AuthorTerry R Baughman is Lead Pastor for LifeChurch in Gilbert, AZ. See his complete bio at trbaughman.com Archives
July 2020
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Proclaiming Praise5/2/2020  Proclaiming Praise
Victory! Our Hope in Christ “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). The declaration of the glory of God is the essence of praise. Throughout Scripture, but predominately in the Psalms there is exaltation of God’s majesty and glory, “O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!” (Psalm 8:1). Even when David lived as a fugitive from the King and was hiding in a cave, he still sang, “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; Let Your glory be above all the earth” (Psalm 57:5, 11). Regardless of our personal difficulties or perilous situation we can always have a praise on our lips and a song in our heart that exalts the name of the Lord. Praise is recognizing the wonderful works of God and understanding that He is always worthy. We praise Him because what He has done. Worship, on the other hand, is an acknowledgement of who He is. While they are sometimes seen as synonymous terms we actively participate in praise and worship. Jesus spoke of the quality of true worshipers when he met the woman by the well of Samaria. Jesus said, “True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.” He went on to declare, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). True followers of Christ have the privilege and the responsibility to be true worshipers. Only they have the ability to worship God in spirit and truth. Becoming a true worshiper is neither a duty nor drudgery, but a joyful opportunity to express gratitude to God for who He is and for what He has done in our lives. We cannot help but proclaim His praises when we have been the recipients of so much grace and so many blessings! Peter compared our spiritual experience as being, “Called out of darkness and into His marvelous light” (See the text above.) We have all experienced the darkness of sin and the oppression of evil. We have stumbled through life without direction, hindered by the inability to focus, and crushed with the weight of despair, but when Jesus called our name all the darkness dissipated, direction became clear, and the oppression melted away in the light of His glorious truth. The old path was leading to destruction. As the wise man observed, “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 16:25). Jesus came with an assurance of hope and a promise, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). He declared,“I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Our hope for a better life is found only in Jesus Christ, and He is our assurance of victory over sin, death, hell, and the grave. The message of the Gospel and the power of the resurrection guarantees the victory over darkness and the illumination of His presence in our lives. That is why we sing, we rejoice, and we celebrate Jesus throughout our lives. He is worthy! We can celebrate with the psalmist, “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods” (Psalm 95:1-3). Welcome to the victorious life! Theme passage: “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
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Steadfast Trust4/26/2020  Steadfast Trust
Victory! Our Hope in Christ Terry R. Baughman “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4 NIV). Trust comes as we build on the strong foundation of faith. The longer we know God and the more we absorb His Word and recall His promises, the greater our faith can grow and the more steadfast our confidence in God’s dependability. Though God is under no compulsion to prove Himself, He often allows us to see a miracle, or pray a simple prayer that He delights in answering. It seems that He relishes the opportunity to show us a glimpse of His glory and confirms that our faith is warranted. Since He is the God who has built our relationship on the essential quality of faith, He finds great satisfaction in our moments of revelation when we discover the gift of trust. A prominent character of God is His immutability, so therefore, when we learn the history of His ability to save and His promise to provide, we also know that He will always have that power and the assurance that He will do it again. David sang a song of praise for God’s deliverance, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2). Throughout the Psalms we are reminded of God’s faithfulness and reassured of the validity of our steadfast confidence, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 34:3–5). In another Psalm we find great assurance, “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease” (Psalm 91:1–3 NLT). When there is an outbreak of a pandemic, or some tragic natural catastrophe of devastation, we know that God is still with us and worthy of our trust. He has assured that He will be a place of shelter, protection from the elements and a shield from outbreaks of disease. The wiseman gave us this favorite perennial passage, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5–6). It is implied that trust is our initiative and there is a choice to acknowledge God in all of our ways. Know God. Know that He is good and that He has proven His faithfulness over and over. Louisa Stead wrote the words to a song, “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His word; Just to rest upon His promise; Just to know, Thus saith the Lord.” The chorus continues, “Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him, How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er, Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more.” That is our song and prayer. Paul referenced the source of our victory, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:57–58). Keep believing! Theme passage: “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
