May 27, 2025 • 28 mins
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to this edition of PowerPoint with Jack Graham. A
little later in the program, we'll tell you how you
can get a copy of a devotional on fifty two
questions every believer should answer. But first, here's the message.
The basic Steps of Spiritual Maturity, Part two.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Begin finding in your bibles the fifth chapter of the
Book of Hebrews, and spiritual health, of course is so
very vital because spiritual health produces spiritual growth in your life.
You know, there's a verse in the Bible, third John two.
It says, I would that you would be prosperous or prosper.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
And be in health.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
I think it says in the ESV I pray that
all may go well with you. That means prosper with you,
and that you may be in good health as it.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Goes well with your soul.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Hey, how healthy would you be physically if your body
was the same health as your soul? Some of you
might be in the hostel spinll right now, that you
would prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers.
So just as we need to be healthy physically and
work to that end and do everything that we can,
(01:15):
because you know, you you know, if you're doing preventative work,
and you can correct some things. You can change your diet,
your exercise program. You can be inspired and motivated to
do better in your eating and all the rest in
order to get to tip top shape, to be physically healthy. Well,
I want to talk about a checkup of your soul,
(01:38):
your spirit, and that's what Hebrews chapter six is talking about.
Chapters five and six. We're going to start at verse
eleven about this. We have much to say, and it's
hard to explain since you have become dull of hearing
verse twelve. For though by this time you ought to
be teachers, you need someone to teach you in the
(02:00):
basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk,
not solid food. For everyone who lives on milk is
unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.
But solid food meat is for the mature, for those
who have their powers of discernments trained by constant practice
(02:21):
to distinguish between good from evil. Underscore that word discernment,
circle it, and then also trained discernment, we are trained
to discernment and discipleship. And then just right on to
chapter six, verse one. Therefore, let us leave the elementary
doctrine of Christ. That is the basics that new believers understand,
(02:43):
and let us go on to maturity. That's what Hebrews
is about, That's what the Bible is about. It is
moving on onward and upward in our Christian's life into
full stature in Christ. Every Christian is to be a growing,
maturing Christian.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
We're not there yet, but we ought to be on
the way. C. S.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Lewis said this, All who are called to salvation are
called to discipleship, no exceptions, no excuses.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
A disciple. What is a disciple?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
A disciple is a growing Christian, a Christian growing in faith.
And it's time for some of us to take our
faith to the next level, to grow up. Now, babies
are cute, and it's great to see little children grow up.
(03:47):
And Jesus welcomes little children. He said, Let the little
children come to me, he said. Unless you become like
a little child and be converted, you'll never see the
Kingdom of God. We come to Christ in child life,
wonder and faith, and never lose that wonder.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Why are we are to be childlike? We're not to
be childish, we are not to be immature.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
And if that same child who's now two or three
and toddling grows up and keeps toddling and never develops,
they do not develop their promise or their potential, then
that of course is said.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
It's great to have.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Babies in the church New Verse, in the church. That's
a healthy church. But when we are born again, then
we begin to grow. And frankly, some of you you've
been a Christian five years, ten years, fifteen, twenty, thirty,
forty fifty, many more, some and you're not wiser, better, stronger.
You haven't been growing, you're not maturing.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Now.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
In contrast, some of you are old Christians and you're tired,
and you've kind of given up with the attitude. You know,
been there, done that, heard all this before. I've heard hundreds,
if not thousands of sermons. I know the Bible, I
know the stories, I know the routine, I know church.
And you're just kind of stuck, kind of quit growing.
(05:17):
You know, you never stop growing in the Christian life,
no matter how old you get. I'm still learning things
every day from God's word and God's Spirit teaching me.
You never never Even the Apostle Paul, who was the
greatest Christian in history. In my view, he said in
the Book of Philippians, he said, not that I've obtained
this already, not that I've achieved this.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
I haven't arrived.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
We don't arrive until He arrives, when he comes for us.
But the fact is, even Paul said, I'm not there yet,
but I'm getting there.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
I'm growing there.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
I press on to the mark for the prize of
the high calling of God in Jesus Christ. And some
of you, unfortunately, are like that. You know, person, you
know you have to get older, but you don't have
to get colder. You have to get older, but you
don't have to get old. You can be young in
(06:11):
heart and young in spirit and filled with life. And
if that's true physically and emotionally, how true it is spiritually.
You never stop, you know. One of the signs of
maturity and humility is you know what you don't know, right.
(06:39):
Arrogance is you think you know everything, you've heard it all.
But humility is to know what you don't know. And
there's so much more that I need to know that
I don't know. If you're the smartest guy in the
room or gall in the room, you're in the wrong room.
