ARE YOU GROWING?

2 Peter 3:18

Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

As the christian journey continues there are a lot of things that come up again and again. Some are scriptural many are not. This goes back to when the first apostles first ministered:

Acts 15:24

“We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them!

It continued till when worldly powers took over the church and many were trapped in the bondage of religion, many strange things were adopted as doctrine and it seemed man had his way, and just like in the time of Israel's bondage in Egypt deliverance came.

It is worthy to recall that people paid with their own blood to set man free from the bondage of man.

So today the word of God is available for all in all languages in almost all places, the hoarding was conquered and truth revealed, the lies could now stop.

See, the wrath of God is already on those who pervert God's words for personal gain, relevance or to keep a hold on people, for they are in a woe!

Galatians 1:6-10

I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News

but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.

Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.

I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

For the whole of the gospel is about Christ:

John 5:39-40

“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!

Yet you refuse to come to me to receive this life.

So many additions by the tyrants of old and also many addition by the tyrants of today, however:

John 8:30-32

Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings.

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

So, the foundation must be set right, and what is our foundation as believers?

1 Corinthians 3:11

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

Yes Christ Jesus, Yeshua Hamashiach, the very word of God, who became flesh and dwelt amongst us.

If you don't get this right your building is already set for collapse. It is terrible to live here building on a faulty or false foundation. No, begin with truth.

John 14:6

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

So the promise of the believer is God's kingdom, every other thing is considered an addition:

Matthew 6:33

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Today many have the wrong definition of spiritual growth, hello, you cannot pray one into spiritual growth, NO, spiritual growth is a process, there is no shortcut to it.

Ask Jacob, he went through the process, ask Joseph, he did same, do we talk of David or Daniel, every growth takes a process, even the man Jesus the Christ went through the process:

Luke 2:40,46

There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom, and God’s favor was on him.

Three days later they finally discovered him in the Temple, sitting among the religious teachers, listening to them and asking questions.

You must be growing, not just in age, career or business, you must also grow spiritually. Two keys things that is required for growth:  the word of God that brings about illumination and revelation.

What is your reward after here if you remain the way you were when you encountered Christ? For truly you don't remain that way, you either grow or diminish.

This issue of growth is so important that the writers of the epistles made it a prayer point for all saints:

2 Peter 3:18

Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:16-19

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

2 Corinthians 13:11

Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.

Ephesians 1:17

asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.

1 John 4:17

And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

Help us Good Lord.

We grow in the knowledge of God and in love.

Keep growing.

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher