SPIRITUAL GROWTH

*SPIRITUAL GROWTH*

Many say Christ Finished works that Christ as done all. Everything is supposed to grow and get better. It's an error to Ramain at the place of birth or infancy after many years. But sadly lots of believers are still just at the point of new birth. No growth no development. We need to eat to grow and the food is the word.

Very true our redemption and victory over sins has been Dealt with at the point of Christ Death,Burial and Resurrection

But we have to grow much more from this point

1 Peter  2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

We Have a responsibility after receiving what Christ has done

 We now get to Consecrate ourselves daily to the Study of the WORD and Prayers

When we have a precise understanding of the WORD. It helps us pray the right prayers as it were

 2 Corinthians  5
Vs:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Vs:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation ation.


The essence why we get to pray and to study more is to be Much more effective in the work of the Ministry

Philemon  1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

So as we Grow in Grace which is the Knowledge of Christ the we Become Much More Bolder and Confident in walking in our Rights and Privileges in Christ and Empowered to preach the Gospel of Christ to the World.

Keep winning, desire the word and let the word be your watch word it would make you what it talks about.

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REPENTANCE UNTO GRACE



Repentance unto Grace….



There are two phases of repentance. Sadly, many believers are acquainted with only one side. What are these two phases? I call them ‘repentance from’ and ‘repentance to’. Let’s keep in mind that repentance connotes a change of heart. We repent from ourselves, from sin. But, it seems that many are stuck in limbo, because they don’t have a clue of what they should be into, since they have turned away from something. The result of this, is a return to what was left behind; self. But, what should be ‘Repented unto’.

2 Timothy 2:25, ‘In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;’

Beautiful scripture! God from grants repentance to the acknowledging of the truth. In other words, he gives us a new focus; a new object of attention; the truth! This was the revelation of Christ to Paul concerning his ministry.

Acts 26:18,
 ‘To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins,and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.’

 What a calling! This is God’s dream! To turn men from satan unto God.. for them to receive an inheritance! It’s a repentance to Grace! Sadly, a lot of folks have fallen from Grace by clinging to the the law of Moses -Galatians 5:4. By so doing, they frustrate God’s Grace-Galatians 2:21! God calls us to forsake our selves; goodness etc and turn to Christ and let him be all there is to us! What a life we have in Christ.. to cease from our labours and have God work in us to accomplish his Good pleasure in us through Jesus Christ! Remember we only see christ. Our gaze is on him, we can't help ourselves. When we turn from the world we turn to the word and the word mold us to the image of christ. This is total and completely the work of faith in christ. Keep winning

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PERSONALIZE IT

Romans 5:17, ‘For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.

The consciousness of what we have been given by his Grace is what we must be built up in. This is Spiritual Growth!

Philemon 1:6, ‘That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.’ 

Effective Christianity is in acknowledging all that was done by Grace. Today, I’d like to share with you something special that would change your life tremendously! Our opening scripture sheds much light on what I am about to share. Take note of the word, ‘receive’. It is very key. It derives from the Greek, ‘Lambano’. Lambano refers to, ‘taking something forcefully as to make it yours’. It is a warfare word in the Greek. It is used to describe when a victorious army seizes some booty of war or territory and makes it theirs. In other words, it becomes part of their empire. They have PERSONALIZED that which they seized! In the same vein, we ought to personalize righteousness. Make righteousness yours by declaring it. Don’t just see it as a theological concept. It is a spiritual reality brought into being by Jesus. You ought to see yourself as righteous, worthy, holy; Jesus made you so. How did the Apostle Paul address the Church?

1 Corinthians 1:2, ‘Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:’

 I’d like you to notice that those that are sanctified in Christ are called Saints. The original texts exclude the ‘to be’ included in the KJV, that’s why it’s in italics. God thinks of me as a saint, because I am in Christ. I should think that way also. Are you trying to say, that you, are a saint? Absolutely yes! I am in Christ; God’s place of sanctification for mankind. Today’s Word calls us to describe ourselves by all that God has given us and made us in Christ. It is our response of faith and thanksgiving for all God has wrought for us in Christ!
So let the word of righteousness take a personal hold on you .make it yours as it's yours already.we are not to see the word like it's for others !no make it person ,add your identity to it place your name on it ,for it belongs to you .

