Machaira With Apostle Bennie

Category: Spiritual Growth

  • EPISODE 233 – ARE YOU GROWING? 7 (THE FRUIT OF YOUR MATURITY 2)

    EPISODE 233 – ARE YOU GROWING? 7 (THE FRUIT OF YOUR MATURITY 2)

    CHRIST COMMONWEALTH-COMMUNITY

    The Love-Life Agency

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    Wednesday 13th, September, 2023

    ARE YOU GROWING? 7

    (THE FRUIT OF YOUR MATURITY 2)

    “Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head. 

    Ephesians 4:15 (GNT)

     
    In as much as your growth in the Lord or maturity in the spirit is your responsibility, you don’t do it alone.
     
    You don’t create the things you need for your growth. It is the Lord who supplies you with what you need and you put them to work.
    The greatest evidence of your growth in Christ is how you walk in the LOVE OF GOD. 
    The difference between the mature and immature is not just in the tongues they speak, the scriptures they quote and the gifts of the spirit they demonstrate. The difference between the mature and immature is in the level of love they demonstrate.
     
    Meanwhile the Love of God is shared abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5).
     
    Which means, you did not generate the Love of God, it was worked into you by the Lord Himself.
    LOVE IS THE GREATEST FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT! (1 Corinthians 13:13)
    We see the FRUIT of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 :
     
    “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (ESV)
     
    From the above verses we see nine graces of the Spirit. However the verse says FRUIT and not FRUITS.
     
    There is the same Greek word, “KARPOS” for both singular FRUIT (Galatians 5:22; James 3:18) and the plural FRUITS (Matthew 7:16,20  and Philippians 1:11).
     
    We see nine graces mentioned, so why are they referred to as FRUIT?
     
    This is because these nine graces are collective singular. They can all be put into one great expression of the Spirit, which is LOVE.
    “BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE…”
    The amplitude of love is demonstrated through the eight other graces.
     
    No tree produces different kinds of fruits. Each tree produces a specific kind of fruit.
     
    An apple tree only produces apple fruit. Though it may have more than one of its kind on the same tree.  Love is that unique fruit of the Spirit, though it may have different expressions.
     
    The Passion Translation reveals it clearly:
     
    “But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit.
     Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.”
    When you begin to walk in the fullness of the Love of God, the self doesn’t have expression. 
    Which means the eight other graces are tangible realities of LOVE AT WORK.
     
    When the LOVE of God finds expression, there is no need for the demand of the law of Moses (Romans 13:8-10).
     
    WALK IN THE PERFECTION OF LOVE, FOR IT IS THE PROOF OF YOUR MATURITY.
     
    Are you Growing?
     
    Selah.
    DIG DEEPER
    (Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 22:37-40; Ephesians 3:16-18; 1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter 1:8; Hebrews 5:12-13; 1 Peter 2:2)
     
    WE PRAY
    That this divine love of God will find its full expression in and through us.
     
    BIBLE READING IN THE YEAR 2023
    Day 218
    Psalm 139-144
    John 7
     
    DECLARE THESE WORDS:
    – I demonstrate love in all things.
     
    – The love of God gains full expression through me by the day.
     
    – I commit myself daily to the study of scriptures.
     
    – I fellowship with the Holy Spirit daily.
     
    – The strength of the self is broken because I walk in the fullness of the love of God.
     
    Oh Hallelujah!!! Glory to God!!

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  • EPISODE 232 – ARE YOU GROWING? 6 (THE FRUIT OF YOUR MATURITY 1)

    EPISODE 232 – ARE YOU GROWING? 6 (THE FRUIT OF YOUR MATURITY 1)

    CHRIST COMMONWEALTH-COMMUNITY

    The Love-Life Agency

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    Tuesday 12th, September, 2023

    ARE YOU GROWING? 6

    (THE FRUIT OF YOUR MATURITY)

    “Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head. Ephesians 4:15 (GNT)

     
    You can determine the maturity of a plant by the fruit it bears.
     
    If you want to differentiate mango tree from an apple tree just recognize their fruits.
     
    And if you want to know how healthy a tree is, look at the quality of fruit it produces.
    When you are growing properly you will bear good and healthy fruit.
    One may think, it is only God who can determine whether a person is growing or not.
     
