Tag: Faith

8 Keys to Recognizing Spiritual Growth

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In 2011, LifeWay Research interviewed discipleship experts from eight countries, as well as surveyed 1,000 pastors and more than 4,000 Protestants from North America.

The intensive research revealed eight attributes of discipleship that consistently show up in the lives of believers who are progressing in spiritual maturity:

1. Bible Engagement

It should go without saying that believers will be engaged in studying the Scriptures. Transformation can be recognized in people when their minds are sharpened by the Bible, their perspectives are shaped by the Bible, and their actions are directed by the Bible.

2. Obeying God and Denying Self

Discipleship is the process of obedience to one who is in authority over you. In their study, they found people progressing in their faith prioritize God’s desires over self-will. Transformation can be seen in them, because they progressively set aside earthly delights for Kingdom priorities.

3. Serving God and Others

Just as Jesus said He had come to serve and not be served, so must believers. The choice to serve others is just that—a choice. It highlights a maturity of soul that we allow the needs of others to trump our own. Transformation is evident when personal needs and even life goals are set aside for the needs we see in others.

4. Sharing Christ

Inherent in being a disciple of Christ is the making of other disciple makers for Christ. Even with the need to live out the effects of the gospel, maturing believers know speaking about the message is a necessity. Transformation is evident when we talk about the source of it.

5. Exercising Faith

Can you measure a person’s faith? Probably not. But you can see it when it is put into action. Believers participating in the research noted they knew the importance of living by faith as opposed to living by personal strength. Transformation is seen in believers when risk aversion is set aside and lives are characterized by faithful obedience to God’s will.

6. Seeking God

People become disciples of Christ because they intend to follow Him and become like Him. A continuous hunger should arise from this life. It is referred to in Scripture as our “first love,” and believers are commanded to return to it. Transformation is seen when we desire to know God more deeply and experience His work more fully.

7. Building Relationships

Our faith is personal, but it is not intended to be private. Jesus established the church for our collective good and our collective growth. After all, humans are naturally relational. Spiritually, we are no different. As believers, our horizontal relationships with others should develop just as our vertical relationship with God does. Transformation is occurring when relational maturity is evident in our lives.

8. Unashamed

The research noted that believers felt it appropriate and even necessary for others to know them as Christians and be held accountable for a life exemplary of that name. Transformation is evident when a believer is unashamed in presenting his own life as being aligned with Christ.

Books by Jerry, many of which you may read for free on Prime: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jerry-Blount/author/B06XK4GJT1

  1. Things You Probably Didn’t Learn in Church
  2. Basic Christianity: Living a Joy-Filled Life and Making a Difference
  3. The End Times: Signs and Prophecy
  4. Noah and the Great Flood: Proof and Effects
  5. Following Jesus and Fishing Along the Way: Stories of God’s Great Outdoors
  6. The Rapture: Coming Soon
  7. Delighting in the Lord: Enjoying a Close Walk with Jesus
  8. Evidence of God: Proof beyond Doubt  

Do the saints in heaven know what is happening on Earth?

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I do not believe that people who are in heaven are looking down on us, seeing everything that is going on in our lives. Having said that, there are scriptures that show that those in heaven do know at least some of what is happening on earth.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

   The great cloud of witnesses that the writer of Hebrews is speaking of is the saints of God that have gone on before us and are in heaven now. Are they in heaven watching us and cheering us on?

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The Angel of the Lord

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Throughout the Old Testament you will see a reference to “the angel of the Lord”. Who is the angel of the Lord? The angel seems to be not only of the Lord, but the Lord himself. 

   The first time we read about the angel of the Lord is in Genesis 16:7-13. In verse 10, the angel tells Hagar that he will increase her descendants so much that they will be too numerous to count. Could an angel do that? In verse 11 He refers to himself as Lord, and in verse 13, Hagar refers to Him as God.

“You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me”

   In Genesis 22:11 we see the angel of the Lord stopped Abraham from killing his son. In verse 12 He refers to Himself as God.

“But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied. “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” (Genesis 22:11-12)

Then in verses 15, the angel of the Lord again speaks to Abraham.

“The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.” (Genesis 22:15-17).

   When the angel of the Lord appears to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3:2-6), He leaves no doubt about who He is, with His many references to being God.

“There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

“When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” 

And Moses said, “Here I am.” 

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. (Exodus 3:2-6)

   We see the angel of the Lord again in Numbers 22:21-38, when He confronts Balaam and his donkey. Here He reproofs Balaam and instructs him. In verse 38 Balaam refers to the angel of the Lord as God.

   In Judges 13, the angel of the Lord tells Manoah and his wife that they will have a son, (Samson), and gives them instructions for raising him. Later Manoah said to his wife, “We are doomed to die….We have seen God.” 

   In John 6:46, Jesus says that: “No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God”. 

   So who is “the angel of the Lord”? Obviously, it was not the Father who came as the Angel of the Lord. If it were God and it was not the Father, then it must have been the Son, our Lord. The Angel of the Lord is no ordinary angel.

   What do we know about “the angel of the Lord”?

