In the book of Hebrews, the writer brings up an interesting church problem: “For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat” (Hebrews 5:12, KJV). First, the writer is not talking to new converts, but he is talking to Christians who have been in the faith long enough that by now they should be serving as teachers in the church.

Secondly, not only did these believers fail to grow, but also they had actually regressed spiritually. They needed to be taught AGAIN, the basic doctrines of Christianity! Though God inspired the writer to pen the above verse over 1900 years ago, the problem is just as real today.

Let me quickly share with you several reasons why our failure to grow as Christians is a problem. The first one has to do with the will of God for us. He wants us to become like His Son. God is actively working in our lives to finish the good work that He has begun in us. He has no desire to stop until we attain unto the fullness of Christ so that as Christ was in the world so shall we be.

The second reason has to do with our service to God. If we fail to grow, we limit what He can accomplish through us. Of course, there are many things He can use us to do even when we are babes in Christ, but there are many things that only mature Christians can effectively do. A case in point is the verse quoted above. This portion of the epistle was specifically aimed at those members of the local church who by virtue of their time in Christ should now be teachers. Their failure to grow, however, made that impossible.

Thirdly, in a local church where Christians fail to grow, excessive carnality can be the result. Paul the apostle wrote to the church of Corinth regarding this selfsame problem (see 1 Corinthians 3). He said the evidence of their carnality was reflected in the envying, strife and divisions among them. It is certainly true that people who are spiritually mature handle conflict in more Christlike manners than immature and carnal-minded Christians do. A pastor whose church is plagued with carnality will feel the burden of the increased disharmony.

I could on and on listing the problems with Christians failing to grow. But a more important question is, what is the solution? How do Christians who have been babes way too long stem the tide and put themselves on the road to maturity? In the book of Hebrews, two verses down from the verse I quoted above, here is what the Bible gives for an answer: “Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14, NIV). In other words, the key to spiritual maturity is to constantly use or put into practice the truths that we are exposed to.

There is no groundbreaking revelation in that verse, but we know it’s right. The bottom line is that Christianity is not simply a religion, but more importantly, it is a way of life. We must live it each day. In doing so, we exercise our spiritual senses, thereby learning to discern good from evil. This dynamic is fundamental to Christian growth. Those who fail to do this will not experience significant spiritual growth.

Frank King is a former church pastor. He is currently an evangelist. Frank is also the author of two books, Indiscreetly Yours and Steps to the Victorious Walk. Website: www.efrankking.com. Blog: http://wwwefrankking.blogspot.com/

Article Source: FaithWriters.com http://www.faithwriters.com and FaithReaders.com http://www.faithreaders.com

But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse. But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 1 Corinthians 8:8-9

How often do you think about food? What types of cravings do you get for your favorite foods? Midnight snacks and mad dashes through our favorite drive-thrus are part of our lives and culture. Hunger is a drive necessary to sustain life while appetite is a desire to satisfy our cravings for food. Food is a necessity to our physical bodies and to enjoy good food is one of our greatest pleasures. However, even with all its necessity, this earthly food has no value to us spiritually.

If Paul is saying that what we eat, or do not eat, has no effect on our relationship with God, then why can we not eat whatever, drink whatever and be merry? One reason is because the choices that we make impact others. We must realize that our actions are being watched by others and that we have a responsibility as Christians to set godly examples for others. God does care about the behaviors and attitudes we exhibit that affect those around us.

There are numerous examples of this behavior in our churches today. Movies and television choices can influence our families and friends. What kind of example do we set for those in and out of the church? Would seeing certain movies stumble others? What about drinking alcohol? Many Christians have no problem with limited alcohol consumption. But, would it not influence the Christian who feels that this type of drinking, without exception, is wrong? Some might argue that the Christian church in general stumbles non-believers, because much of our behavior is not just in the world, it is of the world.

Food is not the real issue, but it is certainly representative of how our behaviors as Christians can greatly affect those around us, even if there is technically “nothing wrong” with certain activities. Jesus gave His life for us so that we can have the real food—the bread of life. If we follow Him, our choices in this world will bring glory and honor to His name while also setting the right example for others. We should pray not to get hung up on things of no value spiritually but to get caught up in the Spirit of God so that we may be a blessing to others, not a stumbling block.

