Choosing Our Advisors
Part Three
For the advancing disciple, there is no longer any “little” sin(s), as he or she becomes aware of what the Lord Jesus Christ had to do to atone for it!
The popular “ALL ARE WELCOME” signs outside of many local assemblies would better reflect the “mind of Christ (1Cor. 2: 16 NASB2020),” if they were to be e-written to read, “ALL ARE WELCOME HERE, but your sins are not.”
Granted, the doors to every local assembly should be as wide open as the arms of Christ to embrace sinners, but not for the purpose of embracing sin.
Compromising with sin in order to obtain or retain membership is a disgrace. In this, the devil is well-pleased.
Many times, if we were honest, we would have to concede that when reading the Scriptures or listening to a sermon, we are not necessarily seeking the truth, but actually are seeking confirmation or justification for what we already do, or of what we have already determined to be the case.
Receiving a kick in the pants instead of a pat on the back can be a disturbing experience after attending a worship service. But such teaching is necessary, if one is to move forward in the plan of God to the next level of spiritual maturity.
Knowing which one(s) of the seemingly contradicting verse(s) of Scripture to apply in any given situation, is a matter of developing spiritual discernment, that comes along with the level of spiritual maturity that a born-again believer has achieved.
An infant could be presented with a full course steak dinner, but will not be able to ingest, digest, or hold it down. Likewise, an “infant” in Christ (1) can be presented with an edifying sermon on advanced doctrine, but lack the spiritual maturity to take it in, or the willingness to apply it.
All born-again believers are equally-saved and Heaven-bound, but as individuals, are at different stages of spiritual maturity. It is critically important to connect with a pulpit, physically or virtually, that provides one with the type of teaching one needs, at whatever level of spiritual maturity he or she is presently at, and to be wise enough to move on (if necessary) when the present menu no longer satisfies his or her needs and appetite.
No pastor, parent, spouse, sibling, friend, or “advisor” can be used by God to bring other souls any further along the road to spiritual maturity than where he or she has reached himself or herself.
Good enough is never good enough for an advancing disciple.
There can come a time in the life of an advancing disciple that he or she may have to seek out a new, or more likely, an additional source of edification in order to satisfy what should be, his or her growing appetite for the quantity and quality of accurate Bible Doctrine.
Too many “Christians” choose their local assembly (or source of spiritual edification) for all the wrong reasons, evidenced by the fact that they are no further along the road to spiritual maturity than where they were 6 months, 6 years, or 60+ years ago.
When one finds himself or herself “getting nothing out of” attending worship services, there is something major lacking in either the teaching that should be coming from the pulpit, or with the unwillingness to apply what is being taught. In either case, the devil is well-pleased.
Spiritual maturity is measured by the amount of accurate Bible Doctrine that one has in his or her edified soul structure, coupled with his or her willingness to apply it.
Some situations should raise no questions or doubts about what one should or should not do. If what we are considering doing, would involve committing, condoning, enabling, or facilitating sin, you would have to step outside of the will and or the plan of God to do so. For the advancing disciple, that is not an option. Case closed.
In other cases (where sin is not the issue), it can be a matter of choosing what is best over what is good. In such cases, the question to ask yourself is, will what I am about to do enhance or impede my forward progress in the plan that God has in mind for me. This eliminates much of the “what I would do” advice that other people, who may have no idea what your personal sense of destiny may be, will have to offer.
For an advancing disciple, his personal sense of destiny involves the identification, development, and execution of his or her spiritual gift, and accompanying ministry (area of service). This priority will impact where God wants him or her to be, in order to do what God wants them to be doing.
Most of us are familiar with the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament, but there are some 300 commandments in the New Testament to be learned and applied, here in the Church Age!
Learning His commandments and applying them, when given the opportunity, is what the DAILY life of discipleship is all about. Saying YES to God will often require us to say NO to the self-centered, fallen, nature within ourselves. It may call for us to tell others, “Not under my roof.”
The answers to our spiritual questions have already been made available to us in the written Word of God. For the advancing disciple, it is a matter of applying the answer(s) that he or she has already stored away in his or her soul structure.
The fact is, for the better or the worse, we are all teachers and advisors, impacting others by the things we say, do (or don’t do) on a daily basis.
Before taking the advice of others (concerning spiritual issues), take a close look at where that person is, in his or her own walk with the Lord, and ask yourself if that is where and how I want to be. No one, be it clergy, parents, or friend can be used of God to bring anyone else any further along the road to spiritual maturity than where he or she has first arrived himself or herself.