(06:59):
And you need to stay hungry and stay humble growing
in the Word of God. Just like an athlete, a
team needs to stay hungry and humble. As growing Christians,
we need to stay hungry and humble, keep pressing on
to the degree that you not only are getting stronger yourself,
you're knowing some things now, you're growing in some things
(07:22):
now that you want to give it away to others.
That's why the writer says to us here, you ought
to be teaching others by now. You ought not to
be that baby who's just taking taking taking. But if
you're growing up in your faith and into the full
stature of knowing Christ, and that's the goal. The gold
is Christ's likeness, the gold is character, The goal is Godliness.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
And if you're.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Growing in that direction, then there comes a time when
you're going to share that with others. And when you
are trained in discernment, that means.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
That you ought to be able to teach others.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Now, why do some Christians succeed in the Christian life
and others fail? Why is it that some start out
the Christian life and they run so well, but they
collapse at some point. They failed, They fall, some arrested development,
they don't get out of the starting blocks, and yet
(08:26):
others will run the right race of life and finish
with a flourish finish well, hands held high, breaking the tape,
bursting onto the streets of glory. What's the difference? Thought
about that a lot. What's the difference?
Speaker 3 (08:50):
You know what it is?
Speaker 2 (08:52):
It's right here, choices, choosing between good and evil, having discernment,
people maturing, believers have discernment about right.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
And wrong, good and better, good and bad.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
And they make good choices in their lives. Because our
choices make our character. Our choices make or break our character.
What is character? Someone said, character is who you are
(09:30):
when no one is watching.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Or character is what you are who you are in
the dark.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
But I like this on character. Character is the sum
total of the choices you make in life. Character is
the sum total of the choices you make in life,
and you add it all up, and whether it is
good or evil, whether it is.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Right or wrong, that's what.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Enables you to grow inwardly, grow in your character. And
that's what we're talking about. First we make our choices,
then our choices make us. First we make our choices,
and then our choices make us.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Now.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
We make hundreds of choices every day. Most of them
don't matter a whole lot. What we think about, what
we do, what we eat for lunch, what we put on.
I mean, I got up this morning, I made a
bunch of choices. Those kinds of things, they don't matter.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
They may be.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Simple, not so significant, but they add up to your life.
But other choices mean everything. There are choices that mean
life or death. There are choices that mean usefulness or
non usefulness in the Kingdom of God. Again, discernment is
(10:57):
the mark of maturity. That's making why choices. Discernment is
making wise choices in life. And the biggest choice you
make is to follow Jesus Christ to begin with, and
then to choose to grow in your faith, moving beyond
(11:18):
curious and convinced to commit it and growing and maturing.
Don't be careless, don't be casual or non committal. A
growing Christian seeks first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness.
And you will either go forward as a Christian or backwards.
(11:43):
There's no in between. Really, you will either be progressing
or regressing. You will either be taking ground for the
Kingdom of God or losing it.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
And so much of this is on us. It's on you.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message
The Basic Steps of Spiritual Maturity, Part two. When you
ask big questions of God, you can trust he'll give
you answers that grow your faith and deepen your intimacy
with Him. In his devotional The Jesus Code, Os Hawkins
helps you uncover bold truths as you search for answers
(12:24):
to life's biggest questions. We want to send you a
copy of this powerful resource as thanks for your gift
of ten dollars or more so, request your copy of
the Jesus Code when you call and give today. Call
one eight hundred seven ninety five four six two seven.
That's one eight hundred seven ninety five four six two seven.
(12:45):
You can also text the word code to five nine
seven eight nine. Don't let stress rob you of peace.
It is possible to break the destructive grip of stress
on your life and enjoy the peace and abundance God
desires for you. That's what doctor Instagram helps you do
in his booklet Breaking Free from Stress. We'll send you
a digital download of Breaking Free from Stress when you
(13:07):
sign up for email updates from PowerPoint Today. Just go
to PowerPoint dot org slash stress and sign up today.
Now let's get back to today's message, the Basic Steps
of Spiritual Maturity, Part two.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Your Christian growth is on you. What you choose to
do are not to do. It's like riding a bicycle.
Riding a bicycle, really there's only one direction, and that's forward.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
To stall is to fall.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Can't go backwards, panel backwards on a real bike, go forward.
And I'm not talking about a stationary bike where you
just stand in the same place. Hate those things, but
the Christian life is always moving forward. But are you learning?
Are you getting better? Are you getting stronger? Are you
(14:02):
getting wiser? Are you getting better? Are you moving forward?
Is it onward and upwards? Are downward and backwards in
your life? That's what this is about. And these secret
Now there are many secrets, open secrets really as to
(14:23):
the basics of spiritual maturity and how you get there.
I could talk a lot about prayer and the priority
of prayer. I could talk about spiritual disciplines in your
life of various kinds, fasting, giving, worship, But the main
thing is loving and listening, learning, living God's word. God's
(14:51):
word understanding God's word. That's where discernment comes, that's where
maturity grows in your life. Is God's Word Joshua one eight.
