HOW TO GROW SPIRITUALLY

Spiritual growth is not automatic. Just as a child must eat, learn, exercise, and develop, a Christian must intentionally develop his or her relationship with God.

1 Peter 2:2 — “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”

God does not want us to remain spiritual babies; He wants us to mature in faith, character, wisdom, and obedience.

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” — 2 Peter 3:18

*1. Grow Through the Word of God*
The Word of God is spiritual food. A believer who consistently studies and meditates on Scripture becomes stronger and better equipped to resist temptation.

Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16–17

*Key lesson:* You cannot grow spiritually if you neglect spiritual food.

*2. Grow Through Prayer*
Prayer builds intimacy with God. The more we communicate with God, the more we understand His will and depend upon His strength.

Luke 18:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Jude 20

Prayer should not only be about asking for things; it should include worship, thanksgiving, confession, listening, and seeking God's direction.

*3. Grow Through Obedience*
Spiritual maturity is demonstrated by obedience, not merely by knowledge. Jesus said:

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” — John 14:15

Knowing God's Word without obeying it will not produce genuine spiritual maturity.

James 1:22; Deuteronomy 28:1–2

*4. Grow Through Fellowship*
God designed believers to grow together. Fellowship with mature Christians encourages us, corrects us, teaches us, and strengthens our faith.

Hebrews 10:24–25; Proverbs 27:17; Acts 2:42

Do not isolate yourself from the church and godly fellowship.

*5. Grow by Producing Spiritual Fruit*
A spiritually mature Christian should increasingly display Christlike character.

Galatians 5:22–23 identifies the fruit of the Spirit as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

The evidence of spiritual growth is not merely how much Bible we know, but how much Christ is seen in our lives.

*Conclusion*
Spiritual growth requires the Word, prayer, obedience, fellowship, and the Holy Spirit. Do not be satisfied with yesterday's spiritual experience. Keep moving forward.

Ephesians 4:15: “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”

*Ask yourself:*

Am I growing spiritually or remaining at the same level?

How much time do I spend in God's Word?

Is my prayer life growing?

Can people see the fruit of the Spirit in my character?

Am I becoming more like Christ?

*Final Thought:*

“Spiritual growth is not measured by how long you have been saved, but by how much you have become like Christ.”

*Prayer*
Father, help me to grow deeper in Your Word, stronger in prayer, faithful in obedience, and fruitful through the Holy Spirit.

“Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation,” — 1 Peter 2:2 (CSB)

Just as a newborn baby naturally longs for nourishment, believers should develop a deep desire for God’s Word. Scripture feeds us spiritually, strengthens our faith, and helps us mature in our walk with Christ. Spiritual growth does not happen by accident; it comes as we consistently seek God, learn His truth, and allow His Word to shape the way we live.

Dear Father,

Rarely do I come across scriptures like this, rich in meaning, yet so plainly stated. It says, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby."
First, the word "sincere" changes everything. It leans more toward describing a kind of milk, not just any milk as that which provokes growth. To synonymize the word "sincere" I would say: pure, undiluted, unadulterated, and necessary truth spoken in due season.

There is so much to take into consideration here. The very act of choosing a place of worship is also a decision about how or even whether we grow. Also, the structure we maintain for meditation largely determines our growth. And then there is the place of desire!

It is appalling to say that, in many instances, growth in this sense is more customary than it is intentional, perhaps not even premeditated. Are we driven by such a great desire for growth that we literally hunger for solid, undiluted milk? Or does it matter less to us what kind of word we receive? Do we commit as much intentionality to establishing structures for our spiritual growth as we do in deciding who our spouses will be, or is it not worth the trouble?

Our desires determine what we believe is worth treasuring and what is worth building structures around. Yet we say we desire growth, but perhaps our level of intentionality reveals the true measure of our desire for growth. Meanwhile, "sincere" changes everything.

Translations:
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Slide 4: Hindu
Slide 5: Urdu

#LettertoGod
#sinceremilk
#wordofGod
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READ WITH ME – DAY 6

Topic: The First Principle: Learning God's Word

Key Verse:
"As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby."
— 1 Peter 2:2 (KJV)

Today's Reflection

The day you gave your life to Christ was not the end of your journey—it was only the beginning. Just as a newborn baby cannot grow without milk, a believer cannot grow spiritually without feeding on God's Word.

