Spiritual Growth, Eph.4:11-16.                        continuation           
Another obstacle to Spiritual Growth is the Failure to minister to one another in the Church.
Ministering to one another is one of the greatest ministries in the Church and without it no Church can grow properly. It is God's will for us to minister to one another and for believers to build themselves up in the Faith-Heb.6:10.
However, many believers consider this to be the job of the Leadership only and through this attitude they impoverish the Church spiritually.
The other side of the coin, of course, is when instead of ministering to one another we engage in pulling everyone apart or criticizing everybody. In this we do not build up the Church but simply demolish it.
What do we actually need to do when we minister one to another and what does it involve? To minister means to 'serve' and this is what the Lord Jesus called us to do by setting an example for us-John 13:1-17 (here a service of refreshment). We are called to minister to one another in the Church. It is not the job of a few gifted people. We are to minister according to our abilities and capacity to do so and not according to what we fancy doing.
We minister to one another because we have first learned to minister to the Lord and having done this we give ourselves to ministering to His people. We must get it the right way round, i.e. to the Lord first and then to His people, and not the other way round. In the passage in John's Gospel Jesus laid aside His garments and stooped low to minister to His disciples. We cannot minister to people from a position of superiority. We have to rid ourselves of our pride and then stoop down. The Apostle Paul exhorts us to, 'In lowliness consider each other better than yourself'. Ministering to someone means to be involved with that person. All enmity must depart. What is the real motive involved in this kind of ministry? Love. No amount of pleasantries will produce ministry if Love is not the motive of our hearts. The Lord Jesus loved His followers and showed it in a practical way, setting an example for us to follow.               To be continued

Spiritual Growth, Eph.4:11-16.              continuation
Another Obstacle to Spiritual Growth is the lack of Counselling or an unwillingness in the person to receive
correction or guidance.
Counselling, Correction and Guidance are necessary in the life of the Believer and are part of God's Discipline. Where these are absent  Spiritual Growth will be stunted and progress in the Church will also be affected.
The Apostle Paul, in 2 Tim.4:1-3, instructs Timothy to administer Discipline in the Church. The words of Paul may appear strict and many people may get frightened by the sound of Discipline in the Church. However, Paul gives instruction about how to minister to believers. Where a problem arises is when believers are unwilling to accept correction and guidance. If we see that the Leadership of the Church is out to oppress us then we should do our best to avoid discipline which brings the obvious results of error and disobedience.
If on the other hand we see the Leadership of the Church as the people through whom God will work, then we will receive discipline as necessary for our well being-Job 5:17.
 Paul uses the word 'Rebuke'  for discipline, whether we like it not and without beating about the bush. He also uses the word 'Exhort' for encouragement, meant to point out what is right. Another word he uses is 'Convince', that is to point out to the person the truth of the matter so that the person will see the error of his ways. If a person cannot see what is true in Scripture how will he know what is good or not?
Whether we progress in the Faith or not depends entirely on our attitude to the Word of our God which we receive for our lives. If all we do is attend a Church for meetings and services but avoid getting involved we are hearers only and not doers of the Word.
Guidance, correction, and counselling are part and parcel of the Christian Faith and we cannot pick and choose what suits us. Christianity is not a 'Pick and Choose' Religion. God insists in His Word that Discipline as administyered by the Church Leadership is part of our Christian training, and if we refuse God's Discipline we refuse to be His children.                                         to be continued

Spiritual Growth, Eph.4:11-16.             Continuation
Another obstacle to Spiritual Growth is a lack of hunger for Spiritual Food.
To sustain our bodies so that they grow physically we need to give them suitable food. If a person has no desire for such sustenance we term them as anorexic. This kind of condition will most likely lead to some kind of illness. Similarly, a believer who has no desire for spiritual food will eventually become spiritually sick and will even die spiritually, if that person persists in that state.
How is it that believers have no appetite for the Word of God, which is our spiritual food? God makes it clear that it is imperative to feed on His Word if we are to grow Spiritually.
If we have no appetite for natural food then the problem lies with some biological malfunction in our bodies but if we have no appetite for God's Word then the problem lies somewhere in our spiritual nature. The problem lies entirely with us and with nobody else.
What sort of things will stop our biological appetite? Usually, junk food, intoxicating substances, sorrow, etc. In the same way, spiritually, spiritual junk food, intoxicating christian experiences, apathy, an oppressed spirit, etc.
There are many believers who will give little or no time at all to the study of God's Word but will give time to reading Christian novels, magazines, T.V. soap-operas, etc. All these may not be necessary evil in their content but cannot be substitutes for the Word of God. In Job 23:12, we read, 'I have esteemed your Word....'. 
Many believers will satisfy themselves with 'getting high' on Christian entertainment and experiences and many others on a lot of Christian music that is often no different to the world's, merely adapted with Christian words. Many Christian meetings offer often worldly ideas and a style resembling worldly entertainment where singing is more important than the ministry of the Word and true worship. All these activities will give the impression of a spiritual atmosphere but will not provide spiritual growth and fruit.
There are many believers who have no thirst for the Word because their main desire is to better themselves in this life. There is also the kind of believer who is mentally oppressed by problems and anxieties so that  his mind cannot receive spiritual thoughts. Apart from this problem he may be oppressed by some spirit so he is not free to receive truth.
What is the answer to all these problems? 
A bit of tasty food will restore some appetite. Abstaining from junk food will also do the same but mixing the two will not bring the remedy. Do not mix the Word of God with spiritual hype. Stick to the pure Word in Prayer and Rightly Dividing the Word of God to stimulate your spiritual appetite.                                          