Listen to it. The Book of the Law shall not
depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it
day and night, so that you may be able to
(15:12):
be careful to do according to all that is written
in it. For then you will make your way prosperous,
and then.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
You will have good success there it is. I love
God's word. I love to hold it up.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
There's something just so powerful, symbolically powerful about the word
of God, the sword of the Spirit. We learned earlier
in Hebrews four to twelve that the word of God,
this book is active, alive, sharper than a two edged sword.
There's power in God's word in your life. The Bible
(15:50):
is alive. Martin Luther says. It has hands that take
hold of me, feet that chased me down, ay that
search after me.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
It's the word of God. But here's the key.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
When you're hearing God's word like you are right now,
or whether you're reading for yourself and reflecting, is that
you not only hear it, but that you receive it.
What I'm doing is throwing the word out. Now, the
question is are you going to catch it?
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Now?
Speaker 2 (16:30):
You know I love baseball, so I brought a couple
of baseballs here today and.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
We're going to play a little catch.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
So what's the most important position on a baseball field.
Somebody says the pitcher. Well, seventy percent of winning baseball
probably is pitching. But there's an unsung, unheralded player on
that field that's really the quarterback of the defense, and
that's the catcher. Catcher typically has to be a smart guy.
(16:59):
They talk about a catcher wearing the tools of ignorance,
but a catcher has to be smart. Called the signals, run,
the plays from home plate. A lot of different things
has to have chemistry between the pitcher, but the main
thing he has to do, of course, is catch the ball.
You could have the greatest pitcher on the planet pitching,
(17:19):
but if the catcher doesn't catch it, that's a recipe
for losing baseball. You're gonna lose no matter how good
the pitch is. Now, we do our best to pitch
well as well as we can. We get prepared and
I typically want to throw fastballs right down in the middle,
(17:41):
not too many curveballs, no change ups, no squirrely screwballs,
things like that, because you know, I had one guy
say to me, Gray Am, I like you're preaching, you
throw fastballs, and so I've always tried to, you know,
because my goal is not for you to miss it,
but to hit it, to get it, or if you're
(18:02):
a catcher, to catch it. So it's critical if I
throw you the ball that you catch it up.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
He almost caught it.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Now, That's what happens a lot of times when I
throw it to you. I mean I have the responsibility
to throw it out there, but you have the responsibility.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
To catch it. Are you receiving What kind of receiver
are you? Same thing is true.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I mean name any sport football, I mean quarterbacks got
a big job, and he better.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Have good receivers. So receive the word of God when
it comes your way.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
I've preached all over the world through interpreters, many languages,
all kinds of churches across America through the years, small churches,
big churches, Baptist churches, non denominational churches, Pentecostal churches. You know,
I look forward to growing opportunities, wide open doors.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
We preach the gospel through PowerPoint and media.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
And I appreciate the opportunities to go and more times
to go in the days ahead.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
But here's the thing.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
When I'm preaching again, no matter what kind of church
I've preaching in, I can tell in the first five
or ten minutes the spiritual health of that congregation based
on their ability to receive the Word of God. And
(19:34):
believe me, when you're up here doing this, and when
you've been doing it as long as I have, I mean,
you see everything. We need one of those cameras on
my head that can see you and put you on
the screen while I'm preaching.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
You need to see just what I see. Sometimes.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
I mean there's some people when they come there, you know,
they're already checked out their eyes, you know, in screensaver,
it's gone. Some people are looking at their phones, catching
up up on social media. That's why it's good to
bring a real Bible and not a fake phone, because
I may think you're looking at your social media when
you're actually looking at the Word of God.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
But be that as it may.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
I just like having a Bible like this, like to
mark it up, write notes in it. But I digress.
Some people are all checked out. Some people, you know,
they come and they cross their arms. I mean, maybe
not literally, but I can see it in your eyes.
(20:33):
You know, you put a little do not disturb sign
around your neck and say, you know, you got about
thirty minutes to work on me.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Do your best.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Some people sleep, but you have a responsibility to hear
God's word, to lean in, bring your Bible. I would
encourage you to take notes, truly, because you will just
get so much more out of the message and the
(21:08):
take home. The takeaway will be greater. When I study
my Bible, I'm always taking notes. I keep a journal,
and I have a in my quiet time. And frankly,
you know, the world is yelling at us. There's so
much of the world in our heads right now in
every way.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
We need to get more of the.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Word and less of the world in us. Less screen
time and more quiet time with God, less Facebook, and
more faces.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
In the book. That's what we need. And when you
come to church, be ready, be responsive receiving the word
of God. The Word of.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
God transforms us. Romans twelve two. Don't be conformed to
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
The way your life changes is for your mind to change.