Many Christians desire to become stronger in faith, overcome temptation, and live lives that please God. These are wonderful goals, but they all begin with one essential principle: learning God's Word.

The Bible teaches us God's character, corrects our mistakes, shapes our lives, and guides us in righteousness. Spiritual growth comes as we consistently read, study, meditate on, and obey God's Word.

A believer who neglects God's Word will struggle to grow, but one who delights in the Scriptures will become spiritually strong, wise, and fruitful.

Never lose your appetite for God's Word. It is your daily spiritual food and the foundation upon which every other aspect of your Christian life is built.

Today's Takeaway:
Your spiritual growth begins with your hunger for God's Word. Feed on it daily, and you will grow into the person God has called you to be.

Prayer:
Lord, give me a deep hunger for Your Word. Help me to study it faithfully, understand it clearly, and obey it wholeheartedly. Let Your Word shape my life and help me grow into spiritual maturity. Amen.

Follow this 30-day journey with me as we grow together through God's Word.

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See you tomorrow for Day 7!

#YoungShallGrow #ReadWithMe #Day6 #LearningGodsWord #DailyDevotional #ChristianGrowth #GrowInChrist #BibleStudy

I Can't Feel God

The greatest (and most honest) saints have always confessed that they had to walk through many valleys with no sense of God’s presence. Sometimes they nearly went deaf from the heavenly silence. Often, they stumbled helplessly in what felt like total darkness. C.S. Lewis wrote that during one of the most painful times of his life, he cried out to God and got “a door slammed in my face, and a sound of bolting and double bolting on the inside. After that, silence.” Have you ever felt that way?

Just because you feel that God is absent doesn’t mean He actually is. Just because you can’t track His footprints doesn’t mean He’s not walking beside you. If you’re a believer, that feeling of being alone is always an illusion. Yes, always. Here’s how I know.

At the cross, Jesus experienced the horror of rejection by His heavenly Father. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He cried (Matthew 27:46). It wasn’t the pain of the nails that hurt Him most; it was the utter aloneness, the true abandonment. And He did it so that you and I would never have to experience it.

The essence of the cross was substitution. Jesus faced our aloneness—the utter abandonment we had brought upon ourselves through sin—so that we would never have to. The Father turned His face away from His Son so that He would never have to turn His face away from us.

So when we feel abandoned, that’s all it is—a feeling. A lying, deceptive feeling. It has to be. Jesus faced the full measure of our aloneness in our place and put it away forever. By His death, He reconciled us to God, so that we can know He will never leave us or forsake us. In some strange way we can never hope to comprehend, He was abandoned . . . for us.

What do we do, then, when we feel alone? Simply: walk by faith, not by sight. You must re-believe the gospel, that God has removed the full extent of the curse—all that could ever separate you from Him—and has given you Christ’s complete righteousness in its place. You must re-believe that in His finished work you couldn’t be closer to Him than you are right now, regardless of how you feel. And you must re-claim the promises of God, most of which are made to us for times in which God appears distant.

The gospel declares to us that God has made Himself close to us in Christ, holding us even tighter than a mother holds a newborn child (Isaiah 49:15). When our feelings tell us that is not true, we must defy those feelings with faith in God’s promise.

So when you can’t “feel” God, be assured, He’s there. The cross assures you that He is. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Nothing can ever separate you from His love. He has united Himself, through His Spirit, inextricably to you. And just as He has done in the great saints of old, the Spirit is likely doing His best work in you in those dark times.

