How to Feed the New Nature

Here is the sermon given by Pastor Korter at Bellingham, Washington Seventh-day Adventist church today.
Many Christians are wandering in their faith today. There is a solution. When we give our life to Jesus we have a new nature.
Matthew 4:4
But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
In this scene, Jesus is in the desert being tempted. Jesus overcame temptation. How many of us want a victorious or a happy life? It is written means if you really want to live.

How can I be a Christian if I am not feeding the new nature? We are born with a human nature that is sinful. We need to read and study the Bible. This is not a duty for converted Christians. The scribes and pharisees read and studied the scriptures because it was a duty. When we ask for Jesus to come into our lives, we then need to feed our new nature.

God’s word – The Holy Bible – is a love letter given to you. We love feeding our other interests. A sincere conversion will cause us to want to feed our new nature. It is natural to not enjoy being with someone you do not love. If we look at the Bible as a boring book of characters and their struggles or as most amazing love letter ever written then we will want to spend time in the Bible. You can read stories in the Bible of people just like you and me.

A mechanical reading of the Bible has very little impact on us. We risk being a miserable Christian – we risk leaving the Church. Here are some practical suggestions as you open up your Bible. Try to apply the message to your life. We need to learn how to enjoy feeding the new nature. What is this verse trying to tell me? Tell God what you think about the message and how you can apply the message to your life.

Enjoy your conversation with God. Every time you see the word ‘you’ or ‘we’ put the word ‘I’. Put your own life into the pages of the Bible.

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Replace the pronouns in the above scripture sentences with ‘I’ and ‘me’.
What then shall I say to these things? If God is for me, who can be against me?

Share your fears and frustrations with God. If the new nature is not being fed, there is an automatic separation. There is unlimited power and strength in God. Read the Book “Steps to Christ” page 100. A copy of Steps to Christ was give to every single service man and woman in World War II.

Nothing is too small for God or Jesus. This is basic and elementary but most difficult to put into practice. Pray any place, anywhere, at any time. Pray when driving down the road. God wants us to understand there is no set time for prayer and meditation with Him. We can immediately begin to experience the joy that comes with spending just 15 minutes with the Lord. You can increase your time spent as you experience the joy and happiness.

The reasons churches end up dead is that members are not feeding the new nature.
Do you want the Holy Spirit poured out where you are?
Do you want your church to grow?
Do you want your church to be a loving, kind, and warm church?

The answer is basic: Feed the New Nature!

Pastors don’t grow churches. The pastor is a shepherd. Sheep produce sheep.

If you want victory over sin, start feeding the new nature. The Bible is the most action packed thrilling book ever written. If I am feeding my new nature will I leave Jesus or the church? NO!

People can be hurt or wronged. If you know you have hurt someone – it is your Christian duty to ask for forgiveness. God won’t allow us to abandon His Word when we are feeding the new nature. HE never gives us a trial we cannot bear. We will have no desire to do ministry and share Jesus with others if we are not feeding our new nature.