New Life in Christ is progressive. 2 Cor.3:18 - And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Clearly we're engaged in a spiritual growth process which takes us ever closer to Christ-likeness. It's a journey which requires our personal involvement. Spiritual maturity doesn't just happen it requires certain applied disciplines. This Study investigates a few of the more important ones.
Like it or not when a person invites Jesus into their life they're automatically enlisted into a spiritual battle. The devil who once held us mercilessly captive is now our enemy. He purposes to divide and conquer. He does his best to influence us seeking to divide our love for God with the world. It's here that God's people must make the quality decision take a firm stand for God against the devils devises. This Study will help you see clearly six areas that require a firm commitment to inflexibility. Some things demand that we take a firm stand. Awareness, Confidence, Motivation, Attitude, Determination and Anticipation. The launching pad for this Study has it's origin in the third chapter of Philippians.
Pr 4:18 - The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. What a powerful and significant direction God's people have been given. Ever increasing! Never decreasing! This divine destiny can and will be realized as the necessary disciplines are applied. You can arrive at God's destiny for you. He certainly wants it for you and has made every spiritual provision. He is on your side and He will perfect that which concerns you as you purpose to receive from the Lord the grace He presently is extending to you .As you start this Study it is my sincere prayer that you will be able to understand and be encouraged to apply God's Word to your personal life. God richly bless you.
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Philippians chapter 3
1 ¶ Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.
2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh.
3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh-
4 ¶ though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more:
5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;
6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
9 ¶ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 ¶ All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 ¶ Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.
18 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body..
