Enemies of Growth
By Cheryl Henderson (with notes from a sermon by Trent Corey )
Have you ever been in a church service and the sermon had your name on it? It is like the pastor had been listening to your private conversations with the Lord! It was like my Alexa had been talking to his Echo.
The sermon touched my heart, inspired me, encouraged me, and gave me a spanking all at the same time.
You may think I am crazy to say I felt all those emotions from a 40 minute sermon. Well, that is how God's Word is. It is sharper than a two edged sword, healing, comforting, freeing, encouraging and full of life!
The pastor taught on enemies of growth. Since you and I are under construction we are constantly in the process of growing up in Christ.
We know that the devil does not want us to mature and be more like Jesus. He has many lies to keep us from doing just that. I am going to expose two of them here and now.
1. Insecurity
Lack of trust in the Lord and His Word. Boy, have I been there lately.
I have been listening to the lie that it is all up to me! That somehow I had to do everything all by myself. I forgot 2 Corinthians 10:5 to cast down every thought and imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. I forgot to take every thought captive. I have been relying a little too much on myself! The bottom line is that insecurity in unbelief!! Insecurity robs our potential. I had to repent right there in the pew!! I changed my thinking and my confession to All Things Are Possible!
2. Inconsistency
We must stay consistent in all things. The story of Joshua and Caleb was used to help us see that these two men were consistent in serving the
Lord. When they went in to spy out the land they came back with good news while the others came back with a negative report. Staying consistent in knowing who God is helps
us to see what others cannot. It keeps you and I in the right spirit. It keeps us connected to the vine. The vine that feeds us and gives us life. We establish a deep root system in truth and faith by being consistent.
I am renewed in my spirit and I've got my eye on these two.
Most blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is.
