I have a question I wish to ask each of you personally today!
How are things going in your life spiritually?
The banker will ask you -- how are things going in your life financially?
The doctor will inquire about you physically.
The psychologist will express interest in you mentally & emotionally.
The sociologist will study you socially & culturally.
But as your pastor -- I am concerned as to how you are doing spiritually!
While I am concerned & interested in your life in many other areas -- my primary concern for you is spiritually!
The Apostle John -- who wrote the Gospel of John -- & the Revelation -- also wrote three letters to the Church.
His third letter to the Church -- is brief -- only containing 14 verses.
In the 4th verse of this short letter -- John expresses his pastor’s heart for his people -- by saying: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children (my congregation) walk in truth.”
And as your pastor -- (God gave me a pastor’s heart!) -- I say to each one of you this morning -- “I could have no greater joy than to hear that you -- my people -- live & walk in truth.”
Nothing could make me happier then hearing reports that my people -- those of you who make up my congregation -- continue diligently in the way of Truth.
There is an old saying that goes like this: --
Only one life -- & it will soon be past;
Only what’s done for Christ will last!
I ask you again -- How are things going in your life spiritually?
To help you answer that question -- I would point you to some indicators -- or some supportive questions -- which will serve as a guide.
Let’s take a spiritual inventory of your life.
Allow -- in this time together today -- allow the spot light of God to examine your heart -- as we seek to discover how you are doing spiritually.
1. Do You Know for Certain that You Have Been Born Again?
Do you know for sure that you have been saved?
We are told in John’s Gospel -- that there was a man named Nicodemus -- a prominent leader among the Jews -- who came to Jesus late one night -- asking questions.
Jesus said to him very clearly -- “Unless you are born again -- (born from above) -- you can never see -- or enter into the
Some people are trying to buy their way in; -- some people are trying to work their way in; -- some people are trying to attend their way in; --some people are trying to live their way in; --
But there is only one way -- & that is God’s way; -- you must be born from above; -- you must experience a spiritual birth that comes from God.
And we don’t have to guess -- to hope -- to think; -- we can know!
The main message of the Bible is that we may truly know!
John writes in 1 John
My friends -- you can know beyond the shadow of doubt that you have been saved -- born from above -- born again! -- That you have experienced the spiritual birth that God alone can give.
You experience this spiritual birth as you truly believe on God’s Son -- JC -- in the forgiveness of sins.
We can know -- for the Bible says that God’s “Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts & tells us that we are God’s children” (Rom
One of the primary questions -- we ask when attempting to lead some-one to examine their relationship with God -- is, “If you were to die tonight, do you know for certain that you would go to heaven?”
My friends -- we don’t have to wonder -- or guess -- or hope -- or think; -- we can know! -- For God’s Spirit bears witness with our spirit.
Illus: When I knelt as a teen-age lad at that old fashion altar in the hills of E. KY -- & confessed my sins to God -- & asked for forgiveness through JC, the Savior -- in that moment, JC became my Savior! -- I knew my heart had been changed; -- I felt so different inside.
As someone once said: -- “I would not have thanked a thousand angels to have come down & tell me -- for I already knew it had happened.”
My dear friend -- It is not enough to be a member of the church!
You can be ever so faithful in your attendance -- even in serving the church -- or in the giving of your tithe & offerings -- & still be spiritually lost! -- Never having been born again; -- saved!
My friends -- the Bible says -- you must be born again!
2. As A Christian -- Are You Growing Spiritually?
We are told in 2 Peter 3:18 -- that we are to grow in grace & in the knowledge of our Lord & Savior JC.
Too many people are giving up before they grow up spiritually.
As Christians -- we either grow in grace -- or we grow in disgrace.
Some Christians are saved & sanctified -- & petrified; -- they have become as hard & cold as rocks.
Are you farther up the road spiritually today than you were a year ago? -- Than you were 5 years ago? -- Than you were 10 years ago?
Is your experience up-to-date -- or is it out-of-date?
Are you living on past grace -- or past blessings?
Are you experiencing new & exciting things with God -- or have you come to a standing still?
