STUDY
TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED
---Missionary-Evangelist
Esther Thornton---
God wants us to "study to show
ourselves approved unto God". He wants us to give forth His
Word. He wants our minds to be renewed. He wants us to be healthy physically,
mentally, and spiritually.
“Spiritual Health, Freedom and
Maturity”
Someone sent me some things that they
called, “Eternal Truths”! I will share a few of them with you:
“Once over
the hill, you pick up speed.”
“If it
weren’t for STRESS I’d have no energy at all.”
“Everyone has
a photographic memory. Some just don’t have film.”
“I know God
won’t give me more than I can handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.”
“If you’re
too open minded, your brains will fall out.”
“Going to
church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes
you a car.”
“If you look
like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.”
“Middle age
is when broadness of the mind and narrowness of the waist change places.”
******************
Here’s something else about how you
can’t fool old people:
Last year I replaced several windows in
my house. They were the expensive double-insulated energy efficient windows.
This week I received a call from the contractor complaining that the work has
been done for a year and I had failed to pay for them.
Boy, oh Boy, did we go round and round.
It old him that no one pulls a fast one on this ol’ man, even though I am a
senior citizen, it doesn’t mean that I am automatically stupid!
I proceeded to tell him just what his
salesman told me last year:
“In one year, they will pay for
themselves.”
*******************
We‘re talking about Spiritual health,
freedom, and maturity tonight.
3 John 1:2 “Beloved, I
wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy
soul prospereth.”
We, as believers need to be
spiritually, physically, and mentally healthy in order to move forward in God.
Satan knows when God’s hand is laid upon someone for service and he will attack
our weak areas, so God wants us to be reinforced and to be a whole person.
We must be able to lead ourselves, with
self discipline, before we can lead others.
I. The Seven Steps
to Spiritual Health, Freedom and Maturity:
1.
Spiritual health, freedom and maturity begins
with a clear understanding
of our position in Christ. (We are heirs with God and co-heirs with Christ).
Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit
itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God; and if
children, then heirs; heirs of God,
and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be
also glorified together.”
2.
Spiritual health, freedom and maturity is
achieved as the believer overcomes that evil spiritual capacity within called
the flesh. (Rom. 7, Paul expresses the fight between the flesh and the spirit,
but Rom. 8 shows the victory that we can have.)
The things I should do, I don’t do; and
the things I shouldn’t do - that is what I do. But, thanks be to God who giveth
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
3.
Spiritual health, freedom and maturity is
achieved as the believer cultivates and guards a healthy spirit. (A healthy
spirit is one that is filled with the Spirit of God and so we have the mind of
Christ and His attributes operating in our lives).
Galatians 5:22-23 This kind of spirit receives the mind of
Christ for its thoughts. It does no ill to it’s neighbor. It speaks blessing
and not cursing. It brings forth the fruits of the Holy Spirit: love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.
4.
Spiritual health, freedom and maturity is
achieved as the believer purifies and strengthens the three divisions of the
soul - the mind; the will and the emotions. (Walk in the Spirit and you will
not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. What you used to like, you won‘t like
anymore. Your whole desire for these things will be gone.
Do not associate closely with those who
are entertaining evil but separate yourself as unto the Lord.
2 Corinthians 6:17-18 “Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the
unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye
shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 “And if any
man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with
him, that he may be ashamed. Yet, count him not as an enemy, but admonish him
as a brother.”
5.
Spiritual health, freedom and maturity is
possible when the believer is planted and rooted in a body, connecting properly
to godly leadership and the people in the church or group.
Psalms 92:13-14 “Those that
be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and
flourishing.”
We have noted those who have left us
here, not in the will of God, and they are not flourishing. It is our desire to
be able to release people into the harvest, according to the will of God, with
our blessing and support.
6.
Spiritual health, freedom and maturity is
achieved as the believer overcomes all evil spiritual forces hindering growth
and freedom (demonic spirits).
Satan attacks those whom God has
called, trying to hinder them. But, he has no power over them as he must get
permission from God for anything that he does. The first place that he attacks
is the mind, as it controls the rest of the body.
2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting
down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge
of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
Feed your mind the Word of God so that
the mind of Christ will be in you and you will have faith to overcome the enemy
and his attacks on your mind.
Stay away from those who are walking in
disobedience so that the evil spirit that is upon them will not trouble you, as
well.
7.
Spiritual health, freedom and maturity is
achieved as the believer adds to his character virtues endorsed by scripture -
the discipline factor.
II Peter 1:5-8 “And beside
this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience
godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness
charity. For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall
neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
II. Building and
Sustaining a Healthy Mind -
How can we do this?
> By purifying and strengthening the
three divisions of the soul: the mind, the will and the emotions.
I Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the
God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul,
and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Our mind is important because our
thinking will determine the level of spiritual health and ultimately our
spiritual destiny. Any meaningful life changes starts with our thoughts and
moves toward our actions and behavior. From this, habits are formed. You have been
given the power to weigh your thoughts and choose which ones you will focus on.
Our mind is a battlefield where Satan and his evil spirits attack, continually
desiring to capture control of our mind and capturing our life.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 “For though
we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of
our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the
knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of
Christ.
> We must
guard our minds against evil:
Ephesians 6:10-13 “Finally, my
brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole
armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For
we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts
of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armor of
God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to
stand.”
> Building and sustaining a healthy
mind requires the disciplines of meditating and memorizing God’s Word.
Psalms 37:31 “The law of
his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.”
Thinking on God’s Word:
(a) “Remember, think on these things,
ponder, meditate, consider, let this mind be in you, set your mind on things
above, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”
(b) A person is what he or she things
about all day long. But, this is not talking about a person who Satan is
bringing intruding thoughts but those who allow their minds to dwell on
negative or wrong thoughts.