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Hope of the Resurrection4/18/2020  The Hope of the Resurrection
Finished! The Message of Easter Terry R. Baughman “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:5 NIV). The greatest hope we have been given is to live as Christ lives. The story of Easter and the reality of His resurrection from the dead assures us that we can share in His victory over death. After all, it was Jesus himself who declared, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). His plan of redemption from the foundation of the world was to bring deliverance from sin, new life with Christ, and eternal hope beyond the grave. Jesus brought light into a dark world and He promised everlasting life to those who embraced His plan and received His free gift of grace. John wrote, “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:4–5). From the darkness of a tomb the light shines forth in glorious illumination highlighting the access to everlasting life. Paul wrote of the promise of resurrection, “For if we died with Him,We shall also live with Him” (2 Timothy 2:11). There is a direct correlation between death and life. We are promised life, but there must first be a surrender to sacrifice. We were born into a world under the penalty of sin and the condemnation of death. So Jesus took the curse and turned it around to bring a blessing. He took the penalty and prepared a reward. Again, Paul declared, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54–57 KJV). What the enemy meant for evil, God turned around for good. Satan’s plan to destroy Jesus became the ultimate destruction for the kingdom of darkness. Death was defeated by the resurrection of one righteous man, “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22 NIV). In one act Jesus Christ put to death the ambitions of darkness and the agenda of the enemy. The final statement of the cross continues to reverberate throughout the centuries, “It is finished!” This is our day for victory, our moment for deliverance, and an eternity of hope. It is all wrapped up in the resurrection! Paul reminded believers that, “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9–10). For those who have experienced New Birth salvation, those living or those who have died, we know that we shall live together in Jesus Christ. Paul said, “Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3–4). Arise, let us live a new life in hope … because of His powerful resurrection! Theme passage: “… although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” (Hebrews 4:3).
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The Work of Calvary4/12/2020  The Work of Calvary
Finished! The Message of Easter Terry R. Baughman “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:28–30). The completion of a task brings relief and a sense of accomplishment. Finished! There’s no feeling quite like it. Everything has been wrapped up; all is complete. It is done. The plan of all time and eternity was God’s desire to provide redemption for sin and the ultimate opportunity of reconnection with humanity. Sin had caused separation from God in the Garden of Eden on the occasion of the first disobedience to God’s instructions. This first sin did not catch God unaware or cause Him to scramble for a solution. God had foreknowledge of the transgression and already had an antidote for the virus of rebellion. Long before the foundation of the world there was a plan of redemption. This was not a plan B! It was in His plan from the beginning. Jesus Christ was the lamb, “slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). He was just as John the Baptist perceived Him, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). The prophets throughout the centuries proclaimed the Savior of world, the deliverer from oppression, and the healer of brokenness. Every sacrifice offered in the ancient Tabernacle and in Jerusalem’s Temple pointed to the perfect sacrifice to come. What was ineffective in the continual ritual offerings of symbolic sacrifices was remedied with the precious blood of Christ, “Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12). The writer goes on to explain the effective offering of Christ’s sacrifice, “We have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:10–12). God’s plan was for reconciliation with humanity and He freely gave Himself to be the atoning sacrifice. Not only was He our substitutionary sacrifice, He is also our great High Priest always empathizing with us and providing access to God and His holy presence. The writer of Hebrews said, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:14–15). God’s purpose was fulfilled and His plan was finished on Calvary. It was this conclusion Jesus saw when He prayed in the Garden, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was” (John 17:4–5). The work is finished … eternal life with Christ is assured! Theme passage: “… although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” (Hebrews 4:3).