✍🏻 Pastor J.D. Greear, Tabletalk Magazine, Ligonier Ministries

Andrew Wommack:
My grandmother raised me until I was about six years old, then she became senile, and eventually died when I was eight.
When she died, she left some demons behind in the room she occupied in our house. Right after she passed on, I moved out of the room I was sharing with my brother and into what had been grandmother's room. We had a picture of her sitting on the dresser, and at night it would come alive. Her image would come out of the frame and walk around the room.
Since I was only eight years old, that scared the fire out of me.
I knew this was strange, and it wasn't the way it was supposed to be, but I was afraid to tell my mother and father because they would have thought I was crazy. So I just didn't say anything about it, but as soon as possible, I moved out of that room and back in with my brother. He thought, Well then, I'll take that other room, and moved in there. It wasn't a month before he moved back in with me. Then my sister took that room. It wasn't a month before she moved back out of there too.
For the next twelve years, we kept that room in our house locked up. Nobody ever said anything, but nobody liked being in there. My older sister brought her newborn daughter home when I was fourteen years old. She'd be sound asleep, but if they walked into that room, she would wake up crying. Then they'd walk out and she'd be okay. Walk in and she'd cry, walk out and she was okay. When I had Bible studies, people would go all over the house to pray with others, but nobody would go in that room. After awhile, my lightning fast mind began to figure out that something was wrong in there.
Not long after I became aware that demons were real and they did exercise influence, I decided to go in that room and cast them out of our house. We always kept the door to that room closed, so I went in and shut the door behind me. I started rebuking and binding and doing everything I could think of. All the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I was afraid and had goose bumps all over me.
In the midst of all this, I remember thinking, Oh God, I'm so glad I can't see into the spirit realm right now. If I could, I'd see these huge demons towering over me with fangs and claws.
I was envisioning these monstrous demonic powers that were inches away from devouring me, and it was only the name of Jesus that was holding them at bay. I remember praying, "Oh God, thank You that I can't see what's going on in the spirit realm."
Immediately, the Lord spoke to my heart, saying, "Andrew, if I were to show you the spirit realm, instead of seeing these huge powerful demons with fangs and claws, you'd see tiny little imps.
You'd be amazed. They're nothing. They just have big mouths. They know how to scream loud and intimidate.
They boast of great things, but they can't deliver." As soon as the Lord changed that image from towering demons to tiny little imps who had no power or authority, faith rose up in my heart. Instead of fear, I felt like the Incredible Hulk. A spirit of might and boldness came over me, and I got rid of those demons in no time flat.
You might think, That was all in your mind. Well, I didn't tell a single person, but the next time we had a Bible study, people went right into that room without thinking anything about it. There was definitely a difference.
SATAN'S ONLY POWER
After the devil made all his prideful boasts in Isaiah 14:12—14 saying, "I will do this and I will do that," this passage of scripture goes on to say:
Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
ISAIAH 14:15-17
This passage prophesied how people would eventually respond to Satan. Of course, all this has come to pass now that Jesus has literally destroyed the devil through His death, burial, and resurrection. When we see Satan as he really is, we'll say, "Is this the one who intimidated me? Is this the one I allowed to ruin my life?
Is this the one I let keep me in bondage—this nothing, this zero?" That's how Satan is.
He doesn't have all this power the church has attributed to him.
The only power Satan has came from man.
Mankind made Satan. We are the ones who empowered him.
God created Lucifer—a ministering spirit, an angelic being.
Mankind yielded our God-given dominion, and it's this human authority and power Satan uses. That's why he has to have a body to possess. That's why a pig has more power and authority on this earth than a disembodied demon. Satan is a factor, but only because people yield to him. If you know the truth, the truth will make you free. (John 8:32.)
Now that's good news!
- Andrew Wommack (BELIEVERS AUTHORITY)

Let's talk about it.
WHY DID GOD KILL EGYPT'S FIRSTBORN? THE SHOCKING BIBLICAL TRUTH THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE NEVER FULLY UNDERSTOOD

Have you ever struggled with this question?

Many believers have quietly wrestled with it for years.

Many unbelievers have even used it to argue that God is cruel.

They ask,

"If God is loving, why did He kill Egypt's firstborn?"

"Why did innocent children have to die because of Pharaoh's stubbornness?"

"Could God not have rescued Israel another way?"

These are not foolish questions.

They are difficult questions that deserve careful and honest answers from Scripture.

If we only read the final plague without understanding everything that happened before it, we may misunderstand God's character completely.

Today, let us carefully examine the Word of God and discover the truth behind one of the most misunderstood events in the entire Bible.

The story begins long before the night of the Passover.

For over four hundred years, the Israelites lived in Egypt.

What began as a place of refuge during Joseph's lifetime eventually became a place of cruel slavery.

Exodus 1 tells us that a new Pharaoh arose who did not know Joseph.

Instead of showing gratitude to Israel, he oppressed them with forced labor.

The Egyptians made their lives bitter with hard bondage.

