#ChurchThePlace #WhereOurRootsAreFertilized #GrowingCloserToGod #Congregate #SendRootsDownward #SpiritualGrowth
Growing closer to God and learning to love people better is a daily event in the life of Christians everywhere. As one intermingles with people from all walks of life, we appreciate the differences built into our DNA by our creator. We accept each individual and their uniqueness as a gift from God. We can all learn to live the truth of Eph 3:17
As we grow closer to God, Christ does dwell in our hearts. Eph 2:8 (NIV) boldly proclaims that we know that we are growing closer to God because
“…. it is by grace you have been saved, [ and only] through faith— [ more importantly] and this is not from yourselves. [Notice that we do not grow in love for God and our fellow man by our own works. Also, we are not saved by anything that we say and or do.] [Why?] it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Growing closer to God and to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ requires participation in congregational activities. When one says “It’s just Jesus and me! I don’t need to go to church” it is not possible for us to grow closer to others when we never associate with them. Furthermore, it is contrary to the will of God and His declared Word. Paul sent a reminder to all of us in Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) reminding them about this responsibility
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Togetherness is fostered when we experience CORPORATE worship. . .
as members of a body of believers. Proverbs 27:17 (KJV) proposes that this weekly event enables us to interact in the same manner that two sharp metallic instruments interact when they come into contact with each other. “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
Why do we need that weekly interaction? We are bombarded every day by the broadcasting of “WSIN” live from the pit of hell. The enemy is determined to destroy relationships all over the world, but his arrows of destruction are directed. Scripture warns us of this ongoing attack.
Scriptural References About This Ongoing Spiritual Battle
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside.
- Matthew 13:19 KJV
- Luke 4:13;
- Luke 4:33;
- John 8:44 The age-old fight between the forces of good and evil has existed for a long time.
- 1 Peter 5:8 tells us that we must “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” The battle rages on whether we believe it or not.
- In 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV) Paul confirms that ” There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: . . .”
Then he encourages us by reiterating the promise of God to His people, “but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Sunday mornings gives us an opportunity to hear from our Heavenly Father, through the servant He has chosen, in the place where He has placed His name. - It is in this environment where the soldiers of the army of God experience their spiritual R & R so to speak.
- It is in this environment that the fertilizer of “worship and The Word” is applied to the roots of our souls and we receive spiritual rejuvenation.
- It is in this place that we learn, more graphically to, to grow closer to God and learn to love people better. Why?
- There is always a person in every congregation that is just a little different from the rest.
- There will always be someone there who is just making baby-steps in the kingdom of God, and you have to learn to walk and talk with that person in a very patient manner.
- There will be children who have not discovered that dashing from one end of the building to the other is not appropriate anywhere, but even more so because they are in a building with people of varying ages and their running becomes dangerous to others.
- There will be people there whose are so shy that they will not stretch out their hands to you in fellowship. But that does not mean that you should not smile at them.
- There might even be people there who are just learning to be in a congregation that is mixed racially and culturally. Their speech patterns may irritate you. Their lack of social graces may stretch you, but all of that is really irrelevant because with all of you individual personality challenges God still loves you.
As I type this paragraph, I think of myself too. I am a classic introvert who would instead just go to church, participate in worship and the Word and then go home. I have learned throughout the years that a simple thing like a “smile” and the act of extending one’s hand to another individual not only changes the other person’s day it also changes you. I had to learn to do that. I learned it very quickly with children because I was an educator for a long time. It took longer to learn it with adults because they will see your outer shell before they see the Holy Spirit in you.
None the less it is your job to “be that person who smiles and says “hi” even if the other person does not respond in kind. Why?
We are all at different stages in this “growing to love God and learning to love people better thing, and the enemy will look for our weak “personality spots” and work them to His advantage.
I have no clue why I am writing this devotional. There must be someone out there who needs this. But today the Lord made it clear to all of us that He will use what we have in our hands. Maybe not the way that we might want Him to use it, but He will use it anyway! Finally, my friends remember the rest of the story of Eph 3:17-20 (KJV)
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, [Why must our hearts dwell in faith?] May be able to comprehend with all saints …..
- what is the breadth,
- and length,
- and depth,
- and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge,
[ We don’t even begin to comprehend the extent of God’s love for us. Yes, I know that we love our children, and family members, but there are times when they just grate on our last nerves, and we don’t love them so much. Just imagine that we can NEVER say and or do anything that causes God to love us less. That my friends is true love. All that happens in a worship service on Sunday morning is to what end?] “that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. “
What does that look like? ♥
It looks like His love for us. Pray for your pastors because they are always under attack. Love as He loves and you will see the change in your life. No man is an island! Grow in grace through the knowledge that God imparts to us friends. Grow vertically in our relationship with God, and horizontally in our relationships with the people, He puts before us each day. Sunday is a celebration of our gift of life from Him.