You stop believing the lies of this world, and you
start believing and living the.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
Truth of God's word.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
That's growing, that's discerning between good and evil. So it's
time to get off the ABC's and get to D
which is discipleship. Get off the elementary kindergarten platform, and
start growing in your faith. A couple more scriptures and
then we're done. Look at Proverbs eight thirty four. It's
(22:36):
in the new living Joyful are those who listen to me,
watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me
outside my home.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
What a beautiful word picture.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
That is happy are those who are outside the gates
of God and waiting just for a word from him.
That very first Psalm says, blessed is the man it
doesn't take calm in the world, the things of this world,
or stands in the way of centners see of scoffers.
But look at this verse two. But his delight is
(23:07):
in the law of God, the law of the Lord.
And on his law he meditates day and night. To
meditate means to chew it and to think about it.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
To ponder it over and over in your mind.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
So don't just read and think, Okay, I've read my
Bible today, but meditate upon God's word. Memorize God's word.
The most important spiritual development and discipline of my life
has been memorizing scripture. Meditating on scripture. I was in
a situation this week. I needed just to be able
(23:42):
to remember and rehearse some scriptures that I memorized long ago.
God will bring that up. He'll just bubble up in
your soul. But you got to get in the word
and get the word in you. The habitual habit of
memorizing scripture will help you to grow. It will force
you to grow. Now, just listening to me or someone
(24:05):
else preach every week, that's kind of processed food. I'm
breaking it down. I'm cutting your meat for you. Sometimes
you have to cut the meat up for a child
and bite sized portions. But when you're growing, developing disciple,
then you start eating solid food and you want more.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
You want meat and not just milk.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Feed yourself, eat the meat and grow up your character
into Christ's likeness so that one day you'll burst the
tape celebrating your victory in Jesus.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message
the Basic Steps of Spiritual Maturity Part two, and then
Devotional to Jesus Code. Os Hawkins invites you to ask
fifty two thought provoking questions found in the Bible that
will help you experienced Jesus in deeper, more authentic ways
than ever before. As you dive into these questions, you'll
(25:07):
discover that everything we need can be found in a
deepening relationship with Jesus Christ. We want to help you
uncover bold truths in the search for answers to life's
biggest questions by sending you the Jesus Code as our
thanks for your gift of ten dollars or more to
help proclaim God's unchanging word through PowerPoint. So call now
(25:28):
to request your copy of the Jesus Code. Call one
eight hundred seven ninety five four six two seven. That's
one eight hundred seven ninety five four six two seven.
You can also text the word code to five nine
seven eight nine, and don't forget to visit Jack Graham
dot org where you can shop our eat store, give
(25:50):
a gift online, or sign up for doctor Graham's free
daily email devotional. Our website again is Jack Graham dot org.
And also be sure to sign for Doctor Graham's podcast
Bible in a Year pastor what is your PowerPoint for today?
Speaker 2 (26:08):
I want you to know how grateful I am for
you and your support of PowerPoint, your prayers and certainly
we need your prayers that the Gospel would go forward
and the Word of God would communicate with this generation
through radio is such a great medium. And then for
your financial support, I want you to know that what
you give we invest right back into the mission of
(26:31):
Christ through PowerPoint, and your gift enables us to share
the word of God and the testimony of Jesus with
the world, and I promise you lives are being changed.
We hear from people every single day. I meet people
everywhere I go whose lives have been dramatically and powerfully
changed by Jesus Christ through the preaching and teaching of
(26:53):
God's Word through PowerPoint.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
So thank you.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
If you're a regular giver, if you're a partner with
us giving to PowerPoint, thank you, and thank you so
very much.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
If you haven't.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Yet given to PowerPoint, would you consider doing that for
the first time. Please consider your gift today and we
will invest it back in.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
The work and the witness of Jesus around the world.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
And that is today's power Point. Remember when you give
a gift of ten dollars or more to PowerPoint, we'll
send you OS Hawkins devotional that Jesus code as our thanks.
Call one eight hundred seven ninety five four six two seven.
That's one eight hundred seven ninety five four six two seven.
You can also text the word code to five nine
(27:40):
seven eight nine and join us again next time as
doctor Graham brings a message about how to build up
your spiritual endurance. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham.
PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint Ministry.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Say
Welcome to this edition of PowerPoint with Jack Graham. A
little later in the program, we'll tell you how you
can get a copy of a devotional on fifty two
questions every believer should answer. But first, here's the message.
The basic Steps of Spiritual Maturity, Part two.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Begin finding in your bibles the fifth chapter of the
Book of Hebrews, and spiritual health, of course is so
very vital because spiritual health produces spiritual growth in your life.
