I shared the following article with the congregation of Hebron Baptist Church on my last Sunday, September 20, 2015.
“Moving Forward for Spiritual Health and Growth”
Biblical and Pastoral
Reflections, Dr. Joe Alain
September 20, 2015
The following biblical principles are ones that I have
sought to incorporate into my life and ministry the past ten years and they
continue to be areas that I strive to see become a reality in my daily life. These
thoughts would be my prayer and desire for every member of HBC. Unless noted,
all Scripture references are from the NIV (1984) and my emphases are made
throughout.
1. Choose love over
law. The central theme of the Gospel is God’s love. 16 “For God so loved the
world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall
not perish but have eternal life. 17
For God did not send His Son into
the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him”
(Jn. 3:16-17). Jesus was often in
conflict with man’s regulations because He always placed people over policies. Let
love be preeminent in all that you do, it’s the main thing! The way of love is
“the most excellent way” (1 Cor. 12:31) and is the virtue above
all others, “But the greatest of these
is love” (1 Cor. 13:13).
“For in Christ Jesus
neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that
counts is faith expressing itself through love” (Gal. 5:6). “But the fruit
of the Spirit is love . . .” (Gal.
5:22).
“Be imitators of
God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love,
just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and
sacrifice to God” (Eph. 5:1-2).
“Dear friends, let
us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been
born of God and knows God” (1 Jn.
4:7). “We love because He first
loved us” (1 Jn. 4:19).
2. Use your speech to
build others up. “Do not let any
unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for
building others up according to their need, that it may benefit those who
listen” (Eph. 4:29). Refuse to
participate in gossip and negative and destructive speech. “Reckless words pierce like a sword, but
the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Prov. 12:18). Use your speech to bless God and others. “I
will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my
mouth” (Ps. 34:1, NKJV).
3. Do not grieve God’s
Spirit. Sin hinders our spiritual health and growth. We must recognize sin and
repent (“Get rid of”) and walk in God’s way (“Be” different people).
30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God
with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all
bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of
malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other,
just as in Christ
God forgave you” (Eph. 4:30-32).
4. Remember where you
came from. 8 “For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God –
9 not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph. 2:8-9). Remembering that you were
once without hope and without Christ allows you to be more humble and patient with
others, grateful to God for your blessings, and sensitive and gracious to those
who are still without Christ.
5. Keep yourselves
from idols. Idols are “God-substitutes” and can include traditions, people,
material items, even religious busyness. Be careful “whom” and “what” you
worship (value) because you become like the God you worship (Jer. 1:5). John affectionately pleaded,
“Dear children, keep yourselves from
idols” (1 Jn. 5:21).
6. Seek to include
not exclude people. God desires all people to be saved (1 Pet. 3:9).
The Gospel is to be inclusive of all people and the church
is to be at the forefront of including others, especially people who may be
different from us. Jesus has broken down the walls of hostility that divide us
(Eph. 2:14). The church is to reflect
the composition of heaven where there will be people “from every tribe and language and people and nation”
(Rev. 5:9).
7. Pray continually.
“Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17, NKJV). Pray and pray some
more! Why pray? First, God answers prayer. Second, God changes you in prayer.
It’s impossible to truly pray and remain angry, bitter towards people, or
uncaring about God and what He desires to do in your life. And third, prayer
builds your faith and confidence in the sovereignty and faithfulness of God. Prayer
frees you from anxieties and allows God to surround you with His peace that
transcends all human understanding (Phil.
4:6-7).
8. It’s all about the
Kingdom. Jesus said that seeking the kingdom of God is to be our
priority and passion (Matt.
6:33). Our only agenda is God’s agenda, to spread the Gospel and to “make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19-20). We are to follow the
kingdom model of Jesus who said, “For
even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give
His life as a ransom for many” (Mk.
10:45). Making the kingdom of God our priority means sacrificing any
personal agendas for “Love is not
self-seeking” (1 Cor. 13:5).
9. Don’t miss God! “Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at
His work to this very day, and I, too, am working’” (Jn. 5:17). Find out where God is at
work, celebrate the work, and join in! God is wonderfully at work and in some
of the places you might not expect. He’s at work in a simple prayer meeting.
He’s at work as basic human needs are met and spiritual conversations take
place at the clothes closet or food bank. He’s at work through a Christ-centered
word shared in a Spanish-speaking ministry. He’s at work through a dozen other
places and conversations each week through Hebron’s members and ministries. Don’t
miss God at work! “Do you not say, ‘Four
months more and then the harvest?’ I tell you, open your eyes and look at
the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (Jn. 4:35).
10. Keep your heart
pure. Purity leads to clarity of life and wholeness in your relationship with
God and others. No one is greatly used by God unless he or she desires holiness
of life. To be holy is the recognition that “You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore,
honor God with your body” (1 Cor.
6:19-20). Holiness is not gained through human effort, it is becoming like
Christ as we live daily in God’s purifying presence. This is why Peter could
say, 15 “But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;
16 for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am
holy’” (1 Pet. 1:15-16). “It is God’s will that you should be
holy” (1 Thess. 4:3).
“Blessed are the
pure in heart, for they will see God” (Matt. 5:8). “The fear of
the Lord is pure, enduring forever” (Ps. 19:9a).
“Make every effort to
live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will
see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).
God “who has saved us
and called us to a holy life – not because of anything we have done but
because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus
before the beginning of time” (2
Tim. 1:9).
"For His Glory, By His Grace
Pastor Joe
