Joseph had a dream of his ministry at 17 but did not become Prime Minister in Egypt until the age of 30. David was anointed to be king at 17 but did not sit on the throne until he was 30. Jesus grew and didn’t start ministry until he was 30. Listen to what the Bible says about Him: Luke 2:40, “40And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” Even the Son of God had to grow not only physically but in spirit, filled with wisdom so he could deal wisely in all affairs of life. Luke 2:52 “52And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” It is not enough to grow in stature or age, you must grow in wisdom in order to be successful. As you increase in wisdom, you increase in favour with God and man.
Why grow?
On a television show, the guest was a body builder. During the interview, the interviewer asked “Why do you develop those particular muscles?” The body builder simply stepped forward and flexed a series of well-defined muscles from chest to calf. The audience applauded. “What do you use all those muscles for?” the interviewer asked. Again, the muscular specimen flexed, and biceps and triceps sprouted to impressive proportions. “But what do you USE those muscles for?” the interviewer persisted. The body builder was bewildered. He didn’t have an answer other than to display his well-developed frame. I was reminded that our spiritual exercises – Bible study, prayer, reading Christian books, listening to Christian radio and tapes – are also for a purpose. THEY ARE MEANT TO STRENGTHEN OUR ABILITY TO BUILD GOD’S KINGDOM, not simply to improve our pose before an admiring audience.
We all have four fundamental human needs:
1. A sense of worth – if missing, we feel inferior.
2. A sense of belonging – if missing, we feel insecure.
3. A sense of purpose – if missing, we feel illegitimate.
4. A sense of competence – if missing, we feel inadequate.
18 Reasons Why Growth Is Necessary
Galatians 4:1-3 “1Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. [2] Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.”
1. Growth helps us to see things from God’s perspective.
2. We grow to know what to go after and what not to go after.
3. Growth helps us to properly order our priorities.
4. Growth helps us to emphasize the right things in life.
5. Growth helps us to correctly interpret our experiences and react appropriately. Children react differently to things than adults. 1Corinthians 13:11 says, “10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” Children act before they think; often they just act; they don’t think at all.
6. We grow to position ourselves for the blessings of God. The path you follow determines what follows you.
7. We grow in order to become more useful.
8. We grow in order to be better witnesses for Christ.
9. We grow to discover who we are in Christ.
10. We grow to better relate with others.
11. We become more patient when we grow.
12. We grow so that the enemy will no longer be able to take advantage of us; so that we will not be tossed to and fro by every doctrine. We become more stable.
13. We grow so that we can reproduce our kind.
14. Growth helps us to better rely on God.
15. Growth makes giants out of grasshoppers.
16. When we grow we are no longer ruled by our feelings or emotions but by what is right.
17. Growth makes us to produce regardless of our feelings.
18. Growth helps us to make correct choices and decisions.
Yow=u were created to look like Christ
Children look like their parents or take after their parents one way or another. They have the genetic constitution of their parents. They merely manifest what is inside and hidden.
The Bible tells us that we were created in the image and likeness of God. Sometimes there are disputes to resolve paternity or maternity. In such cases, DNA tests are conducted to resolve such disputes. If you don’t have Him inside, you cannot manifest Him outside. It is not what you claim that really matters but what you are. A tree is known by its fruits.
How mature are you?
Maturity is not how long you have lived or been a Christian, how much of the Bible you know or how many big pastors or Christians you know, or how many Christian books you have. It is the sum total of your way of thinking (your perspective), your language or conversation and your conduct. It is not just your belief but your behaviour; not just your profession but your performance. See who a mature Christian is…
1. Those who have learned the futility of their own wisdom and have come to accept and completely depend on His wisdom. Proverbs 3:5 & 6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Growth is about being humble enough to admit what you don’t know; being patient enough to learn it but most importantly being smart enough to start applying it.
2. The mature Christian is one who has not only learned how inadequate and weak they are in dealing with the issues of life but how strong and powerful God is. Philippians 4:13; Galatians 2:20. (To be continued…)
Bishop Dr. Charles Olowojoba is the General Overseer of Dayspring Bible Church Worldwide with HQ in Abuja, Nigeria & President, Dayspring Christian Ministries Int’l. Website: www.dayspringcmi.org e.mail: [email protected] Help lines: 08035150515, 08054224779, 08036387989
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