(c ) Meditate on God’s Word and on good
and positive things.
Romans 12:21 “Be not
overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Philippians 4:8 “Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true; whatsoever things are honest; whatsoever
things are just; whatsoever things are pure; whatsoever things are lovely;
whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be
any praise, think on these things.”
Isaiah 26:3 “You will
keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in
You.”
Philippians 2:5 “Let this
mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
III. God’s
Invitation to Us To Renew our Minds
When I was nine years old, a lady in
the Baptist church where I went, told me that if I learned the whole chapter of
Romans 12, word perfect, she would buy me a brand new Bible! We were very poor
and so, this sounded very tempting to me! So, I learned the whole chapter, word
perfect! The pastor decided that he would have me quote the whole thing in the
evening church service. I was small built and skinny and not very tall, so he
put something behind the pulpit for me to stand on and he sat in a chair behind
me, for moral support! I quoted the whole chapter, word perfect, in front of
the congregation and so, received my brand new Bible! And, it was the learning
of scripture in that church that I will never forget, as they promoted it as
often as possible, and it has really been of benefit to me today.
Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice - holy, acceptable
unto God, which is your reasonable service. And, be not conformed to this world
(satan is the god of this world), but be ye transformed, by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect
will of God.”
IV. New Wineskins
for Revival
Are you a wineskin for revival? You
cannot pour the new wine into skins that are old or they won’t be able to
contain it. They will crack and break. But new wineskins have been rubbed with
the oil of the Holy Spirit and they are pliable and ready to receive the new
wine in its fullness!
Matthew 9:17 “Neither do
men put new wine into old bottles; else the bottles break and the wine runneth
out, and the bottles perish, but they put new wine into new bottles, and both
are preserved.”
The bottles spoken of here were
actually containers made out of the skin of lambs, etc. The old bottles (or
skins) referred to skins which were cracked because of age, and could not stand
much pressure.
1. How can we
become a new wine skin to contain the new wine for revival? Step into Him and
all that He is.
Benny Hinn had a vision some years ago
that he and Jesus became one. And, this is what it takes for us to live an
overcoming life.
John 15:4 “Abide in
Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in
the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the
branches; he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much
fruit; for without me, ye can do nothing.”
As we are one with Christ, we are then
able to bring forth in the harvest.
2. And, remember
to have fellowship and to be planted where God places you with those He has
placed you with. Grapes for the new wine always grow in clusters. People who
get off to themselves can become deceived but there is safety in being with
others in the body of Christ
3. We will have
an Isaachar anointing (I Chronicles 12:32) - the men of Isaachar had
understanding of the times and knew what Israel should do.
4. God will give
us a new name for the new season, as often name change spoke of character
change. (Proverbs 23:7).
Simon, who was shiftless and unstable
became “Peter”, a rock of stability and strength.
And,
remember this, that God speaks to our potential, not our present position.
Let God speak a new name to you (it
doesn’t mean people have to call you that!). It will help us to fulfill our
destiny.
Isaiah 62:2 “And the
Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory; and thou shalt
be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt
also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the
hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed, “Forsaken”…but thou shalt be
called Hephzibah and thy land, Beaulah, for the Lord delighted in thee…”
Hephzibah means that God’s delight is in you, and Beaulah means “married”.
God’s delight will be in us and we are married to the Lord.
1.
Be bold and step into change. A butterfly has
not always been a butterfly! He was a worm on the ground and spent time in a
cocoon. But, when he becomes uncomfortable in the cocoon, he begins to break
out, and this gives him strength for the new place. A transformation has taken
place!
Today, we are not who we will be
tomorrow. A transformation is taking place because we are a people of destiny.
2.
And, as individuals dedicate their homes as
houses of prayer, revival fires will begin to burn throughout the land.
3.
Jesus is calling today, and He is saying,
“Will you be made whole?” When He was on the earth, He healed all who came to
Him; and He will do the same today. Because He desires above all things that
you would prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.
Prophecy:
I am calling you, my children, this
day. I have even allowed adverse circumstances to come to you, in order that
you would look to Me more fully for your help and strength. Yet, I know the
thoughts I have of you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to
give you an expected end. I will fulfill My purpose for you. But, your full
trust must be in Me. For without Me, you can do nothing. And, there is much to
be done to bring in the last great harvest of the church. And, I desire to use
each one whose heart is turned toward Me. I am working; I am moving; I am
shaking all that can be shaken; and I am testing my saints. I am proving them.
I am strengthening them for the days ahead. I am moving lukewarmness out of the
way. For there is no more time for it! I am moving vain traditions of man out
of the way. I am even moving that which is good and exchanging it for that which
is best. The time is now! The time has come to arise in wholeness of body,
soul, and spirit and to lay hold on the plow - move forward, looking only
forward and not looking back! Plow as though it were the last day before the
coming of the Lord - for you know not what day that will be. Do all that you do
for the glory of God. Focus straight ahead and much will be accomplished, and
your reward will be great!
*****************
Conclusion for Spiritual health,
freedom and maturity:
When you are weak, step into His
strength! Find a place to be alone with Him. Susannah Wesley literally had no
place to go inside her own home to get away from her many children in order to
be alone with the Lord. So when she pulled her apron up over her head, her
children knew it was time to leave her alone!
******************
“The
Spiritually Healthy Believer”, by Frank Damazio
“A
People of Destiny” by Barbara Wentroble
“A
Call to the Secret Place” by Michal Ann Goll
*******************
May God cause us to have clear minds
and healthy bodies that we can study and learn the direction He wants us to go.
Remember - You are valuable to
God! Jesus gave His life that you and I might go free!
With Love In Him,
Esther
