(Message by Stef Jan 29, 2005)
As a teacher, I have found it imperative to have some experience and knowledge of the subject matter I am teaching. My first year of teaching provided an excellent example of this statement when I agreed to teach a computer repair course. The extent of my knowledge of computer hardware and operating systems was limited to the power on button and the Windows 98 operating system. I am surprised that my students stayed in the class that year.
Jesus told us to teach others to observe what He has given us. How do we gain the experience and knowledge we need to obey His commission? Let’s take a look at the Bible to see what we can learn.
What Bible Characters come to mind of whom enjoyed a personal relationship with God?
Adam & Eve – Untainted vs tainted
Enoch – Daily walk
Noah – Faith in the unseen
Abraham -
Jacob – Forgiveness and assurance
Joseph – Trust in God
Moses – Daily Mannah
Joshua - Faith
Elijah – Daily bread and water were provided
Elisha – Daily oil & flour
David – Love for and trust in God
Abigail – honored God
Daniel
Mary Magdalene
Disciples
What do they have in common? What characterized their relationship with Christ?
Most not only had their merits, but also their sins revealed for the entire world to read until the end of time.
Love for God
Trust/Faith in God
Forgiveness of God
Witnessed God’s love and mercy to others
All heard the call
"Therefore, brothers, I call on you through the compassions of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is the good and pleasing and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1,2)
How are our minds renewed? (Colossians 3:1,2) "Since you were brought back to life with Christ, focus on the things that are above, where Christ holds the highest position. Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things." (Through prayer and daily meditation on God’s word.)
Today’s message is on developing a personal relationship with Jesus
and getting
our focus squarely on Him and on the Cross. Why is this so important?
Because
we are ambassadors of His power and might, and He has instructed us to
take His
message to everyone we meet! Ambassadors
develop relationships with our country’s leaders and with those in the
foreign
land in which they live. How long could these diplomats go on
accurately
representing our country if they got “too busy” to stay in touch with
"Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1,2)
EMT’s we went through a training course and then proved what we had learned by taking a test. Many of you might remember how we focused on that test, for several days our thoughts were filled with terms, protocols, and procedures. Of course getting certified was just the beginning. Since then, we have continually trained, Curt daily, but usually my training is weekly. As a result, Curt’s knowledge and practice are more advanced than mine.
Many of you have skills that you refine through your hobbies. Like Curt & I with EMT work, there was a time in your life that you made the decision to learn how to perform this skill, and as time progressed, you developed that skill with practice. When people are interested in your hobby—and sometimes when they’re not, how many of you are eager to talk about the hobby and share the skills that you have learned? How many of you are obsessed with your hobby, obsession being defined as a preoccupation with something or someone which dominates your daily thoughts…
Take a moment reflect on where you are with your current spiritual development. Do you advance in the Lord’s teachings daily or do you get by on weekly study? Is Christ your obsession, or just a passing interest?
Let’s see what the apostle Peter tells us about how we can avoid being "barren" and "unfruitful" (2 Pet. 1:8). He encouraged believers to be diligent and spiritually productive, developing the character qualities of faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (vv.5-7).
Doing this requires effort. It demands that we work on our relationship with God--studying the Bible daily, praying often, resisting temptation, focusing on obedience to Him, and reaching out to others in love. As we make every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and set our minds on things above rather than worldly things, He will change our lives and others will see Him when they look at us!
Peter mentioned the additional benefits of fruitfulness: (2
Peter.10-11).
Imagine - a growing assurance, spiritual stability, and a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Savior . But what if we don’t hear and respond to the call?
Paul Harvey tells a story about a General during the Mexican
wars. Victorious, he finally retired to his Southern farm, and
dreamed of living his life in peace. Still, letters of
congratulations and accolades arrived daily. Often there was
postage due. So often, in fact that General Taylor finally
refused the mail. When it had accumulated beyond what the local
postmaster could bear, he returned the letters to the "Dead Letter"
office in Washington D.C.
Some time later, a visitor arrived at General Taylor's home.
After a fine lunch, the visitor inquired about a call to duty that
Taylor should have received months before. Taylor replied that he
had never received the message. This letter was so important that the
letters at the Dead Letter office were meticulously sorted, and sure
enough, there was the letter was a letter addressed to General
Taylor...General Zachary Taylor... from the Republican convention
inviting him to be their candidate for the U.S. Presidency!