Machaira With Apostle Bennie

Category: The Church

  • 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 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 205 – THE WOMB FOR DIVINE CIVILISATION

    EPISODE 205 – THE WOMB FOR DIVINE CIVILISATION

    CHRIST COMMONWEALTH-COMMUNITY

    The Love-Life Agency

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    Wednesday 16th August 2023

     

    THE WOMB FOR DIVINE CIVILISATION

     “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:5 (MSG)

     

    God’s salvation plan is to bring man into His family. The essence of our sonship is to reveal the Fatherhood of God. God takes delight in His Fatherhood. His desire to have a family wasn’t because He was lonely; it was because He wanted to share His love and inheritance of glory with others.

    A family is a group of people related by blood, birth, marriage, or adoption. It is also a group of things related by common characteristics and nature or a group of people united by a unique conviction. Interestingly, a family also functions as a womb, where lives and destinies are nurtured, cultured, nourished, preserved, and equipped until one is ready to be delivered. A person’s civilization is deeply rooted in the family system. A family has a key role to play in shaping the mindset of people.

    And that is why the adversary takes an interest in destroying families, just to destroy society. The prosperity of every society and civilization can be traced to the success of families as one of the key ingredients. It is a bedrock of future excellence or failures. Most children who grew up in broken or disintegrated homes or families are most likely to experience rejection, anxiety, depression lack of confidence, and develop hatred.

    The family unit is God’s strategic wisdom for effective discipleship. It is a development center for every member of the kingdom. Through the family unit, children get to experience true love, care and discipline.

    God said to Abraham:

    “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” Genesis 22:18 (NKJV)

    Now we can see also how God had confidence in Abraham:

    “For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham what he has promised him.” Gensis 18:19 (ESV)

    What God said concerning Abraham and how he will command his household reveals God’s intention about every household or family. Each household or family is a womb or bedrock of a certain civilization. A divine family will produce a divine civilization.

    God brought us into His family so that He will bring us into His civilization. It is only in the family of God we are raised and nurtured to think according to the divine light.

    Every level of civilization is defined by the degree of light at work. God’s family is a household of light. It is also the household of faith. As sons of God, we are not to function according to the systems of this world. We are to operate in the light of divine revelation. The civilization of God’s Kingdom can only be manifested on earth through the family of God.

    The Church of our Lord Jesus is not only the body of Christ, the Church is also the family of God. It is the bedrock of divine civilization. As a new creation you are not an Island, you are born into God’s family to be cultured with the light of God, through the Church. True civilization is in the Family of God, identified on earth as the Church.

    Selah.

    To be a part of the gospel financiers, send us a mail

    on partnerwithus@christcommonwealth.org.

     

    DIG DEEPER:

    (Ephesians 1:11; Romans 8:29; John 1:12; Psalm 145:4 )

     

    WE PRAY:

    That we will yield ourselves to the true civilization of God’s Family on earth which is the Church.

     

    BIBLE READING

    Day 192

    Psalms 65-67

    Matthew 25-26

     

    DECLARE THESE WORDS:

    – I belong to the eternal incorruptible Family of God.

    – I am deeply rooted in Christ.

    – I am nourished and enriched by Christ.

    – I am the focus of the love of God.

    – I am made whole and holy by His love.

    – I am a partner together with God.

     

    Oh Hallelujah, GLOREEEEY!

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