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The Way of Sacrifice4/4/2020  The Way of Sacrifice
Finished! The Message of Easter Terry R. Baughman Jesus, “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow” (Philippians 2:7–10 NKJ). In God’s amazing preparation for redemption He predicted a plan, a pattern, and a purpose to bring us to Himself. His plan provided for the incarnation, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). His divine pattern was fulfilled in that, “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19). His purpose was fulfilled by His death on the cross, His burial in a borrowed tomb, and His ultimate resurrection. “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57). Typically, we rush through the centuries to get to the conclusion and the ultimate outcome of Christ’s story. However, God did not rush the narrative or short-circuit the process. He prepared the path of suffering and reluctantly anticipated the sacrifice and death. In preparation, “Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day” (Matthew 16:21). Not only did He know the way of sacrifice, but He prepared His followers to join Him in this journey. His prayer in the Garden demonstrated His knowledge of what was to come, but also His trepidation, “If it is possible, let this cup pass from Me” (Matthew 26:39). However, in full surrender, He submitted His flesh to the plan of God from the beginning. He drank the dregs from the cup of suffering knowing that this indeed was the purpose for which He had come. His life and death and the promised resurrection was all a part of the plan, “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world” (John 18:37). The outcome was worth the suffering. The fulfillment was worth the sacrifice. Jesus, “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). The way of sacrifice was a necessary part of the plan. It was the pathway of process to accomplish His intended goal. Without His suffering there would be no salvation. Without His death on the cross there would be no redemption from sin. Without the cost of sacrifice there would be no joyous reward of accomplishment. If there had been no death, no tomb, no cold dark separation, there would have been no resurrection, empty grave, and brilliant sunrise of hope and expectation! The way was clearly marked. It was not an easy way to travel, but the ultimate knowledge of completion made it bearable, and the anticipated joy of the outcome makes even the suffering something to be embraced. May we walk on the way of sacrifice with a full assurance of faith in Christ’s finished work! Theme passage: “… although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” (Hebrews 4:3).
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The Plan of Redemption3/29/2020  The Plan of Redemption
Finished! The Message of Easter Terry R. Baughman “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:3-4). God’s plan is not reactionary, but proactive. He does not need to respond to situations and adapt to changing trends, rather He sets things in motion that will coordinate in some future moment at just the right time. God knows the end from the beginning so there is a purposeful relevance to all that God sets out to accomplish. When God moves He knows the end result and He knows the intended reaction of intentional recipients. John said, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). God was in the beginning and the power of His Word was evident. “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3). John goes on to say, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). We were chosen, “in Him before the foundation of the world.” So before the world was made, before the elements came together in God ordained Creation, and before there was ever a sin, the plan of redemption was set in motion and the remedy for an atonement was provided. God knew that sin would ravage His created beings and His glorious intention would be temporarily abated, but then that was also part of the plan. There is a heavenly record. It is the “Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8). Before the beginning He wrote the ending! God has always had a plan. Christ’s coming, the “Word became flesh,” the incarnation, was the culmination of His pre-ordained plan. This was His plan from the beginning. He knew we needed a Savior and He was the only One who could redeem us from the power of sin. Though it seems difficult to comprehend, Jesus came to die and to live again! Throughout His thirty-three and a half years there was intention in every move. While others were not allowed to know the bigger picture until the very end, Jesus understood His purpose. Even when faced with the painful truth of His sacrifice He surrendered to this purpose, “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour” (John 12:27 NIV). Facing the judgment of Pilate, Jesus revealed His purpose, the truth of His existence and deity, “For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth” (John 18:37). The plan of redemption was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Because He came we can live in Him! “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:20–22 NIV). Theme passage: “… although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.” (Hebrews 4:3).
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The Walk of Faith3/22/2020  The Walk of Faith
Steps of Spiritual Growth Terry R. Baughman “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:1–2). A walk is a journey, a path, a direction, and an access to a destination. We may “take a walk” to clear our thinking, breathe in the fresh air, or get some exercise. Walking is a productive physical activity that stimulates blood flow, circulates oxygen, and it might get our heart rate high enough to count for some cardio benefit. Walking is also a productive spiritual activity. The Christ-walk is a walk of faith, the way of developing discipleship, and the opportunity to grow in our relationship with Him. The walk suggests movement, progression, step by step following after His perfect plan in our lives. Paul wrote that those who are in Christ and walk according to the direction of the Spirit are free from condemnation and victorious in Jesus. In the epistle to the Galatian believers he wrote, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). The secret to victorious Christian living and growth in discipleship comes when we forsake the path of fleshly desires and pursue Jesus and His Kingdom. From the initial call for discipleship, “Come, follow me,” to the journey down the Via Dolorosa on the way to the cross of Calvary, Jesus calls us to follow Him. His call was and is, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). This is a road of commitment, devotion, endurance and faith. Faith is the essential element that brought us to know Christ. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Paul said, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). That initial step of faith brings us into His path. Jesus is, “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). We often speak of this life as a journey. That is an apt analogy for the progress of our life on the road of spiritual development. There are many conditions along the way. There are narrow passages, rough roads, steep climbs, and even some smooth traveling segments through the route. God’s Word provides direction and His Spirit promises guidance through every passage or turn we encounter. Our GPS is God’s Powerful Spirit working in us and through us to accomplish His great plan. As with any journey through life the only way to arrive is to keep going. If we stop along the way we will never reach our destination. Regardless of difficulties or challenges, the only way to finish the trip is to continue. The way of the Spirit is a walk of faith being led of the Holy spirit. The only way to the finish is to keep on walking! Theme passage: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Romans 5:12).