To be continued

Spiritual Growth Eph.4:11-16.            Continuation
More Obstacles to Spiritual Growth-Character Flaws which hinder Growth:
1.Deep Sense of Unworthiness. People who have this kind of problem are troubled by an inner nagging telling them, ' I am no good, I will never be anything, I am too bad, no one loves me', and so on .
Such people, when saved, experience joy and love for a while but soon this is turned into doubt about God's love and care for them. This kind of person has failed to focus on and experience God's deep love for the individual. This person's roots have not reached deep into the loving nature of God. There is a need for people with this kind of problem to focus on the positive value of God's love and build into the life a model of His character.
The problem of a 'Deep sense of Unworthiness'  usually originates in a person's childhood where love and care were missing, thus creating a feeling of not being wanted. What is the remedy for this kind of problem?
In Eph.5:25-26 we read, 'Christ loved the Church', i.e. You and Me, while we were deep in Sin. Anyone can love a person who is washed and clean but only God loved us while in the filth of Sin.

2. Spiritual Deafness. This concerns people who cannot hear spiritually. Though their physical hearing is good they cannot hear what the Holy Spirit tells them.
The Lord Jesus said repeatedly, 'He who has an ear let him hear....' . What is the cause of such deafness? Basically, the heart is full of the things of the world and it cannot respond to the voice of the Holy Spirit. It is with the heart that one hears spiritually. A person may sit in a Church listening to the preaching of the Word but he cannot respond because his heart is overloaded and dull. Is 6:8-10 shows how God thinks of this kind of a person.
A person with dull hearing and an overloaded heart lives dangerously. What is the remedy? 
Repent, forsake the cares of this life and set your life free from this burden. Develop Spiritual Hearing. 'Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God' Rom 10:17. Let the Word enter your heart to develop hearing and Faith.              To be continued

Spiritual Growth Eph.4:11-16.               continuation
Another obstacle to Spiritual Growth is-Character Flaws.
What are they? They are defects in our character or personality which we see as natural but if not corrected can become hindrances to Spiritual Growth. These can be genetic faults in our character or simply habits, not necessarily sinful but nevertheless they can spoil our spiritual nature. Some of these flaws are:
Over-sensitivity, deep sense of unworthiness, quick temper, etc. Over-sensitivity can be a positive quality in life but if it is over the limit it can have negative effects in us. As believers we need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and the things of God as well as to our fellow human beings. Sensitive in the sense that we must be aware of God's demands upon our lives and be mindful not to offend the Holy Spirit in any way.
We need to develop sensitivity towards the way the Holy Spirit operates in our lives else we shall not be able to answer His call, a thing that can lead us to disastrous ends. We need to show sensitivity towards our fellow human beings, whether believers or unbelievers, so that we can treat then in love and care for their well being.
Insensitivity towards our neighbour will cause us to live lives no different from ungodly people, caring only about ourselves and being conscious about nobody's needs. Christianity is a religion of love and God's Spirit makes us sensitive to this end. Insensitive people do not care whether they hurt you or not. The other end of sensitivity is Over sensitivity or commonly known as 'Touchiness'.
Oversensitive people are constantly hurt and imagine that everybody wants to hurt them. Such people live lives that are insecure or are constantly 'up and down'. A frown or a rebuke is enough to cause them a serious upset or depression. This is a shallow way of living.
How does Over sensitivity develop in a person's character? Usually from deep hurts that are caused in a person's life, often from childhood. 
Such people will often magnify trivial problems in their minds and imagine that other people criticize them or are against them. Oversensitive people have a great struggle in their Christian lives because they attribute to God and to their fellow believers feelings and attitudes that neither hold water or are true.
What is the remedy for Over sensitivity? Ps. 139:23-24, calls us to search the heart by the Holy Spirit who can bring into the open the very problems hidden deep in the heart and bring cleansing in the life and character.                                                To be continued