    Beloved, from the scriptures we can identify the fruit of a matured healthy life in Christ.
     
    Jesus said:
    “But you will recognize them by their fruits. You don’t find sweet, delicious grapes growing on thorny bushes, do you? You don’t find delectable figs growing in the midst of prickly thistles. People and their lives are like trees. Good trees bear beautiful, tasty fruit, but bad trees bear ugly, bitter fruit. A good tree cannot bear ugly, bitter fruit; nor can a bad tree bear fruit that is beautiful and tasty.” Matthew 7:16-18 (NET)
     
    Which fruit are you bearing?
     
    Are you bearing good fruit or bad fruit?
     
    Let me establish this with you; though your life is likened to a tree, you must know you are planted in the Lord (Psalm 92:12-13).
     
    And also the Lord sees you as a branch of Himself. He is the vine and you are the branches (John 15:5)
     
    This is refreshing!
     
    Though you must be intentional about your growth in Christ and take responsibility, the Lord doesn’t want you to see it as a burden. He has not left the responsibility of your fruit bearing in your hands only. He wants you to know that He is your supply of healthy nutrients to help you bear good fruit.
     
    You bear fruit according to what you have received of the Lord. For without Him you can do nothing.
    A fruit is the expression of the quality of a plant or a tree.
    As you grow spiritually, you will bear spiritual fruit (which is the expression of the Spirit).
    The greatest expression of the spirit is LOVE.
    This, I have established with you in previous post. That the GREATEST EVIDENCE of your growth in Christ, is determined by the Fruit of the Spirit you bear not the gifts of the spirit you demonstrate. (1 Corinthians 13:1-3).
    As your growth is in the spirit, there is a specific fruit you have to bear.
    Again, Paul helps us with it:
     
    “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
     
    The above fruit of the spirit is as a result of how you are supplied with nutrients and nourishment of the Lord.
     
    Until you bear this fruit, you are not really growing.
     
    Selah.
    DIG DEEPER
    (Ephesians 3:16-18; 1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter 1:8; Hebrews 5:12-13; 1 Peter 2:2)
     
    WE PRAY
    That our love will grow and increase beyond measure, bringing us into the rich revelation of spiritual insight in all things.
     
    BIBLE READING IN THE YEAR 2023
    Day 217
    Psalm 135-136
    John 6
     
    DECLARE THESE WORDS:
    – I demonstrate the love of Christ in all things.
     
    – As I receive daily nourishment and supply from the Lord, I increase in the expression of love.
     
    – I am not dull in hearing the word of God.
     
    – I make time daily to fellowship with the scriptures.
     
    – I don’t lazy about my spiritual development.
     
    – I don’t trivialize my fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
     
    Oh Hallelujah!!! Glory to God!!

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  • EPISODE 231 – ARE YOU GROWING? 5

    EPISODE 231 – ARE YOU GROWING? 5

    CHRIST COMMONWEALTH-COMMUNITY

    The Love-Life Agency

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    Monday 10th, September, 2023

    ARE YOU GROWING? 5

    GOD HAS MADE PROVISIONS FOR YOUR GROWTH

    “Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head. 

    Ephesians 4:15 (GNT)

     
    For some days now, we have been looking into the matter of your growth or maturity in Christ.
     
    It is imperative to give attention to this subject because it makes all the difference in your fulfilment of purpose.
     
    There are things you cannot achieve in Christ until you grow. 
    Our heavenly Father is interested in your growth and maturity, thus, He has made every provision for you to grow spiritually.
    He didn’t just give you His word, He granted you access (Ephesians 2:18) for you to commune with Him (through prayer and fellowship with the Holy Spirit). He planted you in His Church for you to be nurtured and gave you gifted men to equip you.
     
    See how the apostle puts it:
     
    “And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct], [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity]. So that we are no longer children [spiritually immature], tossed back and forth [like ships on a stormy sea] and carried about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine, by the cunning and trickery of [unscrupulous] men, by the deceitful scheming of people ready to do anything [for personal profit]. But speaking the truth in love [in all things—both our speech and our lives expressing His truth], let us grow up in all things into Him [following His example] who is the Head—Christ.”
    Ephesians 4:11-15 (Amplified)
     
    From the above verses we see the organic assignment of the gifted men. God’s intention for these gifted men (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers) is to:
     
    1. Fully equip and perfect the saints for service (or the work of the ministry).
     
    To equip and perfect the saints, furnishes them with the necessary spiritual tools and dexterous skills and mastery for service. 
     