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Development of Discipleship3/15/2020  The Development of Discipleship
Steps of Spiritual Growth Terry R. Baughman “In the same way that nursing infants cry for milk, you must intensely crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word. For this ‘milk’ will cause you to grow into maturity, fully nourished and strong for life — especially now that you have had a taste of the goodness of the Lord Jehovah and have experienced his kindness” (1 Peter 2:2–3 TPT). In the words of a song performed by Hillsong United, entitled As You Find Me, there is a phrase that says, “Your love’s too good to leave me here.” After setting the conflicting actions of purity and sin, perfection and disappointment, and commitment and abandonment, there is still a grace that reaches beyond our mistakes and failures. God’s grace is a demonstration of His love. The song goes on to say, “And I know I don't deserve this kind of love. Somehow this kind of love is who You are.” Jesus reaches us in the pit of our sin and the depth of our failures. His grace restores us to relationship and He calls us to become disciples. He is still calling, “Follow Me, and I will make you …” (Matthew 4:19). There is an expectation of change in the challenge, I will make you. His plan is change. His purpose is discipleship development. His process is to stage events that will result in maturity and spiritual growth. He loves us too much to leave us in our past or even here in the present. He has a future picture in mind of what we can become! Our instinct for self-preservation is to resist external influences for change. We are more comfortable with the familiar existence of the present. Change is uncomfortable and growth creates the need for adaptation. The stress of maturity is not of our own initiative, but discipleship demands that we accept the challenge of change and willing submit to this new influence in our lives. God holds the blueprints and designs the schedule of completion, but we must be willing to embrace His plan and follow His direction. Paul wrote to the believers in Philippi, “I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this glorious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you and will put his finishing touches to it until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ!” (Philippians 1:6 TPT). When we trust the Master we can take courage in His ability to complete what He has begun in each of us. Beyond the casting of the seed in the Gospels and the birth of the church in the Book of Acts, we are given many Epistles that instruct believers in how to follow after Christ. Through the letters to believers in various cities where Paul traveled, individuals who Paul mentored and trained, other writings written to Hebrew Christians and written by Apostles we are encouraged to grow. The whole body of writing in the New Testament give guidance for believer to become more like Christ. Paul maintained that, “These grace ministries will function until we all attain oneness in the faith, until we all experience the fullness of what it means to know the Son of God, and finally we become one perfect man with the full dimensions of spiritual maturity and fully developed in the abundance of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13 TPT). May we hunger for more of His Word, passionately follow the calling of His Holy Spirit, and grow more strongly in Him day by day. That is our calling and His desire. Theme passage: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Romans 5:12).