Spiritual Growth Eph.4:11-16.             Continuation
The question often asked is, How should we face Temptation?
There is only one example to follow in Scripture, that of the Lord Jesus, the way He faced the Devil and his temptation. We need to note the strategy of the Devil and how the Lord dealt with it.
The Lord did not face temptation in His own strength but with the Word of God. That is the weapon God placed in our hands and we must use it-Luke 4:3-4. The Devil has no authority against the Word of God, only lies and more lies.
Many believers are not wise enough and get into an argument with the Devil. Never do such a thing. He knows his job better than we do, but it is vital to discern where temptation comes from. Apart from the Devil it can come or originate from our own carnal desires. Temptation can usually start in our own minds as thoughts and if we allow them to take hold of our will they will lead to sin. A thought is not necessarily sin, provided we deal with it there and then in the Name of Jesus. If the thought persists in coming back in an uncanny way beware! It is probably from the Devil. The Devil will work closely with our flesh but Jesus said, 'If your eye offends you....'-Matt.18:9.
Do not let temptation overcome you but overcome temptation with God's Word. The Devil will do his best to control your mind with sinful thoughts. Keep your mind under the Power of the Blood. Every day plead the blood upon you to protect you from the devil's fiery darts. You cannot stop a bird flying round your head but you can stop it making a nest in your hair.
We have to face temptation but sometimes run away from the agent of temptation (c.f. Joseph's action against Potipher's wife.)
How does Temptation affect our spiritual Growth? Usually, by making the person feel continually that sin has been committed or there is failure in the Christian life, but it is written 'Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh...'-Gal.5:16.                                 To be continued

Spiritual Growth Eph.4:11-16.       Continuation
Another reason why believers fail to grow spiritually is because they do not understand the Biblical strategy for living a Victorious life-Victory over Sin and Temptation.
Sin and Temptation plague believers of all ages and types. Sin will bring devastation in the life of the person who commits it and will destroy that life spiritually and otherwise. A man is not a sinner because he sins but he sins because he is a sinner. God makes it clear in His Word that the person who sins shall die-physically and spiritually. Firstly comes spiritual death, that is separation from God and then physical death. Sin is always called sin in His Word, whether small or great.
However, to understand the need to live victoriously over sin we must be able to understand what sin is and how we commit it. There so much confusion in people's minds over the term Sin. The actual word means to 'miss a mark or to do something wrong. Sin has become a dirty word for most people nowadays. They associate it with horrible crimes, therefore they are happy to commit sin that they consider acceptable in their minds.
Primarily, we commit sin against God but we also commit sin against people. David is Ps.51 clearly states that his crime was against God and that he had to reckon with God. It is not enough to make up things with the people we have offended so that our conscience is at rest. When we sin we break God's commands and we must face the result of our actions one day. When we sin against man our responsibility is to put things right with that person-Luke 17:3-4. What do we do with sins? Confess them and forsake them-Pro. 28:13. We can choose to hide our sins but we shall find that we have to live with a guilty conscience and an angry God.
One thing is clear in Scripture. God cannot tolerate Sin from whatever quarter it comes. He wants us to be free from its grip and effect. He has made everything possible for us to live lives free from sin and guilt. He has in fact paid the price for all our sins at the Cross and does not remember then anymore-Ps.103:12.
Sin is like a cancer. No amount of grief or self pity will drive it our of our lives. Only God's surgical knife will purge it out of our systems.
What are the effects of sin in the life of the person who commits it? The effects are both physical and spiritual: Guilt, lack of peace, stress and anxiety, fear, distress of soul and spirit, and many more. All these will lead to all sorts of spiritual and physical ailments which in turn lead to physical and mental deterioration leading often to premature death.
'Behold your sins will find you out'.                              To be continued

