FIRST LIGHT - Spiritual Growth

“My voice shall You hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto You, and will look up”. (Psalm 5:3) 

     Remember, there are two places where men will spend eternity: One is heaven with the Lord; the other is the lake of fire with - well you know.

     Two principles apply to our spiritual growth. First, It is important to understand where we are in our relationship to Christ; and Secondly, Where He wants to lead us.

     The following seven stages of spiritual development may help you discover where your current walk with Christ is and His plan for your future walk:

1.      Unbelief – God is not a part of our lives.

2.      Salvation – Christ enters our lives through faith in His atoning cross.

3.      Service – We work for God b because of what He did for us.

4.      Frustrated inadequacy – Our service is not fulfilling but frustrating.

5.      Spiritual dependency – We come to trusts in His power to work through us.

6.      Emotional surgery – We open up our minds, emotions, and thoughts for God to heal and restore.

7.      Complete in Christ – He is our life – regardless of circumstances. We are content, satisfied in His indwelling presence. Our frail life exchanged for His all-sufficient life.

     Where would you place yourself? God’s goal is that you become complete in Him – trusting and relying on Christ to impart all that you will ever need. Anchor yourself in Christ.

FIRST LIGHT - The Power of the Cross

“My voice shall You hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto You, and will look up”. (Psalm 5:3)

     There are two places where men will spend eternity: One is heaven with the Lord; the other is the lake of fire with - well you know.

     The power of the cross is twofold. Supremely, it is the reconciliation of God and man.

     But it is more. The cross of Christ and His finished work there is also the only basis for a radical change in our relationship with one another. Let’s face it! It is our encounters with other folk that stirs up most of our anxieties. Tension with family, coworkers, friends, neighbors, or an acquaintance can occupy much of our time and thought.

     For sin not only created conflict and alienation with God, it also exalted self to the throne of every man’s life. Only the cross, where we receive the new nature of Christ, can provide the power to relate harmoniously to one another. We are called and enabled supernaturally to: “Serve one another” (Galatians 5:13). “Comfort one another” (1 Thessalonians 4:18). “Bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). “Accept one another” (Romans 15:7). “Admonish one another” (Romans 15:14).

     If you are at odds with a Christian Brother or friend, go to the cross and ask our Lord Jesus Christ for His power through the Holy Spirit to demonstrate the reality of His love through you. Becoming a peacemaker will bring “the peace which surpasses comprehension” (Philippians 4:7).

FIRST LIGHT - Words for the Soul

“My voice shall You hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto You, and will look up”. (Psalm 5:3)

FIRST LIGHT SERIES – Our blog is starting a new series referred to as FIRST LIGHT in hopes of encouraging, educating and strengthening you in your daily walk with the Lord.

     There are two places where men will spend eternity: One is heaven with the Lord; the other is the lake of fire with - well you know.

     The Bible in the book of John 14:1-3 tells us; “Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.  2) In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also”.

     Those words of Jesus have been recited at countless gravesides, speaking comfort and quiet hope of an eternal future of those in locked in the grieving boundaries of time and space.

     But Jesus meant more by His statement; His gentle assurance was meant to transform our struggle into an understandable, exciting journey with an identifiable destination.

     These words or comfort for the living, those who know life through the experience of being “born again.” There would always be room for speculation if Jesus had not gone on to lay the groundwork, presenting Himself as; “the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comet to the Father, but through Me” (John 14:6).
     The magnitude of that one statement cancels out and shows the emptiness of statements by “educated men” who wish to believe that “heaven is such that all who have lived well, of whatever religion, have a place there.”

     “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom You hast sent” (John 17:3)

     Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? Have you accepted him as Lord and Savior? You can right now: All you have to do is ask Him to come into your life, save you and forgive you from all your sins, then you too will have this good news. Read the Bible it's food for the soul.