The importance of Growth For Christians

Until a child grows, he does not differ from a servant. He is under tutor and governors. When he grows he takes his full position and begins to reign. Until a Christian grows, he cannot enjoy fully his rights and inheritance in Christ. Galatians 4:1-2

God designed us to grow:

God wants us to grow into Christ in all things. The Bible says we should desire the word of God that we may grow thereby. Ephesians 4:15-16, 1 Peter 2:3

Increase the result we produce:

Hebrews 5:14 ‘’seeing then that we have a great high priest, that passed into the heavens, Jesus the son of God lets us hold fast our profession.’’

Study the word:

2 Timothy 2:15. It is very necessary that we study the word of God. The Bible says that we should study to show ourselves approved, a workman that needs not be ashamed.

Reason for study:

1 Peter 2:2; Eph 4:14. We study so that we would grow. God’s word is the food for the spirit; we have to take it in order to grow.

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You Are God’s Address

The address of a person is where the person lives. His house, where he operates from. God dwelt in tents in the Old Testament. During the time of Moses, he was instructed by God to build an ark according to the pattern shown to him on the mountain. After Moses finished building the ark, the glory of the Lord filled the ark. Exodus 40:34-35. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting because of the cloud that had settled upon it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. That was when God started dwelling in the ark. The ark signified the presence of the Lord. It means that wherever the ark was, God’s presence was equally there.

During the time of Solomon, he built God a temple and after dedicating the temple, the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2 Chronicles 7:1-2. God started dwelling in the temple. When the Israelites prayed to God, they came to Jerusalem where the temple was, but if they were far from Jerusalem, they must pray facing Jerusalem. When they sinned against God and were afflicted because of their disobedience, they normally come with ashes on their heads and their clothes turn before the temple for God to forgive them.

That temple became God’s headquarters, His home address, His office where He reaches out to sons of men. The Bible says that the most high does not live in a house made with hands/men Acts 7:48. That was why when Christ died, the curtain of the temple turn into twain from top to bottom and the Holy Ghost now dwells in anybody that confesses Jesus as the Lord of their lives. In Old Testament Temple, we have the outer court, inner court and the Holy of Holies where God dwells. Likewise our body typified the outer court, where all activities of life takes place. Our soul represents the inner court while our spirit represents the Holy of Holies where God dwells in.

So in New Testament, our body is called the temple of God. 1 Corinthians 6:19, but He dwells in our spirit. We have the inner man and the outward man, 2 Corinthians 4:16. The inward man is made up of the Spirit and the soul. God dwell in our spirit, the hidden man of the heart. Our body is our house, it houses the human spirit. And since God dwells in our spirits, it means that our body is the house of God, Hebrews 3:6. It means that since God dwells in us, everybody that needs God ought to come to His house as they did in the Old Testament. Ephesians 2:21-22, 1 Corinthians 6:19.

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Sickness: Not An Act Of God!

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him (Acts 10:38).

A lady gave birth to a child that was blind and started crying, ‘’Oh God, what has this innocent child done to be born blind? Oh God, why did you do this?’’ She held God responsible for such a misfortune out of her ignorance. Many people ignorantly attribute every mishap to an act of God; this is wrong! God is not the author of the pain, sickness and misery in the lives of many. Rather, He’s the healer, restorer, and mender of broken hearts, broken lives, and broken relationships.

Our opening scripture reveals God’s character and nature of love, kindness, and compassion, while revealing Satan as the one who oppresses people with sickness, hardship, pain and misery. It tells us that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil, for God was with Him. Notice, it wasn’t God who made the people sick; but it was God who sent Jesus to heal them.

The case of blind Bartimaeus readily buttresses this. The Bible says he was born blind; not satisfied with his condition, he cried out to Jesus for help, and the Lord restored his sight (Mark 10:51-52). In this case, the man was born blind, and then Jesus healed him, proof-positive it wasn’t God who made him blind. A similar case was when Jesus and His disciples met another man who was born blind. His disciples asked Him, ‘’Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?’’ (John 9:2).

The Lord responded, ‘’…Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the word of God should be made manifest in him, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.’’ The devil’s work was manifested in the man’s life, which was the blindness, but the Lord Jesus went on to say, ‘’…but that the works of God should be made manifest in him, I must work the works of Him that sent me,’’ (John 9:3-4) and healed the man.

Evidently, God is the healer while the devil is the oppressor responsible for all the sickness, disease and misery that people suffer from! Nevertheless, thanks be unto God; He’s given us power to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out devils (Mathew 10:8). Like Jesus, you ought to go about doing good. Healing those who are oppressed of the devil, for God is with you.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, blessed be your Name forever for your light that shines brightly in this dark world, bringing healing, deliverance, preservation, and strength to the oppressed and afflicted, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Further Study

1 John 3:8

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Who Is The Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit is God himself, the third person of the trinity, the person that created the earth. He is a member of the Godhead. (Gen 1:26). He is a Spirit and cannot be seen with the optical eyes, but he is real as a person sitting next to you. (John 14:17). He has a personality, just like every human. He can be grieved, (Ephesians 4:23-31) and He speaks (Acts 13:2, 10:19-20, 11:12, 21:11). He is the angel of God’s presence. (Isaiah 63:9-10). He is the one, who brings to us on earth the power of the almighty God.

