Messages from the Spirit on Mentoring
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The Holy Spirit has been flooding my email, my mailbox, and my thought life with messages about mentoring that all seem to be weaving seamlessly together … all within 24 hours. Let me share.
First, thoughts about two spiritually gifted sisters in the Lord with the realization from the Lord: “you are a nurturer to these women.”
Then, a tiny article in a newsletter in my snail-mailbox (a newsletter I rarely read, but usually only skim):
They Heard John and Followed Jesus
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. John 1:6-8
John the Baptist came to bear witness to the Lord Jesus Christ. This he did faithfully as he directed those in his hearing away from himself to the Lamb of God. (John 3:30)
One day John stood with two of his disciples. “Looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’” Then the apostle John writes, “And the two heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.” (John 1:36-37) What a wonderful testimony to the ministry of John the Baptist!
We live in a day when many follow the preachers (1 Cor 1: 12), and many even idolize them to the point where their word is considered infallible. Sadly, some preachers, unlike the apostle Paul [and John, I might add], desire such followings and minister accordingly (1Thess. 2:4-6)
While we should value those who faithfully minister God’s Word, let us be on guard that we do not become followers of men, but of the glorified Christ. (Milk and Honey, January 2019, Steve Hulshizer)
Then, just hours later, an email with a totally unexpected request from a sister for mentoring.
Finally, the next morning, a devotional posted in the wee hours of the day:
He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30)
What is spiritual growth? What is spiritual maturity? What is it to go on in the Lord? I fear we have got mixed ideas about this. Many think that spiritual maturity is a more comprehensive knowledge of Christian doctrine, a larger grasp of scriptural truth, a wider expanse of the knowledge of the things of God; and many such features are recorded as marks of growth, development, and spiritual maturity. Beloved, it is nothing of the kind.
The hallmark of true spiritual development and maturity is this: that we have grown so much less and the Lord Jesus has grown so much more. The mature soul is one who is small in his or her own eyes, but in whose eyes the Lord Jesus is great. That is growth. We may know a very great deal, have a wonderful grasp of doctrine, of teaching, of truth, even of the Scriptures, and yet be spiritually very small, very immature, very childish. (There is all the difference between being childish and child-like.) Real spiritual growth is just this: I decrease, He increases. It is the Lord Jesus becoming more. You can test spiritual growth by that.
By T. Austin-Sparks from: Christ - All, and in All
So friends, here is my thought right now:
My Goal is Christ. My focus is HIM! He is my Life. My eyes are fixed on HIM! And if you would like to come along with me, I will be happy to point you to HIM in all His glory and sufficiency. I’ll even tell you what that looks like in my own life, but I won’t make that a rule for you. He is my Rule and yours also. He is uniquely mine, and He is uniquely yours. How amazing is that!
With love and prayer, dear friend. Thank you for taking the time to read along with me today.
Look to Him who is your Life (Colossians 3:1-3).
He lives IN you and He lives THROUGH you AS you.
Trust and depend on HIM!
Amen.
