Ingredient For Growth

HOLY SPIRIT BLESS US

August 25, 2002

Matthew 7: 7,8

Ingredient for Growth

By: Rev. Sol B. Madlambayan

The Filipino Mission Fellowship is almost 19 months old. If we try to analyze our situation I know you will agree with me that we need an additional ingredient for growth.

I believe that even you yourself are trying to reach for more people- we aim for people, more converts and more people from all walks of life will join the Filipino Mission.

As Fellowship and Believers of Jesus Christ, we need the following statement He said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7: 7-8

In order for us to grow in our personal faith journey and for our fellowship we need the following: PRAYER

Our Lord Jesus Christ spent much of His time praying. He knew exactly the benefits and importance of prayer. Jesus Christ woke up early in the morning and pray.

He really set an example on how His disciples should practice prayer in their life.

In Luke 6: 12 “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.”

Jesus Christ, as a human being as we are, spent all night in prayer to God.

The reason why He prayed - verse 13 “He called His disciples to Himself: and from them He chose 12 whom He also named apostles:”

And from this 12 disciples and apostles of Jesus Christ, the “Good News”- the message of salvation reached millions of people and that includes you and me.

So, we need more time to spent in prayer and so much more in our ministry.

If Jesus Christ the Son of God and God Himself prayed for His ministry here on earth, how much more we as human beings that are prone to all kinds temptation.

As Christians, prayer must be a way of life. In Matthew 26: 41 “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

We cannot say that we are strong in the faith. We cannot declare that everything is just fine with me. The moment we surrender our life to Jesus Christ, “the devil is like roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5: 8) so beware!

We need more prayers every moment of our life.

“The Spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” There are two forces fighting each other and our inner self is the object of this battle. We are the losers if we let the desires of the flesh prevail.

Ill. There are countless scenarios that we knew that if the person gave herself or himself in the attraction of Satan thru the flesh then unknowingly your family suffers and at risk. Separation occurs & the psychological battle will come up then depression will follow and sickness will sprout.

We could not deny the fact that the absence of God in the persons life will create chaos and turmoil.

Don’t tell me that you are fine and ok without recognizing the presence of God in your life. You cannot convince me that although you don’t attend church services, still your spirit is in good shape and all right.

Hebrew 10: 25 “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Also in Hebrew 3: 13, “but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

We need to get involve…there are many people from all walks of life that suffers because these people don’t even know about God and never pay attention on any spiritual activities such as attending Worship Services and Bible Studies.

We live in a world with full of complexity and we as Christians know that there is only one answer and solution to every difficulty and His name is Jesus Christ.

And we can reach Jesus Christ- He is just prayer away from you and me. We need to address our needs and petition in His name alone. We are not allowed to use any other name except Jesus Christ.

Jesus said in John 14: 14, “If you ask anything in My name (Jesus Christ), I will do it.”

The reasons why people are continually experiencing suffering in their lives is because they thought they calling the name of God, Jesus tells us to ask anything IN HIS NAME AND HE WILL DO IT. Are we calling the name of JESUS in times of needs? Or are we calling other names?