April 25, 2007 - Notes from message by Kevin Leal

Mentored and Discipled to Grow in the Christian Life

• In current practice, believers are subjected to hours of monologues from the pulpit without any opportunities for dialog

• Biblical Information only is essentially doctrinal (an intellectual component.) Though this knowledge is important, it does not serve to train and equip Spiritual Christians. (Colossians 1:9)
  

• Christians are being -saved- without being -converted.- There is little Spiritual activity which can build the experiences that grow the Spiritual life.
  

• The Holy Spirit is the Power of God that has been given to move us from merely being a good person to being a witness of Jesus Christ in us, and the operation of the Kingdom of God
  

• Teachers or pastors who have no experience in the power of the Holy Spirit can impart knowledge of salvation but are not equipt to mentor or disciple in Spiritual matters - Good mentoring or discipleship is like the mentoring of a good coach.
  

• The Spiritual gifts are -tools- necessary to bring forth the Kingdom. They are not -toys- for us to possess (Simon the sorcerer is an example of men who had evil soulish motives for using God's powers.)
  

• The Holy Spirit is a river that is flowing continuously, presenting a purpose, plan and direction for us at the present moment and place we are. The River of Life brings life and fruitfulness wherever it goes.
  

• Those who are led by the Spirit are the sons of God. Gk. Ouinos - mature sons, (this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.- - The father speaking to Jesus from heaven)
  

• We learn as children, Children imitate. Be mimicker (imitators) of me as I imitate Christ (Phil 3:17)
  

• The ability to walk in the spirit is founded upon innocence before God. When we are newly born of the spirit there is that utter sense of being in full joy and fellowship with the Lord. (Recall the day you first knew and rejoiced that you were a new creation; (Seen recently with Evel Knievel's recent testimony). Adam and Eve had perfect fellowship until they lost their innocence.
  

• We find ourselves out of the stream of God for various reasons; We may feel disqualified by a sense of loss of innocence. This hinders all forward Spiritual movement.
  

• Spiritual people have Spiritual stories, those without Spiritual stories are not in a position to teach or mentor spiritual life. Our stories demonstrate our credentials to demonstrate the -Life of God.-
  

• We use the evidence of our successes in God-experiences to build our faith and confidence in God's power. We see David using his success against dangerous animals to find confidence in facing Goliath. Small beginnings build our confidence and grow our faith. What is the proof? The proof is - - God shows up!
  

• We must learn to receive that which God offers. Everything in the Kingdom is about receiving from God. Salvation, Gifting, Hearing God, Seeing Spiritually, etc.
  

• The greatest Christians are those who have been enabled to receive the most from God
  

• We must learn to know the voice of the Father. A voice that does not address us in the tone of a loving and patient father is not the voice of God. Reject it.
  

• Christian life is a voice activated system. We discern the voice of the Lord through the Holy Spirit. His sheep hear His voice. John 10:4
  

• The Bible as the Logos represents the general orders to all of the church, the total ordinance of God's will. The Rhema is the specific word to us as individuals directed to us in our own circumstances and with respect to our own gift or calling. God speaks to us out of the Word. God directs us in our decisions.
  

• What blocks the access to the voice of God and the flow of the Spirit?

1. FEAR keeps us from receiving and acting in innocence

2. F false E evidence A appearing R real

• People may hear six voices that block the access to the river of God's Spirit

a. disgraced.

b. dishonored

c. disconnected

d. disqualified

e. disfigured

f. devalued

• God has several voices and does not always speak to us in the same tone. A child is addressed in a different tone than a grown up. He will speak to you in different ways as you change and mature.

• The Holy Spirit shares in parables. God will use the natural world and common experiences to illustrate a Spiritual lesson. As we have an imperfect picture of Spiritual knowledge in the beginning, the Holy Spirit uses features of the natural world to reveal truth and bring to understanding.

• Knowledge is the truth of the Kingdom; Wisdom is the correct application of such knowledge.

• Knowledge presented from the pulpit that is not imbued with Holy Spirit enlightened revelation, can at best enable -behavior modification- but it can not enable Spiritual maturity.
  

Something to think about: As a believer do you feel that you are qualified and equipped to represent and to demonstrate the life of Spirit-born child of God? How should such a life be expressed? What Biblical text can you give to validate this view?