You know, there's a verse in the Bible, third John two.
It says, I would that you would be prosperous or prosper.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
And be in health.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
I think it says in the ESV I pray that
all may go well with you. That means prosper with you,
and that you may be in good health as it.
Speaker 3 (00:49):
Goes well with your soul.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Hey, how healthy would you be physically if your body
was the same health as your soul? Some of you
might be in the hostel spinll right now, that you
would prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers.
So just as we need to be healthy physically and
work to that end and do everything that we can,
(01:15):
because you know, you you know, if you're doing preventative work,
and you can correct some things. You can change your diet,
your exercise program. You can be inspired and motivated to
do better in your eating and all the rest in
order to get to tip top shape, to be physically healthy. Well,
I want to talk about a checkup of your soul,
(01:38):
your spirit, and that's what Hebrews chapter six is talking about.
Chapters five and six. We're going to start at verse
eleven about this. We have much to say, and it's
hard to explain since you have become dull of hearing
verse twelve. For though by this time you ought to
be teachers, you need someone to teach you in the
(02:00):
basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk,
not solid food. For everyone who lives on milk is
unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.
But solid food meat is for the mature, for those
who have their powers of discernments trained by constant practice
(02:21):
to distinguish between good from evil. Underscore that word discernment,
circle it, and then also trained discernment, we are trained
to discernment and discipleship. And then just right on to
chapter six, verse one. Therefore, let us leave the elementary
doctrine of Christ. That is the basics that new believers understand,
(02:43):
and let us go on to maturity. That's what Hebrews
is about, That's what the Bible is about. It is
moving on onward and upward in our Christian's life into
full stature in Christ. Every Christian is to be a growing,
maturing Christian.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
We're not there yet, but we ought to be on
the way. C. S.
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Lewis said this, All who are called to salvation are
called to discipleship, no exceptions, no excuses.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
A disciple. What is a disciple?
Speaker 2 (03:24):
A disciple is a growing Christian, a Christian growing in faith.
And it's time for some of us to take our
faith to the next level, to grow up. Now, babies
are cute, and it's great to see little children grow up.
(03:47):
And Jesus welcomes little children. He said, Let the little
children come to me, he said. Unless you become like
a little child and be converted, you'll never see the
Kingdom of God. We come to Christ in child life,
wonder and faith, and never lose that wonder.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
Why are we are to be childlike? We're not to
be childish, we are not to be immature.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
And if that same child who's now two or three
and toddling grows up and keeps toddling and never develops,
they do not develop their promise or their potential, then
that of course is said.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
It's great to have.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
Babies in the church New Verse, in the church. That's
a healthy church. But when we are born again, then
we begin to grow. And frankly, some of you you've
been a Christian five years, ten years, fifteen, twenty, thirty,
forty fifty, many more, some and you're not wiser, better, stronger.
You haven't been growing, you're not maturing.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
Now.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
In contrast, some of you are old Christians and you're tired,
and you've kind of given up with the attitude. You know,
been there, done that, heard all this before. I've heard hundreds,
if not thousands of sermons. I know the Bible, I
know the stories, I know the routine, I know church.
And you're just kind of stuck, kind of quit growing.
(05:17):
You know, you never stop growing in the Christian life,
no matter how old you get. I'm still learning things
every day from God's word and God's Spirit teaching me.
You never never Even the Apostle Paul, who was the
greatest Christian in history. In my view, he said in
the Book of Philippians, he said, not that I've obtained
this already, not that I've achieved this.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
I haven't arrived.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
We don't arrive until He arrives, when he comes for us.
But the fact is, even Paul said, I'm not there yet,
but I'm getting there.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
I'm growing there.
Speaker 2 (05:51):
I press on to the mark for the prize of
the high calling of God in Jesus Christ. And some
of you, unfortunately, are like that. You know, person, you
know you have to get older, but you don't have
to get colder. You have to get older, but you
don't have to get old. You can be young in
(06:11):
heart and young in spirit and filled with life. And
if that's true physically and emotionally, how true it is spiritually.
You never stop, you know. One of the signs of
maturity and humility is you know what you don't know, right.
(06:39):
Arrogance is you think you know everything, you've heard it all.
But humility is to know what you don't know. And
there's so much more that I need to know that
I don't know. If you're the smartest guy in the
room or gall in the room, you're in the wrong room.
(06:59):
And you need to stay hungry and stay humble growing
in the Word of God. Just like an athlete, a
team needs to stay hungry and humble. As growing Christians,
we need to stay hungry and humble, keep pressing on
to the degree that you not only are getting stronger yourself,
you're knowing some things now, you're growing in some things
(07:22):
now that you want to give it away to others.
