Your Check-up

Every believer is on a different level of Christian growth and development!

Why are some Christians a joy to be around? They are full of faith, zeal, joy, inspiration and are always talking about the positive side of life. They are growing. They are a good example of a Bible believing Christian. The Christian life is a growing life. Every grace and blessing of the gospel is in seed form and is implanted in the new child of God to grow. "Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3:18).

A Nutritionist is often consulted to examine the condition of sick people with certain diseases or physical weaknesses. At times, he may make certain recommendations that restore health and prolong life. Sometimes the only thing that is needed is for the sick person to change to a new diet and life style. If an evaluation is made and the sick person begins to make the change, it is amazing how quickly the body will respond and life will be restored again! It began with a check-up.

At times all of us need to take a check-up of our walk with God. Are we spiritually healthy and are we continually growing? Where are we in our daily commitment and obedience? How is your periodic check-up today? Ask yourself the following questions:

1. "Do I expect to meet God when I attend church, or do I attend only out of a sense of duty without any expectations?"
"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised." (Hebrews 10:23) If you attend church expecting to meet God, He will be sure to meet you. Hold fast to your faith. Expect Him to speak into your spirit with His Word. There will be a special Rhema Word just for you in every sermon, but you must be attentive and listening to know when it is spoken for you! Though the message may be a subject you think is not relative, it will actually minister not only to you but to everyone, differently, according to the many situations represented in that service. Why? Because much prayer by your pastor, church staff and prayer group drew the Holy Spirit into your service to meet people and their needs. Go to church expecting God to meet you. He is faithful.

2. "Do I prepare my heart for the preaching of God's Word before I attend the next service or do I at least pray for the service on my way to church?"
Praying for the service on the way to church will make a difference in your life and in the service you attemd!

In Korea, the 800,000 members of the Yoido Full Gospel (Assemblies of God) Church pray for Dr David Yonggi Cho and all 700+ pastors of their church during the week and especially before they enter the sanctuary for the next service. It is no wonder that when Dr Cho preaches, the anointing is so powerful on God's Word that many people are saved, healed or received answers to prayer in each of the seven services on Sunday. The Rhema Word that came forth strengthened many people and gave answers they needed. As they prayed for their pastor, his ministry back to them was with power which caused them to pray for him more, --which continued the anointing upon the Word and ministry! Think of what could happen in your church if everyone prayed during the week for your pastor and then prayed on their way to church too! It would bring the presence of God into the sanctuary for the service. People would be saved. Others would be healed or delivered of bondages and depression. God desires to work but He works only when we pray! If this thought stirs your heart you could be the first to be the example of praying for your pastor during the week or for a ministry that was entrusted to you! YOU can make a difference! Pray for the next service you attend.

3. "Do I take notes of the sermons and meditate on them during the week?"
Pastors spend a lot of time in prayer to know the leading of the Holy Spirit for each service. They spend time, sometimes even hours, in prayerful meditation before the Lord to receive a confirmation or to be sure they have the right sermon for that specific day and know what more God desires to do for His people in that service. The Holy Spirit knows who will be present. He knows every intricate detail and time deadline of needs present in each service. Though people may not share information with anyone, they go to church to hear from God. The Holy Spirit who sees all, knows they will be present so He directs the message for that service to be a special Word for someone. Knowing this, how wonderful it is to know that a special Word from God has come for a person and it is meeting a definite need for him in that service. If you have taken notes, God can use the notes to bless you or someone else who may cross your path that week. That would be a ministry assignment planned by God for you. Take notes of your pastor's sermons.

4. "Do I diligently seek to obey the instructions and commandments given in God's Word as being specific truth for me?"
I feel sad when I hear a lukewarm Christian say she believes God will make an exception for her if she does not obey the Word because God knows her weakness. God's Word is straightforward and true. "Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin." (John 8:34.)"To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.' (James 4:17.)and sin will not enter Heaven. Examine your obedience to all of God's Word. If you are following his Word diligently with no exceptions, God wants to use you to speak a special Word at the right time to the right person in the right place that will convict, bring repentance and guide someone back to the truth again. Continue to be diligent to obey all of God's Word

5. "Have I made a commitment to be faithful to my church?"
Being faithful to worship with other believers is not an option. It is a command: "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together..." (Hebrews 10:25.) The New Testament believers became an example for us to follow. "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and prayers." (Acts 2:42.) God led you to the church you are attending and caused you to grow there. He has plans for you to continue to grow there. It happens as you continue to walk steadfastly in doctrine taught by your church, in fellowship with other believers in your church (both strong Christians and weak ones because you were also weak at one time), taking the elements of communion together in your church, and participating in the prayer groups that pray one for another.

At times you may see inconsistencies that trouble you, but because you see them, it means the situation is your personal assignment to pray for them until God solves the problem. He can solve anything when God's people pray. Everyone has a part in the building of God's kingdom. He meant that to include you. Though an issue may appear insignificant, if it disturbs your peace, it usually means God has assigned you to pray for that issue! That is a sign of growing and developing to the next level of God's trust in you!

David said in Psalm 72:13, "Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall FLOURISH in the courts of our God." God's design for a church is to minister nourishment to you and for you to minister nourishment to others from the nourishment you received. His desire is for your spiritual man to flourish, --grow spiritually, mature steadily, be an encourager faithfully and be an example of the believer always. A steady diet of spiritual nourishment from the same church will bring more solid, steady growth to a believer than if one moves from church to church where the spiritual nourishment may not be what your soul needs. God looks for faithfulness while He takes care of you. Someday, when we stand in His presence He will know the grade on your report card for the issues in His Word that He desired you to take care of for Him. Make a new commitment to be faithful to your church.

Just as it takes time for a new born infant to grow to manhood, or for the sun to rise in the morning, or for a beautiful rose bud to bloom in all of its beauty, it also takes time for you to experience growth in your Christian walk with God. But it is definitely happening as you are faithful to remain planted in the church where the Holy Spirit led you. There, you will flourish
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