inCHRISTalone

Ephesians 5v1-2 - "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

The greatest evidence of growth in Christ, is Love

1 Peter 2v2 - " Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation"

Just us consuming milk is sufficient to cause a baby to begin performing required life processes, consuming the Word of God will make us begin to think and act God's way

1 John 2v12-13 - "I am writing to you, little children,

because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.

I am writing to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young men,

because you have overcome the evil one.

I write to you, children,

because you know the Father."

What makes one grow to be a father in the faith is not only in overcoming sin, or merely knowing his spiritual strength: it is his intimacy.

Ephesians 4v13 - "until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ"

Maturity in Christ is shown in how much of Jesus we reveal in the way we live

Numbers 14v9 - "Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.”"

Joshua's personal knowledge of God caused Him to be stirred in faith when others had cause for fear

Exodus 24v13 - "So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God'

There are great encounters we have with God even while we serve others

2 Cor 3v5 - "Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,"

Having personal fellowship and encounters with God brings us to a place of complete dependence on Him. That is the greatest preparation for ministry

Acts 7v22 - "And Moses was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and deeds."

God prepares His people to make an impact in the world. But we must not lose our identity while we are being prepared in the world

Romans 12v2 - "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

It is when our minds are renewed that manifest the effect of our salvation

Proverbs 20v27 - "The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts"

The spirit of a man is the real man because that is what is intended to give him God-consciousness