That's why the writer says to us here, you ought
to be teaching others by now. You ought not to
be that baby who's just taking taking taking. But if
you're growing up in your faith and into the full
stature of knowing Christ, and that's the goal. The gold
is Christ's likeness, the gold is character, The goal is Godliness.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
And if you're.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
Growing in that direction, then there comes a time when
you're going to share that with others. And when you
are trained in discernment, that means.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
That you ought to be able to teach others.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Now, why do some Christians succeed in the Christian life
and others fail? Why is it that some start out
the Christian life and they run so well, but they
collapse at some point. They failed, They fall, some arrested development,
they don't get out of the starting blocks, and yet
(08:26):
others will run the right race of life and finish
with a flourish finish well, hands held high, breaking the tape,
bursting onto the streets of glory. What's the difference? Thought
about that a lot. What's the difference?
Speaker 3 (08:50):
You know what it is?
Speaker 2 (08:52):
It's right here, choices, choosing between good and evil, having discernment,
people maturing, believers have discernment about right.
Speaker 3 (09:04):
And wrong, good and better, good and bad.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
And they make good choices in their lives. Because our
choices make our character. Our choices make or break our character.
What is character? Someone said, character is who you are
(09:30):
when no one is watching.
Speaker 3 (09:33):
Or character is what you are who you are in
the dark.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
But I like this on character. Character is the sum
total of the choices you make in life. Character is
the sum total of the choices you make in life,
and you add it all up, and whether it is
good or evil, whether it is.
Speaker 3 (09:57):
Right or wrong, that's what.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Enables you to grow inwardly, grow in your character. And
that's what we're talking about. First we make our choices,
then our choices make us. First we make our choices,
and then our choices make us.
Speaker 3 (10:19):
Now.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
We make hundreds of choices every day. Most of them
don't matter a whole lot. What we think about, what
we do, what we eat for lunch, what we put on.
I mean, I got up this morning, I made a
bunch of choices. Those kinds of things, they don't matter.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
They may be.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Simple, not so significant, but they add up to your life.
But other choices mean everything. There are choices that mean
life or death. There are choices that mean usefulness or
non usefulness in the Kingdom of God. Again, discernment is
(10:57):
the mark of maturity. That's making why choices. Discernment is
making wise choices in life. And the biggest choice you
make is to follow Jesus Christ to begin with, and
then to choose to grow in your faith, moving beyond
(11:18):
curious and convinced to commit it and growing and maturing.
Don't be careless, don't be casual or non committal. A
growing Christian seeks first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness.
And you will either go forward as a Christian or backwards.
(11:43):
There's no in between. Really, you will either be progressing
or regressing. You will either be taking ground for the
Kingdom of God or losing it.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
And so much of this is on us. It's on you.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message
The Basic Steps of Spiritual Maturity, Part two. When you
ask big questions of God, you can trust he'll give
you answers that grow your faith and deepen your intimacy
with Him. In his devotional The Jesus Code, Os Hawkins
helps you uncover bold truths as you search for answers
(12:24):
to life's biggest questions. We want to send you a
copy of this powerful resource as thanks for your gift
of ten dollars or more so, request your copy of
the Jesus Code when you call and give today. Call
one eight hundred seven ninety five four six two seven.
That's one eight hundred seven ninety five four six two seven.
(12:45):
You can also text the word code to five nine
seven eight nine. Don't let stress rob you of peace.
It is possible to break the destructive grip of stress
on your life and enjoy the peace and abundance God
desires for you. That's what doctor Instagram helps you do
in his booklet Breaking Free from Stress. We'll send you
a digital download of Breaking Free from Stress when you
(13:07):
sign up for email updates from PowerPoint Today. Just go
to PowerPoint dot org slash stress and sign up today.
Now let's get back to today's message, the Basic Steps
of Spiritual Maturity, Part two.
Speaker 2 (13:22):
Your Christian growth is on you. What you choose to
do are not to do. It's like riding a bicycle.
Riding a bicycle, really there's only one direction, and that's forward.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
To stall is to fall.
Speaker 2 (13:42):
Can't go backwards, panel backwards on a real bike, go forward.
And I'm not talking about a stationary bike where you
just stand in the same place. Hate those things, but
the Christian life is always moving forward. But are you learning?
Are you getting better? Are you getting stronger? Are you
(14:02):
getting wiser? Are you getting better? Are you moving forward?
Is it onward and upwards? Are downward and backwards in
your life? That's what this is about. And these secret
Now there are many secrets, open secrets really as to
(14:23):
the basics of spiritual maturity and how you get there.
I could talk a lot about prayer and the priority
of prayer. I could talk about spiritual disciplines in your
life of various kinds, fasting, giving, worship, But the main
thing is loving and listening, learning, living God's word. God's
(14:51):
word understanding God's word. That's where discernment comes, that's where
maturity grows in your life. Is God's Word Joshua one eight.
