How To Feed Yourself Spiritually
By Dr. James. A McBean D.Th., MCC
Copyright © 2008 Library of Congress
Washington.D.C.20559
O n the slave ship coming from Africa, to the new world. If a slave was not fighting to be fed, pushing his hands out, trying to get food, he she would not be fed. If a slave want to live, he she has to show the will to live. In mid ocean when food are scarce, if they use the little food that they have to feed a cripple slave, that are destine to die, they are minimizing the lives of the strong slave. "Let the carcase of the weak, the criple, and the died be throw over board to feed sharks"
For things to grow, they must feed. The first thing every living things including man and beasts, need to learn is how to feed themselves. Christians suffer stagnating because they did not know how to feed themselves spiritual. You cannot depend on the Church to provide for your spiritual well being. There is not enough time. You have to put out the effort and make the time.
GROWTH CAME ABOUT WITH TIME AND EFFORTS
2Peter 3:18-AV But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Only the people who want to live will live, only those who act like they want to go on will make it.
ONLY THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST SHALL BE FILLED
Matthew 5:6-AV Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
ONLY THE MERCIFUL WILL OBTAIN MERCY
Matthew 5:7-AV Blessed [are] the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
ONLY THOSE WHO SEEK SHALL FIND
Matthew 7:7-AV Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: Matthew 7:8-AV For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
ONLY THOSE WHO LOOK FOR HIM SHALL HE APPEAR A SECOND TIME
Hebrews 9:28-AV So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
(1) LEARNING TO FEED YOURSELF
You and I will have to put the gas out of our belly before we can put the food in. The new will never be digested, when the stomach is full up with dung.
TO FEED OURSELVES, WE MUST FIRST PURGE YOURSELF
2Timothy 2:21-AV If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, [and] prepared unto every good work.
1Corinthians 5:7-AV Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
John 15:2-AV Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF YOU AND I REFUSE TO PURGE OURSELVES
Hebrews 12:15-AV Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;
The old life style will spring up and defeats the new life. The reason why people are offended over every little things that preachers preaches, is due to the fact that too much of our life is expose, and are not under the blood. Any thing you preach it offend them because the old life style is springing up back again.
HOW DO WE PURGE OURSELVES?
Psalms 15:1-AV <> LORD, who shall abide in thy
tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
Psalms 15:2-AV He that walketh uprightly, and worketh
righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
To purge YOURSELF spiritually we must condemn bad things in our lives.
I did not say change it, I say "Condemn it" If you know what you did
is not right, do not try to convince yourself that it is right.
If you tell yourself that you are right, you will never develop the ability to change.
2 LEARNING THE HOLY SCRIPTURE
There are things you will need to know, which no man of God will tell
you, you will need to know it by yourself. The only way to know it is
to spent time in the word of God.
Joshua 1:8-AV This book of the law shall not depart out of thy
mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou
mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:
for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt
have good success.
Jeremiah 15:16-AV Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and
thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I
am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
THE WORD OF GOD IS MILK
1 Peter 2:1-3 (KJV) Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, [2] As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: [3] If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
THE WORD IS BREAD
Matthew 4:4 (KJV) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live
by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
2 Cor. 9:10 (KJV) Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
THE WORD OF GOD IS HONEY
Psalm 119:103 (KJV)
How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
THE WORD OF GOD IS A HAMMER
Jeremiah 23:29 (KJV)
Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
THE WORD OF GOD IS A SWORD
Hebrews 4:12 (KJV) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
3 CONFESSING OF YOUR OUR
FAULTS TO EACH OTHERS
James 5:16-AV Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one
for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer
of a righteous man availeth much.
This will put an end to pride, and self righteousness. For true
righteousness to come in the self righteousness must go.
4 TO LIVE THE CHRISTIANS LIFE
WE MUST LEARN THE HOLY SPIRIT
1Corinthians 2:12-AV Now we have received, not the spirit of the
world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the
things that are freely given to us of God.
John 14:26-AV But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom
the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things,
and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said
unto you.
John 16:13-AV Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he
will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself;
but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will
shew you things to come.
A REVELER OF SECRET
Guide you into all truth, show you things to come.
One of the things that cause Christians to backslide is falling prey
to bad marriage. If we learn to hear from the Holy Spirit, many of
mess we fall in could be avoided. Old burnt out people came to church and
dress up and get married to people then when you take them home they have
no sex drive.
5 TO LIVE THE CHRISTIAN
LIFE YOU WILL NEED
SUPPORT
You must try know those who truly belong to God and join yourself
with them.
2Timothy 2:19-AV Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth
sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And,
Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from
iniquity.
6 OVERCOMING SINS
People have problem living the Christian life because they have
wrong concept and vague perceptions of what the Christian life are and
how it suppose to be live. You and I will never overcame all the sins.
Not in while we are living in this body. That is why we need Jesus, because
we have sin and come short of the glory of God. If you tell yourself
that you must overcame every thing before you can make it into heaven
you will be discourage, and that is a sign that you do not understand the doctrine of
salvation. This vague perceptions is what causes Christians to became self righteous.
Micah 6:8-AV He hath shewed thee, O man, what [is] good; and what
doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
1John 1:8-AV If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us.
1John 1:9-AV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
1John 1:10-AV If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a
liar, and his word is not in us.
Ephesians 2:8-AV For by grace are ye saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:9-AV Not of works, lest any man should boast.
SOME SINS YOU CANNOT OVERCAME
IN A NATURAL AND PRACTICAL SENSE
1Corinthians 7:7-AV For I would that all men were even as I
myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this
manner, and another after that.
1Corinthians 7:8-AV I say therefore to the unmarried and widows,
It is good for them if they abide even as I.
1Corinthians 7:9-AV But if they cannot contain, let them marry:
for it is better to marry than to burn.
Some people love to quote Paul's word" I can do all
Philippians 4:13-AV I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me.
THERE WERE THINGS THAT HE COULD NOT OVERCAME
IN A NATURAL AND PRACTICAL SENSE
And so are we
2Corinthians 12:7-AV And lest I should be exalted above measure
through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a
thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I
should be exalted above measure.
2Corinthians 12:8-AV For this thing I besought the Lord thrice,
that it might depart from me.
2Corinthians 12:9-AV And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient
for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most
gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the
power of Christ may rest upon me.
PAUL MENTION FIVE THINGS
AND HE DID NOT SAY WHICH ONE
WAS IS THORN IN THE FLESH
2Corinthians 12:10-AV Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities,
in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for
Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
The Bearers Of The Mind Sword
A bird eye view is given, a voice is heard, a man is enlightened, a soul is saved.
