Constantly Growing In Christ

STUDY: #916- CHURCH IN THE HOUSES FROM: OCTOBER 18 @ 24, 2016

Topic: "Constantly Growing In Christ" Ephesians 4:14, 15 & 1 Corinthians 14:20-25 We must learn to know how the path that leads to eternal life is through the Holy Spirit. But, we cannot learn from everyone. There are many who are false and thus want to teach us. The false want to teach you having an opinion and suggesting according to their twisted thoughts. Those who are rebellious and bitter also present themselves as if they were teachers. Those who are capable of saying that they are the ones who have the knowledge will not lack to be nominated as a teacher. But, we must know well that none of this is close to God’s thoughts; it is not for men to have the knowledge. The knowledge of men comes from what they have lived and from there they draw a line of thoughts and teachings that are very far from God’s truth. Here, in 1 Corinthians 14, we see the Apostle Paul working with the struggle that the brothers of Corinth had in regards to spiritual languages. The languages that the Holy Spirit gives us are pure, holy and all believers should have them. But, we see that among the brothers of Corinth this topic turned into a conflict of children. It happened as if they had remained in an infant stage of development. Their spiritual growth stopped. Brother, IN GOD WE GROW EVERY DAY! It is known that it is good to preserve innocence as children, but that is in regard to evil. But as far as the judgment of the things that involve us every day WE MUST BE NO LONGER LIKE CHILDREN BUT RATHER LIKE ADULTS. We cannot be children in the faith. We cannot remain in immaturity. We must grow "spiritual gray hair." Being a child is because one has not lived and lacks the experiences that teach; in the Lord one must grow, mature and live without running away, confronting life. We grow through experiences, we cannot escape; we cannot be in a bubble, because in this path there are many people who are ready to deceive. God is eternity and religions always come and go like fashions. The Rev. Charles Spurgeon spoke of the Church in his time saying that those Christians were playing and entertaining themselves inside the churches. Similar to that nowadays people still go on and look for what is in fashion; they live behind vigils and prophecies, looking to go to see those who sing and even reach the strangest; some of them call themselves: apostle of apostles! Time passes and everything comes and goes, but THE CHURCH ALWAYS REMAINS! Let us understand that the solid food of religion will always be found in the Church. But, we must watch because IN ALL THE CHURCHES THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE OF WHOM WE MUST BE CAREFUL! For this reason the apostle Paul spoke of the clever ones, of the ASTUTENESS of some. That astuteness is the ability that such people have in the handling of words with the intention of sowing in others what they want. The matter is serious as they try to turn others away from the faith, they will want to take away the enthusiasm with great astuteness and take them through the twisted path in which they walk and boast. The matter is that today there are many who speak of religion as experts and come to bring the "tender", "the children" to

follow them through that false path in which they delight themselves. With lots of arguments these false believers and teachers flaunt about knowing a great deal, wanting to take subliminally and sometimes openly all those they can to be against the Church and against God. We have to see that no one takes us out of balance. We must be watchful of such trend of deception and all that art that some have to bring new fashions of religion. How much should be our firmness so that no one can seduce us with the arguments that go out of fashion! The way to do it is growing constantly in Christ! May nothing or no one toss us back and forth with every wind of doctrine! In this, your worst enemy is yourself if you let your thoughts hesitate and stagger, if you spend time crying and being depressed and you're acting like a child instead of being firm as an adult in all that is spiritual. The child can be led, but the adult should have already known the sound doctrine of the faith. Let's grow on everything, nothing of childishness! Any clever and deceiver person says something and you tremble? No! No way. The church is a body that will be healthy and active only when all its members are properly coordinated. A church where everyone walks like a capricious child cannot be stable! The Church is healthy and strong only when Christ is really the head and when all members are under His control. Then, they are no longer like children but like adults thinking the same, because there are not two thoughts, but just the thought of Christ. In the same way that all parts of a healthy body obey the brain, in the same way all united, mature and sound in faith will obey the Lord Jesus Christ. That firmness in Christ is what keeps you in faith and secure against seduction; the only thing that can maintain the Church healthy and effective is the intimate connection with Jesus Christ who is the head and the mind guideline of the Body. If you are the "spoiled child" then you'll be far from the head which is Christ. You should know and follow Him as one who has grown to not be deceived by anything or anyone. Amen.