They cried to God because of their suffering.

But Pharaoh did something even more horrifying.

Exodus 1 verses 15 through 22 records that Pharaoh commanded the Hebrew midwives to kill every newborn Hebrew boy.

When the midwives feared God and refused, Pharaoh expanded the command and ordered that every Hebrew baby boy be thrown into the Nile River.

Think about that.

Long before Egypt's firstborn died, Pharaoh had already ordered the murder of countless Hebrew children.

The judgment that later came upon Egypt did not happen in a vacuum.

God had watched centuries of oppression, slavery, violence, and the shedding of innocent blood.

Yet He remained patient.

Instead of bringing immediate destruction upon Egypt, God first sent Moses with a message.

Again and again Moses stood before Pharaoh saying,

"Let My people go."

God gave Pharaoh opportunity after opportunity to repent.

The ten plagues were not random acts of anger.

They unfolded progressively.

Each plague was both a judgment against Egypt's oppression and a demonstration that the God of Israel alone is the true God.

Even after water became blood, frogs covered the land, lice, flies, livestock disease, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and every other plague, Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his heart.

Several times Pharaoh appeared willing to obey, only to change his mind after relief came.

God was not rushing to judgment.

He was displaying remarkable patience.

The final plague came only after repeated warnings had been rejected.

Why the firstborn?

In the ancient world, the firstborn held a unique place in the family.

The firstborn represented strength, inheritance, leadership, and the future of the household.

By striking the firstborn, God demonstrated that no earthly power could stand against His justice.

There is another important detail many people overlook.

Earlier in Exodus 4 verse 22, God declared,

"Israel is My son, even My firstborn."

Pharaoh had attacked God's covenant people for generations.

He had murdered Israel's sons.

The final plague reflected both divine justice and God's determination to deliver His own firstborn nation from bondage.

Some ask whether the children were guilty.

The Bible does not present this event as the personal punishment of each individual child for personal sins.

Rather, it occurred as part of God's judgment upon a nation whose ruler had persistently rejected God's commands and whose society had participated in the oppression of Israel.

Throughout Scripture, we see that leaders and nations bear responsibility for persistent injustice.

The Exodus account also reminds us that sin has consequences that extend beyond individuals and affect entire communities.

Another truth often missed is that God also provided a way of escape.

Before the final plague, He instructed every household to sacrifice a lamb and place its blood on the doorposts.

When the Lord passed through Egypt, every house marked by the blood was spared.

This was not only for the Israelites.

The Bible records that a mixed multitude left Egypt with Israel, showing that others who trusted God's warning could also leave with them.

God's judgment was accompanied by an offer of mercy.

This is one of the greatest themes in Scripture.

Where God warns, He also provides a way of salvation.

The Passover was not merely about Egypt.

It pointed forward to Jesus Christ.

Just as the blood of the Passover lamb protected the Israelites from judgment, Jesus became the perfect Lamb of God whose blood delivers those who trust in Him from the judgment of sin.

The Exodus story therefore points beyond itself to God's greater plan of redemption.

Some people still ask,

"Could God not have chosen another way?"

The Bible does not answer every philosophical question we may have.

However, it consistently reveals God's character as both perfectly just and perfectly merciful.

He delayed judgment.

He sent repeated warnings.

He demonstrated extraordinary patience.

He offered opportunities for repentance.

Yet He also acted to rescue an oppressed people after centuries of suffering.

God's justice should never be separated from His mercy.

Neither should His mercy be separated from His holiness.

The death of Egypt's firstborn reminds us that God takes oppression seriously.

He hears the cries of the afflicted.

He does not ignore evil forever.

His patience is great, but His justice is certain.

At the same time, the Passover reminds us that God always provides a way of deliverance for those who believe Him.

This same pattern reaches its highest fulfillment in Jesus Christ.

God did not overlook sin.

Neither did He leave humanity without hope.

Through Christ, justice and mercy meet together.

That is the greatest message hidden within the Passover.

Bible Verses for Further Study

Exodus 1 verses 8 through 22.

Exodus chapters 7 through 12.

Exodus 4 verse 22.

Exodus 12 verses 1 through 30.

Romans 9 verses 14 through 18.

Hebrews 11 verse 28.

First Corinthians 5 verse 7.

John 1 verse 29.

