"As he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17b)

“And Jesus increased… in favor with God…” (Luke 2:52c)

Spiritually

Over the last couple of days I pointed out that according to Luke 2:52, as Jesus grew from a child into an adult, He increased in four distinct areas of His life: 1. Wisdom (mentally), 2. stature (physically), 3. favor with God (Spiritually) and 4. favor with man (socially).

Jesus, without a doubt, was a perfect example of living a perfect balanced life. We also should work toincrease in all four of these important areas.

Yesterday I discussed the second area, stature, which is physically (the body).

Today will be the third one, “favor with God” which is the spiritual area.

How to begin

You can do a lot to grow spiritually, but it all begins with becoming a child of God by receiving Jesus Christ as your personal savior. “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)

When you receive Christ His Holy Spirit comes inside of you and will help you grow spiritually. (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Tim. 1:14; John 14:17).

How theHoly Spirit helps you

• He teaches you(1 Cor. 2:13; John 14:26).

• He guides you into all truth (John 16:13).

• He reveals the deep things of God to you (1 Cor. 2:10).

• He transforms you into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).

• He strengthens your spirit(Eph. 3:16).

Practical thingsyou can do to grow spiritually

1) Pray. Talk to God about everything. He hears you. He cares for you. He will help you grow closer to Him.

2) Read the Bible every day. It is God's Word to us. The Bible is literally "God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16).

3) Memorize scripture. The Bible is a book of tremendous wisdom that can have an impact on every area of your life. By memorizing the Scripture you are able to have that wisdom with you at all times.

4) Attend a Bible believing, Bible preaching church each week where you will continue to grow in His knowledge and grace.

5) Read good Christian books. Visit a Christian bookstore and there you will find shelves of great books for encouragement and spiritual growth.

6) Listen to Christian music. You can find it on Christian radio stations and you can find it in every style at your Christian book store.

7) Join a small Bible study group. Most churches have them. They usually meet in private homes, coffee shops and restaurants. You usually grow spiritually at a faster rate in community because you are able to share your experiences with one another and hold each other accountable.

8) Listen to Christian speakers. There are lots of them.

9) Volunteer for Christian service. Helping others is a great pathway towards spiritual growth. As you help others, God helps you!

“Be no longer children, but grow up in Christ.” ( Eph. 4:14-15)

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)

"As he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17b)

“And Jesus increased… in stature…” (uke 2:52b)

Stature (Physically - Body)

Yesterday I pointed out that according to Luke 2:52, as Jesus grew from a child into an adult, He increased in four distinct areas of His life: 1. Wisdom (mentally), 2. stature (physically), 3. favor with God (Spiritually), and 4. favor with man (socially).

Jesus was a perfect example of living a perfect balanced life. And, we should increase in all four of these areas as well.

Yesterday I discussed the first area (wisdom), today will be the second one, “stature” which is the physical area, or simply put, your body.

We each have a body and we should take care of it for important reasons.

• It is the temple of the Holy Spirit

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.” (1 Cor. 6:19)

• Honor God with your bodies

“You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” (1 Cor. 6:20)

• A healthy body enables you to do what God has created you to do

A healthy body helps you serve God and others better, so take care of it! Use common sense. Get plenty of exercise and eat healthy foods that include fruit and vegetables, avoid junk food, watch your weight, and get enough sleep at night. These are all things that you can control, and will help you be healthy and physically usable so you will be able to do whatever God has prepared for you to do.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:10).

 "As he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4:17b)

“And Jesus increased in wisdom.” (uke 2:52a)

Jesus had to grow up from a newborn baby to an adult, increasing gradually to maturity, just like all other human beings do. Luke 2:52, says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”

Notice that This verse says that Jesus increased in four distinct areas:

1. Wisdom (mentally)

2. stature (physically)

3. favor with God (spiritually)

4. and man (socially)

It was a wonderful balanced life!

In order to live a balanced life you too must increase in all four of these areas just like Jesus did. Over the next four days, I will discuss each of these areas.

Today I will discuss the first one, which is wisdom. “And Jesus increased in wisdom…” (Luke 2:52a)

Wisdom

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (Prov. 3:17)

Wisdom blesses you with its many benefits

"Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed. By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place." (Prov. 3:13-19)

Ask God for it

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5)

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Prov. 2:6)

God Bless America!

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31 )

This “do all to the glory of God” also includes when you are celebrating!

Today is July 4th, and we celebrate our Independence Day with much fanfare and fireworks

And setting aside time for celebration is good! The Bible is filled with lots of celebrations and much praise to God.

“Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!”(Psalms 150:1-6)

Here is what our country's founders had to say when they were drafting, signing, and defending the Declaration of Independence:

 Samuel Adams, during his signing of the Declaration

"We have this day restored the Sovereign to Whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come." 

 John Quincy Adams

"The highest glory of the American Revolution was this; it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity." 

 Noah Webster

"The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all of our civil constitutions and laws...All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible." 

 William Penn

"If thou wouldst rule well, thou must rule for God, and to do that, thou must be ruled by him... Those who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." 

"The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Where, some say, is the king of America? I'll tell you, friend, He reigns above." (Thomas Paine)

 George Washington

"It is impossible to account for the creation of the universe, without the agency of a Supreme Being. It is impossible to govern the universe without the aid of a Supreme Being. It is impossible to reason without arriving at a Supreme Being."

 Daniel Webster

 "If truth be not diffused, error will be; If God and His Word are not known and received, the devil and his works will gain the ascendancy, If the evangelical volume does not reach every hamlet, the pages of a corrupt and licentious literature will; If the power of the Gospel is not felt throughout the length and breadth of the land, anarchy and misrule, degradation and misery, corruption and darkness will reign without mitigation or end." 