By: New Beginnings Christian Fellowship/Devotional
Be blessed, Wanda Ball
Ball Publications Christian Books

I stand in the very presence of God. (Luke 1:19)
Have you ever said something you really wished you could take back? Ever thrown out a phrase that you’d give anything to be able to retract? If so, then I’m sure you can relate to Zechariah.

When an angel appeared to Zechariah to tell him that he would be having a son, he was completely caught off guard. At the time Zechariah was in the sanctuary burning incense to the Lord. He was an old man and had long since given up praying for a son. The last thing he expected to see was an angel of the Lord prophesying his future.

“Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! For God has heard your prayer, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son! And you are to name him John …. He will be great in the eyes of the Lord …. He will precede the coming of the Lord, preparing the people for his arrival” (Luke 1:13-17). You and I know his son as John the Baptist. But Zechariah wasn’t sure what to think of this encounter. He said the first thing that popped into his mind: “I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years” (Luke 1:18).

Zechariah said what you and I might have said in the same circumstance. He knew that having babies was a young person’s job, and when you get old, you put away such foolish dreams. He probably couldn’t even remember the last time he’d prayed for it. I think you’ve got the wrong person, he thought to himself. And that’s when he uttered the phrase that could be taken as lacking faith, the phrase that he’d have given anything to be able to take back: “I’m an old man now.” Zechariah wasn’t trying to be disrespectful, just practical. But the reality he saw didn’t set too well with the angel.

“I am Gabriel!” the angel shot back at him. “I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news!” (Luke 1:19). And because of Zechariah’s doubt, the angel struck him dumb on the spot. Zechariah was unable to speak again until his son was born. The angel probably did it for his own good. It was the only way to keep him from speaking out even more curses on himself.

Zechariah defined his identity by his circumstances. The angel defined his identity by the One he served. The only question left on the table is for you and me. How are we going to define our identity? Who are we going to be in the eyes of the Lord? How are we going to see ourselves in light of God’s power and glory? How we answer that question makes all the difference for our future.

Devotional by:New Beginnings Christian Fellowship
Wanda L. Ball
Ball Publications Christian Books

We have fought our way through time to fight in wars, to vote, to earn the same wages and to live without a man taking care of us. We fought to have control over our bodies through pregnancy and to become leaders in our churches. We have also asked for equal rights, to be recognized in same sex marriages and for our environmental contributions in society. Some of us are also strong Christian women who believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. Many of these roles are great, but what does the bible say regarding the role of a women in today’s society?

Be blessed!
Wanda Ball
Author/Publisher
Ball Publications Christian Books

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

Christians call it the “Believer’s Prayer,” but it’s so much more than that. It’s not so much a prayer as it is a spiritual white flag. It is an act of surrender, a willful giving of ourselves to another. It is you and me finally admitting that we’ve run out of reasons not to believe in Jesus, and that we’ve given up trying to make it to heaven on our own. We’ve tried to live life on our terms, and we know it doesn’t work. So we come before God and ask him to show us how. We want more than a better way to die; we want a better way to live. We’ve seen the promises of Jesus, and we want them for our own. So we kneel before the throne of God, raise our white flag, and surrender.

If you haven’t done that, I encourage you to do so today. If you have, then pray the words anyway, as a statement of continued faith. There is no magic in the words. Words mean little to God, but the condition of our heart means everything. The following prayer is simply a guide to follow. Make the thoughts your own, and say it only if you really mean it. As you do, know with all your heart and soul that God can hear you. And that he will honor his promises.

Dear Father, I turn from my sins. Please forgive me for all the wrong things I’ve done. I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son, and that he came to earth in the form of a man. I believe that he died on a cross and was raised after three days. I believe that his death paid the price for my sins. And I know that Jesus is the only path to eternal life. I trust in the promises and claims of Jesus, and I put my life in your hands. I submit myself to the lordship of Jesus from this day forward and to the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray that the Holy Spirit will come into my life and dominate every part of my being, and that he will deliver me from those things in my life that are displeasing to you.Thank you, God, for sending Jesus to die on the cross for me. I know that my sins are forgiven because of Jesus. I commit myself to your Spirit and give myself over to your will for me. Thank you for loving me. Show me what you want me to do next. I love you, God!

