5 Vital Signs of a Believer – By Laurence Torr
Vitals are often taken by health professionals in order to assess the most basic body functions. They may offer clues to health or condition of an individual who is being examined. Vital signs are an essential part of a case presentation. Primary there are four or five Vital signs that are checked. They are
1) Temperature
2) Blood pressure
3) Pulse
4) Respiratory rate
5) Pain (The fifth vital sign usually refers to Pain as perceived by the patient)
But we are not going to look at the physical Vital signs, we are going to look as the spiritual Vital signs of Believer. I will list them here and we will go to the word of God to see their importance. The 5 Vital signs of a Believer.
1. Read and study the Word of God
2. Praying and speaking in Tongues
3. Fellowshipping with Like minded believers
4. Financial Giving
5. Preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ (witnessing)
The 5 Vital signs of believer are a must for all believers to sustain a healthy and strong spiritual relationship and walk with God. Let us take a look at the first Vital sign ask yourself am I strong in this part of my walk? we can listen to audio or video teachings and others forms of receiving God words but nothing can top your own personal reading and studying of the holy scriptures. We will look at the scriptures now and let’s see what God has to say to us by His word. here is a look at the first Vital Sign.
1. Read and study the Word of God
2 Timothy 2:15, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
I also like the International Standard Version of this scripture which says
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as an approved worker who has nothing to be ashamed of, handling the word of truth with precision.
To study the word of God you first have to read Gods word, and Gods wants us to understand what He is saying to Us. Not someone else’s revelation of what God is saying. This word of God is a personal Word to you as well as the Body of Christ. when you open the scriptures it is like opening the heart of God and seeing what He wants us to see.
The word “Study” is the Greek word spoudazō which means to (use speed, that is, to make effort, be prompt or earnest: – do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study)
God wants us to expand a diligent effort in study and rightly dividing His word of Truth but remembering the time goes quickly and we also need to preach the word and be ready to give an answer to everyman that ask you for a reason of the hope that is in you (1Peter 3:15) so we can be witnesses to the truth. when reading the word of God we should do it with joy and an expectation of what God is saying and showing us by the word of God. here is a wonderful example from the word of God of this.
Jeremiah 15:16, Thy words were found, and I did eat (consume) them; and thy word was unto me the joy (gladness) and rejoicing (pleasure) of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. When Jeremiah found Gods word He found spiritual food, he consumes these word and kept them in his heart and the word of God was the joy and gladness and pleasure of his heart. This word of God is alive and living (Hebrews 4:12)
When that word of God is the joy and rejoicing of your heart you cannot help but share it with others, it will become to those that hear you and believe you the joy and rejoicing of their hearts, when that word of God is burning in your heart you cannot help but share it with others. Let us look at the record of the master teacher our Lord Jesus Christ sharing Gods word. This is after our Lord had been risen from the dead, and while he was still here on earth showing himself to his disciples.
Luke 24:13-35
13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. 15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. 16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. 17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: 20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him. 21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done. 22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre; 23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive. 24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. 25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. 28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. 29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. 32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?
verse 19, says Jesus was mighty in deeds and word.
verse 27, Jesus point out to these two men that they were slow in heart to believe, it can be like that for us at time’s and others. but Jesus did not stop walking with then but verse 27 shows us the wonderful heart of love of our lord, he began at Moses and all the prophets he expounded unto them all the scripture the things concerning himself. wow what a heart of love to go on teaching them, it is very easy to give up on other’s, because they may be slow to believe but following the example of our wonderful Lord Jesus we can be patient and open this word of God to others so they can fully understand and know the truth that sets them free.
we also know that faith (believing) comes by hearing and by hearing the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)
Verse 29 -31, The two men constrained this stranger to abide with them and he did, and when they sat down to eat Jesus took bread and blessed it and brake and gave it to them
Verse 31 says and their eyes were opened and they knew him; and he vanished out of thier sight, man this record moves me to tears what a beautiful account can you imagine if you were one of these men, how you would feel,
Verse 32 says the said one to another. Did not our hearts burn
The word burn here is the Greek word kaiō which means to set on fire, consume: burn, light. These men’s hearts were on fire with the light of the word of God burning in their hearts, so it so important that we go to this wonderful word of God, consume it, eat it and let it become the joy and rejoicing of our hearts.
There are many other scripture we could look at but we will look at a few verses more here in Psalms 119.
Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Psalms 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
Psalms 119:16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
Psalms 119:34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
Psalms 119:47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
Psalms 119:50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.
Psalms 119:77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.
Psalms 119:98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
Psalms 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
Psalms 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psalms 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
So this is the first Vital sign of a believer to read and study the word the word of God, we can see the beauty and power, strength the light and life in this wonderful word of God. This word of God is lamp unto our feet and light unto our path, This word brings light faith direction, Let the Word of God become the joy and rejoicing of your heart, read with joy, ask God to open His word to you, this word will make you wiser than your enemies. For further studying to see the importance of reading and studying the word of God, I recommend you listen to the Introduction of my foundational class Video How to build Gods word in our lives the video is below
In my next article we will continue to look at the 5 Vital signs of a believers. God bless Laurence xx
