Spiritual Digest for the Day 07Feb2021

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18 NIV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Growth is very essential to any living being or organization. God’s design is that we be seasoned to maturity through a continual process of growth. - Bayo Afolaranmi ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Help me Lord to be growing in Your grace and knowledge.

ARE YOU GROWING SPIRITUALLY?

Dearly Beloved, ARE YOU GROWING SPIRITUALLY? “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18 NIV). Growth is very essential to any living being or organization. Nobody would want to remain stagnant where he/she was last year. Also, no one would want his/her child to refuse to grow. We all want to grow physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, materially and in other ramifications. This should be applicable also to our spiritual life. However, only believers grow spiritually. Just like any other growth or development, spiritual growth is not attained instantaneously. It is not dramatic experiences, climactic turning points, or instant solutions to spiritual problems that many people are looking for today. God’s design is that we be seasoned to maturity through a continual process of growth. This made Peter to tell his readers in 2 Peter 3:18 to grow spiritually. Peter admonished believers to grow, not any other person. This is rather a command, not an advice, so you have to desire and determine to grow spiritually. The determination to grow must be consistent without any distraction (compare Hebrews 12:2). If you are to be prepared for spiritual growth, your focus must be right. The focus must not be on what you must do, but on who you must be! Peter instructed us to grow spiritually in two things: grace and knowledge. Grace is important because it is the foundation of the spiritual life (compare Ephesians 2:8). The spiritual life is impossible without grace. You cannot know God apart from grace. You cannot grow apart from grace. You cannot deal with failure apart from grace. Moses knew this, and he asked for it (see Exodus 33:13). Grace also sustains you when you fail or when things are not going the way you want (see 2 Corinthians 12:7-10). To grow in one’s knowledge of Jesus Christ is not factual knowledge, but the experiential knowledge of Jesus Christ (see Philippians 3:10). The order of these items is important. Grace must precede knowledge. Therefore, keep things in order. Grace comes before knowledge. Without Jesus there is no understanding of grace. You cannot have knowledge without Jesus. Jesus is the embodiment of grace and spiritual truth. The last thing to note in this verse is the purpose of the growth: God’s glory. Everything we do or whoever we are must be to God’s glory (John 2:11; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Peter 5:10-11; Jude 25; Revelation 1:6; 5:9-14). The second part of this message next week will briefly discuss what spiritual growth is not. In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Help me Lord to be growing in Your grace and knowledge. 

Spiritual Digest for the Day 06Feb2021

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “But when [Jesus Christ] saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36 NKJV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY We ought to move toward and respond to people in need with tenderness and mercy, not judgment and annoyance. - Charles R. Swindoll ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray for the grace not to have judgmental attitude to the less privilege, but to always have compassion on them and help them.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 05Feb2021

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him” (Ecclesiastes 3:14 NKJV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY We serve a God who gives us good things to enjoy. As we acknowledge Him and follow His loving commands, He infuses our lives with purpose, meaning, and joy. - Tim Gustafson ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will be able to appreciate the life and other things that God has given you.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 04Feb2021

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry” (Habakkuk 2:3 NKJV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Some of God’s best blessings may be long in coming. Though they linger, keep looking to Him! He prepares every blessing with perfect wisdom and care—and He’s always worth waiting for. - James Banks ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray for the grace to always wait for the timing of God's blessing for your life though it may linger.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 03Feb2021

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY “But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine’” (1 Samuel 17:34-37 NIV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY God is willing and just as capable of giving you victory in your current challenge as He was with those in times past. Take comfort in God’s promise that He watches over you and He wants to give you victory. - Henry Blackaby ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Pray that you will be able to trust in God’s faithfulness no matter what.

Spiritual Digest for the Day 02Feb2021

BIBLE VERSE FOR THE DAY "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies" (Psalm 18:2-3 NKJV). *********** QUOTE FOR THE DAY Do not stand out in life’s storms alone. Seek God’s shelter. Ask Him to protect you. Make sure you have received His forgiveness. Get close to the Rock of Ages. It’s life’s safest spot. — Dave Branon ************ PRAYER/ACTION FOR THE DAY Help me, O Lord, to always rely on You, the Rock of Ages.