SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Newsletter 257                                             August 21, 2011                
         
1 Corinthians 13 New King James Version

We have all seen pictures of starving babies. Famine is spreading over large portions of the globe for different reason, but the end is the same. Sometimes it is unrest and war. Farming comes to a stop, and food soon is lacking. The hungry parent neglects the little ones first. Even in the best of times I have noted, in Africa, that the men of the family eat well. The mothers eat a poorer selection, and if there is any thing, left the children scrape it from what is left on a plate or pan here or there with their fingers. When water is scarce and the streams dry up, everyone suffers and soon the little ones start to die. A mother can not nurse her children if she herself is struggling to live.

Spiritually speaking, the line of supply and demand is much the same. We have a friend who runs a weekly “soup kitchen”, not necessarily soup as it has to be much finger food, served up with Bible instruction.  The children flock for a proper meal; hundreds of them! The Bible lessons they hear are about all they know about the Bible. That is in a culture where “stories” are a part of their heritage. That is the old way to teaching them.

How many new Christians expect to stay just about where they were spiritually when they were first baptized into the Lord. Keep in mind that this is called a new birth. Baptism is the starting point, ,just as we expect physical growth in our children, God expects Spiritual growth in His children. Our Spiritual food is the word, applied through prayer and sharing. Just as you cut a potato into portions, each with an eye, to produce a patch of potatoes. You produce fruit by sharing.

THE BABY ISN’T GROWING!

A clanging cymbal alone is not a very beautiful sound. It has to be a blend with other instruments. I am often reminded of poor Amos as he quotes God, “Therefore the Lord of hosts, the Lord says this:” (Amos 516, Amos 5:23) “Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.” What he seems to be emphasizing is that the people lacked in sincere worship. All the noise, is just noise if the heart is not filled with love, I can not help but remember a gentleman who prayed the most beautiful prayers, but who arrived at worship staggering drunk to pick a fight because he had not been invited to event the night before.  God blesses each of us with gifts which He expects us to use with love.

1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. (1 Corinthians 12:10, 2 Corinthians 12:4, Revelation 14:2, Psalm 150:5)

2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (Matthew 7:22, Acts 13:1, 1 Corinthians 11:4, 1 Corinthians 13:8, 1 Corinthians 14:1, 1 Corinthians 14:39, 1 Corinthians 14:2, 1 Corinthians 15:51, Romans 15:14, 1 Corinthians 12:9, Matthew 17:20, Matthew 21:21, Mark 11:23)

3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.  (Matthew 6:2)

SIGNS OF GROWTH

Love is not something to be flaunted, not something, to envy, but flows from our hearts naturally as we grow S[iritually.

4  Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;  (Proverbs 10:12, Proverbs 17:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, 1 Peter 4:8, Acts 7L9, 1 Corinthians 4:6)

5  does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; (1 Corinthians 10:24, Philippians 2:21, 2 Corinthians 5:19)

6  does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; (1 Thessalonians 2:12, 2 John 4, 2 John 3)

7  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 9:12)

A WELL ROUNDED ADULT

The end result is a well rounded life used for the Lord. It is the one gift that will last for ever. There won’t be evangelistic meetings to convert the heathen in heaven, for all will already be living for the Lord, there will be no needs for tongs to evangelize the world, for that era is finished. We shall all possess full knowledge, for we see and all our questions are apparent.  Perfection has arrived, all the prophecies are fulfilled

8  Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. (1 Corinthians 13:2, 1 Corinthians 13:1)

9  For we know in part and we prophesy in part. (1 Corinthians 8:2, 1 Corinthians 13:12)

10  But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

11  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 childish things.

12  For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. (2 Corinthians 5:7, Philippians 3:12, James 1:23, Genesis 32:30, Numbers 12:8, 1 John 3:2, 1 Corinthians 8:3)

13  And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (Galatians 5:6)      

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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2011
                                             AUGUST

 21st.     Sunday –    2 Chronicles 15, 16, 17,   1 Corinthians 15:1-29,   Psalm 101
 22nd.    Monday –   2 Chronicles 18, 19,   1 Corinthians 15:30-58, Psalm 102:1-11
23rd.    Tuesday –   2 Chronicles 20,   1 Corinthians 16,   Psalm 102:12-19
24th.    Wednesday -   2 Chronicles 21, 22,   1 Timothy 1, 2,    Proverbs 20:21-30
25th.   Thursday -   2 Chronicles 23, 24,    1 Timothy 3, 4,   Psalm 102:20-28
26th.   Friday –   2 Chronicles 25, 26,   1 Timothy 5,    Psalm 103:1-12
27th.   Saturday -   2 Chronicles 27, 28,   1 Timothy 6,   Psalm 103:13-22
                                            __________
                                         
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                                          THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“And now abideth  faith, hope, love, but the greatest of these is love.”

                                                      1 Corinthians 13:13
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"Do you believe in life after death?" the boss asked one of his employees.

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"Well, then, that makes everything just fine, " the boss went on. "After you left early yesterday to go to your grandmother's funeral, she stopped in to see you."