Teaching Summary

God's judgment upon Egypt came after centuries of oppression, the murder of Hebrew children, and repeated refusals by Pharaoh to obey God's commands.

The ten plagues revealed both God's patience and His justice, showing that He gave Egypt many opportunities to repent before the final judgment.

The Passover demonstrated that God provides mercy even in the midst of judgment, offering protection through the blood of the lamb to those who believed His word.

The death of the firstborn pointed forward to Jesus Christ, the true Passover Lamb, whose sacrifice provides salvation and deliverance from the judgment of sin.

God's character is perfectly balanced in justice, mercy, holiness, and love. He does not ignore evil forever, but He also provides a way of redemption for all who place their faith in Him.

May God continue to give us understanding through His Holy Word.

The Present Truth # 15
Another Opportunity

The Second Birth
To be intelligent, kind, and good does not necessarily make a person happy, nor does it secure peace. Millions of people are unhappy and the cause of it is not always understood. A child is born, grows up, then from young adulthood finds that the same continuing problems exist—troubles and strife on every hand. Many do not recognize their purpose in life, don’t know their origin, or their destination, either during life or at the end of it. After an existence of uncertainty, misery, or suffering, one dies. What was the purpose? Yet is there or can there be a reason or purpose for living?

There is only one reason for our existence, and we need to think about this question seriously because our present and future security depends on a right understanding of it. It is of vital importance. If we have inner peace and the hope of a better world, then we will be happy and consider life in a very positive way.

In our present condition it is impossible to inherit the future kingdom of glory. Although many think they are good people, the fact still exists that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23). Should we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves (1 John 1:8). What must we do then, in order to qualify as heirs of the world to come? The answer is quite simple, we must fulfil God’s requirements! We must be born again, that is, we must change our way of living to be in perfect harmony with God’s will. This is what we will study about in this lesson.

Why Do We Need a Second Birth?
Many years ago one of the members of the Sanhedrin, Nicodemus, came to Jesus one night to talk with Him. Nicodemus had previously heard Jesus’ teachings and had been deeply impressed. His heart was open, desiring to understand truth and the Master promptly gave the answer to all his questions.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3.

Then the meaning of the new birth was explained: “Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” John 3:5-7.

To be born of the Spirit means to be regenerated. That is, to detach the affections from the old desires and attach the will and affections to God. Unless this change takes place in the life, one cannot enter the kingdom of God.

When our motives in life do not harmonize with God’s will we are left to stumble along in our own sinful course and finally “. . . the wages of sin is death . . .” Romans 6:23.

The natural human heart is wicked and tends to choose all kinds of sin. Paul describes the condition of those without God:“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.” Romans 1:29-31.

The apostle Paul also explains that no relationship can exist between the carnal minded and the spiritual minded person: “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:5-8.

In the sight of God those who do not obey His word are considered dead. Paul says that they work against God and they are children of wrath, and are therefore spiritually dead. Their plans only take in the short span of an earthly life, and they ignore heaven’s plan for this life and the next.

“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” Ephesians 2:1-3.

Those who are spiritually dead are insensible. Their conscience is seared, their minds benumbed, and in this state they are unable to comprehend their spiritual needs, nor do they have a desire for a better way of life. Something must be done to resurrect these people from their spiritual death. The answer is the gospel. Only the gospel can revive the spark of life, “For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” 1 Peter 4:6.

Regeneration is essential, without it sins cannot be forgiven. Note why the sinner must be converted: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out . . .” Acts 3:19.

The sinner must feel his need, plead for the grace of God, and abhor sin. Each person must recognize his sinful condition, repent and demonstrate a desire for a decided change, then they will be accepted by God.

How to Be Converted?
Jesus said that the Holy Spirit will impress the sinner of their wrong course. The Spirit speaks to a person in different ways: by the word of God (written or spoken), by the Holy Spirit (via the conscience, circumstances, or daily experience), and through the works of nature. The Spirit convinces people of sin that each might see their true condition.

“And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. . . . Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” John 16:8, 13.

Once convicted of wrongs done, the sinner can accept the invitation of Christ: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.

“My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.” Proverbs 23:26.

The sinner comes to Christ, then there is something else to do. The will must be enlisted on the Lord’s side; then comes the beginning of the process of the transformation of the life.

