TRANSFORMING YOUR WORLD

Greetings Saints,
Co-Pastor Dena and I are in Pittsburgh, PA on business this week. The trip also provides us with the blessing of seeing and spending time with family. This weekend we will be in Charlottesville, VA for my final sermon formally as Pastor of First Baptist Main Street. Pray for our safe travel and the delivering of God's Word on Sunday. If you will be in the Charlottesville area, stop in and worship with us at 9:30am Sunday, March 29th.
One portion of the message this past Sunday at TMI-ATL was taken from 1 Corinthians 13 which is commonly referred to as the "love" chapter. However, beginning at verse 8 and forward Paul states, "when I was a child I talked like a child, I thought like a child.....but when I became a man I put away childish things." Among other things, this text should remind the believer to grow-up from natural and spiritual immaturity. One only needs to spend but a few minutes in many of our churches and we are quickly confronted with immaturity. A small child thinks mainly of what he/she wants. The child might cry, throw a tantrum, complain or fight others to get what they want. Some grade school children will put down and mock others they don't like or agree with; they may brag that they have more candy, money or friends than someone else. But do we not hear adults, yes even believers throw adult tantrums, complain and fight others for what they want? Do we not hear adults mock, gossip on and put down others they don't like or agree with? Do we not hear adults, yes even believers, brag about their careers, money, position, education, homes, cars or who has the most members in their church? God has called us to maturity. The writer of Hebrews laments over the fact that he wants to feed the people the solid (mature) food of the Gospel but the people were still on, and still desiring milk. The church seems to be losing ground in many places because their focus is on the wrong things. God requires us to grow and mature even as Jesus grew from a child born in a stable to one worthy to be called King of Kings. Those who are worldly cannot be expected to grow past the incubator of the world's systems and principles. However, the child of God is expected to grow in the ways of the Lord, to be like Christ in character, integrity, love and personhood. We are to live by His Kingdom principles; principles which are far superior to the world's. "When I became a man (mature in Christ) I put away childish things." To grow up is to think unselfishly. To place the concern of others before your own. To love unconditionally and to give sacrificially. The Bible says God is Love. Love is a mature way. Paul says ".....now there are these three, faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love." Be real with God and yourself. Are you immature? Let God help you grow up into the "New" creature you are destined to be, and not just a reformed, but same old you. God and the world are waiting for you!
Peace.