5 Steps to Spritual Excellence

More Than Mere!

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

The Son of Man was not merely a man, He was, is , and will always be more than mere!

As followers of Jesus, we are called on to follow His example.

The New King James Version (Chapter 2)

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 1 Peter 2:21

Seeing Jesus was, is and always will be more than mere, we too must follow in His footsteps.

Unfortunately, sometimes we are guilty just like the brethren in Corinth of being followers in the footsteps of mere men.

The New King James Version (Chapter 3)

for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 1 Corinthians 3:3

In his letter to the Corinthians, the apostles Paul will deal with many issues that plagued the church as a result of their following the ways of mere men.

As he nears the end of his letter, Paul issues an exhortation to those first century Christians.

In it he gives them and us 5 critical steps that will lead us away from the ways of mere men and bring us unto spiritual excellence.

The New King James Version (Chapter 16)

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.  Let all that you do be done with love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Watch!

The New King James Version (Chapter 5)

Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. ! Thessalonians 5:6

We will have plenty of time to lie down and rest when we breath our last breath.

Until then we must remain alert.

We have a God given responsibility to pay attention.

Stand Fast!

The New King James Version (Chapter 1)

Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, Philipp;ians 1:27

We must stand fast in one spirit.

And we must stand fast there with one mind.

Like a well oiled machine we must strive together.

And it is all for the faith of the gospel.

Be Brave!

The New King James Version (Chapter 10)

Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And may the LORD do what is good in His sight.” 2 Samuel 10:12

Bravery is at its best when it is done for the well being of other people.

We aren’t called upon to be brave for God, but because of God.

It’s about trusting God and knowing beyond a shadow of doubt that His will is always best.

Be Strong!

The New King James Version (Chapter 3)

that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, Ephesians 3:16

Our strength is a gift from Almighty God.

God provides that strength through His Spirit.

God doesn’t care about what is on the outside, He cares about what is on the inside.

Let All That You Do Be Done In Love!

The New King James Version (Chapter 1)

Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 1 Timothy 1:5

If it is not from a pure heart, then it isn’t love.

If it doesn’t pass the test of a godly trained conscience, then it isn’t love.

If it isn’t motivated by real, true, genuine, biblical, and sincere faith, then it isn’t love.

Not From Nor Through Mere Men

The New King James Version (Chapter 1)

Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead) Galatians 1:1

The New King James Version (Chapter 11)

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1

The New King James Version (Chapter 2)

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

A watchful life.

A life in which I stand fast.

Standing fast with bravery and with strength.

A life filled with and defined by love.

Thank God Almighty that Jesus loved me and gave Himself for me.

The question is what are we going to do it light of that overwhelming love?