My friends -- you can drift into hell -- but you cannot drift into heaven!
Unfortunately -- some people have become stale in their Christian life! --But it need not be that way!
You can grow spiritually -- becoming more Christ-like -- developing the fruit of the Spirit in your daily life!
There is nothing more exciting than to watch a Christian grow --
To see the changes the Lord brings about as they walk with Him;
To witness advancement in their spiritual lives.
Illus: -- In Deut. chapter 2 -- Moses is remembering
He recounts the time when the Israelites wandered around
Finally the Lord said to Moses -- “You have been wandering around in this hill country long enough; turn northward” (2:3 NLT).
Some of you have been going around in circles for years -- not making any real progress spiritually. -- You have encompassed the mountain of bad habits -- or bad attitudes -- or bad excuses; -- & God is saying to you, “You have been wandering around in circles long enough; -- it time you leave that failure behind -- & begin a new path of spiritual victory.”
I’m not even going to attempt to suggest what it is in your life -- that has been holding you back; -- you know what it is w/o my having to name it!
You have battled with it for years; -- you have known how it has drug you down; -- you have tried to cover it up; -- you have walked around it; -- but it just doesn’t go away!
You know it is wrong; -- no one needs to tell you; -- if someone does mention it, you become defensive!
But today -- God is saying to you -- “You have been wandering around this hill country long enough; -- it time you leave this failure behind -- & begin a new path of spiritual victory.”
I ask you again -- my dear friend -- are you growing spiritually?
3. Are You Fulfilling God’s Purpose for Your Life?
I believe deeply in my heart that God has a plan & a purpose for every life here! -- Yours included!
This is part of what makes being a Christian really exciting.
We no longer ask -- who am I? -- Why am I here? -- What is life all about?
My friend -- you are a child of God; -- you are here upon this earth under Divine appointment; -- you have a purpose & a calling to fulfill!
It’s not all about you!
The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment -- your peace of mind -- or even your happiness.
It’s far greater than your family -- your career -- or even your wildest dreams & ambition.
If you want to know why you were placed on this planet earth -- you must begin with God!
You were born by His purpose -- & for His purpose!
Rick Warren has written the excellent best selling book -- The Purpose Driven Life. -- If you have not read it already -- you ought too!
God -- your Creator -- has a plan for you & a purpose for you to fulfill.
You are not an accident. -- Your birth was no mistake -- or mishap; -- your life is no fluke of nature.
Your parents may not have planned you -- but God did!
Long before you were conceived by your parents -- you were conceived in the mind of God Himself. -- He thought of you first!
God never does anything accidentally -- & He never makes mistakes.
He has a reason & a purpose for everything He creates!
And God certainly has made you for a reason -- & your life has profound meaning!
We discover the meaning & purpose of our life -- only when we seek to know & understand God’s will for our lives!
God’s purpose for your life can be realized in part as you seek to discover the Spiritual Gifts God has given you.
Do you know what your Spiritual Gift is?
Do you have the gift of evangelism? -- The gift of shepherding? -- The gift of teaching? -- The gift of helps? -- The gift of encouragement? -- The gift of hospitality? -- You can know your SG!
And the greatest fulfillment or joy of your life will come as you serve God through your SG -- & do His will!
Illus: -- When pastoring in
My, how he would encourage me on Sundays; -- & boast my moral as I served as his pastor!
Are you fulfilling God’s purpose for your life?
Conclusion:
My beginning question to you this morning was -- how are things going in your life spiritually!
As your pastor -- that is my greatest concern for you!
I may be concerned about your health -- your job -- your welfare -- your problems -- your financial concerns -- your relationships!
But my primary concern for you is -- how are things going in your life spiritually!
To help you better understand how you stand spiritually -- I ask you those secondary questions: --
Do you know for certain that you have been born again?
As a Christian -- are you growing spiritually?
Are you fulfilling God’s purpose for your life?
There is no greater joy that can come to the heart of this pastor -- than to watch the people God has entrusted to my ministry -- grow spiritually.
There is no greater grief -- than to watch someone back up spiritually & fall away!
How are you doing -- doing spiritually today?