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REMEMBER THOSE WHO HELPED YOU

REMEMBER THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED YOU

Philippians 4:16 MSG
Even while I was in Thessalonica, you helped out—and not only once, but twice.

We are familiar with the part of the this scripture that my God shall supply all your needs, not knowing what lead to that prayers,  Paul the Apostle had to remember what they did and prayed for them. We as Christians have to remember those who have been of help to us and pray for them. And if we can help in return it should be our life style.

Charles Swindoll tells the story of the giving tree: 'When the boy was young he swung from the tree's branches, ate her apples, and slept in her shade...But as he grew up he spent less and less time with the tree. "Come on, let's play," said the tree. But the young man was only interested in money. "Then take all my apples and sell them," said the tree. The man did, and the tree was happy. He didn't return for a long time, but the tree smiled when he passed by one day. "Come on, let's play!" But the man, older and tired of the world, wanted to get away from it all. "Cut me down. Take my trunk, make a boat, then you can sail away," said the tree. The man did, and the tree was happy. Many seasons passed - and the tree waited. Finally the man returned, too old to play, or pursue riches, or sail the seas. "I have a pretty good stump left. Sit down here and rest," said the tree. The man did, and the tree was happy.'
Swindoll continues: 'I stared into the fire, reviewing my life as I grew older with the tree and the boy. I identified with both - and it hurt. How many giving trees have there been? How many people have given themselves so I might grow, accomplish my goals, and find wholeness and satisfaction? Thank you, Lord, for each one. That night I crawled into bed. I had wept, now I was smiling. "Good night, Lord." I was a humble man. Thankful I'd taken time to reflect.'
Paul remembered those who helped him - and so should you.

Never you think you have out grown those who helped you to where you are today. Life is all about the helps you get and the help you render. Those who have helped you to where you are today.  always learn to go back to them if you can't always remember them. Any help we render is unto the lord not to man but
 God uses men to help men.

Learn to be appreciative of what God has done done for you. A little thank you for a good did can make another good to happen. God bless you.

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The life of a shepherd

Psalms  23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Who is a shepherd?

In a nomadic state of society, every man, from the sheikh down to the slave, is more or less a shepherd. The progenitors of the Jews in the patriarchal age were nomads, and their history is rich in scenes of pastoral life.

The occupation of tending the flocks was undertaken,not only by the sons of wealthy chiefs; but even by their daughters.

The office of the eastern shepherd, as described in the Bible, was attended with much hardship, and even danger. He was exposed to the extremes of heat and cold, his food frequently consisted of the precarious supplies.

He had to encounter the attacks of wild beasts, occasionally of the larger species, such as lions, nerves, panthers and bears, nor was he free from the risk of robbers or predators hordes.
To meet these various foes the shepherds equipment consisted of the following articles: a mantle, made probably of sheep skin with the fleece on, which he turned inside out in cold weather, as implied in the comparison in; a scrip or wallet, containing a small amount of food, a sling, which is still the favorite weapon of the Bedouin shepherd, and lastly, a which served the double purpose of a weapon against foes and a crook for the management of the flock.

If the shepherd was at a distance from his home, he was provided with a light tent, the removal of which was easily effected.

The routine of the shepherds duties appears to have been as follows.

  In the morning he led forth his flock from the fold which he did by going before them and calling to them, as is still usual in the East; arrived at the pasturage he watched the flock with the assistance of dogs, and should any sheep stray, he had to search for it until he found it, he supplied them with water, either at a running stream or at troughs attached to wells, at evening he brought them back to the fold, and reckoned them to see that none were missing, by passing them "under the rod" as they entered the door of the enclosure checking each sheep, as it passed, by a motion of the hand, and, finally, he watched the entrance of the fold throughout the night, acting as porter.

