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John 14:15-20
If you don’t have a church home or attend church we invite you to come worship with us on Sunday morning at 9:30. You will find a warm welcome and solid, fundamental teaching from The Bible. We are studying Christ’s mandate to NT local churches which is found in Matt. 28:18-20. This week we are focusing on “immersing” or baptizing those people God has put into your life to teach to follow Christ. Let’s consider how we can be completely surrounded in Christ.
- REMIND yourself daily that you have been immersed in Christ spiritually. Read 2Cor. 13:5; Gal. 2:20; Eph. 3:17; Col. 1;27; and Rev. 3:20. One of the blessings of our salvation is that we are completely in Christ and He is completely in us. A large part of our responsibility and accountability to God is to show outwardly, physically in every part of our daily life that we are completely immersed in Christ and His righteousness.
- UNDERSTAND the effect our baptism is a lifelong process, not just a one-time event! Even though our salvation makes total and immediate surrender possible, God knows we aren’t going to take advantage of it! He also knows exactly when we are ready to give Him more control of our daily life; and at exactly the right time the Holy Spirit prompts us to release that part of our life to Him – FOREVER!
- ACKNOWLEDGE to God that you know He has made you ready to surrender to Him, then ask Him to show you specifically how He wants to work in you. Read Ps. 119:9-16. Be warned however, that when you give God greater control in new areas of your life, Satan will work overtime to discourage you there. Don’t give up!
- STAY in the Word. Read Josh. 1:8. Reading just one of the “letter” paragraphs of Psalm 119 each day is also a great help. You might consider adding those little sections to what you are already studying in your daily quiet time. Make sure it’s QUIET time. Don’t try to read on the fly and expect to hear that still small voice! You don’t always have to read Scripture to get the deep theological and doctrinal teachings. It is good to read it quietly and let God speak to you as you read. Many times God has opened doors and led me through the dark valleys as I sat quietly reading just to read! I like to have a pencil handy to make notes when those glorious events happen. If you don’t have a problem writing in the margin of your Bible, those little notes can become big revelations.
- NEVER stop meeting with God DAILY. Never allow yourself to miss your quiet time once in a while either! Read James 1:2-5 and persevere! Nowhere does Scripture ever tell a Christian to go on a spiritual diet!! If Satan can get you to start missing or suggest reasons you don’t need your quiet time — He wins! Don’t make excuses, say you will make it up later (you won’t), or worse yet just give up out of frustration! One of Satan’s favorite tricks to cause you to stop is to feed you his favorite snack-food – “busyness!” Finally,
- SHARE your newest spiritual adventure with a loved one who is walking with The Lord. Once again, Scripture never tells us to keep our spiritual walk a secret. “Two are better than one”, “a three strand cord is not easily broken”, “walk in unity” are all good reasons to share your spiritual concerns. By the way, this is not a suggestion to brag – it’s a suggestion to be accountable and responsible to another Christian as we are told to do. We are more likely to actually let God work in us, if we know another godly Christian is praying for us and will ask us about our walk. To be a true disciple of The Lord Jesus you must allow Him to completely immerse you in His life and lifestyle. When you do that—God does. Jer. 33:3.
If you would like Biblical answers to your spiritual questions call us at (574) 643-9419.
