7th OCTOBER 2021
“So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes. But practising the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head – Ephesians 4:14-15
Today, we continue our discussion on the above subject. To grow spiritually is to become independent from ignorance, false teachings and apathetic disposition regarding the things of God. In any event, spiritual growth is a personal journey along the path of discovery of God’s Word. The second tool for measuring spiritual growth is:
1. Praying in the Faith: A growing Christian should have or should be developing and maintaining a lifestyle of prayer. The scriptures say in John 15:7, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and God shall do it for you”. How is your prayer life? Are you able to take authority with God in prayers? The prayer techniques have been set out by the Master Himself in Matthew 6:5-6 as follows;
2. Pray to God the Father alone– not to be heard of men. Have a private place of prayers – A prayer closet. Shut the door behind you and pray to your Father secretly! In addition to the above, it is desirable to follow a pattern of prayer such as this:
a. First, forgive others for the wrong done to you.
b. Adoration
c. Confession
d. Thanksgiving
e. Supplication
Prayers bring us closer to God. The more you pray, the closer you are to God’s heart. Whether you get results or not, keep praying, keep trusting and keep the faith and hope alive.
3. Fellowship with Christians: Abiding in Christ means we will seek to live in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ (John 13:34-35). We come together, not necessarily in a building called a church, synagogue or Temple. However, when we come together, we do so in spirit, under a mutual faith in Jesus Christ, and through that, we create a bond of communion and commitment. When we are thus united in spirit under one fellowship and dedication, we become a Christian family – ready to nurse and bear each other’s burden. Do you regularly nurse the pains of others? Are you disposed to bearing others burdens? To carry the burden of others is to make your burden lighter! The amount of burden you lift from others is what God takes away from your burden when it comes.
4. Be ready to witness to the world: Jesus says those who are His disciples will bear more fruits. The natural consequence of bearing fruits is to witness for Christ (John 15:8). You will become fishers of men. Not for commercial purposes, but genuinely winning souls for Christ to reap the fruits of salvation. You will become eager to bear faithful witness for Christ (Acts 1:8)
Beloved, today’s Word calls you to start a new life of spiritual growth that brings you into contact with the SPIRIT OF THE WORD. A new life of victory, power, wisdom, knowledge and understanding awaits you!
PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, grant me the grace to abide in you, even as your Word abides in me. I declare that iniquity cannot hold me down, but Christ is truly alive in me. I receive the gift of expanded faith with thanksgiving, and everything about me is beginning to fall in place. AMENFURTHER READING: Ephesians 4:13; Col 4:12