The Jesus is our chief shepherd and he servers all the requirements and made all the necessary sacrifice for the sheep. He has shown us the perfect example how leadership should be done.

This teaching points to the fact that the life of Christian is the life of a sheep under the tutelage of a shepherd to become a perfect shepherd as he grows.

We are to be concern about the welfare and development of all entrusted to us its our life its our duty let's do it with all our life.

Look to the lord and learn and let your life be lived affecting the lives others.


John  10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

The shepherds office thus required great watchfulness, particularly by night. It also required tenderness toward the young and feeble, particularly in driving them to and from the pasturage

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LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

Matthew  5:14 
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  
5:15
 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  
5:16
 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Every day as believers we come across so many challenges in this world and this happenings can change the character of a believer if he is not grounded on the word.
We are to shine as light in this dark world not compromise with its system. The system of the world is a corrupted system which darkness rules over, but we are to shine as light. We are the light of the world just as light prevail over darkness so we are to prevail over the darkness in this world. The light reveals hidden secrets and exposes wickedness. We as light are positioned to reveal the hidden secrets of darkness by shining our light.

How do we shine our light? We shine our light by the life we are living on a daily basis, the character of God we display shows the world the light . When people look as us they see christ. Both in conduct and in words. The best way to shine our light is to live the christ life.

In our office let's be different in all ways when everyone is doing the wrong thing we are to be the shining light without compromise. In our schools in our classes let your light shine. In your place of business how you deal with people, shines the light. That neighborhood can only see the light if you let it shine. The apostles where called Christians because the light they carried was exactly the light christ carried around as a man.

You cannot be hidden, never! Light is never hidden, God has placed so much in us that all we need is to let the life of christ rule us and we live his life and the world will see this light. Let's make our immediate world a better place let's do it right no matter the challenges. Light never compromise with darkness it's either you are shining or not. They will only see your light by your good works. We live to show men the light we live to do the good work. We are the agent of true light. So shine and keep on shining.

Is your life shining the light that shows good work that can turn men from darkness to light? If not make a deliberate effort to shine your light the scripture says let your light shine it simply means it's left to you to shine your light or not.

the light is already in you so let it shine. Never allow the world dictates for you how you should live your life. The world will only lead you astray. We are a city upon a hill that cannot be hidden. We pour out this light to lighten the heart and the life of men. We heal the sick, deliver the oppressed set captives free, give men understanding and knowledge. We reign we shine with the preaching and practicing of this gospel.

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OVERCOMING TEMPTATION

Temptation is the trial of our Christian faith and believe system.  the testing of our core values and virtues. Both in words in action in character and in all ways of life. Temptation is also facing the probability of compromising the standard of the word of God.


James  1:13  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:  
 James  1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

Firstly the tempter is the devil, let's not make the mistake of saying or thinking that God is the one tempting us with evil. Temptation are meant to make you doubt God and his word to draw you away from God's presence.  God cannot devise a medium to make us miserable and far from him.  The scripture refers to the devil as the tempter. He is all out looking for weakness in the life of the believer. The devil feeds on fear and weaknesses.

Matthew  4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

When a man is tempted he is shown his deepest desires and if his not well rooted he will fall away. The devil tempted jesus with food because he was hungry, what are the things you are easily attracted to these are the things the devil will bring your way.

To over come temptation work on your desires and never allow your desires have a greater hold on you. The scripture says walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Learn to submit to the will of the spirit and continue to be lead by the spirit this will kill the urges of fleshly lust.

And the anchor on which christ overcame was the word, anytime the devil showed Jesus a picture or a suggestion the reply was the word. For us to win and overcome we must make use of the word to counter every of the devils attacks. The word is our shield of protection and victory.

Finally rebuke the devil resist the urges say no to these desires and you will see yourself winning always. Learn to speak boldly to arrest and address the devil and he will flee when Jesus rebuked him after the third trial he left him. So also if you resist and rebuke he will leave.

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