    2.  To build up the body of Christ [the church].
     
    Your growth and maturity contributes to the building up of the body of Christ. Which means, your immaturity can be a deficiency in the body.
     
    These gifted men equip and perfect the saints to build up the body until:
     
     3. We all reach oneness in the faith. 
     
     4. We all reach oneness in the knowledge of the Son of God.
     
    5. Growing spiritually to become a mature believer.
     
    6. Reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness] 
     
    7. Exercising our spiritual gifts in unity. 
     
    8. As we step into these above reality of our growth in the spirit or maturity; WE ARE NO LONGER CHILDREN [SPIRITUALLY IMMATURE].
    The spiritually immature are tossed back and forth [like ships on a stormy sea] and carried about by every wind of [shifting] doctrine. 
    When you are not maturing or growing spiritually you become a victim of:
     
    – every cunning and trickery of [unscrupulous] men.
     
     – deceitful scheming of people ready to do anything [for personal profit]. 
     
    However from these verses we see  again the the matter of LOVE.
     
    Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head. Ephesians 4:15 (GNT)
     
    We grow up into Christ by LOVE. And the reality is, apart from love there is no other way you can genuinely grow up into Christ.
    Your growth is not into your self or personal desires. Your growth is into Christ; who is the ultimate example of love.
    Our Heavenly Father has made these provisions of gifted men to bring us to the place of MATURING INTO CHRIST in the perfection of His Love.
     
    Submitting to the training of the gifted men God has given you in your “local Church” is your reception and enjoyment of God’s provision for your growth in the spirit.
     
    Selah.
    DIG DEEPER
    (Jeremiah 3:14-16; 23:3-4; Ephesians 3:16-18; 1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter 1:8; Hebrews 5:12-13; 1 Peter 2:2)
     
    WE PRAY
    Dear Lord, please teach me how to humbly submit to the nurturing and training of my man of God.
     
    BIBLE READING IN THE YEAR 2023
    Day 216
    Psalm 130-134
    John 5
     
    DECLARE THESE WORDS:
    – I humbly submit to training.
    – I take heed to every instruction given by my man of God.
    – I am not dull in hearing the word of God.
    – I make time daily to fellowship with the scriptures.
    – I don’t lazy about my spiritual development.
    – I don’t trivialize my fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
    – I demonstrate the love of Christ in all things.
     
    Oh Hallelujah!!! Glory to God!

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  • EPISODE 230 – ARE YOU GROWING? 4

    EPISODE 230 – ARE YOU GROWING? 4

    CHRIST COMMONWEALTH-COMMUNITY

    The Love-Life Agency

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    Sunday 10th, September, 2023

    ARE YOU GROWING? 4

    “Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head. 
    Ephesians 4:15 (GNT)

     
    There are some fellow saints in Christ, who are interested in growing their finances, their businesses, their families, and their relationships.
     
    They feed their minds with information which helps them in their career pursuits.
     
    However, you must know that, a person is sustained by how he has built his inner man.
     
    “The spirit of a man sustains him in sickness, But as for a broken spirit, who can bear it?”
     Proverbs 18:14 (Amplified)
     
    If you are not well built in your spiritual life, you don’t carry any weight. When your life is hit by a raging storm, your spiritual weight and foundation will determine whether you will be shaken, moved or immovable.
    The strength of your life is dependent on how rooted you are in God.
    How deep are you growing in Christ?
     
    You don’t have to live a shallow life in Christ. Grow deeper in Him, for He is the strength of your life.
     
    In the previous episode, I mentioned that, the greatest evidence of your growth into Christ in everyway is how you practice and express the love of Christ.
    The expressions of the love of Christ are the fruits of love.
    A plant which doesn’t grow, cannot bear good fruits. The good fruits you bear are the evidence of your maturity.
     
    There are people who measure their spiritual growth by the gifts of the spirit they demonstrate.
     
