1. Why do we go through challenges as believers? What challenges have you personally gone through in your life?
We have been led to believe that once you get born again, problems become a thing of the past right? We need to begin by understanding that in the world we will have tribulation,its given, but we are encouraged to be of good cheer because Jesus has overcome the world John 16:33. Jesus Christ promised we would face challenges because He also did. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God and being His, we are then heirs with Christ. Indeed we suffer with Him,that we may also be glorified together. Christ went through it and we go through the same knowing we will be glorified together with Him. Isn’t that a such a joy?
Another thing we need to know is that “No temptation has overtaken us except such that is common to man, but God is faithful and will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able,but with the temptation He will also make the way of escape,that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
When we go through challenges victory is assured. With the above knowledge,I can say that there is gain in challenges. James 1:2-4 “My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials,knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience but let patience have its perfect work, complete, lacking nothing.”
As a believer we go through challenges like those listed in 2 Corinthians 11:22-27
1.1 Personal Challenges.
I have gone through lack, death of parents at an early age, betrayal from the people I loved dearly, delay in conceiving my children and cancer , among many other things. But even through this I have seen victory and immense growth in life therefore, I count it all joy.
2.How to make our Spiritual life productive?
Even as we desire to get to a place of knowing how to make our spiritual lives productive, we need to understand what it means to be spiritually productive. I strongly believe being spiritually productive goes hand in hand with fulfilling our purpose. True productivity entails making the best use of our God given opportunities and talents for the glory of God and the eternal benefit of others.The world too often emphasizes the tangible measures of productivity: How much money did you make? What status or position do you have? How many followers do you have on Instagram or Facebook?
But it is the intangible things that really define productivity for a believer: How does your life accord with godliness? How has your love for the Lord grown? How strong are your relationships? The intangibles count and are the things that last for eternity. So, how do we then seek to live, play and work in a society that demands tangible measures of productivity and yet still work for true productivity with things that last for eternity?
My very best definition of this question I attribute to three scriptures:
- Psalm 1:2-3. “Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season,Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”
The very first way to be productive is to delight in Gods word and meditate on it day and night. The word of God cleanses ,gives results and through His word we are able to get our bearing and we are able to bring forth fruit in and out of season. - John 15:1-8. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vine dresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My word. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
The second thing in living a productive life is Abiding in Christ,if we abide in Him and Him in us then we shall bear much fruit. If we want productivity, let’s stay connected. Jesus had an intimate abiding relationship with the Father, and if this relationship was necessary for His ministry, then such an intimate abiding relationship with Jesus is needed if we’re going to live fruitful effective lives here on earth. - Gal 5:22-22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Against such there is no law. We cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives on our own. Only the Holy Spirit can produce it.Christians have two natures within; the old nature known as the flesh and the new nature governed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. If we follow the Spirit’s leading, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. He will keep us from sin. Read Galatians 5:16-17 and, in the case of the believer, it is the Spirit of life.
3. What is your assurance for salvation? Why do you say you are born again?
I say I am born again because of my changed life.“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.
Of course I still have the flesh which craves the fulfillment of its desires, but the desires no longer influence me. Instead, I am alive to what the Spirit is guiding me to, which is the truth. My “old man,” as Paul calls my pre-born-again mindset, must remain crucified with Christ and the new life I have been born to is the life of Christ. The life of Jesus is to be manifested in my mortal flesh. 2 Corinthians 4:11 It is precisely because I have been born of the Spirit, and the Spirit lives in me, that I have the power to resist temptation, to remain crucified to the desires of the flesh, and to live for Christ. Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” This is then my assurance.
4. How do you feel about people not pursuing Jesus as they should?
It breaks my heart. The desire of knowing Jesus should surpass everything else,we must go hard after Christ. Failure to do so, would mean we don’t want to know Him, which is an insult to His value and a sign of spiritual stupor or deadness in us. But when you go hard after Christ, to know him, the reward is your joy and His honor. 1 John 5:20 “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. We know Him who to know is eternal.”
Jesus really longs for a relationship with us,with open arms He is waiting.
5. One of the most profound attributes of God is that He is Omniscient, meaning He knows everything about all things: that being said ,do we still have free will?