The wicked acts previously committed must be abandoned. It is not sufficient to confess sins: one must repent of the deeds and forsake them.

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6, 7.

True repentance means sorrow for sins and a turning away from it. Note the example of David’s confession and repentance: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. . . . Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:1-4, 7.

What Is a New Born Person Like?
The regeneration or transformation of character is compared to a newborn child. Everything is new, full of hope and exciting. The old life of folly is altogether different from this vibrant new life of inner peace. A new journey has begun in an opposite direction, a direction of knowing you are doing God’s will. Paul said: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.

A converted person does not seek after things which are of the earth but seeks first of all the kingdom of God. “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:1, 2.

One result of true conversion is evident in the deeds of a born again man or woman. Actions, words, thoughts, and everything in their life will reveal whether they are a genuine new creature or whether the old sinful person is still alive. It will be obvious that God is directing the new life. “If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4:21-24.

“If the wicked restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.” Ezekiel 33:15.

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:6, 7.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8.

How happy is the person who is a new creature in Jesus Christ. Such a transformed person is under the influence of the Holy Spirit. New thoughts form the foundation of his mind. New reasoning takes the place of old ways of thinking. The person possesses different feelings, and attitudes. New principles govern the life. Things in which he previously found pleasure he now hates. God’s kingdom is all his pleasure. Before, he delighted to do evil, now he hates it. Formerly there was no pleasure in doing good, but now this is his whole delight. Where time was spent in amusements, games and foolishness; now he loathes the time wasted on these things. Before conversion there was no desire to read the Bible, to sing, to pray, or to attend church, now there is delight in doing all these activities. Things which he loved before he now hates, and things that he hated before he now loves. Everything is changed. Here is a new person. It is so, because Christ dwells in the heart. The proud becomes humble, the drunkard becomes sober, the vicious is pure, the fickle now is sincere, the liar becomes truthful, the frivolous is circumspect.

A person may be the worst of evildoers, sunken in sin, but they can still be saved and made whole. This is the promise: “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” Isaiah 43:25.

“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.” Isaiah 44:22.

What Is the Ultimate Reward of Being a Converted Person?
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12.

Just think of it! What a wonderful transformation! A converted person becomes a ransomed son or daughter of God. What an experience! From being a child of wrath one becomes an adopted child of the heavenly Father. To be a son or daughter of God means everything. To be a member of God’s family is the greatest honour that can be bestowed upon any person.

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints and of the household of God.” Ephesians 2:19.

To be honored as a member of God’s family is the highest honor one can receive. It makes us an heir to a glorious, eternal kingdom.

“And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” Galatians 4:6, 7.

The inheritance promised to the children of God will be granted at the glorious second coming of Jesus Christ. He will invite the heirs to possess the new earth: “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matthew 25:34.

The inheritance of the children of God will be the whole earth made new. They will inherit it throughout eternity.

“But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. . . . The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be forever. . . . The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.” Psalm 37:11, 18, 29.

Daily pearls from the shore🫧

UNMERITED

Recently, my daughter got an opportunity to present her research work at an international conference.

Some of you might be thinking: okay, and what’s so special about that?
She is an undergraduate intern who got to present her research at an international conference, usually attended only by postgraduates or professors. Not only that, her work and presentation were well received, applauded, and praised.

What was this: Great favor from God and from men.

From God for getting the opportunity when it is not conventional for undergraduates, and from men because it was well received and appreciated. Eventually, all favor is from God because it’s His favor that grants us favor in the hearts of humans too.

• There was a young boy who had eleven brothers who despised him so much that they sold him into slavery. However, he found favor with his master, and he was appointed to be in charge of everything in his master’s household. He was, then, falsely accused and was thrown into prison. Even there, he found favor and was appointed the chief of the prison operations. When the Pharaoh had a dream that no one could interpret, he was called to interpret it and he did. Not only that, he further provided the solution to the issues predicted in the dream. This led to him being appointed as an authority and being handed the work of the whole country.

This was Joseph, who ended up as second only to the Pharaoh in the vast kingdom of Egypt. Where did he start? Thrown into a well by his own brothers, sold as a slave, falsely accused and imprisoned, living in a dungeon despite having committed no crime. Still in the middle of all these messes, he found favor at every step- WHY? Because God was with Him.