Listen to it. The Book of the Law shall not
depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it
day and night, so that you may be able to
(15:12):
be careful to do according to all that is written
in it. For then you will make your way prosperous,
and then.
Speaker 3 (15:19):
You will have good success there it is. I love
God's word. I love to hold it up.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
There's something just so powerful, symbolically powerful about the word
of God, the sword of the Spirit. We learned earlier
in Hebrews four to twelve that the word of God,
this book is active, alive, sharper than a two edged sword.
There's power in God's word in your life. The Bible
(15:50):
is alive. Martin Luther says. It has hands that take
hold of me, feet that chased me down, ay that
search after me.
Speaker 3 (16:03):
It's the word of God. But here's the key.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
When you're hearing God's word like you are right now,
or whether you're reading for yourself and reflecting, is that
you not only hear it, but that you receive it.
What I'm doing is throwing the word out. Now, the
question is are you going to catch it?
Speaker 3 (16:30):
Now?
Speaker 2 (16:30):
You know I love baseball, so I brought a couple
of baseballs here today and.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
We're going to play a little catch.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
So what's the most important position on a baseball field.
Somebody says the pitcher. Well, seventy percent of winning baseball
probably is pitching. But there's an unsung, unheralded player on
that field that's really the quarterback of the defense, and
that's the catcher. Catcher typically has to be a smart guy.
(16:59):
They talk about a catcher wearing the tools of ignorance,
but a catcher has to be smart. Called the signals, run,
the plays from home plate. A lot of different things
has to have chemistry between the pitcher, but the main
thing he has to do, of course, is catch the ball.
You could have the greatest pitcher on the planet pitching,
(17:19):
but if the catcher doesn't catch it, that's a recipe
for losing baseball. You're gonna lose no matter how good
the pitch is. Now, we do our best to pitch
well as well as we can. We get prepared and
I typically want to throw fastballs right down in the middle,
(17:41):
not too many curveballs, no change ups, no squirrely screwballs,
things like that, because you know, I had one guy
say to me, Gray Am, I like you're preaching, you
throw fastballs, and so I've always tried to, you know,
because my goal is not for you to miss it,
but to hit it, to get it, or if you're
(18:02):
a catcher, to catch it. So it's critical if I
throw you the ball that you catch it up.
Speaker 3 (18:11):
He almost caught it.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
Now, That's what happens a lot of times when I
throw it to you. I mean I have the responsibility
to throw it out there, but you have the responsibility.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
To catch it. Are you receiving What kind of receiver
are you? Same thing is true.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I mean name any sport football, I mean quarterbacks got
a big job, and he better.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Have good receivers. So receive the word of God when
it comes your way.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
I've preached all over the world through interpreters, many languages,
all kinds of churches across America through the years, small churches,
big churches, Baptist churches, non denominational churches, Pentecostal churches. You know,
I look forward to growing opportunities, wide open doors.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
We preach the gospel through PowerPoint and media.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
And I appreciate the opportunities to go and more times
to go in the days ahead.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
But here's the thing.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
When I'm preaching again, no matter what kind of church
I've preaching in, I can tell in the first five
or ten minutes the spiritual health of that congregation based
on their ability to receive the Word of God. And
(19:34):
believe me, when you're up here doing this, and when
you've been doing it as long as I have, I mean,
you see everything. We need one of those cameras on
my head that can see you and put you on
the screen while I'm preaching.
Speaker 3 (19:44):
You need to see just what I see. Sometimes.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
I mean there's some people when they come there, you know,
they're already checked out their eyes, you know, in screensaver,
it's gone. Some people are looking at their phones, catching
up up on social media. That's why it's good to
bring a real Bible and not a fake phone, because
I may think you're looking at your social media when
you're actually looking at the Word of God.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
But be that as it may.
Speaker 2 (20:12):
I just like having a Bible like this, like to
mark it up, write notes in it. But I digress.
Some people are all checked out. Some people, you know,
they come and they cross their arms. I mean, maybe
not literally, but I can see it in your eyes.
(20:33):
You know, you put a little do not disturb sign
around your neck and say, you know, you got about
thirty minutes to work on me.
Speaker 3 (20:41):
Do your best.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Some people sleep, but you have a responsibility to hear
God's word, to lean in, bring your Bible. I would
encourage you to take notes, truly, because you will just
get so much more out of the message and the
(21:08):
take home. The takeaway will be greater. When I study
my Bible, I'm always taking notes. I keep a journal,
and I have a in my quiet time. And frankly,
you know, the world is yelling at us. There's so
much of the world in our heads right now in
every way.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
We need to get more of the.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
Word and less of the world in us. Less screen
time and more quiet time with God, less Facebook, and
more faces.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
In the book. That's what we need. And when you
come to church, be ready, be responsive receiving the word
of God. The Word of.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
God transforms us. Romans twelve two. Don't be conformed to
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
The way your life changes is for your mind to change.
