Can I grow, even though......
Today I want to help some people who believe they may not be in the position to grow in their walk with Christ because of certain circumstances in their lives.
Can I grow as a Christian while taking care of my family?
Yes, lets look at Enoch (emphasis mines)
Gen 5:22 NKJV - After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters.
Gen 5:23 NKJV - So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.
Gen 5:24 NKJV - And Enoch walked with God; and he [was] not, for God took him.
We see Enoch had a family and still walked with God so close that God took him to heaven without seeing death.
Can I grow as a disciple even though I made a mistake?
Yes, Let's look at the life Mark (Author of the book of Mark)
Act 15:37 NKJV - Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark.
Act 15:38 NKJV - But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work.
Act 15:39 NKJV - Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus;
Later on Paul writes
2Ti 4:11 NKJV - Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry.
Can I grow as a Christian even though I don't feel called to full time ministry?
Yes, We see many people in the bible who were used by God in a might way and did not have ministry office or title. Let's look at Aquila and Priscilla
They were host and co-workers (some people believe they got him the job) to Paul
Act 18:2 NKJV - And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them.
Act 18:3 NKJV - So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.
They offered guidance with tact
Act 18:24 NKJV - Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man [and] mighty in the Scriptures, came to Ephesus.
Act 18:25 NKJV - This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the baptism of John.
Act 18:26 NKJV - So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
They hosted the church
1Cr 16:19 NKJV - The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
Can I be used by God even though I may not be in the inner circle of your church leadership and not have gone public with my Faith?
Yes, as long as you don't desire to stay a quiet Christian forever and have the heart rise to the the occasion when led by the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus laid down his life at the cross, while the disciples ran 2 men, one rich and one religious named Joseph and Nicodemus who many people thought didn't desire to follow Christ stepped up to the plate. these men used their influence and income to make a difference.
Jhn 19:38 NKJV - After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave [him] permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus.
Jhn 19:39 NKJV - And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.
Jhn 19:40 NKJV - Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.
Jhn 19:41 NKJV - Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
I pray that as you read this post that you will begin to start removing excuses that are stopping you from desiring to grow as a Christian.
God Bless,
Pastor Ed
Victory Outreach North Brooklyn meets every Sunday @ 108 Manhattan ave (Beween Boerum ave & Johnson ave). We are near the L train Montrose stop, the G train Flushing stop and the J train @ flushing ave . Service starts at 11am (service is approx 90 minutes long) Some people wear suits and some people come in jeans, what really matters is that you are there ready to discover (or re-discover) the difference Jesus makes.www.vonorthbrooklyn.org
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