As we grow closer to God, Christ does dwell in our hearts. Eph 2:8 (NIV) boldly proclaims that we know that we are growing closer to God because
“…. it is by grace you have been saved, [ and only] through faith— [ more importantly] and this is not from yourselves, [Notice that we do not grow in love for God and our fellow man, we are not save by anything that we say and or do.] [Why?] it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Growing closer to God and to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ requires participation in congregational activities. When one says “It’s just me and Jesus! I don’t need to go to church” it is not possible for us to grow closer to others when we never associate with them. Furthermore, it is contrary to the will of God and His declared Word. Paul sent a reminder to all of us in Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) reminding them about this responsibility
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Togetherness is fostered when we experience CORPORATE. . .
as members of a body of believers. Proverbs 27:17 (KJV) proposes that this weekly event enables us to interact in the same manner that two sharp metallic instruments interact when they come into contact with each other. “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
Why do we need that weekly interaction? We are bombarded every day by the broadcasting of “WSIN” live from the pit of hell. The enemy is determined to destroy relationships all over the world, but his arrows of destruction are directed. Scripture warns us of this ongoing attack.
Scriptural References About This Ongoing Spiritual Battle
- “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the wayside.” Matthew 13:19 KJV
- Luke 4:13; Luke 4:33; John 8:44 The age-old fight between the forces of good and evil has existed for a long time.
- 1 Peter 5:8 tells us that we must “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” The battle rages on whether we believe it or not.
- In 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV) Paul confirms that “ There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: . . .” then he encourages us by reiterating the promise of God to His people “but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Sunday mornings gives us an opportunity to hear from our Heavenly Father, through the servant He has chosen, in the place where He has placed His name.
- It is in this environment where the soldiers of the army of God experience their spiritual R & R so to speak.
- It is in this environment that the fertilizer of “worship and The Word” is applied to the roots of our souls and we receive spiritual rejuvenation.
- It is in this place that we learn, more graphically to, to grow closer to God and learn to love people better. Why?
- There is always a person in every congregation that is just a little different from the rest.
- There will always be someone there who is just making baby-steps in the kingdom of God and you have to learn to walk and talk with that person in a very patient manner.
- There will be children who have not discovered that dashing from one end of the building to the other is not appropriate anywhere, but even more so because they are in a building with people of varying ages and their running becomes dangerous to others.
- There will be people there whose are so shy that they will not stretch out their hands to you in fellowship. But that does not mean that you should not smile at them.
- There might even be people there who are just learning to be in a congregation that is mixed racially and culturally. Their speech patterns may irritate you. Their lack of social graces may stretch you, but all of that is really irrelevant because with all of you individual personality challenges God still loves you.
As I type this paragraph I think of myself too. I am a classic introvert who would rather just go to church, participate in worship and the Word and then go home. I have learned throughout the years that a simple thing like a “smile” and the act of extending one’s hand to another individual not only changes the other person’s day it also changes you. I had to learn to do that.
I learned it very quickly with children because I was an educator for a long time. It took longer to learn it with adults because they will see your outer shell before they see the Holy Spirit in you. None the less it is your job to “be that person who smiles and says “hi” even if the other person does not respond in kind. Why? we are all at different stages in this “growing to love God and learning to love people better thing and the enemy will look for our weak “personality spots” and work them to His advantage.
I have no clue why I am writing this devotional. There must be someone out there who needs this. But today the Lord made it clear to all of us that He will use what we have in our hands. Maybe not the way that we might want Him to use it, but He will use it anyway! Finally, my friends remember the rest of the story of Eph 3:17-20 (KJV)
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, [Why must our hearts dwell in faith?] May be able to comprehend with all saints …..
- what is the breadth,
- and length,
- and depth,
- and height;
- And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, [ We don’t even begin to comprehend the extent of God’s love for us. Yes, I know that we love our children, and family members, but there are times when they just grate on our last nerves and we don’t love them so much. Just imagine that we can NEVER say and or do anything that causes God to love us less. That my friends is true love. All that happens in a worship service on Sunday morning is to what end?] that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. “
NB: If you cannot find a church where you feel that you belong, you are welcome to come to this table and partake of what God prepares for you. We will help you to find a place of worship.
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