Category Archives: Spiritual Growth
His Dislikes vs His Delights
‘Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’ Matt.5:10 [NIV]
God allows us to go through persecutions in different forms and shapes so that it can bring about what He is working in us. For some of us the gospel that was preached to us was that once Jesus is in your life everything will be perfect. I used to say that also. But God’s Word guarantees that ‘…everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted’ 2 Tim.3:12. The reality is that you will still face trials when you give your life to Read the rest of this entry
Not Weakness
‘How blessed are the meek! for they will inherit their land’ Matt.5:5 [CJB]
Wikipedia.com defines meekness as power under control. Real meekness is power under control and not weakness. If you look at the root word for meekness in the Greek Prautes it means the middle point between two extremes – getting angry unreasonably [the Greek word orgulotes] and not getting angry at all [the Greek word aorgesia]. In other words, meekness is getting angry at the right time, in the right measure, and for the right Read the rest of this entry
Poor In Spirit
‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’ Matt.5:3 [NIV].
Jesus wants you and I to know today that the resources of heaven are at the disposal of the poor in spirit. So what does it mean to be poor in spirit? Does it mean I am poor in spirit when my bank account is reflecting a double negative? Of course not! To be poor in spirit simply means to realize one’s desperate need for God. For you and I to be poor in spirit means realizing our desperate need for God. Therefore if you are in fellowship simply because you want recognition for the material things you possess it means you have not Read the rest of this entry
You Are Blessed!
‘The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it’ Prov.10:22.
If you were to describe with one word a person that has the command of the resources of Heaven? What would that word be? How will you describe someone that whenever he is going through challenges, because everybody will go through challenges, he always has comfort and help? How will you describe a person who on this earth is prosperous financially, physically, and in marriage? How will you describe a person that among his/her peers is perceived to have things work out for him/her differently? How would you describe Read the rest of this entry
Pleasing Lyrics!
‘People may be right in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their heart. The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just then when we offer Him sacrifices’ Prov.21:2-3
Music is one art form that many of us were surrounded with growing up and it was not necessarily music with Christian lyrics. And so today there is a lot of concern about listening to or dancing to secular music. For me dancing and listening to secular music really is neither here nor there especially if they are just neutral lyrics. ‘Lean on me’ for example does not have Christian lyrics but I consider it neutral music. I know there are people who will fight you for singing songs like that. I would say don’t bother yourself with those Read the rest of this entry
You Have Control!
‘And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise’ Phil.4:8
There is a battle going on in our minds, the age-old battle between God and evil. Young men and woman find their minds going off on a tangent based on what their eyes have seen. Yet God is saying to us today that you can control your mind. In fact, the quoted translation says ‘fix your thoughts’. The only way to survive in our present day world is to exercise your God given control over your mind. ‘Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever Read the rest of this entry
Profitable Word I
‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work’ 2 Tim.3:16-17 [NIV]
‘For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven’ Ps.119:89 [KJV]. The Word of God is the highest authority. I find it ludicrous when people decide to discard the Word of God and attempt to answer questions based on logic alone. I really cannot discuss with such people because in my life I have decided that God’s Word is the highest authority. You have to make God’s Word the highest authority in your life otherwise you will have no premise for your decisions. If you want to be thoroughly equipped for every good work then you Read the rest of this entry
Learn and Grow!
‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness’ 2 Tim.3:16 [KJV].
We all have certain questions that we wrestle with time and time again. Some of them may sound ridiculous to some of us that are perhaps more matured spiritually. But the truth is some people are still dealing with those issues in their lives and the issues must be addressed. Regardless of your spiritual state, it is profitable to deal with such issues so as to learn and grow plus help others grow. Asking questions is supposed to be a way of life really and we often see this play out with children. ‘Ask and it will be given to you; Read the rest of this entry
Inspite Of Dysfunction III
‘Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me’ 2 Cor.12:9
You are not the first child of God to experience challenges. But you have to remember that God is too faithful to fail you and choose to focus on God’s faithfulness. Paul spent a great part of his ministry for Jesus in a prison. Yet inspite of the prison bars, Paul witnessed Christ. Paul and Zechariah could have spent their entire time throwing pity parties about what was lacking in their lives. They could both have given up serving God. Do you think they were not ridiculed for witnessing God Read the rest of this entry
Inspite Of Dysfunction II
‘One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy’ 2 Kings 5:3
With all the boldness in the world, the young Israelite slave girl put forward her suggestion to the general’s wife. You and I must learn to function in spite of dysfunction. Naaman was leprous but the king had to lean on him. Leprous people usually have a colony; they do not even come into the society. Even though Naaman was leprous the king had to put his hand on him at the risk of getting contaminated. Naaman was that important. Even though he was leprous, Naaman had Read the rest of this entry