1. He is not an Angel.

2. He is not God the Father, because no man has seen the Father.

3. He is God, because the scriptures say He is.

4. He appears to be God, but separate from God (the Father) as Christ (the Son) and the Holy Spirit are.

5. He forgave sin, which only God can do.

   Is this Christ? Did Christ walk upon the earth centuries before He was born a baby in Bethlehem? Not all Bible scholars are willing to say it is the Lord, but it certainly could have been, He was with Father from the beginning.

J. M. Wilson writes that while identifying him with God the Son is most tempting, “..it must be remembered that at best these are only conjectures that touch on a great mystery……The appearances of the angel of the Lord…..culminated in the coming of the Savior, and are thus a foreshadowing of, and preparation for, the full revelation of God in Jesus Christ. Further than this it is not safe to go.”

   Most Bible scholars and students don’t hesitate to make that claim however. Calvin wrote:

“I am rather inclined however, to agree with the ancient writers, that in those passages wherein it is stated that the angel of the Lord appeared to Abraham, Jacob, and Moses, Christ was that angel.”

   C. F. Dickason stated that the angel of the Lord “According to all evidence……seems to be the preincarnate Son.”

  Billy Graham writes: “There are no grounds for questioning the very early and traditional Christian interpretation that in these cases there is a preincarnation manifestation of the second person of the Trinity.”

   We know that Christ was here from the beginning, (John 1:1-4), and we can assume that “the angel of the Lord” was most likely Jesus.

Books by Jerry, many of which you may read for free on Prime: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jerry-Blount/author/B06XK4GJT1

  1. Things You Probably Didn’t Learn in Church
  2. Basic Christianity: Living a Joy-Filled Life and Making a Difference
  3. The End Times: Signs and Prophecy
  4. Noah and the Great Flood: Proof and Effects
  5. Following Jesus and Fishing Along the Way: Stories of God’s Great Outdoors
  6. The Rapture: Coming Soon
  7. Delighting in the Lord: Enjoying a Close Walk with Jesus
  8. Evidence of God: Proof beyond Doubt  

Guardian Angels

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All throughout the Bible, we read about angels. They seem to be everywhere, carrying messages, helping people, battling the devil and his demons. We hear about angels appearing as humans and coming out of nowhere to rescue people. Were they really angels? Do we have guardian angels?

Many believe that as Christians, we have our own guardian angel to protect us. One verse that contributes to this thinking is this verse concerning children, Jesus said; 

“see that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my father in heaven” (Matthew 18: 10).

In Psalm we are told that the angels will protect us.

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What is that in your hand?

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These words were spoken by God to Moses when He called him to go down to Egypt and bring the children of Israel out of bondage. You remember how Moses tried to excuse himself. He said he wasn’t didn’t speak well — he wasn’t this and that — and he couldn’t go. Like Isaiah, he wanted the Lord to send someone else. Finally, the Lord said to Moses, “What is that in your hand?” He had a staff in his hand. It was just a stick that he had cut for the purpose of driving the sheep with. He could probably have gotten a better or straighter stick for a staff. Yet with that staff, he was to deliver the children of Israel. God linked His almighty power with the staff, and that was enough.

I can imagine that as Moses was on his way to Egypt, he may have met someone who might have asked him where he was going. “Down to Egypt.”

Really? Are you going down there again to live?”

“No, I’m going to bring my people out of bondage.”

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Are YOU going to heaven?

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Everyone wants to go to heaven. The joy and peace that we will have when in heaven will be far greater than anything we can imagine. Being with family and friends who have gone before us and spending eternity with them. Living in a place of perfect love. 

But if we miss heaven — well, it’s not something we want to think about — an eternity in hell.

Thankfully, God has made it easy for us to go to heaven. He sent His Son to die on the cross and redeem our sins with His blood (John 3:16). Jesus paid the price for our sins and redeemed us from the death that we deserve. He made it possible to someday stand before God.

Life’s most important question should be, “Are you going to heaven when you die?” If Jesus returns tomorrow, will you be ready?

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Why is There so Much Evil in the World?

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We live in a troubled and chaotic world. There are shootings, bombings, terrorist attacks, countries fighting countries, and religions fighting religions. There are more famines now than ever. Natural disasters are happening all over the world. Depending on where you live, it can be unsafe to say you are a Christian. You may live in a country where having peace in one’s life seems impossible. What is going on?

Take heart! God is still in control!

“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters. (Psalms 24:1-2)

In Matthew, chapter 24, the disciples asked Jesus, “What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?”

“Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time, many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24: 4-13)

We can see all these things happening at an unprecedented rate. Earthquakes and natural disasters have greatly increased in number and severity. Famines are more common now than they have ever been in the history of this planet. Wars and attacks are an everyday occurrence. Many religions claim they are the way to heaven, while the attacks on Christianity have dramatically increased. 

Jesus tells us all these things will come to pass as we near the end of time. God gives us prophecy, not to scare us, but so that we can have hope. We can know that these things are temporary.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Deuteronomy 31:8) 

This passage of Scripture assures us that God knows what He’s doing; His thinking is different from ours, and it is so much higher than ours. We may not understand the mind of God when it comes to what is best for us and His ways and everything He allows. However, despite what we see around us, we can take heart in knowing that it is nothing that God can’t handle. Nothing surprises God. Let the “big things” become little in the hands of God.

