Life Under the Sun

Part 5: How to Really Grow Spiritually

By Louie Marsh, 9-4-2022

 

Malawi pics = last one hand washing.

 

TO REALLY GROW SPIRITUALLY I MUST DO 5 THINGS

 

1) Drew near & LISTEN.

 

“1Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.” (Ecclesiastes 5:1, ESV)

 

• WHY? Because God is

 

“14For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.” (Job 33:14, ESV)

 

“Everything happening, great or small, is a parable whereby God speaks to us, and the art of life is to get the message.” - Malcolm Muggeridge

 

 

“19Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:19, ESV)

 

“Everything difficult indicates something more than our theory of life yet embraces.” - George MacDonald

 

 

 

2) Speak less, LISTEN more!

 

“2Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.” (Ecclesiastes 5:2, ESV)

 

Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear. God’s in charge, not you – the less you speak the better. Eccl. 5:2 (Mes)

 

• WHY? Because God hears THE INAUDIBLE & sees THE INVISIBLE.

 

“21would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:21, ESV)

 

3) Let my ACTIONS speak louder than words.

 

“3For a dream comes with much business, and a fool’s voice with many words…“7For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.” (Ecclesiastes 5:3,7, ESV)

 

• WHY? Because God takes me SERIOUSLY!

 

“15No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” (John 15:15, ESV)

 

4) If you make a commitment to God – KEEP IT!

 

“4When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?” (Ecclesiastes 5:4–6, ESV)

 

• WHY? Because God takes my DECISIONS

 

“15And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”” (Joshua 24:15, ESV)

 

“20loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”” (Deuteronomy 30:20, ESV)

 

5) Eventually I must ACCEPT or REJECT  Jesus as Lord.

 

“23Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Luke 11:23, ESV)

 

• WHY? Because God can only be found THROUGH HIM.

 

“6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6, ESV)