Jesus taught us that our love for God is demonstrated by our obedience (2). The opposite is also true, in that our lack of love, or having a greater love for self, other people, and or other things, is demonstrated by our disobedience or compromises.
Condoning, enabling, or facilitating sin in the lives of others disqualifies us in the realm of discipleship. For many believers, it will be in Luke 14: 26 scenarios that our “first” love for God and our status as a disciple will be put to the test.
“If (anyone comes to Me and does not hate (love less) his own father, mother, wife (husband), children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his (or her) (self-centered) life, he cannot be My disciple (Luke 14: 26 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”
“Whoever does not carry his (or her) own cross (by participating in the Great Commission) and come after Me, cannot be My disciple (Luke 14: 27 NASB2020 parenthesis mine).”
Note that in both cases, Jesus was talking about disqualification as a disciple, and not the loss of salvation.
Immature, self-centered, believers may take the “Why be bothered” attitude since salvation cannot be lost. Life and interaction with other people can certainly be smoother if one avoids the inevitable persecution (3), rejection, and confrontations that an advancing disciple will face.
For an advancing disciple, expressing his or her love for God (4) through obedience (5), and expressing his or her love (6) and accompanying concern for the spiritual well-being of those around him/her, is NOT a burden, but is the primary reason the he or she is here on Earth, after being born-again.
Post salvation discipleship involves the daily intake and application of Bible Doctrine. Initially it is for one’s own edification and spiritual growth, but with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission, evangelizing and edifying others.
. . .
When giving advice or taking godly action or inaction, we should always pray for His will to be done.
Why?
There is an old saying that says the road to Hell (destruction) is paved with good intentions, be it our own or by others, thinking we are helping. Sincere people can be sincerely WRONG, unwittingly doing more harm than good.
In some cases, there are (spiritually) blind leaders, leading their followers to the pit of destruction (7).
By praying for His will to be done, we can act in confidence, knowing that when we are mistaken, divine intervention will overrule, taking charge of the situation in response to our prayer.
There can be times when having all Hell break out in the lives of the ones we are praying for, will be God’s response to our prayers, if that is what it takes to wake them up, providing them with the opportunity to get their spiritual lives in order.
With our well-intended attempts to relieve their pain and suffering, we can get in God’s way.
Don’t get me wrong. I not saying that we are to have a cold-hearted “You made your bed, now sleep in it” attitude.
We should have sympathy and empathy those in need, and try to do what we can to lighten their load (8).
But in doing so, we must take care that we are part of the solution, and not part of the problem, by becoming a facilitator, enabler, or safety net, that will only encourage their continuation in the same negative behavior.
Better to become an unpopular “enemy” now (9), by telling others the truth that they need to hear, than in eternity, have them be able to say of you, that you knew they were on the wrong road, and did nothing to warn them.
In closing, weak believers will refrain from advising others, and or speaking out on spiritual issues by using the cop out that it is none of their business. God made the salvation and or edification of others YOUR business on the day He issued the Great Commission (10), and the moment (if) you, as a born-again believer, chose to become His disciple.
Again, we see the matter of our own discipleship (not salvation) coming into view.
All disciples are born-again believers, but not all born-again believers become or remain in discipleship (11). Eternal life, that all born-again believers have already received, with the future assurance of residency in Heaven, is NEVER in jeopardy (12), but the additional reward and privileges will only be given to, and experienced by, advancing disciples that overcome (13) the hurdles along the road to spiritual maturity during their time here on Earth.
A disciple is a student and a 24/7 applier of the Word of God. Discipleship is initially for one’s own spiritual growth, but with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission.
“For whoever is (publically) ashamed of (unwilling to be identified with) Me or (to share) My Words (Biblical principles), the Son of Man will be ashamed (unwilling to identify) him (as having been one of His disciples) when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and the holy angels (Luke 9: 26 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”
End of Part 3
End of Series
(1) Heb. 5: 12, 13 (2) John 14: 15 (3) 2Tim. 3: 12 (4) Mark 12: 30 (5) John 14: 15 (6) Mark 12: 31 (7) Matt. 15: 14 (8) Gal. 6: 2 (9) Gal. 4: 16 (10) Matt. 28: 19: 20 (11) Mark 4: 19 (12) Romans 8: 1 (13) Rev. 2: 7, 11, 17, 26/Rev 3: 5, 12, 21
Part Three
For the advancing disciple, there is no longer any “little” sin(s), as he or she becomes aware of what the Lord Jesus Christ had to do to atone for it!