    Meanwhile the gifts of the spirit are gifts. You can have the gift of word of knowledge or the gift of prophecy and not necessarily be matured in Christ. 
    A gift of the spirit does not determine your growth in Christ. 
    Your growth in Christ is determined by the Fruits of the Spirit you bear.
     
    Look at what Paul said about gifts of the Spirit and love:
     
    “If I were to speak with eloquence in earth’s many languages, and in the heavenly tongues of angels, yet I didn’t express myself with love, my words would be reduced to the hollow sound of nothing more than a clanging cymbal. And if I were to have the gift of prophecy with a profound understanding of God’s hidden secrets, and if I possessed unending supernatural knowledge, and if I had the greatest gift of faith that could move mountains, but have never learned to love, then I am nothing. And if I were to be so generous as to give away everything I owned to feed the poor, and to offer my body to be burned as a martyr, without the pure motive of love, I would gain nothing of value.”
     1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (TPT)
     
    The Lord does not measure your maturity by the mighty gifts of the spirit you demonstrate. Your maturity or growth in Christ is measured ultimately by LOVE.
    Your love-life in Christ makes all the difference.
    I ask you again, are you growing in Christ?
     
    Selah
    DIG DEEPER
    (Ephesians 3:16-18; 1 Corinthians 13; Galatians 5:22-23; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter 1:8; Hebrews 5:12-13; 1 Peter 2:2; Galatians 4:1)
     
    WE PRAY
    THAT WE WILL GROW MORE INTO THE LOVE OF CHRIST WHICH SURPASSES KNOWLEDGE.
     
    BIBLE READING IN THE YEAR 2023
    Day 215:
    Psalm 126-129
    John 4
     
    DECLARE THESE WORDS:
    – I take heed to every instruction and training.
    – I am not dull in hearing the word of God.
    – I make time daily to fellowship with the scriptures.
    – I don’t lazy about my spiritual development.
    – I don’t trivialize my fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
    – I demonstrate the love of Christ in all things.
     
    Oh Hallelujah!!! Glory to God!!
     

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  • EPISODE 229 – ARE YOU GROWING? 3

    EPISODE 229 – ARE YOU GROWING? 3

    CHRIST COMMONWEALTH-COMMUNITY

    The Love-Life Agency

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    Saturday 9th, September, 2023

    ARE YOU GROWING? 3

    “Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head. 

    Ephesians 4:15 (GNT)

    You must take interest in your growth in Christ.
     
    Take responsibility of your growth; make practical and effective use of the gracious things the Lord has supplied to you.
     
    You have the Holy Spirit as your HELPER. You are given shepherds to train, build and equip you through God’s Word in your ‘Local Church’.
    How are you taking advantage of the sound teachings and trainings to grow?
    If you are struggling to pray, you are not growing in the Lord. Your consistency in prayer contributes to your spiritual maturity.
     
    Are you dull of hearing the Word of God? Do you need to be reminded every time to read and study the Bible daily? 
     
    You have interest in surfing social media pages and entertainment than making time to listen to the teaching of the Word. 
    You easily feel lazy and procrastinate when it comes to your spiritual development in Christ?
     
    When these things persist  you must know you are gradually having growth deficiency. It will then become difficult for you to make tangible impact in your world. Your level of impact is dependent on your level of maturity.
     
    The greatest evidence of your growth in Christ is how you practice and express the love of Christ (1 Corinthians 13:13).
     
    Understand this, you were given the ability to love, the moment you received the Holy Spirit. For the Love of God is shared abroad in your heart by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:5).
     
    You grow more and more in the practice and expression of love as you grow in the knowledge of Christ.
     
    The more you see Christ, the more you behold His love and get rooted and grounded in His love.
     
    The burning flames of His love becomes the intention and the administration of your study of the word and the consistency of your prayers.
     
    You begin to relate or commune with the saints and become gracious to others because of the workings of the love of Christ within you.
     
    Selah
     
    DIG DEEPER:
    (Ephesians 3:16-18; 2 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter 1:8; Hebrews 5:12-13; 1 Peter 2:2; Galatians 4:1)
     
    WE PRAY:
    – That we will grow more and more in the practice of the expression of love as we grow in the knowledge of Christ.
     