Oh yes we do have free will. God knows all things but He has given us the will to choose. God wants us to worship Him freely ,He created us to worship Him in free will. God has a way of getting His way. He doesn’t make us do anything against our will he just makes us willing! From the beginning of time, God had a plan. His plan was that he would create a being that could either choose or not choose Him. God wanted relationship, not slavery. There are those who deny the very idea that God would create man with a freewill. God is a sovereign God. To them, sovereignty means that God decides everything. I too, believe that God is sovereign. In God’s sovereignty, He decided to give man a freewill. If the only goal of God was to create mankind without choice, He would have bypassed both the Garden of Eden and the Garden of Gethsemane. God could have simply made robotic puppets that were programmed to sing his praises. Instead, God placed man in the Garden of Eden and gave him a choice. A choice between the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, or that of the Tree of Life.
One of the scriptures frequently used by people to lay claims that that man has no freewill, is John 1:13 “….which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” I submit that this verse is not saying that a man does not have a freewill. This verse is simply saying that other men cannot make the choice of salvation for someone else. A Church, comprised of men, cannot collectively come together and vote in another man’s sainthood status you get the point? But hey we we still have free will.
Are you encouraged? Are you blessed? Have you learnt something? Did some answers invite more questions into your mind? Feel free to reach out Click here.
Love,
Pam Dreda
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Wooow???
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Anita, Thank you.
Thank you soo much ?
Also my question has been answered ?????
We are glad Lily!
Thank you so much for your feedback.
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This is amazing??❤❤
Thanks for sharing. I’m encouraged
Thank you for your feedback Alice
We are glad you have been encouraged.
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This is beautiful Pastor P. Eye opening. God bless you.
Glad you are encouraged Marianne
Be blessed.
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Calvary Greetings!
This is examplary. So proud of you dear ones. I would love to add that when you are productive, you bear fruits. Which for our case also relates to winning of souls to Christ. Witnessing to people on who God is in your life. When you are filled with the love of Christ, you give out love. Teaching other people to walk in the same way as Christ did. In short, when you are productive, you behave more like Christ. And let us give our testimony on what God has done in your life.
Emma this is so wonderful. Indeed we shall always be known by our fruits.
May we be more like Christ and continuously invite people to get to know Him that we may all enjoy this beautiful relationship.
Thank you so much for your feedback Emma.
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Wow this is so encouraging!
We are glad you are encouraged Grace.
Be blessed.
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Im hoping for growth….this is nice
…and so are we Purity. May your visits to our site inspire you even more.
Thank you so much
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Great inspiration n eye opening. God bless u Rev. Pam.
Thank you so much Liz.
Glad you are blessed.
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This has encouraged me in ways I cannot even explain.
I have learnt a lot
Thank you dear.
Thank you for your feedback Chebet.
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Wooow…such an amazing article. Huh,I love how you’ve ‘chambuad’ that notion which people have about salvation, the beauty of it is that even Jesus went through the challenges and,wah just God’s grace which keeps us moving forward is unexplainable. The peace that He offers during storms is just out of this world.
Then comes the attributes, need not to say more after Passy has spoken?. The language is very simple and clear.
Indeed Irene, we have grace and peace that abounds in unexplainable ways.
We are glad you are blessed Irene
Thank you so much for your feedback.
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Wow I thank God for you,I’m really encouraged. Thanks so much for the word.
Glad you are encouraged Lucy.
God bless you.
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This is so much encouraging ??it has really reminded me of some things I’m supposed to do and taught me new things ??.I’m yearning for more of this???
Aah Scheme. We are glad you’re here and hey, there will be more of this. Stay tuned.
Thank you so much for your feedback.
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“It is the intangible things that truly define the productivity of a believer”
I’m definitely running with that?
This article is really insightful and enlightening. Thanks so much our dear Pastor Pam❤❤❤ and thank you Chebby for always being a willing vessel❤❤❤?
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We appreciate you for always passing by!
Love you
It’s the intangible things that define the productivity of a believer??Wow! This piece is very enlightening. Will surely come back here to refresh my mind and heart again.
Thank you Pastor Dreda❤?
Thank you for stopping by Florence.
May your heart continue to be refreshed.