Preacher: Brother Meschack Mulenda
In this world that is constantly developing in all aspects of life, information is useful, whether good or bad.
To the extent that the adage “knowledge is power” is accurate. However, it is crucial to know that not all knowledge is beneficial for a Believer’s growth, specifically in their spiritual progress. There is a lot of information available, but some of it may not be beneficial (one may not be mature enough to absorb that kind of knowledge). In 1 Corinthians 13:11, Paul discusses the significance of the growing process. At any point in your Christian growth process, he emphasizes the idea that it is more important to consider what kind of information you let in than it is to just follow Jesus.
It is not always important to learn everything, as choosing knowledge that is inappropriate for you could have disastrous consequences for you. In essence, it is more important to do what is correct for you than what is either beneficial or detrimental in the period of life you are currently experiencing. In Genesis 3:4, we see that the truth had been used by the devil to deceive Eve. The enemy is so cunning that he is capable of tricking you with the truth. Jesus’ ministry had not begun between the ages of 12 and 30 years old. If the time between these years is estimated, it took Jesus 18 years to develop a ministry that operates in 3 years. This is the core of growth; God always builds things slowly out of patience.
Building your foundation on Christ will give you the assurance that nothing is ever going to be destroyed once God establishes it. Jesus foretold that Peter would become a fisher of men from the very first time they met, and after three years of growing, it came to pass. It is clear from reading 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 that God desires for each Believer to experience the process of growth by being discerning about what they allow in. Christians might be classified as either infants or adults. Therefore, it is crucial to understand that a Christian’s progress is not influenced by the passing of time and is not indicated by how long they have been saved. A Follower who may have just known God for one month may have experienced greater, supernatural spiritual growth than a Christian who has known God for ten years.
An infant Christian is one who has carnal thinking, making decisions based on what is happening in the physical world and basing their emotions on what they feel like doing or what they don’t. (see Romans 8:4-8). As a Christian, you must only depend on God and what concerns Him; in contrast, this kind of Christian depends on themselves. Reading John 21:18, we can see that growth follows submitting to the Holy Spirit, but if you are also resisting the voice of the Spirit, you may become stagnant. The issue here is not sin, but rather a refusal to develop and a preference for staying in ‘comfortable’ environments.
Love is the basis of our connection with Christ, therefore, it is unnecessary to fulfill prophecy, move mountains, or perform amazing deeds in the absence of love (see 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; John 3:16).
The subject of how the heart is trained could therefore be raised. The heart requires love, therefore, God’s mercy extends to everyone, even the wicked. Jesus explained that what comes out of a man is what defiles him (Mark 7:23), and everything you become is active. Consequently, there is a lot of potential in man and until you encounter specific circumstances, you cannot assert that you are a decent person.
God is the only being that is omniscient and omnipotent. He is also the only one who can change people’s hearts daily (see 2 Corinthians 4:16). Not everyone has the capacity to experience love which is the fruit of the Spirit, according to Galatians 5:22–23, that is only given by the Holy Spirit. Returning to what Paul was discussing in Corinthians, the milk he was referring to is essential. It is a foundation that is based on God’s love. Thus, you won’t submit to the Holy Spirit if you lack love. Hence you should not not only be impressed by someone’s oratory—look at the fruit instead, which is love—to determine whether they truly love God.
Now, the Mature Christian is a Believer to whom we should all aspire to be. This Believer does not only react to sensations or things around them based on faith; they now “walk by faith and not by sight.” This time, they are reliant on the Holy Spirit (see Romans 8:13–14). God’s presence is something you are aware of. Due to the awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit within you, a Believer with this kind of consciousness refrains from acting in particular ways.
As a seed becomes completely visible after its fruits are produced and so is the fruit of the Spirit. When others start to notice the fruits of the Spirit in you, you are a Christian who is showing these characteristics. When you yield to the Holy Spirit, these fruits will be created in you; in fact, abiding by the Spirit will cause this to happen. According to 1 Corinthians 3:10–14, focusing on verse 12; any edifice created based on wealth, knowledge, or anything else is doomed to failure and only becomes valuable when it is based on Jesus Christ. Your thoughts should be based on a desire to advance God’s kingdom. Without faith, you have no business looking for earthly goods (see Philippians 4:8; 2 Peter 1:5-8).
You can firmly advance in the ways of God by, first and foremost, understanding your place in God. Your current state lets you know what you need for development or what information you need right now. Secondly, your local church is the solution to your spiritual development thus, once you are a part of a community, your development is evaluated. Additionally, you have access to education (schooling) and medical care (hospitals) when you attend a church. Due to your development being tracked, you are subject to accountability. So, seek out a church that will aid in your spiritual development.
