Victorious Christian Living

The Bible Way To Spiritual Maturity

Introduction

Of course, we need to be true Christians before we can abide in Christ. Our faith is the victory that overcomes the world (I Jn. 5:4). Accepting the truth of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection is foundational to faith. Too often, we hear much talk about living the victorious Christian life in Christ, but no explanation as to how. We can’t do it in our own strength. How can Christians be victorious? By abiding in Christ.

 

We Abide In Christ Through Prayer

We must ask God for His help and power, for without Him we can do nothing (Jn. 15:5). Ask and ye shall receive (Matt. 21:22). Prayer is warfare against Satan’s kingdom. How often do we pray? Not as much as we should. We should pray for all the saints (Eph. 6:18). Jesus was found much in prayer. John and Jesus taught their disciples to pray (Lk. 11:1). It is important to be right with God. God won’t answer our prayers if there are sins that haven’t been confessed to God and made right with people. If we have iniquity in our heart, God will not hear us (Ps. 66:18). The eyes and ears of the Lord are opened to the prayers of the righteous, but He is against those who do evil (I Pet. 3:12).

 

We Abide In Christ By Reading The Bible

We also abide in Christ by hiding God’s Word in our hearts, so we might not sin against thee (Ps. 119:11). We abide in Christ by reading and thinking on the Bible. How can we know the mind of Christ more fully (I Cor. 2:16), if we don’t read and study our Bibles?  We don’t not live by bread alone, but by every Word of God (Lk. 4:4). The more of the Word of God we read, the more God is able to use it in our lives. Reading through the New Testament doesn’t take as long as you think. It may take only 15 minutes a day for a few months. Do you watch at least an hour of TV a day? We have so many Christians reading about the Bible, but very few actually read it or study it. There are too many books and commentaries out there written by well-known people that are popular. They may have some good in them, but the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible. Listening to the Bible on CD or MP3 is very beneficial. If you commute a distance to work, you can listen through much of the Bible. Another idea with this is listening to the Bible while you are getting ready for the day. The whole Bible on 2-3 MP3s can be purchased for under $20. There are times that questions arise in your mind concerning various topics in the Bible. It is important that we prove all things (I Thess. 5:21-22), and that we search the Scriptures to find answers to questions (Acts 17:11). A Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance is a very useful tool to study the Bible. Many Bible software programs exist that can be used to look up key words, cross references, etc., and other applications. One word can be looked up, or a combination of words. They can be used on desktops, laptops, even cell phones.

 

Read The Bible Daily

We are to be in the Word daily because it is spiritual food, whereby we can grow. (I Peter 2:2) We are to continue in the apostles’ doctrine, which is recorded in the Bible. (Acts 2:42). Another reason to be in the Word daily is to make certain our spiritual teachers are teaching us correctly. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11).

 

Bible Memorization

We need to hide God’s Word in our hearts so we will not sin against Him (Ps. 119:11). We need to let Jesus’ Words abide in us, so we will know how to pray (Jn. 15:7). Knowing God’s Word enables us to fight the good fight of faith, and to tell others about Christ better.

 

How Do We Avoid Fulfilling The Lust Of Our Flesh?

By walking in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). Walking in the Spirit and abiding in Christ are essentially the same thing. We also must put off the old man, and put on the new man (Eph. 4:23-24). Part of that includes taking every thought captive (2 Cor. 10:5). What sort of things are we to take captive? All things that are contrary to God’s Word, the Bible. Too often, Christians talk about a way of escape. But they usually never tell how. God has promised to provide a way of escape (I Cor. 10:13), for He has given us all things that pertain to life and Godliness (2 Pet. 1:3). God knows the way of escape to wrong thoughts and actions, which turn into sin. What is that way of escape? It is important we have on our spiritual armor (Eph. 6:10-19). We need to be sure of our Salvation (v. 17). As already mentioned, we need to know the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (also v. 17). We need to pray always with all prayer (Eph. 6:18). The minute you are confronted with a temptation to indulge in wrong thoughts, programs or pictures, pray. Pray for someone you’ve been telling Christ about, or for another Christian, or that a local bar, or place of evil, will close. Continue to pray these prayers until the urge to indulge vanishes. This is one of God’s way of escape. Another effective way to rid your mind of wrong thoughts is by taking every thought captive (2 Cor. 10:5). When hit with a wrong thought, pray and just ask God to take those thoughts away. You can have victory! As previously mentioned, you must be right with God; draw nigh to Him, and resist the devil (Jam. 4:7-8). These applies to any temptation, whether to indulge in wrong behavior, or the temptation to worry, to be depressed, or to fear. We need to cast all our cares on Him, for He cares for us (I Pet. 5:7). God has not given us the spirit of fear (Rom. 8:15). He has given us power, love, and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7).

 

The Importance of Reading Biographies Of Great Believers

This activity alone has the potential of taking up all your free time. It is very sad to discover that many believers do not know the great heroes of the faith, such as George Mueller and J. Hudson Taylor. Christians need to realize the rich heritage that they are missing. We need a renewed interest in these giants of faith. It is crucial that all Christians learn church history, which heroes of faith is a part. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs, as well as John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress are very important. If we don’t know church history, we are in danger of compromise. Yet, at the same time, we should focus more on the Bible. Some can get so wrapped up in reading commentaries and books by .various Christians that they neglect the Bible and accept what these authors are saying rather than what the Bible really says.

 

Fear of The Lord

Many Christian brethren today are using Christian liberty as an excuse for worldliness. As a result, we are seeing a generation of Christians who have little Biblical knowledge of how to live a victorious Christian life. The remedy is to teach them the fear of the Lord, for by it, men depart from evil (Prov. 16:6). We are commanded to hearken unto God, for He desires to teach us to fear Him (Ps. 34:11). If we desire wisdom, we need to fear God, for in the fear of the Lord is wisdom. (Prov. 9:10, Job 28:28). Some music styles are in Satan’s domain; they can hypnotize (Is. 23:15, Ps. 58:5). Some Christian music lyrics present inaccurate theology or verses out of order (I Cor. 14:40). Some Christian composers and musicians may have correct styles, and lyrics, but their lives are not right with God (Amos 5:23). These should also be avoided. Movies and TV also can cause yourself and others to stumble we are to put no wicked thing before our eyes (Ps. 101:3). We should not be entertained with violent shows; for the Lord hates those that love violence (Ps. 11:5). It certainly isn’t popular to only listen to certain music and to avoid bad TV and bad movies. But we should not fear man (Prov. 29:25). We need to be leaders, not followers; we must realize that when you stand alone with the Lord (2 Tim. 4:17), you are a majority.

 

Purity of Your Life And Telling Others About Christ

Telling others about Christ doesn’t make you spiritual, as some theorize; it is a result of God’s work in your life and theirs (I Cor.3:7). There are people going to hell, and Christ commanded us to tell others in the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19). Do we care enough to put our pleasures aside and take time to tell others? In fact, telling others about Christ starts with a fervent desire to live a pure life through the Spirit. It is God’s will that none should perish (Matt. 18:14). Knowing the terror of the Lord, we should persuade men (2 Cor. 5:11). Too many churches are so focused on growing a church numerically, they do not focus on growing a church spiritually. Many Christians do not care about how their behavior affects the weaker brother. It is not right to cause a little one to stumble by what we do (Mt. 18:6). Desiring the popularity of peers in the areas of fashion, friends, vehicles, house, music, TV, movies, etc. can cause others to stumble. We must limit our freedom since it may cause someone to stumble. If we don’t limit our freedom, we sin against Christ. “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak…But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.” (I Cor. 8:9, 12).