The popular “ALL ARE WELCOME” signs outside of many local assemblies would better reflect the “mind of Christ (1Cor. 2: 16 NASB2020),” if they were to be e-written to read, “ALL ARE WELCOME HERE, but your sins are not.”
Granted, the doors to every local assembly should be as wide open as the arms of Christ to embrace sinners, but not for the purpose of embracing sin.
Compromising with sin in order to obtain or retain membership is a disgrace. In this, the devil is well-pleased.
Many times, if we were honest, we would have to concede that when reading the Scriptures or listening to a sermon, we are not necessarily seeking the truth, but actually are seeking confirmation or justification for what we already do, or of what we have already determined to be the case.
Receiving a kick in the pants instead of a pat on the back can be a disturbing experience after attending a worship service. But such teaching is necessary, if one is to move forward in the plan of God to the next level of spiritual maturity.
Knowing which one(s) of the seemingly contradicting verse(s) of Scripture to apply in any given situation, is a matter of developing spiritual discernment, that comes along with the level of spiritual maturity that a born-again believer has achieved.
An infant could be presented with a full course steak dinner, but will not be able to ingest, digest, or hold it down. Likewise, an “infant” in Christ (1) can be presented with an edifying sermon on advanced doctrine, but lack the spiritual maturity to take it in, or the willingness to apply it.
All born-again believers are equally-saved and Heaven-bound, but as individuals, are at different stages of spiritual maturity. It is critically important to connect with a pulpit, physically or virtually, that provides one with the type of teaching one needs, at whatever level of spiritual maturity he or she is presently at, and to be wise enough to move on (if necessary) when the present menu no longer satisfies his or her needs and appetite.
No pastor, parent, spouse, sibling, friend, or “advisor” can be used by God to bring other souls any further along the road to spiritual maturity than where he or she has reached himself or herself.
Good enough is never good enough for an advancing disciple.
There can come a time in the life of an advancing disciple that he or she may have to seek out a new, or more likely, an additional source of edification in order to satisfy what should be, his or her growing appetite for the quantity and quality of accurate Bible Doctrine.
Too many “Christians” choose their local assembly (or source of spiritual edification) for all the wrong reasons, evidenced by the fact that they are no further along the road to spiritual maturity than where they were 6 months, 6 years, or 60+ years ago.
When one finds himself or herself “getting nothing out of” attending worship services, there is something major lacking in either the teaching that should be coming from the pulpit, or with the unwillingness to apply what is being taught. In either case, the devil is well-pleased.
Spiritual maturity is measured by the amount of accurate Bible Doctrine that one has in his or her edified soul structure, coupled with his or her willingness to apply it.
Some situations should raise no questions or doubts about what one should or should not do. If what we are considering doing, would involve committing, condoning, enabling, or facilitating sin, you would have to step outside of the will and or the plan of God to do so. For the advancing disciple, that is not an option. Case closed.
In other cases (where sin is not the issue), it can be a matter of choosing what is best over what is good. In such cases, the question to ask yourself is, will what I am about to do enhance or impede my forward progress in the plan that God has in mind for me. This eliminates much of the “what I would do” advice that other people, who may have no idea what your personal sense of destiny may be, will have to offer.
For an advancing disciple, his personal sense of destiny involves the identification, development, and execution of his or her spiritual gift, and accompanying ministry (area of service). This priority will impact where God wants him or her to be, in order to do what God wants them to be doing.
Most of us are familiar with the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament, but there are some 300 commandments in the New Testament to be learned and applied, here in the Church Age!
Learning His commandments and applying them, when given the opportunity, is what the DAILY life of discipleship is all about. Saying YES to God will often require us to say NO to the self-centered, fallen, nature within ourselves. It may call for us to tell others, “Not under my roof.”
The answers to our spiritual questions have already been made available to us in the written Word of God. For the advancing disciple, it is a matter of applying the answer(s) that he or she has already stored away in his or her soul structure.
The fact is, for the better or the worse, we are all teachers and advisors, impacting others by the things we say, do (or don’t do) on a daily basis.
Before taking the advice of others (concerning spiritual issues), take a close look at where that person is, in his or her own walk with the Lord, and ask yourself if that is where and how I want to be. No one, be it clergy, parents, or friend can be used of God to bring anyone else any further along the road to spiritual maturity than where he or she has first arrived himself or herself.
