Edward F. Lundwall Jr.
Book Five of Growth of the Faithful - Principles of Expression
“…for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34
Book Five, Principles of Expression, concentrates on carrying of the Disciples’ Cross in order to saturate one’s spiritual life with the foundational precepts and glories of the life that Christ offers: “’And he said to them all, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.” (Luke 9:23, 24) The disciple must then be able to accurately describe and teach what they have experienced through Christ. “Teaching them (verse 19) to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matt. 28:20)
Even to believers who are not leaders, but simply know the basics of spiritual life, God expects them to express what they know in teaching others: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” (Heb. 5:12) God expects “the first principles of the oracles of God” to be so fixed in a disciple’s mind that they display spiritual stability, and communicability. Each one is to teach one, and then another, and then another. Spiritual reproduction is a vital key to the progressively abundant life that the Lord Jesus promises (John 10:10). “For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.” (Matt. 13:12)
While in the previous levels of the Growth of a Faithful, new direction to live for the Lord was learned in the development level and in the endurance level to persist in God’s purposes and calling, in the expression level, the challenge is to be so grounded that speaking God’s truth responsibly flows from the spiritual treasures that one has learned. To express God’s truth, even in the face of persecution, becomes a test both of maturity and of sanctification: “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear…” (1 Peter 3:15)
This character trait becomes the building block in the construction of a self edifying church: “From whom (Christ) the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Eph. 4:16)
This fifth study booklet as well as all the others in the Growth of a Faithful series may be purchased singly for $2.50 or in packages of five for $10.00 by sending a money order or check to the following address:
Edward Lundwall
107 Ridgecrest Circle
Rossville, GA 30741
Rossville, GA 30741
Other Publications by Edward Lundwall
Book 1: Growth of the Faithful (Acceptance of Foundational Precepts)
Book 2: Growth of the Faithful (Principles of Contentment)
Book 3: Growth of the Faithful (Principles of Development)
Book 4: Grown of the Faithful (Principles of Endurance)
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