Things we must always do:
- Always desire spiritual growth — We will seek and strive for the fruits and attributes of a true believer. We must have a desire to continue to grow. We have not arrived.
2. Always value God’s truth and let His truth influence me above other opinions or desires.
3.Always allow real Christianity to be natural in my life– Strive to be an authentic and genuine Christian in my speech, prayer, actions, and attitudes.
4. Always love and fear God–Desire to keep my heart in a right relationship with God.
Pr 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.
–Be honest with God, myself, and others.
Acts 6:3 “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”
2 Cor.4:1-2 “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”
Lu 8:15-17 “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience. No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.”
- Never neglect my personal walk with God.
What does that look like? Just reading the Bible? That is the beginning—understanding it –prayer with it – meditate on it – apply it to my life.
- Never falsely represent myself or put on a facade –Never be a hypocrite. Never act different in my public versus private life. Never portray something that I’m not.
Lu 6:42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye.
Lu 13:15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
- Never let man have more authority in my life than God
4. Never view myself differently than God and the Bible see me — Never believe I am better or worse than reality. Pride works both ways. Check out this article on Pride’s Disguises for more on this tricky sin. It is basically thinking too much about ourselves. It is easy prey to fall into at any age—especially young –millennials.
- Never lie or oversell
Joh 8:44 Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Ro 9:1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,
Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
Tit 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
- Helpers — The Holy Spirit, our conscience, other real believers, healthy relationships, people in our homes, connection groups at church, Sunday School, people in our other regular gatherings.
- Bible, preaching, teaching, and prayer—Examples are teaching on defending and spreading our faith, training on outreach/soulwinning etc. This can be found at church.
- Devotionals, books, or journals— Consider keeping a prayer journal, devotionals on spiritual growth, and other good spiritual books which are Bible based. Ask us for help if you don’t know where to find these resources.
- Evangelistic events and personal soulwinning
- Change/risk —Be open to new biblical variety in church and ministry. Get out of the same old routine, stretch yourself because in doing so, we grow.
Tasks: These are tasks that we must actively accomplish in order to succeed.
- Prioritize a strategy to grow spiritually— Options are a Bible reading program, (there are many smartphone apps for this purpose) working through this Roadmap, getting involved in outreach times and activities.
- Determine how to connect best with other real Christians--Perhaps going to a class or getting involved in a small group Bible study, attending prayer meetings, lunch Bible study meetings, and more as schedules allow.
- Find a discipleship or accountability partner –Local or not, find someone who you can trust and talk to about your spiritual struggles. Find someone who will ask you the hard questions and help you change and grow in your walk with God.
- Find ways to meditate on Scripture after reading or hearing it.
- Take ownership of some area that promotes the cause of Christ—Examples are evangelism –serving in a ministry —visiting the sick or shut-ins—praying for missions. What are you doing??
Constraints: These are known hindrances to our success that we must prepare for and overcome by God’s grace and wisdom.
- Hard to change any norm— It is hard exchanging traditional hypocritcal living with being authentic and real. It is hard to see the need to make any changes, We will struggle with complacency/satisfaction — “I am who I am”
- Symbols or rigid programs –ex. formal attire (looking good doesn’t make us better), —We must allow growth to take place over time. We can’t be over demanding on others. We must afford Christian liberty as needed.
- Fear of man–People-pleasing and fear of living a holy life in front of others.
- Enemies –Satan, other fake people etc.
- Our Self— Pride, lack of desire or effort to grow, fear/insecurities, trying to protect an image, pretending to know everything, wanting to look good instead of being good,
