There has been a lot of changes in my life. Through this journey of growing in my spiritual life, some of the things I have grown to trust, are not trustworthy anymore. Some of the friends that I've grown to cherish, are now far from me. And I have learned new things from the Word of God, and I never stopped learning. It has changed the way I think, my faith, and the entire way of how I live my life. I have left my church and my fellowship. Now I am beginning to feel the loneliness that comes with spreading the gospel. That comes with standing for the truth, and nothing but the truth. I can feel a little of what Paul felt in his writings, when people who were called "brothers" turned away from him, and he was all alone(1 Timothy 1:15). But still, he pressed on for the crown. The crown that he has been running for. Paul never quit, even when he was all alone. When was dragged out of the city, stoned, and left for dead, he got up again, and went back into the city to preach the Word of God (Acts 14:20). Oh how I wish I was as couragious as him. This is what we should be doing as Christians. Be bold and courageous, spreading the gospel, so that people can hear it, and believe. Christians are so busy today doing so-called "Christian" things. Some of them are even so busy that they don't have time to share the Word of God. The only way that people can believe is by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). That is why Romans 10:15 says, “ How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”. Pauls says in Romans 1:16 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. And might I ask how many of us are ashamed of Him on a daily basis? Ashamed to be seen praying in public. Ashamed to sharing the gospel with our friends when the Spirit has prompted us. Even ashamed at times to let our employers or teachers or leaders know that we are. We all have been guilty of this, I know. If not in words, then in our hearts, we have. There is nothing else that saves, you guys. A person needs to hear the gospel, so that they can have faith and believe in God. It is our duty to spread the gospel to all people. It's about time we take up what Paul wrote to Timothy. 2 Timothy 1:7-9 7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ... Most important of all, how can you spread the gospel as a Christian if you don't even know thet gospel? Every Christian is suppose to be continuingly growing in the Word of God. The Word of God teaches us who God is, what His will is, and how we should go about living in it. Christians are not free to do whatever they want. Sure they do human things, but their mind should be Christ-like. We live in the Spirit, not in the flesh. Do not let your flesh consume your life. Romans 8:5 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. Do not continue to live wordly as the rest of the world. We do not set our minds on things of this world, but of things in kingdom of God. James 4:4-6 4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?[a] 6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."[b] So what do Paul say to this?: Galatians 5:16-21 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,[ fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. We are all human and we all have sin: Ecclesiates 7:10 20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin. But if you are in Christ, you are a new creature, and therefore you will not continue to live a life of sin. If you call yourself a Christian, but find yourself living in a continous life a sin, you must examine yourself again. Because the Word of God say whoever born of God, cannot continue sinning. 1 John 3:9 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. Galatains 5:24 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. We should know the gospel we are preaching! How do we know? By studying the Word of God, so we will not be as Ephesians 4 says" that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men,..." Anyone who do not know God's Word will not know truth from untruth, and will not be able to stand up from the Truth against falsehood. Many people still do not know what they believe in, or the doctrines taught to us from God's Word even though they have claimed Christ for a long time. A lot of us are still confused with doctrine, and what God's Word allows or do not allow. This is milk, and we have not grown to take in food. Hebrews 5 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, 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. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. We should continue growing in His Word, so that we can take in solid food, know the foundations of our faith, and be able to spread the gospel. By taking solid food, we will be able to know Truth from untruth, and know how to discern both good and evil, and that is by knowing the Word of God. How can we go on to teach others when we do not even know the foundations of our faith, the doctrines and principles we shall live by that the bible teaches? Some people are even puzzled that we use the bible to give us doctrine to live by and believe. Doctrine is the similar to "teaching." Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 1 Timothy 4:16
Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you. Now there is no question whether we should use the doctrine in the bible in our daily lives. We are to live by them, and learn and know them. Doctrine is important. Because only the Truth shall set people free. And in order for them to be free, they have to hear the Words of Truth and believe. -Adaneth |