“It is our responsibility”
                                                      “Es nuestra responsabilidad”

How Do I Continue Growing As a Christian?
¿Cómo Continúo Creciendo Como Cristiano?


1.      You have to know what God says—The Word
         Usted tiene que saber lo que Dios dice—La Palabra

 ·         It all begins and ends with the Bible.

·         “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11.
          “En mi corazón he guardado tus dichos, para no pecar contra ti.”  Salmos 119:11.

·         “Sin will keep you from God’s Word, and God’s Word will keep you from sin.”
          “El pecado le mantendrá alejado de la Palabra de Dios, y la Palabra de Dios le mantendrá alejado del 
           pecado.”

·         Not knowing the Word will suppress your growth. (Smothers)
          El no conocer la Palabra viene a reprimir el crecimiento. (Sofoca)

·         Itis HIS Word that’ll cause us to grow—not our word unless it aligns with Gods’.

 
2.      You have to keep the relationship fresh—Prayer
          Usted tiene que mantener fresca la relación—Oración

·         No factor in Christian growth is more important than prayer—talking and listening to God.

·         We talk to Him with our lips and heart, and He talks to us through His will. I John / Juan 5:14-15

·         Just ask the mature Christian if Christian growth is possible without a prayer life.

·         Talking to God everyday will keep our relationship fresh—why? Because He’ll let us know what He 
          doesn’t like about us.

·         “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” – Psalm 66:18
          “Si en mi corazón hubiese yo mirado a la iniquidad, El Señor no me habría escuchado.” – Salmos 66:18

·         How often should we pray?  “Pray without ceasing” – I Thessalonians 5:17
          ¿Qué tan seguido debo orar?  “Orad sin cesar.” – I Tesalonicenses 5:17

·         If we’re not growing then we’re stagnate—Christianity that’s stagnating STINKS! – IS THAT YOU?
         Si no estamos creciendo estamos estancados—¡El cristianismo que se ha quedado estancada APESTA! - 
         ¿ERES TU?

·         Talking to God everyday will cause us to grow.

 
3.      You have to pay the price—Fasting
          Usted tiene que pagar el precio—Ayuno

·         Fasting— takes consecration & holiness to higher levels.

·         Consecration? It is dedication to God’s service—living for God.

·         If you add “fasting” to consecration, your service will be more effective and profitable.
          Si añade el “ayuno” a la consagración, su servicio será más eficaz y de provecho.

·         Holiness?  It is having the character of Christ towards God and everybody.

·         If you add “fasting” to holiness, it’ll make your ChristianLiving more fruitful.
          Si añade el “ayuno” a la santidad, su Vida Cristiana será más fructífera.

·         “Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:” – Hebrews 12:14.
          “Seguid la paz con todos, y la santidad, sin la cual nadie vera el Señor.” – Hebreos 12:14.

·         To please the One who helps us to grow we must pay the price to be like Him.

 
4.      You have to honor God—Worship
          Usted tiene que honrar a Dios—Adoración

·         Be a worshipper—to grow we must honor the one who helps us to grow.

·         Worship involves honoring and respecting God—either in private worship or in public worship.
          La adoración involucra honrar y respetar a Dios.

·         Worship is the joyful service of the Christian to his Lord—usher, singer, musician, minister, in the  
          kitchen, nursery, etc.
          La adoración es el alegre servicio del cristiano a su Señor.

·         Worship is working for the kingdom—it is to honor God in all that you do.
          La adoración es trabajar por el reino—es honrar a Dios en todo lo que hace.

·         True worship is submission to the Lordship of Christ who helps us to grow.

 
5.      You have to walk the walk—His Spirit
          Usted tiene que caminar el camino—Su Espíritu
 

·         The Bible describes Christian life as “walking in the Spirit.” - Galatians 5:16
          La Biblia describe la vida cristiana como “andad en el Espíritu.”-Galatas 5:16

·         Walking best represents the step-by-step development of the character of the spiritual life.

·         It is a moment-by-moment yielding to the Spirit’s will and control. – Romans 12:2

·         Walking in the Spirit is living the life He wants, not the one we like.
           Andad en el Espíritu es vivir la vida que El quiere, no la que nos guste.

·         Walking in the Spirit is confessing our sins daily to the one who helps us to grow.


APPLICATION:

·         I’m talking about YOU keeping YOUR Christianity.

·         It’s about YOU fulfilling the Word and presenting YOURSELF everyday to God.

·         It’s about YOU being that believer that wants to keep on growing.

·         YOU must be that believer that says, “It’s MY responsibility.”

·         And look at all that God has given YOU to help YOU keep YOUR Christianity.

·         He gives YOU: -      His Word—so YOU can know what He says;

-          Prayer—His personal line to keep it fresh;

-          Fasting—a price YOU know YOU can pay;

-          Worship—so that He can be honored in all YOU do; and

-          His Spirit—so that YOU can walk with Him and keep on growing.

·         It is YOUR responsibility!

 

CONCLUSION:                                  My Christianity Is My Responsibility

                                                               Mi Cristianismo Es Mi Responsabilidad