The evil in this world will continue to increase as we near the end. However, if we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we need not fear. God assures us that we will not be here to endure the wrath. (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9) (Revelations 3:10) All the Christians will be raptured away before then. The Rapture is the next prophetic event to take place. Personally, I can’t wait.

As a child of God, our peace is based on who God is, not on what is happening in the world.

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! (Psalms 46:1-3 NLT)

Books by Jerry, many of which you may read for free on Prime: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jerry-Blount/author/B06XK4GJT1

  1. Things You Probably Didn’t Learn in Church
  2. Basic Christianity: Living a Joy-Filled Life and Making a Difference
  3. The End Times: Signs and Prophecy
  4. Noah and the Great Flood: Proof and Effects
  5. Following Jesus and Fishing Along the Way: Stories of God’s Great Outdoors
  6. The Rapture: Coming Soon
  7. Delighting in the Lord: Enjoying a Close Walk with Jesus  

Major prophecies fulfilled by Jesus

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The most notable prophecies in the Old Testament are those documenting the life of Christ. There are 60 major messianic prophecies and 270 minor prophecies regarding the coming messiah. In the New Testament, all these prophecies are fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ.

Below are sixty of the most common prophecies from the Old Testament that were fulfilled by Jesus.

  • He is the Son of God, Psalms 2:7
    • Fulfillment, Luke 1:31
  • The seed of the woman, Genesis 3:15
    • Fulfillment, Galatians 4:4
  • The seed of Abraham,  Genesis 17:7, 22:18
    • Fulfillment Galatians 3:16
  • The seed of Isaac, Genesis 21:12
    • Fulfillment, Hebrews 11:17-19
  • The seed of David, Psalms 132:11, Jeremiah 23:5
    • Fulfillment, Acts 13:23, Romans 1:3
  • His coming at a set time, Genesis 49:10, Daniel 9:24-25
    • Fulfillment, Luke 2:1
  • His being born of a virgin, Isaiah 7:14
    • Fulfillment, Matthew 1:22-23, Luke 2:7
  • His being called Immanuel, Isaiah 7:14,
    • Fulfillment, Matthew 1:22
  • His being born in Bethlehem, Micah 5:2
    • Fulfillment, Matthew 2:1, Luke 2:4-6
  • Great people paying Him tribute, Psalms 72:10
    • Fulfillment, Matthew 2:1
  • The killing of the children of Bethlehem, Jeremiah 31:15
    • Fulfillment, Matthew 2:16-18
  • His being called out of Egypt, Hosea 11:1
    • Fulfillment, Matthew 2:15
  • His being preceded by John the Baptist, Isaiah 40:3, Malachi 3:1
    • Fulfillment, Matthew 3:1-3, Luke 1:7
  • His being anointed with the Spirit, Psalms 45:7, Isaiah 11:2, 61:1
    • Fulfillment, Matthew 3:16, John 3:34, Acts 10:38
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Knowing Peace in Troubled Times

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Throughout the Bible, it speaks of having peace in our lives over and over again. God wants us to have peace in our lives. The last thing He wants is for us to live in fear.

Jesus told His disciples before He left, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)

If you know Jesus as your personal redeemer, you can have peace in your life regardless of the circumstances. It is a spiritual peace deep within our souls that the world can never know without knowing Jesus.

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

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When God Says No

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When God says no to our prayers. When it seems He doesn’t hear our petitions, it can really hurt, especially if we are praying for something really big, such as for a loved one..

When we pray and pray for something that seems so important to us, it may even seem like a matter of life and death to us and yet, God doesn’t answer our prayers. It can throw us off guard. We may even have our doubts about God. It may hurt so much that we turn our back on Him.

But that is never the answer.

Consider why God may say no. If you are a parent, then you have certainly said no to your children, yet you want the very best for them. Maybe you said no in order to teach them values, patience, or to set priorities. Maybe the timing wasn’t right, or because you know something they don’t. You can see the bigger picture. 

Those are all good reasons for saying no. Those could all be reasons God is saying no to you. I have used the illustration before that living our lives is like putting a puzzle together without the box top. We have no idea what the finished puzzle will look like until we are near the end. We begin by just putting the pieces of our life together, the best we can. 

Thankfully, God has the boxtop. He knows what our life will look like when the end comes. He can see the big picture that we can’t. This is where faith and trust come in. As hard as it may be, when He says no, we must trust that He knows best. One thing we can be assured of and that God has our best interests at heart. We may not understand why we don’t get the things we ask for. But our heavenly Father promises to always look after us and to provide for us.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. (Jeremiah 29:11)

We live in a broken and sinful world. Even as Christians, we are not going to get everything we want. God is much more concerned about the eternal aspects of our lives than He is with the temporary physical things in our lives.

When we go through difficult times and heartache in our lives, and God doesn’t answer our prayers as we think He should. We can still be assured that He is with us, helping us, and will work everything out in the end for our good.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

When God says no, we need to say yes, God, Thy will be done.