Jesus taught us that our love for God is demonstrated by our obedience (2). The opposite is also true, in that our lack of love, or having a greater love for self, other people, and or other things, is demonstrated by our disobedience or compromises.
Condoning, enabling, or facilitating sin in the lives of others disqualifies us in the realm of discipleship. For many believers, it will be in Luke 14: 26 scenarios that our “first” love for God and our status as a disciple will be put to the test.
“If (anyone comes to Me and does not hate (love less) his own father, mother, wife (husband), children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his (or her) (self-centered) life, he cannot be My disciple (Luke 14: 26 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”
“Whoever does not carry his (or her) own cross (by participating in the Great Commission) and come after Me, cannot be My disciple (Luke 14: 27 NASB2020 parenthesis mine).”
Note that in both cases, Jesus was talking about disqualification as a disciple, and not the loss of salvation.
Immature, self-centered, believers may take the “Why be bothered” attitude since salvation cannot be lost. Life and interaction with other people can certainly be smoother if one avoids the inevitable persecution (3), rejection, and confrontations that an advancing disciple will face.
For an advancing disciple, expressing his or her love for God (4) through obedience (5), and expressing his or her love (6) and accompanying concern for the spiritual well-being of those around him/her, is NOT a burden, but is the primary reason the he or she is here on Earth, after being born-again.
Post salvation discipleship involves the daily intake and application of Bible Doctrine. Initially it is for one’s own edification and spiritual growth, but with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission, evangelizing and edifying others.
. . .
When giving advice or taking godly action or inaction, we should always pray for His will to be done.
Why?
There is an old saying that says the road to Hell (destruction) is paved with good intentions, be it our own or by others, thinking we are helping. Sincere people can be sincerely WRONG, unwittingly doing more harm than good.
In some cases, there are (spiritually) blind leaders, leading their followers to the pit of destruction (7).
By praying for His will to be done, we can act in confidence, knowing that when we are mistaken, divine intervention will overrule, taking charge of the situation in response to our prayer.
There can be times when having all Hell break out in the lives of the ones we are praying for, will be God’s response to our prayers, if that is what it takes to wake them up, providing them with the opportunity to get their spiritual lives in order.
With our well-intended attempts to relieve their pain and suffering, we can get in God’s way.
Don’t get me wrong. I not saying that we are to have a cold-hearted “You made your bed, now sleep in it” attitude.
We should have sympathy and empathy those in need, and try to do what we can to lighten their load (8).
But in doing so, we must take care that we are part of the solution, and not part of the problem, by becoming a facilitator, enabler, or safety net, that will only encourage their continuation in the same negative behavior.
Better to become an unpopular “enemy” now (9), by telling others the truth that they need to hear, than in eternity, have them be able to say of you, that you knew they were on the wrong road, and did nothing to warn them.
In closing, weak believers will refrain from advising others, and or speaking out on spiritual issues by using the cop out that it is none of their business. God made the salvation and or edification of others YOUR business on the day He issued the Great Commission (10), and the moment (if) you, as a born-again believer, chose to become His disciple.
Again, we see the matter of our own discipleship (not salvation) coming into view.
All disciples are born-again believers, but not all born-again believers become or remain in discipleship (11). Eternal life, that all born-again believers have already received, with the future assurance of residency in Heaven, is NEVER in jeopardy (12), but the additional reward and privileges will only be given to, and experienced by, advancing disciples that overcome (13) the hurdles along the road to spiritual maturity during their time here on Earth.
A disciple is a student and a 24/7 applier of the Word of God. Discipleship is initially for one’s own spiritual growth, but with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission.
“For whoever is (publically) ashamed of (unwilling to be identified with) Me or (to share) My Words (Biblical principles), the Son of Man will be ashamed (unwilling to identify) him (as having been one of His disciples) when He comes in His glory and the glory of the Father and the holy angels (Luke 9: 26 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”
End of Part 3
End of Series
(1) Heb. 5: 12, 13 (2) John 14: 15 (3) 2Tim. 3: 12 (4) Mark 12: 30 (5) John 14: 15 (6) Mark 12: 31 (7) Matt. 15: 14 (8) Gal. 6: 2 (9) Gal. 4: 16 (10) Matt. 28: 19: 20 (11) Mark 4: 19 (12) Romans 8: 1 (13) Rev. 2: 7, 11, 17, 26/Rev 3: 5, 12, 21