Billy Grahams Message. Topic:- Retreat! Stand! Advance! Episode 6. Continuation... III. ADVANCE When I was seven my father bought me my first bicycle. I had never ridden one. Patiently my family and friends tried to teach me the art of cycling. I soon found that there was one thing that I must do if I was to stay on the bicycle: keep moving forward. If I ceased to go forward I would fall and hurt myself. So it is in the Christian life. Paul told Timothy not only to endure hardness as a good soldier but to strive for masteries. Peter said, But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). You can never live this glorious life on the highest plain unless you are continually growing and moving forward. If you are not closer to Christ and more mature spiritually today than at any time in your Christian experience, there is something wrong with your life. You should be closer to Him today, heart, soul and body, than at any time in your life. There should be a constant growth. John spoke of fathers, young men and little children (1 John 2:13). He was speaking of spiritually mature men — young men who were growing but who had not reached spiritual maturity — and babes in Christ. There are degrees of spiritual growth. You cannot grow in justification; there is no development in the standing of your relationship with God. You ask, How can I grow? How can I advance? How can I move forward? First: Bible reading: Desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2). Read it! Study it! Meditate on it! Memorize it! Ninety percent of the Christians difficulties and troubles are caused by a lack of reading and studying the Word. Do not be content to skim through a chapter merely to satisfy your conscience. Hide the Word of God in your heart. A little portion well masticated is of greater spiritual value to your soul than a lengthy portion scanned hurriedly. Do not be discouraged because you cannot understand it all. The greatest theologians have had to say, The half has not been told. However, the Holy Spirit will make hard passages plain to you, and the Word will become a living reality in your heart. Dawson Trotmans Navigator shave a splendid system of Scripture memorization that has been a blessing to me. This system advocates carrying index cards daily and memorizing the Word of God during odd moments. The Bible is food for your soul. Dont neglect it! Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Prayer The enemy is attacking. We need to fortify our prayer lives. Prayer is the Christians greatest weapon. Young people, you cannot get along without it. You can never live the life above the clouds without being instant in prayer in season and out of season. This doesnt mean that the only time you can pray is when you are alone or hidden in a private closet. You have access to the throne room at any moment of the day. You are the child of a King. It is your royal privilege to talk with your Father. He is interested in every detail of your life. The little heartaches, burdens and troubles that nobody else knows about — in these He is keenly interested. He has numbered the hairs of your head. He wants to help you with even the most simple things that you would ordinarily not bother anyone about. God is interested. Let Him bear your burdens. Let Him solve your problems. Learn to pray victoriously. Such prayer is necessary for spiritual growth. Witnessing Gods purpose for you and me after we gave been converted is that we be witnesses to His saving grace and power. Are you a daily and constant witness? Are you one of Gods minute men? Are you a commando for Christ? He expects you to witness at every given opportunity. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, Christ said, him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven. Acts 28:23 presents a thrilling scene. Paul, held in bonds at Rome, persuaded men concerning Jesus from morning to evening. Concerning each of us it should be said every day, Behold, a sower went forth to sow. As Dr. Harry Rimmer indicates, very little originality is permitted a Western Union messenger boy. His sole obligation is to carry the message he receives from the office to the person to whom it is addressed. He may not like to carry that message. It may contain bad news or distressing news for the person to whom he carries it. But he cannot stop on the way, open the envelope and change the wording of the telegram. His duty is to take the message. Stay tuned and remain blessed...
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 10:23:14 +0000
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