| Get your 'self' out of the way so God can work! | | | | - Rebellion or Disobedience: Follow your conscience. If |
| He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30) | | | | you know something is wrong, don't do it. |
| John the Baptist was talking about Jesus. At first | | | | - Deliberate Sin: This is the most commonly recognized |
| glance, you may think he is talking about their | | | | block to God. (See Colossians 2:21) God cannot look |
| respective popularity or ministries. He may have. But it | | | | upon sin. Don't worry, sin is forgivable if you are |
| must also happen in our individual lives. Jesus must | | | | repentant (sorry for what you have done and turn |
| increase in our lives, and worldly thoughts that we've | | | | from that activity). God's grace is not a license to sin, |
| had since childhood must decrease. Our wants and | | | | but a way out. Accept it and He will remove not only |
| desires as fleshly people are directly contrary to God's | | | | the sin, but even the very desire. It is awesome. An old |
| desires. In order for your spirit to grow, it must become | | | | sage once said, a clear conscience is the softest |
| unencumbered by your flesh and soul (Mind, will, | | | | pillow. |
| emotions). | | | | - Resentments and Unforgiveness: A mind that is |
| Note: | | | | thinking about how badly they were treated is not |
| The following text assumes that you have accepted | | | | thinking about God (God is very polite. He will not yell |
| Jesus as Savior and been baptized (If you want any | | | | and scream in your face.) Forgive the wrongs others |
| hope of growing spiritually, get baptized. Baptism will | | | | have done to you. Even if they are not sorry they did |
| not save your soul, but do it. You will be very glad you | | | | it. Resentments only do you harm. I've heard it said that |
| did.) | | | | unforgiveness is like taking poison hoping the other |
| Spiritual maturity will happen naturally as a result of | | | | person will die. It's that important. How to forgive? Pray |
| removing the obstacles between you and God. Just | | | | for the other person. Not just some generic prayer for |
| like when you were a kid, no conscious effort could | | | | their well-being -- but pray that they get all the good |
| make you grow one inch. You eat right, get exercise, | | | | things that you wish for yourself. After a few weeks, |
| and growth happens. Same with your spirit. | | | | or even month or so, you will begin to truly feel like you |
| With spiritual growth, as with a healthy body, there are | | | | want good things to happen to them. It really works. |
| things you need to eat. And there are things you must | | | | Also, thinking upon all the things you have been |
| stop eating. | | | | forgiven for is a big help. |
| Things to do for spiritual growth | | | | - Fear: The opposite of fear is not courage. Courage is |
| The spiritual things you need to 'eat' are many. The | | | | doing what needs to be done even when you are |
| basic food groups are: study your Bible, fellowship with | | | | afraid. The opposite of fear is faith. If you have faith in |
| other Christians, and be helpful and charitable. In other | | | | almighty God, what can there possibly be to be afraid |
| words, live as godly a life as God give you the grace. | | | | of? |
| Major things to get rid of (with God's help and | | | | - Guilty Feelings: Confess your sins, and Jesus is just to |
| guidance. You cannot do it alone): | | | | forgive. (See 1 John 1:9) if you have confessed your |
| - Flesh must die: Dying to self is not physical death. | | | | sins and have turned form that sin, and still feel guilty, it |
| You must consider yourself dead to your flesh. If you | | | | is probably just the devil trying to steal your peace. |
| are thinking about fleshly things -- things of this world -- | | | | Just keep reminding yourself (out loud is best) that you |
| you are not thinking about God. Jesus said that in order | | | | are forgiven by the blood of Jesus, and it will go away |
| to follow Him, we must deny our flesh, and take up | | | | over time. |
| your cross daily. (See Matthew 16:24) | | | | |