GROWING PAINS

 THE OLD MAN & THE NEW MAN ? NATURE ?

 THE OLD NATURE PUTS YOU DOWN  THE NEW NATURE LIFTS YOU UP

Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods of your OLD MAN that were on the other side of YOUR CONVERSION, or the GOD of your NEW MAN, your SPIRITUAL MAN : but as for me and my house, we will

serve the LORD. (KJV)

THINK FOR A MINUTE.. WHERE IS YOUR FOCUS… BE HONEST

ALL SATANS' FOCUS IS ON THIS LIFE......IF WE BUILD FOR OUR REAL

FUTURE, THIS LIFE WILL TAKE CARE OF ITS SELF.  Matt 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (now change it to):  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His relationship; and all these things shall be added unto you.    I like that better.

 HOW? KNOWLEDGE..When you KNOW something, you have  confidence in it, and you will use it, over and  over..."David and the Giant"

 SATAN DOSEN'T WANT YOU TO GROW,  "HE WANTS to keep KNOWLEDGE from YOU     THE WORD…

 GOD HAS MADE AVAILIABLE ALL YOU NEED TO GROW,

 CHECK YOURSELF.WHO, WHAT, WHY, AND WHERE ARE YOU GOING

 GET YOUR LIVES IN FOCUS, YOU ARE GOING SOMEWHERE

 TO GOD.....   YOU ARE SOMEBODY.."important",  or JESUS WOULD NOT HAVE COME      Think about it

 WE ALL MUST LEARN TO WORK WITH GOD AND HIS PRINCIPLES.(there is a NEW thought)

 WE ALL ARE GROWING IN SOME WAY AT ALL TIMES..

 BE STRONG IN THE LORD. HOW ? CAN'T I JUST PRAY FOR IT  …no- 2Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 YOUR BIGGEST PROBLEM ? YOUR MIND, YOUR PRIVATE THOUGHTS.

 WHAT YOU MEDITATE ON.......

 EPH 4:27 says DON'T GIVE PLACE TO THE DEVIL.  Instead  PSALM 1  

 2 Cor 4:3-4-6-8-9-18  3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.  6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

 CAN WE REALLY DO THIS?        

  Lu 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. (NKJ)

 HE DIDN'T JUST PRAY ALL THE TIME. JESUS WAS ACTIVE.. WEDDINGS, FEAST DAYS, VISITING FRIENDS GOING TO CHURCH

 HE HAD A BALANCED DEVELOPEMENT.  BUT HIS #1 PURPOSE  WAS TO DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER. IT SHOULD BE OURS.

 HE WANTS US TO LEARN HOW TO BE THE BODY...TO GROW

EPH 6:11-17   11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 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. 13 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. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

Grow in: truth, righteousness, peace, spirit, desire,

 John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

PHIL 3:9  and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 

JN 14:27   Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 JN 15:26  “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 

COL 3:1-17    1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

(Character of the New Man) 
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Romans 12:1&2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

PHILIPPIANS 4:8-9  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

be blessed.. bp