• A group of slaves was taken to a kingdom, which included a young orphan girl and her relative. She was put into a harem, where she found favor, out of all the other girls, with the person in charge of the harem, who granted her the best beauty treatments and taught her the highest palace etiquette. She went on to find favor with the king and became the queen. Not just that, she could reverse a decree of genocide for her whole people because she had favor with the king.

This was Queen Esther of Persia, and she happened to be the queen who was actually an orphan slave girl from an enemy camp. She kept on finding favor at every stage of her life, even in the most dreadful of situations. How? God was with her.

What do we see here? Favor was working all along.

God promises “I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you.”
(Leviticus 26: 9)

There wasn’t anything that these people did to earn this favor. They were actually in the most adverse situations where they could hardly think of receiving any favor. The favor was given freely because God was with Esther and her people, with Joseph, and with my daughter.
Now, how do we receive this favor from God?

Moses said to the Lord, “…You have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have found favor with me.’ If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you.” (Exodus 33:12-13)

Beautifully portrayed here in Moses’ conversation with God. God already knows you by your name, and his favor is already upon you. Moses was not a saint who had special favor. He was an abandoned child of the enslaved Hebrew community, left to die in the river, but was saved by an Egyptian princess and was raised in the palace of the enemy king as the Princess’s son. Not only did God give him favor as a newborn with the princess, but also with the king’s whole palace and kingdom. He was raised as the king’s own.

But what’s important here is how God’s favor continued to be with all of these people. The winning point is that God knew them and they knew God. Moses asked God to teach him how to know God for continued favor.
Two things stand out:
1. God’s covenant of love and hence favor is already there for his people.
2. Seeking God constantly to know Him more and more.

God loves us all unconditionally, and His promises stand true for us in the form of blessings and unmerited favor.
As we seek to know him more and more, we abide in His presence, and that is the place of continuous favor.

No matter what your situation looks like presently, know that God knows you by name and His favor is upon you. Know him closely, and you will know his love and favor that follow.

For He says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.”
“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor; now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6: 2)

Let your life be directed from the place of God’s favor because of His Love.

*RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL*

Friday, July 3rd, 2026

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc DSc DD

*BUILD YOURSELF IN CHRIST*

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified (Acts 20:32).

In our last study, we touched on something very important: You’ve received Christ, yes; but you must continue in Him and be built up in Him. He said in John 8:31, "…If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.” Spiritual growth is intentional. It doesn’t happen by chance; the responsibility is yours to allow the Word of God to dwell in you richly (Colossians 3:16).

No one can grow for you. No one can build your spirit for you. Your progress in Christ is directly tied to your personal commitment to the Word. You may say, “I’ve read through the entire Bible from Genesis2 to Revelation”; but reading isn’t enough. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus for us to search the Scriptures; Paul said to study. There’s a difference. Reading informs you, but searching unveils truth, and studying establishes it within you.

Until you move beyond casual reading, you won’t walk in the depth, authority and power of the Word. There’s more in God, so much more. As you give yourself to study, meditation, and the ministry of the Spirit, deeper revelations are unveiled to you. Your convictions become firm, your discernment refined, and your walk with God steady, consistent, and built on truth.

Remember, we win by His Word. You’re sustained by the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and unveil your inheritance to you. That Word must dwell richly in you, shaping your thoughts, your responses, and your direction. So, don’t be passive about your spiritual growth. 1 Peter 2:2 says, "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”

The strength and stability of your Christian life are determined by the depth of the Word in your spirit. You’ve received Christ, that’s powerful; now build yourself in Him. Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Be established in truth.

*PRAYER*
Dear Father, I thank you for the Word of your grace that builds me up and establishes me in Christ. I’m strengthened, rooted and grounded in the truth of your Word. My life is structured by your Word, and I walk in ever-increasing grace and glory as the revelation of your Word floods my spirit and strengthens my faith, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

*FURTHER STUDY=>*
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Colossians 2:6-7 NIV
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, [7] rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Jude 1:20 KJV
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,

*DAILY SCRIPTURE READING*

*1-Year Bible Reading Plan=>*
Acts 16:16-40 & Job 1-2

*2-Year Bible Reading Plan=>*
2 Corinthians 12:11-21 & Isaiah 22