GROWTH“I am the Vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing” John 15: 5 TrainingWhat does it mean to enter training? It means to arrange your life around certain exercises and experiences that will enable you to do eventually whatyou are not yet able to do, even by trying hard. It applies to your spiritual life just as it does to other activities. To follow Jesus means learning to arrange my life around these practices that will enable me to stay connected to Him and live more and more like Him. Spiritual disciplines: Prayer, Solitude, Bible reading, Bible meditation. The ultimate indicator of your spiritual health is your capacity to fully love God and love people. Spiritual disciplines are not a way to earn Brownie points with God. A spiritually disciplined person is someone who can do the right thing at the right time in the right way with the right spirit. Every moment is an opportunity to be guided by God and all of life’s activities can become spiritual training if we allow them to.
Every moment is a chance to learn from Jesus how to live in the Kingdom of God. What is God’s role and what is ours in spiritual growth? Piloting a motorboat and a sailboat. Can run a motorboat all by yourself. A sailboat is a different story. You are totally dependent on the wind. Our task is to creatively and wisely engage in those activities that will give God a chance to work in our life. But we’re totally dependent on Him. John 15: 5 Fruitfulness for a disciple is the norm. So how do you know if you’re bearing the right kind of fruit? The test of fruitfulness is this: When people see you do they see something of Jesus? Galatians 5: 22-23 Reflect for a few moments on your life and relationships during the past week. LOVE 1 2 3 4 5 How tender was your heart towards God this week? Toward family and friends? Towards others? How often did you serve? JOY 1 2 3 4 5 How irritable were you? How often did you laugh? Did you have any fun? PEACE 1 2 3 4 5 How troubled were you? Anxious? Did you stir up any conflict? Were you content? PATIENCE 1 2 3 4 5 How did you react when you were frustrated? How tolerant were you? If you want to move into the next question give yourself a 1! KINDNESS 1 2 3 4 5 How often did you lend a hand? Did you encourage anyone? Did you say please and thank you? GOODNESS 1 2 3 4 5 What portion of your time and resources did you give to the work of God and to others? Is it a joy to give to God or a worry or resentment? FAITHFULNESS 1 2 3 4 5 Were you dependable? How well did you keep your word? How obedient to God’s Word were you? GENTLENESS 1 2 3 4 5 How often did you speak the Truth with grace? How often did you get angry with someone? Did you come alongside someone? SELF CONTROL 1 2 3 4 5 How were your bad habits? Did you give in too often? What about your mouth? How often did you speak without thinking? Ask the Holy Spirit daily to help form the character of Christ in you. Be specific about those qualities that are more difficult for you. Keep a sense of humour!
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