“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Rom. 12:2b)

The mind can stop an elephant!

Your mind has the power to control you in exactly the same way that an elephant can be constrained by a very weak leg shackle. A 6-ton elephant could very easily tear loose from it and escape but he won't even try because he "believes" he can't escape! The elephant thinks like this because when he was very young and small a heavy shackle was placed on his leg. He fought it violently with all the strength he had at the time but eventually he gave up trying, and he never tried again no matter how big he eventually grew. Now as a full grown elephant he can easily be controlled by even the smallest chain, even a string tied around his ankle will do. 

The Bible says, "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." (Prov. 23:7).  And all kinds of studies, both Christian and secular, prove this to be correct. If you want to change your life you MUST change how you think.

The devil always attacks your mind!

He is “the deceiver" and robs by deceiving God's people into believing that they are bound when they are not, "whom the Son sets free is free indeed," (John 8:36). And there are thousands of promises in God's Word that you can use to counteract all the devil's attacks and change your life dramatically!

You can change your mind!

It boils down to simplicity as usual. "As a man thinks in his heart so is he." If a man sees himself poor, and unsuccessful, he will become so. It will be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Even if God brings blessings and opportunity his way, he will scuttle it. He will "snatch defeat out of the jaws of victory!" He will always find excuses for failure. On the other hand, if a man sees himself successful and victorious, he will behave that way. He will not see things negatively, but will see only opportunity to succeed no matter what comes his way. This is the beautiful thing about filling your mind and heart with God’s Word. It changes the way you think. And, THAT turns everything around.

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Rom. 12:2a)

Meek, deferential, respectful,

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10)

What does it mean to humble yourself?

Being humble is not a popular concept in the world we live in. But,God says He will lift you up if you humble yourself before Him. Look at the definition of humble: not proud. Not thinking of yourself as better than other people. Having or showing a modest or low estimate of one's own importance. Meek, deferential, respectful, submissive.

Humility not humiliation

It's easy to confuse humility and humiliation. Humility is something we do voluntarily and humiliation is something that is inflicted on us.

Humility is the quality or condition of being humble. Here are some verses that talk about it.

It leads to riches, honor and life!

"Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life." (Prov. 22:4)

It is the opposite of pride

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." (Prov.  11:2)

You can count on it to achieve what God says it will do, 100% of the time!

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11)

The promise here in this verse is that “God’s Word will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish what He desires and will achieve the purpose for which He sent it.”

Faithful to a thousand generations!

The word of God is dependable all the time! You can count on it to achieve what God says it will do, 100% of the time! If it says something, that settlesit! Because God is God and His Word is His unchanging love convent! “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” (Deut. 7:9)

A good thing promised!

“Now, O Lord GOD, You are God, and Your words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant.” (2 Sam. 7:28)

And is profitable!

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”  (2 Tim. 3:16)

Put it to work!

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Tim. 4:2)

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:13 NIV)

You have been rescued from the dominion of darkness and brought into Jesus’ kingdom where you have redemption, the forgiveness of sins!

To be “rescued” means to be saved from a dangerous or distressing situation, to be retrieved from being lost, to be recovered, salvaged, gotten back.

Mephibosheth, a “rescue” story

Saul's son Jonathan had a son named Mephibosheth.  He was five years old when the report came from Jezreel that KingSaul and Jonathan had been killed in the battle of Mount Gilboa. When the child's nurse heard the news, she picked him up and fled. But as she hurried away, she dropped him, and he became crippled. (Sam. 4:4). For a number of years thereafter, Mephibosheth lived in abject poverty in the house of Machir, a former servant in Saul’s house.

 Mephibosheth was brought before David

After King David had subdued all the adversaries of Israel,  Mephibosheth was brought before David, and when the king explained that it was his desire to exercise lovingkindness toward Mephibosheth by returning to him “all the fields of Saul” and by having him “eat bread at my table constantly,” Mephibosheth responded to the King with: “What is your servant, that you have turned your face to the dead dog such as I am?”

What a negative statement to make about himself! 

Even though Mephibosheth was the grandson of a King, was being shown lovingkindness by King David, having the great wealth of “all the fields of Saul” returned to him, and will now “eat bread at King David’s table constantly,” he still referred to himself as a “dead dog.” Imagine that! He had so much to rejoice about yet resorted to negative self-talk.

We sometimes do the same!

Just like Mephibosheth we sometimes say negative things about ourselves. It shouldn't be so! No matter what happens to us our confession should remain positive because of what God has done for us! And say, “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” (Rom. 8:37 NIV)

We have good reasons to be positive!

• God has rescued us and brought us into His family!

“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:13 NIV)

• He has bestowed extraordinary kindness and grace to us!

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1a NIV)

• We are “new”and should think of ourselves that way!

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” (2 Cor. 5:17 NASB)

“Jesus told him, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" (John 14:6 NLT)

According to Jesus, he is three things:

1) The way: that is, the way by which those must get to heaven who will ever come there.

2) The truth: Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. Jesus is the source of truth, who originates and communicates truth for the salvation of men. “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32 NLT)

3) The life: "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” (John 11:25 NIV)

Jesus made a straight forward statement! “No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

He didn't say he is “a way” He said He is “the way.” He is in fact the only way! You cannot get to God any other way except through Jesus Christ! But, the good news promise is that “whosoever”(anyone) may come freely.

“whosoever believes in him should not perish but shall have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 KJV)

You will be saved!

“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”(Rom. 10:9-13 NIV)