BECOMING CHRISTLIKE

[FAITH]

There are two types of Christians, the trained and the untrained. Too many Believers view their salvation experience as though it were an arrival – and on one level it certainly is. Yet, your "arrival" is actually the beginning of a journey toward coming to understand your Christ identity and discover your Christ calling. Being "born again" is a step out of darkness into a destiny that will involve perseverance, faith, and spiritual training.

So accept the fact that the Lord's goal is not just your rescue, but also your training. To be spiritually trained will cost you. You must make life choices, spend time in spiritual development, and give yourself an unfolding surrender to learning the glorious ways of God. The result is your transformation. As Jesus put it, "A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher" (Luke 6:40).

In all of life, there is nothing that exceeds your desire to be "fully trained." In every way, You desire to be like your teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ.

YOUR CHRISTIAN WALK

The untrained Christian can walk into a life setting yet be completely ignorant of the spiritual dynamics that are influencing him. The spiritual man enters the same setting and he discerns what is happening; he is led by the Holy Spirit and he is effective in all realms.

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil" (Hebrews 5:12–14).

The mature, through practice, actually possess "the mind of Christ" and appraise all things (1 Corinthians 2:15–16). They function successfully and courageously in every dimension of life, because they have been trained.

Of course, the teacher (Ephesians 4:11,12) whom God temporarily uses to train you never takes the place of Christ; The Lord just uses the individual to equip you in understanding your Christ identity, right standing with God, and walking in the Spirit. Of course, the teacher whom God temporarily uses to train you never takes the place of Christ -- the Lord just uses the individual to equip you in these areas. (Ephesians 4:11,12)

GOD USES OTHERS TO TEACH YOU

There are some things God will not teach directly to you but will instead require that you learn certain truths from others. It's significant that an angel told Cornelius to contact Peter and have him explain the truths about Jesus Christ. Why didn't the angel speak directly to Cornelius? It was important that Cornelius learn about God from another man. Humility requires you to appreciate the influence of godly mentors in your life and learn from them.
Remember that your goal is not to follow men, but to be trained and equipped so you too can bear fruit that remains in God's advancing Kingdom through your Christ calling.

CONSECRATE YOURSELF TO SPIRITUAL TRAINING

In a generation where households may have a dozen Bibles yet not a minute to study, Jesus desires we become serious in our pursuit of spiritual training. Indeed, let's assure ourselves, no matter what our age or background, in the promise of our Master: "Everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher (Jesus)."

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY
https://afministry.ning.com/

ZZ - 2602      DW88      DRE471      02-18-2024