Welcome to “The Warrior’s Journey.” The title of this blog describes what I have come to understand our Christian life to be – a journey with Christ our Savior and Lord that often calls us to battle in a divine spiritual warfare. I pray that as I share my journey you will join me. Perhaps we can both be strengthened for the journey and for the spiritual battles we shall face.
Last Sunday (9/9/07) we began a sermon series at Second Baptist entitled “Fingerprints: Identifiers of a Christian.” The sermon series will look at the nine charateristics listed in the Fruit of the Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. (Galatians 5:22-23) In the series we will examiine how these nine characteristics identify us as Christians.
As a particpation in the study, I have challenged everyone to make a 10 Week Commitment in seven ways. We should:
1. Read the Bible daily and memorize Scripture
2. Pray for “extended” times daily
3. Sacrificially turn from sin
4. Be consistent in Worship and Sunday School
5. Be a faithful Steward of what you have
6. Learn about and try new ministries
7. Tell others about Jesus and your church
The blogs this week will examine each of these seven areas of commitment.
Thank you to everyone who takes this challenge with me.
Filed under: Challenge, Christian, Discipleship, Faith, Spiritual Warfare
Brother Ray,
This is going to be great! My bible study group is getting ready to start a study on spiritual warfare called “The Invisible War” by Chip Ingram, and this will all tie in together for us. I’m really looking forward to this series.
Carin
Thank again for diligently and passionately teaching God’s word to us.
As I have studied today, it is by Christ and Christ alone that we have life. That life that is abundant provides a ‘living water’ for us to drink.
Jesus spoke in John 4:10 and began the sentence with “If you knew the gift of God…”
I have just reflected today on that statement alone….”If I knew the gift of God, my outlook would be different. If I look at each day, each hour, each challenge and each blessing with that thought, my outlook on life would be very different and more focused on Father God.
Thanks again for your leadership!!
God Bless
A blawg! Yeah! We have such a happening church!
Bro. Ray, Thank you so much for the challenge. I am so excited. I love a challenge and this one is right in line with what God has been impressing upon my heart
I have felt over the past few weeks a desire to write more scripture upon my heart and allow the Holy Spirit to engrave it upon my mind. This is one area I feel so very inadequate in. I don’t just want a head knowledge of what is written upon the pages of The Word, I want a heart knowledge!!! I want God to reveal Himself to me in a mighty way.
I look forward to following your blog and see where God guides me as I study His Word. Thank you for your leadership and the awesome encourager you are in my life. I couldn’t do what God has called me to do, without a shepherd that has a heart for missions and ministry like yours. Thanks for the guidance and leadership that you so faithfully pour into my life.
Blessings!
Diana
One of the things that has really stuck with me from this weekend in Nashville was Priscilla Shire telling us how every bit of the annointing God has for us is given to us the day the Holy Spirit takes residence in or Hearts. What an awesome thought. The same annointing David used to slay Goliath with a simple stone. This “revelation” in my life makes all the challenges for God seem so much easier!
Bro. Ray,
As we begin the discussion about daily bible reading I am reminded of the sacrifices made by Old Testament believers: 2 Chron 8:13 – Moses commanded daily offerrings, in Num 28:21-8 the Lord discusses daily offerrings, 28:9-10-He requires weekly offerrings, and in 28:11-14-He requires even monthly offerrings.
Praise God we are out of that realm! He doesn’t require such sacrifices anymore. However for our relationship with Him to be relevant in our lives, we MUST spend time with Him daily. As He states in Luke 9:23-”If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself at take up his cross daily and follow me.” We must make time for him daily, forgetting ourselves and placing Him first.
His word is what He has left for us. Throughout scripture He discusses the importance of His word:
John 2:22-”his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. ”
Even unbelievers listened to His word:
John7:40-”On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”
We must spend time in His word so that throughout the day, He is in the front of our minds. When we encounter the world, His word springs forth through our mouth. Knowing Him … is knowing His word.
I wasn’t at church Sunday due to two sick children, but what a sermon I must have missed! I am so excited about this blog. Everything about your 10-week challenge just reaffirms where God is leading me right now.
I can’t wait to be able to use this avenue as an additional way to learn, grow, stay motivated and also remain accountable to all of you guys on a daily basis!
Blessings!
Stacey
I have just become aware of your blog. It is always amazing to see God confirm what He is saying in our personal lives. In the car travelling home from Deeper Still, we had a conversation that is almost a duplicate of the challenge you are issuing. I missed the service on Sunday morning, but am getting a copy to listen to. Something concrete like this is just what I need at this time. Thanks for bringing it to us.
Its going to be an exciting journey and corresponds to a book I am reading called Rules of Engagement – Preparing for Your Role in the Spiritual Battle. I will be praying for you as you lead and ask you to pray and we continue in this challenge.
Blessings to you and Leslie,
Cindy