| Life as God Intended |
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God has called every person to become His disciple, and has taken action in Christ to bring this to pass. In the death and resurrection of Jesus He has provided for the complete redemption of all who turn to Him. He continues to be at work in every soul through the Holy Spirit who has been poured out for us. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? How can we discern the activity of the Holy Spirit in our lives? Here are seven characteristics of a growing disciple: 1. Wholly committed to Christ.
We have a life of regular worship and prayer with an active and meaningful devotional life. We participate in the life of a local church in service and fellowship and communion. We are following a plan for spiritual growth under the direction of the Spirit. 2. Biblically accountable.
We engage in the study of the Bible and the works of those who have gone before us. We have convictions about life and conduct based upon Biblical revelation. We memorize and meditate upon passages of God’s Word. We maintain a teachable spirit, availing ourselves of inspired teaching and discussing with others the meaning and application of the scriptures. 3. Spiritually empowered.
We seek the guidance and help of the Spirit every day. We endeavor to walk in the Spirit such that the fruit of His life is evident in us. We seek the empowerment of the Spirit in the exercise of His gifts and ministries. 4. Morally pure.
We have made restitution for the damage of our words and deeds wherever possible. We have made a clean break with all sexual impurity and endeavor to walk in purity of heart towards all. We walk in accountability with trusted brothers and sisters in Christ. 5. Family centered.
We honor our parents in obedience to the Lord. We accept the responsibility to train and nurture our children in the love and ways of God and to serve as an example of Christian maturity. We treat all women as our sisters and all men as our brothers. 6. Financially faithful.
We tithe and give generously to the Lord’s work. We live simply within our means and hold possessions lightly. We value neither poverty nor riches, and seek to obey God in the use of our resources. 7. Socially responsible.
We seek for justice and rightness for all in our community. We serve the needs of the poor and disenfranchised. We recognize our responsibility to our neighbors. 8. Evangelically active.
We cultivate opportunities to engage people outside God’s family with the gospel. We engage in and support evangelism beyond our borders. We live in a manner consistent with the message of Jesus. We are trained to present the gospel clearly and accurately. As we respond to the Spirit working in our lives, we will find the Lord working in one or more of these areas. By asking the Lord, “Am I what You intended me to be?” we will identify areas of the Spirit’s current activity in us. The answer will help you find the place and the activity in God’s family that allows the fullest range of Gods work to be expressed both in and through you. |