[Editor's note: Here's a great guest article today, again on the needed topic of spiritual growth.]

Growing in the Faith by Wayne Pope

Even in the midst of trouble and trials, the church in Thessalonica was making spiritual progress. Many of us today are facing issues and problems, and the question may be asked, “Are we growing in the faith?” Growing in faith is both necessary and vital to our salvation. Many ask the question of what it means to grow in faith. Three basic elements are involved.

First, growing in faith demands that we listen to the will of God. Paul wrote that faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17), so in order to grow in faith we must study the Word. It is difficult to ever possess assurance or confidant trust in God if we do not practice a diligent study of the Bible.

Additionally, we will never grow if we do not desire to be fed with the Word. Saving, active, and growing faith cannot be sustained without a steady diet of Bible Study.

Growing in faith also demands we live the will of God. Faith apart from works is useless and dead (James 2:14-26). If we want to make our calling and election sure, then our faith must grow by adding to it the Christian graces (2 Peter 1:5-7).

As knowledge is acquired, we must learn to use it wisely and with all patience, godliness, and brotherly kindness. Only those who exercise their faith can be said to possess a growing faith.

Third, growing in faith demands that we love the will of God. Each of us should grow in faith enough to serve God because of our love for Him, not entirely motivated out of a fear of punishment. One who has grown in faith does not view the commandments of God as grievous or burdensome, but he views them as an honor and a privilege (1 John 5:3).

Growing faith learns the joy and happiness of serving God while hungering and thirsting for its precepts. “Oh, how I love thy law! It is my mediation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).

Has your faith grown? Are you progressing in faith to say you listen to, live, and love the will of God? If not, begin today to awaken your dormant faith.

“Continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel.” (Colossians 1:23)

Wayne is the minister of involvement at the Broken Arrow, Olka., church. Article used by permission.

by Barry Newton

Joblessness. Illnesses. Broken relationships. A victim of abuse. Various types of temptations and trials.

Satan is at work in our world as a roaring lion to destroy us. As the father of lies who appears as an angel of light, he serves up tantalizing ideas which seem reasonable and are attractive, but are deadly harpoons. To Eve, the evil one offered the enticing thought, "you will be like God knowing good and evil." At other times he has unleashed waves of trial and temptation such as he did upon Job.

Through such measures the devil desires to lead us into rebellion against the Creator, thus driving us away from God and under his insidious control. Satan sows ideas and tries to orchestrate situations to cause hopelessness and despair, bitterness and fleshly rage, self-centeredness and greed to grow within our hearts.

Who are we to stand up against such incessant forces?

Praise be to God! Praise be to His Son! Because the one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world, with our Lord’s help we will be victorious if we maintain our faith. 1 John 4:4; 5:4

• God is faithful in limiting the tempter's snares to a level we can bear. He also provides a way to escape from them. 1 Corinthians 10:13

• God can keep us from falling and He will present us before his glorious presence without fault! Jude 24

• If we submit to God and resist the devil, he will flee from us. James 4:7

• There is nothing which can impose its will upon us to force us away from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Nothing. Romans 8:35-39

Although we are in the midst of a spiritual battle, and although the evil one controls the whole world, if we belong to God and will put on the whole armor of God, we can know that the one begotten of God has the power and authority to keep us safe. 1 John 5:18-19; Ephesians 5:10-18

If God is for us, who can be against us? Is there anything equivalent to living securely in the embrace of God?

by Dr. Michael Landon

1. Conflict can be good, useful, creative.

2. Admit your own part in creating problem. Apologize.

3. Admit problem may only be your imagination. Don't get into mind-reading. Do talk with person in order to check perceptions.

4. Make "I feel, I think (don't know), my imagination says" statements. Be very careful in making accusations.

5. Avoid bringing up old history, especially if you've already argued about it.

6. Don't make exaggerated claims (always, never, all, none). You can say, "I know it's not true, but is seems like you always ..."

7. Go for win/win or no deal, when possible.

8. Don't criticize something the other person can't change.

9. It's generally best to go privately (Matthew 18), unless you feel physically threatened.

10. When confronted by anger, don't respond with anger.

11. Avoid over-focusing (determine that the person is the problem). Solve the problem; don't attack the person.

Michael is Professor of Bible and Missions at Southwest Christian College in Terrell, Texas, and a former missionary to Brazil.

by Randal Matheny

"We love you." If I had a nickel every time we heard the phrase in six weeks of travel in the U.S., I'd be a rich man. No, wait. I am a rich man from having heard it so many times.

We heard it from young and old, men and women. We heard it in small churches, in large congregations. We heard it from people we've known for -- well, I hate to tell how long (for their sake, you understand) -- and from people we'd just met.

What's wonderful besides is that we heard it from people who are supposedly legalists, traditionalists, hypocrits, and sectarians, if you were to believe some big-name preachers and flashy magazines.

We were reaffirmed, encouraged, and uplifted by God's people, who have always been urged to show expressions of love. Paul, for example, makes it a refrain in his letters to say, "Greet one another with a holy kiss" (Romans 16:16, NASB). While his emphasis may have been to guarantee the purity of Christian expressions of love, he is overjoyed to recommend the warm fuzzies.

In churches concerned that doctrine be right, love continues to overflow.

That's why the Matheny family returns to Brazil refreshed in the Lord.

by Tim Hall

"Look at their size!" exclaimed Curtis. "They are so tall, so strong and stately! It must have taken years for them to become so large."

"Indeed," replied Andrew. "They stand head and shoulders above the rest. I wish I could be like that. But I'm just an ordinary Christian."

One might assume that Curtis and Andrew were discussing trees; gigantic oaks perhaps. In a sense, that's right. Isaiah once compared God's people to large, stately trees.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me," begins Isaiah 61:1 (NKJV), a passage read by Jesus to begin His public ministry (Luke 4:16-20). The work ordained by God was to preach good tidings, heal the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty and to open prison doors. To this day it remains a prophecy of great hope for those looking for deliverance from a dreary world.

But what was to be the ultimate outcome of this work to which Christ was called? Verse 3 gives the answer: "That they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." Some translations use "oaks" in the place of "trees". The idea is that those affected by the Lord's work will grow into strong specimens. And it will all be to the glory of God.

Now, back to Andrew's estimate of himself. Is he merely an ordinary Christian, doomed to live among the scrub trees of life? Though he may dream of being among the stately oaks, is his a dream destined for futility?

Jesus spoke to this thought in Matthew 13:31,32. He compared the kingdom of heaven to "a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches." Though the mustard seed might be regarded by many as "ordinary", its potential for growth is extraordinary.

Is it humility or lack of faith when we put limitations on our spiritual growth? The power does not arise from within us; it is in the seeds of faith which have been given to us by God through His word (Romans 10:17). Our charge is to plant and water the seeds; the rest is up to Him.

The seeds of faith will produce Christians whose talents and abilities differ. But every talent, when developed to its fullest, will lead people to point to "the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified."

Editor's note: Every Thursday morning, Tim sends out HEM-Lines. We encourage you to subscribe to this great weekly devotional.