Though Jesus is in heaven, His presence is felt here on earth. God dwells between the Cherubin of glory but his presence can be felt in this world through the Holy Ghost. God is too big to dwell in us, but he is able to dwell in us by the Holy Spirit.

All the time that God appeared to men, it was the Holy Spirit that brought God’s presence to men. He is the angel of God’s presence. He is one of the same kind with Jesus Christ, (John 14:16-20). He talks, heals, saves and does every thing like Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is just like the father, which means the Holy Spirit is just like the father. It then implies that the father, Jesus and the Holy Ghost are one of the same kind with one another. The father says the same thing as Jesus, just as the Holy Ghost speaks the very words of Jesus. (John 13:13).
Parakletos means

Comforter (John 14:16, 2 Cor 1:3)

Counselor (Isaiah 11:2, Rom. 8:16)

Helper (Rom. 8:26-28)

Strengthener (Philippians 4:13, Isaiah 11:2)

Intercessor (Rom 8:26)

Teacher (1 Cor. 2:9-11, 1 John 2:20&27, John 16:13)

Standby (2 Cor. 12:9-10)

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Who are you?

Firstly, a Christian is a NEW CREATION. ‘’therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.’’ To walk in the newness of life as the Bible declares is to understand that we have become new creatures with new kind of life. This life is not human. It is ZOE, The God kind of life.

We are not talking about a change, behaviour or refurbished character. We are talking about a brand new man who has never existed before. Paul says that in God (Galatians 6:15). (Ehesians 4:22-24). The new creation is a new man created in God’s divine nature of righteousness and holiness. They are his attributes. (2 Peter 1:4).

Secondly, a Christian becomes the son of God when he becomes born again. This time of a different father. Not the earthly father but the heavenly Father through his seed. ‘’Which is born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.’’ (John 1:13) behold, what manner of love the father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the SONS OF GOD’’ This is why we cry ‘’Abba Father,’’ John 1:13, Romans 8:16-17.

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Prosperity In Christ

What is prosperity and what does the Bible says about it? 2 Cor. 8:9, Joshua 1:7-8 prosperity is success, influence and riches. It does not only have to do with money but also health, spiritual and physical. Prosperity is God’s will. God desires for us to prosper. 3 John 2

Purpose of prosperity Deuteronomy 8:17-18

To establish Gods convert on earth

So we can have to give

Not many believe that Christians should be wealthy and prosperous in material things. But Apostle John clearly states that, it is God’s foremost desires for his Children to live in prosperity. ‘’Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in HEALTH, even as thy soul prospereth.’’ (3 John 2). Jesus did not only suffer for our sins and sicknesses. He also suffered for our prosperity. He paid all the necessary penalty for our freedom from poverty. 2 Corinthians 8:9. God has reason why he wants his Children to prosper.

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Why We Pray

Prayer is such an important part in our lives as Christians. First of all, we must recognize prayer as a privilege as well as an honour. Every moment of prayer is an investment in eternity and true prayer is a romance of righteousness. Our fellowship is with the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. Through prayer we participate in the communion of the God-kind; it’s a throne-room caucus rendezvous: Jesus made it so! Oh, that the eyes of our understanding may be enlightened to see this awesome truth and that we may walk in the light of it! What a time of rich communion with the Lord prayer provides us!

Prayer is primarily our communication with the Lord. Communication has purpose, and the purpose usually determines the mode and relevant details for the communication to be effective.

The disciples of Jesus were Jews and they knew how to pray religiously. After walking with Jesus for a while, they realized that Jesus didn’t pray as they did. He actually had results continually in a way that startled them. They finally said to the Master, ‘’Teach us to pray.’’

Many have had their understanding of prayer distorted by ‘’religion’’ and wrong teaching. As a result, they have difficulties changing their misconceptions on even fundamental truths about prayer.

Scripture enjoys us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer helps to season our spirits as a receptacle for God’s Spirit and power. Then we can connect with His ideas, visions and leadings more easily in order to change the world.

When we pray, we make tremendous power available, dynamic in its working, causing changes in our favour. Certain prayer sessions are specially designed by the Lord to help straighten our things in the spirit-realm regarding our immediate or later future as individuals, families or ministries. How wonderful that we can change circumstances and alter destinies in His Name through prayer! We serve a kind, loving, great and gracious God who daily loads us with benefits (Psalms 68:19). During times of prayer, we can meditate on His goodness and appropriate these benefits to our life’s circumstances.

Types Of Prayer

• The prayer of faith
• The prayer of petition
• Praying with the Spirit
• The prayer of agreement
• The prayer of intercession
• Praying for the Saints
• Praying for the material needs
• Prophetic prayer
• The prayer of worship, praise and thanksgiving.

It is God’s earnest desire to have a rich, vibrant and enduring fellowship with His children.

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