SUBTHEME: EVIDENCE OF ADVANCEMENT AND ALL ROUND FRUITFULNESS
TOPIC: INCREASED INTEREST IN SPIRITUAL MATTERS
TEXTS: PS. 122:1; 2 COR. 8:1-2
Church advancement and fruitfulness are not hidden when they are in operation; one will be able to find their evidence in many of the activities of the church. Just like fruits on a literal tree, church advancement is obvious, tangible, verifiable, and evidential. Amongst many fruits and evidence we can find in a church that is experiencing Unlimited Advancement and All-Round Fruitfulness is the willingness and increased interest of members towards things of spiritual benefit.
We now live in a time when members seem to love and have interest in social, administrative, financial, and issues of work and infrastructure of the church more than the issue of spirituality. The scripture made it clear that in the later days men will be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. (2 Tim. 3:4.) Some leaders and members find it very convenient, interesting, and exciting to attend church meetings, debate about financial issues of the church, and supervise church projects but find it very difficult to attend church Bible Study, Midweek Service, Prayer and Fasting, and other spiritual programmes of the church.
Lack of knowledge and understanding, passion and hunger for God’s word, and inability to create time for God, etc. are causes of many failed interest in spiritual matters in our churches today.
Everything else becomes inconsequential when interest and hunger for spiritual matters are very active. The scriptures made us understand that God wants us to be interested and hungry for spiritual things.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied" (Matt. 5:6).
"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirsts, let him come unto me and drink" (John 7:37).
Interest in spiritual matters is a sign and evidence that a church is experiencing unlimited advancement. Members become more eager to attend church services and feel a sense of loss when they miss any church programme (Ps. 122:1). Prayer sessions in the church become a delight, fasting and midnight programmes will not be a burden to anybody, and giving to God becomes easier and will be seen as a reasonable sacrifice (2 Cor. 8:1-2); complaining and murmuring are reduced in the church (Phil. 2:14-16). People love each other more genuinely, and there is increased interest in listening to the word of God and obeying it. Paul spoke the word all night, and they were not tired of hearing him. A wrong attitude towards a seeming long sermon is a sign of spiritual deficiency (Acts 20:7-9). Finally, in an advancing church, everybody will strive to grow spiritually and be able to teach and communicate spiritual matters (2 Tim. 2:2).
Conclusion:
Advancement and progress in life begin with interest and a burning desire; without interest in spiritual matters, the Christian life will be very shallow and hollow. Therefore, as Christians, let us strive to be passionate about the things of the Spirit; this is one of the evidences of people who are making unlimited advancement.
Prayers:
1. Lord, thank you for keeping and sustaining your church with spiritual programmes.
2. Oh Lord, help me to be passionate and interested in spiritual matters.
3. Increase the interest of the Diocese of Evo and all Your Church on earth in spiritual matters. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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