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The Birth of the Spirit3/8/2020  The Birth of the Spirit
Steps of Spiritual Growth Terry R. Baughman “Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit’” (John 3:5–6). A Jewish religious leader came to Jesus seeking to know more about this teacher and His unusual message. Perhaps due to his own position in the religious community Nicodemus came to see Jesus under the cover of darkness. He commented on the teaching ministry and miraculous signs that Jesus had done, recognizing that indeed He was a messenger from God. Jesus did not remain in the polite expressions of platitudes but rather spoke to the heart of the reason for his visit, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Beyond the niceties of congenial conversation there is an evident truth that must be shared. Jesus came with a mission to deliver souls from sin and to give them the hope of everlasting life. He did not come to earn respect and achieve acclaim by the religious elite, but rather He came to fulfill His mission. He had, “come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). It is no great accomplishment to share theological beliefs and debate doctrine. What is most important is that we share the good news of Jesus Christ to those who are seeking to know more about Him. Our message must be like Jesus’ message. At every opportunity we must share the reality of the new birth experience and the promise of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It is not possible to have that promised life without being born again of the water and of the Spirit. Jesus made that very clear. The experience that we are sharing is life-changing and brings the assurance of eternal life with Christ. “You must be born again.” These were the words Jesus spoke to the seeker. They are still adequate words to provide direction to all who seek Him. This is not a self-help plan or a self improvement program. This is not a social club, a diet and exercise plan, or a gym membership. It is radical rebirth, offering everyone the chance to begin anew. His offer hold the potential for a whole new existence that we never knew was possible. Not all the benefits of a new birth experience are planted in the hereafter. There are many present promises and daily benefits provided for believers who have chosen to follow Jesus. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). Christ has offered us more than heaven. He promises us an abundant life here and now. Among His gifts are unspeakable joy (1 Peter 1:8), constant companionship (Matthew 28:20), and abiding peace (John 14:27). Jesus gives us a life of hope, freedom from the bondage of our past, and a new life of liberty in the Holy Spirit. The transformation of spiritual rebirth is the miracle of a moment and an experience of a lifetime. Birth is sudden. After a period of labor the child is born and expresses himself with a gasp of air and a welcome cry to signal the arrival. However, the growth process extends throughout a lifetime. So it is with a spiritual new birth. There are miracles in the moment, but the process of become a new creation continues throughout our discipleship. Never stop growing. Never stop living the new life! Theme passage: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Romans 5:12).
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The Seed of the Word3/1/2020  The Seed of the Word
Steps of Spiritual Growth Terry R. Baughman “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). The potential of the seed is never realized until it is planted in the soil and allowed to grow. As long as the seed is stored in the barn there will be no germination or growth. For the seed to reproduce its kind it must be sown in the ground, watered appropriately, and warmed by the sun. It is no surprise when the fresh shoots of a new plant emerge from the ground and reach for the sunlight. The power is in the seed and it is manifested when someone takes the seed and begins to broadcast it into the prepared soil. Likewise, the implanted word will bring life into the dormant soil of our spiritual beings. James said it will save your souls. The power of the Word should never be underestimated. Anything is possible with God and His Word will produce faith in the hearts of every believer. As Paul said, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). The Word of God is effective to produce results as it is faithfully shared and consistently received. Jesus explained that the seed is the Word of God in the parable of the sower. In the parable He spoke of various types of soils. The seed fell on good soil, but also on rocks, along the wayside, and among thorns. The seed was the same for all. There was nothing wrong with the seed, but at issue was the soil. The wayside soil was ready for birds and prey to find and feast on the bounty of good seed. The soil was hardened and would not allow the seed into its covering where it might take root, grow and provide something of value for those who come later. The rocky soil was a ready place for plants to find root and grow, but because of the shallow soil hidden in crevasses of the rocks, the growth would be short lived and the certain death would result. Finally, the thorny soil represented those who where choked by the undergrowth and never allowed to develop. Jesus said, “The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word” (Matthew 13:22). Concerning the good soil, Jesus said, “He who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit” (Matthew 13:23). The criterion for being good soil is those who hear it, understand it, and bring forth fruit! Everyone starts as an infant. It is always the babies who demonstrate the rapid growth of our children. Peter concluded, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:2–3). He saw nothing wrong with feeding milk to a new baby. Actually, that is entirely appropriate and necessary. However, there will come a time when the diet needs to be changed to continue providing necessary nutrition for continual growth. The writer of Hebrews said, “Solid food belongs to those who are of full age” (Hebrews 5:14). The milk of the Word will produce growth to the point where meat is required in the diet. It is the seed is the word of God that will produce the germination of new life and spiritual development leading into Christian growth. Share the Word! Theme passage: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food” (Romans 5:12). |
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