If you just prayed that prayer for the very first time and don’t feel any different, don’t worry. God has promised to save those who put their trust in Jesus, and God always honors his promises. You can believe with all your heart that God heard your words and that he has saved you. You can believe that the Holy Spirit led you to this moment of decision and that he is now living within you. Your relationship with God is sealed!

Recommended Reading: Romans 10:5-11

• Reflection
  If this is your first confession of faith, how does it feel to finally put your trust in God? Why not spend some time in praise and worship to him?

  Submitted by: New Beginnings Christian Fellowship

  Wanda Ball
  Ball Publications Christian Books
  Related Info: Do You Know God?

As 2009 has come to an end, we celebrate another year that God has given us. Some of us struggled a great deal in 2009. We lost jobs, homes, cars, savings and 401k accounts. Because of these losses, we have become sad, depressed and faithless. Even as Christians, we may have stopped praying to God because we think he has betrayed us. But God has never left us or betrayed us, because he loves us unconditionally. God also asks us to pray without ceasing, which means we should be in constant communication with Him – in good times and bad. We may not understand why these things are happening, but now that 2010 is here, what should we be praying for in the coming year?
HERE ARE 5 PRAYERS TO CONSIDER…

With blessings,
Wanda L. Ball
Ball Publications Christian Books

Instead of spending money you don’t have on presents you can’t afford, why not give the best gift you can to the people you love? Show them what they really mean to you! This article written by: Mike Robbins says, Instead of giving stuff for the holidays, what if we gave the people in our life the best gift of all: Our Appreciation?

Be blessed,
Wanda Ball
Author/Publisher
Ball Publications Christian Books

Starting today, my NEW Blog “GOD MATTERS” will go in a different direction. In the past my blog has been about bible devotions and thoughts taken from bible scriptures. These scriptures gave you food for thought and possible meditation on God’s word. Nothing was wrong with this approach, but now God has me moving in a different direction and my goal is to do His will and not my own…. So now my goal is to get ALL PEOPLE to think and do something about their Life. Faith. and Family, (which is the foundation of my book publication company).

For the past month my pastor, Rev. Jim Ellis, has been preaching from the book of Romans. His goal has been to preach salvation and eternal life to all, in order to make sure that if we died today, where would we go?

So I’m asking YOU this question: IF YOU DIED TODAY – WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD YOU GO… HEAVEN OR HELL?

My answer: I’m proud to say I’m Heaven bound! Since I gave my life to Jesus and confessed my sins, he saved my soul. And through his Grace and Mercy alone, I am saved.

And after giving us your answer, please read the book of Romans to find out the truth…

Wanda Ball
Do you know if your saved?

The Bible is written as a personal letter to you. God speaks to you, ministers to your needs, and directs you in a way you should go in His written Word. He tells you what you should do and how you should live.

It is a mistake to think we can hear clearly from God without spending time in the Word. Knowing the written Word protects you from deception. Listening for God’s voice without being dedicated to spending time in the Word on a regular basis opens you up to hearing voices that are not from God. There may be times when God speaks something to you that is outside a specific chapter and verse of the Bible, but it will always be in agreement with His Word. Tonight, spend time reading a portion of God’s personal letter to you and allow Him to speak to your heart. God’s Word is one of the most precious gifts we have. Treasure it!
(see Psalm 119:105).
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path

If you don’t have a bible of your own… get one here!

With blessings,
Wanda Ball
Ball Publications Christian Books
Wendy Wonders: Why Are We Different? New Christian picture book for 4-8 yr olds, Now Available by Wanda L. Ball! If your kids want to know the answer to this question, it’s also found in God’s word!

Hope defered makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

I define hope as “the happy anticipation of good things.” You can hope for something good to happen to you by learning how to celebrate and enjoy life.

Everything in life is a process in motion. Without movement and progression there in no life. As long as you live you are always heading somewhere, and you should enjoy yourself on the way. God created you to be a goal-oriented visionary. Without a vision you become bored and hopeless.

But there’s something about hope that makes people lighthearted and happy. Hope is a powerful spiritual force that is activated through your positive attitude. God is positive and He wants positive things to happen to you, but that probably won’t happen unless you have hope and faith.

Expect God to bring good out of every circumstance in your life. Whatever happens, trust in the Lord……and trust in the power of hope.

Have a blessed day!!