W. Tozer states that ‘‘the goal of every Christian should be howto live in a state of unbroken worship with God.’’ This is only possible when we walk with God. Walking and growing in the Lord means to deepen our relationship with God.

(C).   Before a Church can walk and grow in the Lord, She must be ready to be:

(1)A Berea Christian Church (Acts 17:11, James 1:18-27, 1Peter 2:2). The word of God is not only divinely inspired; it has the basis of our belief as Christians. It gives us God’s perspective on how we should live and how we can be fruitful witnesses for our Lord Jesus. Ps. 119:11 says: Your word I have kept in   that I may not sin against you.’’

CHARACTERISTICS OF BEREAN CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Ø They meticulously and deeply studied the Bible

Ø They were students of the Bible

Ø They loved the word of God.

(2).She must be ready to be a Romans 12 Christian Church(Rom. 12:1-21): A Romans 12 Christian Church is a church that trusts God. N.B: The more you know God, the deeper He takes you into His heart.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A ROMANS 12 CHRISTIAN CHURCH

1.   They present their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God (Vs.1).WHY DO WE NEED TO PRESENT OUR BODIES HOLY AND ACCEPTABLE UNTO GOD?

(A)Our nature does not have ability to know God. Therefore, we are sinful in nature.Rom.8:7.

(B)Our nature was anti God before we were buried with Him by baptism into death: that like Christ was raised from the death by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life(Rom.6:4).

2.   They are not conformed to this world (1Jh 2:15-16). Vs. 2.A sinner will always sin because sin is in his nature.

3.   They are transformed by the renewing of their minds to show to the unbelieving world that Christ was in them. (Vs 2)

4.   They are not proud and arrogant- Vs. 3

5.   They are united as a body of Christ. Vs. 4-5

6.   They do the work of the ministry according to the proportion of their faith. Vs. 6-7

7.   They advise one another. Vs. 8

8.   They lead with diligence and showed mercy with Cheerfulness Vs. 8

9.   They love without deceit and reservation. Vs. 9-10

10.They were not lazy. They did every Spiritual assignment given to them with seriousness and eagerness. Vs. 11

11. They rejoice in hope. They were patient and instant in prayers.Vs.12.

12. They care for one another- Vs. 13

13. They love their enemies and rejoice with those who rejoice. Verses 14-15

14. They have one mind and are not wise in their own sight.

15. They live peacefully with others

16. They give room for vengeance.

3. She must Fellowship with Christ-1 Cor. 12:12-27; Heb. 10:23-25

4. She must be prayerful- Mat. 26:31-75; 1 Thess. 5:17, John 14:13-14.

5. She must OBEY HIS command for witnessing.  Acts 26:12-29; Rom.1:14-16; Rom.6:14-23

Finally, the key to rapid growth in a Christian life is Obedience to the will of God. Half or partial obedience is equal to disobedience. The outreach of the Church is worldwide. Therefore, we must go and tell others about the love of Jesus.  You can start in the Church here……

Responsive reading:

THE WAY OF WISDOM

Job 28:12-13,15, 20, 23, 28;

Prov. 3:13-17; James 1:5

Where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding?

Man knoweth not the price thereof neither is it found in the land of the living.

It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.

Whence then cometh wisdom? And where is the place of understanding?

God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.