    BIBLE READING:
    Day 214:
    Psalm 123-125
    John 3
     
    DECLARE THESE WORDS:
    – I take heed to every instruction and training.
    – I am not dull in hearing the word of God.
    – I make time daily to fellowship with the scriptures.
    – I don’t lazy about my spiritual development.
    – I don’t trivialize my fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
    – I demonstrate the love of Christ in all things.
     
    Oh Hallelujah!!! Glory to God!!

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  • EPISODE 227 – ARE YOU GROWING? 2

    EPISODE 227 – ARE YOU GROWING? 2

    CHRIST COMMONWEALTH-COMMUNITY

    The Love-Life Agency

    Download PDF
    Thursday 7th, September, 2023

    ARE YOU GROWING? 2

    “Instead, by speaking the truth in a spirit of love, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head. 

    Ephesians 4:15 (GNT)

     
    Your growth in Christ is not an ACCIDENT it is an intentional process.
     
    Your individual growth contributes to the building up of Christ’s body.
    This makes your growth essential in the increase of the body of Christ.
     
    Doubtlessly your personal growth in Christ is your responsibility, however, it is essentially dependent on the Lord’s supply.
     
    Which means your growth in Christ shouldn’t be in isolation, though you have crucial role to play in it. Remember, you can do nothing without the Lord.  (John 15:5). 
     
    This should be the underlining reality of your  growth in Christ.
     
    Take responsibility of your growth, by taking advantage of your partnership with the Lord in the Holy Spirit.
    There is a point you have to genuinely look at yourself through the Word of Grace; to see if you are a true expression of your true self in Christ.
    There is a point in your walk in Christ, where you should know you have to manifest or express Christ in a greater measure.
     
    There is a point you have to emit greater light and exude far exceeding glory by the power of God which is at work in you.
     
    There is a point you have to be an example of great faith which works in love.
     
    “You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.” Hebrews 5:12 (NLT)
     
    Are you growing?
    Are you being an example of faith?
    Are you an example of the love of Christ?
     
    Your growth in Christ is predictable. 
     
    There are specific things which contributes to your growth. These are intentional habits of grace or spiritual disciplines.
     
    Cultivate the habits of:
     
    1. fellowshipping with the Word. This trains you to hear the Lord’s voice.
     
    2. consistent and spontaneous prayer. You develop your spiritual ear and sharpens your ability to see right visions in the Lord.
     
    3. being an effective member or belonging to the body of Christ (through a local church)
     
    4. becoming an expression of love everyday and in all things.
     
    5. uniquely sharing Christ with others.
    Christ Jesus should be the central focus of these habits not our self efforts and self gratification.
    You practice them without stress when you make the goodness and the enjoyment of Christ the goal.
     
    As you practice these habits, you may not really feel you are growing; however, as you repeat them over a period of time, you will realise you have matured and become fruitful.
     
    You begin to see transformation in your thoughts, speech, conduct and manner of life.
     
    When you are growing, you become an example of Christ to the saints and the world.
    The focus is not you becoming superior to the other saints.
    The focus must always be as Paul said, “THAT I MAY KNOW HIM” (Philippians 3:10)
     
    How have you cultivated the habits of growth?
     
    Are you intentional about your growth in the Lord?
     
    Selah.
    DIG DEEPER
    (2 Peter 3:18; 2 Peter 1:8; Hebrews 5:12-13; 1 Peter 2:2; Proverbs 4:18; Galatians 4:1)
     
    WE PRAY
    – That we will increase in the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
     
    – That we will walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God, and demonstrating the love of Christ.
     
    BIBLE READING IN THE YEAR 2023
    Day 212:
    Psalm 119:151- 176
    John 1
     
    DECLARE THESE WORDS:
    – I am an example of faith.
    – I demonstrate the love of Christ in all that I do.
    – I make time daily to fellowship with the Lord.
    – I don’t settle for less, I press deeper daily to manifest Christ in a greater measure.
    – My heart and mind is cultivated in the love of God daily as I feast on the word.
    – I set my affection on the Lord. 
    – The love of God dominates my heart and influences my actions.
    – I am directed and instructed daily by the word of God.
    – Envy, bitterness and offenses have no place in my heart because I am deeply rooted in the love of Christ.
     
    Oh Hallelujah!!! Glory to God!

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