You stop believing the lies of this world, and you
start believing and living the.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
Truth of God's word.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
That's growing, that's discerning between good and evil. So it's
time to get off the ABC's and get to D
which is discipleship. Get off the elementary kindergarten platform, and
start growing in your faith. A couple more scriptures and
then we're done. Look at Proverbs eight thirty four. It's
(22:36):
in the new living Joyful are those who listen to me,
watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me
outside my home.
Speaker 3 (22:45):
What a beautiful word picture.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
That is happy are those who are outside the gates
of God and waiting just for a word from him.
That very first Psalm says, blessed is the man it
doesn't take calm in the world, the things of this world,
or stands in the way of centners see of scoffers.
But look at this verse two. But his delight is
(23:07):
in the law of God, the law of the Lord.
And on his law he meditates day and night. To
meditate means to chew it and to think about it.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
To ponder it over and over in your mind.
Speaker 2 (23:21):
So don't just read and think, Okay, I've read my
Bible today, but meditate upon God's word. Memorize God's word.
The most important spiritual development and discipline of my life
has been memorizing scripture. Meditating on scripture. I was in
a situation this week. I needed just to be able
(23:42):
to remember and rehearse some scriptures that I memorized long ago.
God will bring that up. He'll just bubble up in
your soul. But you got to get in the word
and get the word in you. The habitual habit of
memorizing scripture will help you to grow. It will force
you to grow. Now, just listening to me or someone
(24:05):
else preach every week, that's kind of processed food. I'm
breaking it down. I'm cutting your meat for you. Sometimes
you have to cut the meat up for a child
and bite sized portions. But when you're growing, developing disciple,
then you start eating solid food and you want more.
Speaker 3 (24:23):
You want meat and not just milk.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
Feed yourself, eat the meat and grow up your character
into Christ's likeness so that one day you'll burst the
tape celebrating your victory in Jesus.
Speaker 1 (24:44):
You're listening to PowerPoint with Jack Graham and the message
the Basic Steps of Spiritual Maturity Part two, and then
Devotional to Jesus Code. Os Hawkins invites you to ask
fifty two thought provoking questions found in the Bible that
will help you experienced Jesus in deeper, more authentic ways
than ever before. As you dive into these questions, you'll
(25:07):
discover that everything we need can be found in a
deepening relationship with Jesus Christ. We want to help you
uncover bold truths in the search for answers to life's
biggest questions by sending you the Jesus Code as our
thanks for your gift of ten dollars or more to
help proclaim God's unchanging word through PowerPoint. So call now
(25:28):
to request your copy of the Jesus Code. Call one
eight hundred seven ninety five four six two seven. That's
one eight hundred seven ninety five four six two seven.
You can also text the word code to five nine
seven eight nine, and don't forget to visit Jack Graham
dot org where you can shop our eat store, give
(25:50):
a gift online, or sign up for doctor Graham's free
daily email devotional. Our website again is Jack Graham dot org.
And also be sure to sign for Doctor Graham's podcast
Bible in a Year pastor what is your PowerPoint for today?
Speaker 2 (26:08):
I want you to know how grateful I am for
you and your support of PowerPoint, your prayers and certainly
we need your prayers that the Gospel would go forward
and the Word of God would communicate with this generation
through radio is such a great medium. And then for
your financial support, I want you to know that what
you give we invest right back into the mission of
(26:31):
Christ through PowerPoint, and your gift enables us to share
the word of God and the testimony of Jesus with
the world, and I promise you lives are being changed.
We hear from people every single day. I meet people
everywhere I go whose lives have been dramatically and powerfully
changed by Jesus Christ through the preaching and teaching of
(26:53):
God's Word through PowerPoint.
Speaker 3 (26:56):
So thank you.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
If you're a regular giver, if you're a partner with
us giving to PowerPoint, thank you, and thank you so
very much.
Speaker 3 (27:04):
If you haven't.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
Yet given to PowerPoint, would you consider doing that for
the first time. Please consider your gift today and we
will invest it back in.
Speaker 3 (27:13):
The work and the witness of Jesus around the world.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
And that is today's power Point. Remember when you give
a gift of ten dollars or more to PowerPoint, we'll
send you OS Hawkins devotional that Jesus code as our thanks.
Call one eight hundred seven ninety five four six two seven.
That's one eight hundred seven ninety five four six two seven.
You can also text the word code to five nine
(27:40):
seven eight nine and join us again next time as
doctor Graham brings a message about how to build up
your spiritual endurance. That's next time on PowerPoint with Jack Graham.
PowerPoint with Jack Graham is sponsored by PowerPoint Ministry.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
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