Spiritual Growth, Eph.4:11-16.
Another obstacle to Spiritual Growth is- Resentment and Anxiety.
Resentment is a poison in the life of the believer. It will turn the person who resents into a prisoner and will lead to frustration, inner conflict, neuroses, etc. Resentment or bitterness must not be accepted or justified under any circumstances and must be put out of our lives at any cost- Heb. 12:14-15.
These verses show us that resentment can often be deep within our heart and play havoc with our spiritual life. Like a root, it will often bring up shoots to the surface to trouble us in many ways. Problems from childhood can often remain deep within us and if not dealt with effectively will trouble us in different ways, not always recognizable.
Resentment against parents, siblings, colleagues, circumstances, against God, against authority and many more are common causes for problems. Resentment defiles the christian character and we need the cleansing of the Word to be made whole again.
How do we deal with Resentment? Uproot it, in the same way we pull out roots from the ground to free things from their grip-Job 42:7-8. Job, though blameless, had to pray for his friends before he could be set free by the Lord. The roots of bitterness against his friends had to be cleansed before God could bless him. Bitterness in our being will stop God's hand working in our lives, and we shall find that spiritual progress will escape us.
Anxiety is directly related to lack of Growth-Matt.6:25-29. We grow in the Faith by not being anxious about growth but by how much we can absorb from God. Look at the simple example about nature. Those things do not grow by their own ability but by how much they can receive from God for their needs. When the care of things rests upon us through anxiety, God is left out of the process.
The Heavenly Father is very concerned about our spiritual growth. He watches over us to give us all that is necessary to this end, just as He feeds the birds, etc. A lot of believers try to achieve growth by effort, through activities, talents, etc., but the Lord called us to grow by feeding on His Word and by exercise (Prayer). Remember, God loves us for what we are and not for what we do. When we are anxious about tomorrow, the care of tomorrow rests on us, not on God.
Luke 10:41-42. Martha's care speaks for most of us. Jesus did not encourage Mary to be idle but showed Martha that she had got her priorities wrong.

Spiritual Growth Eph.4:11-16.                 Continuation
Another Obstacle to Spiritual Growth: Fear.
Fear is one of the strongest instincts within us and almost every human being is affected by it, some less some more. Where does it come from?
Fear is a direct product of Sin. We meet it right at the beginning of Creation in the Garden after the Fall-Gen.3:9-10. At that moment Adam and Eve did not fully understand the implications of their sin, yet fear gripped their hearts. This shows that fear is a direct result of sin. The person who is full of fear is gripped by it and cannot live a healthy life. Fear will keep him away from the presence of God and make him disloyal. Adam and Eve hid from the presence of God. They could not face a Holy God. The person who fears will be unreliable because he will always think of the consequences of his actions.
There are so many references in the Bible about Fear which show that God wants us to deal with it and be free. But to do that we need to have a right view of Fear, even though so many believers have such a distorted view of it.
There are Two kinds of Fear in the Bible:
1. The Fear of the Lord (Right Fear)
2. The Fear of man (Wrong Fear)
In Pro.9:10 we are told that the fear of God is the 'Beginning of Wisdom'.
This kind of Fear causes Reverence for God in the soul for His Word, His Commandments and causes us to walk in His ways-Pro.16:6.
This kind of Fear is a cleansing Fear and leads us to live healthy lives-Pro.19:23.
The opposite is true for the fear of man-Pro 19:25. When we fear man we want to please that person and therefore we will do things that are contrary to our will and beliefs.
Not all fear is negative and damaging in our lives. Natural fear as an instinct will prevent us from all kinds of dangers. When wrong fear fills our hearts it will make us unstable and will make us want to give up at the first trial or obstacle that comes along in our lives. One of the commonest fears in our lives is the fear about 'Failure', being afraid of losing the game of life or simply being a failure.
For most people the problem of fear is a result of the way that they were brought up, most usually in an environment bereft of love and security which becomes the breeding ground for all sorts of fears.
What is the Biblical answer to Fear? Perfect Love-1 John 4:18.
We cannot hold two opposite emotions in us simultaneously. Let perfect Love (Jesus) take control
and Fear will depart. Christ gives security in life. It is not difficult to see why Fear has such a suppressing effect on our Spiritual Growth. It is a deadly poison we have to wash out of our systems if we want to Grow in the Faith. Let the Lord cleanse us by His Love.

To be continued....

Spiritual Growth Eph.4:11-16.                Continuation
More obstacles to Spiritual Growth.  
Another Obstacle to Spiritual Growth is the Lack of Deep Roots in the person's life.
The analogy taken from plant life applies equally to human growth. This means a shallow existence. On the surface everything seems to be normal but under the surface there is insecurity.
Most plants, especially house plants, have little roots so you can easily uproot them, whereas to trees etc., the opposite applies. This also speaks of the life of the believer. The deeper we are embedded in the Rock of Faith the more difficult it is for the storms of life to affect us and move us from the foundation- Christ. Eph.3:14-19, refers to the necessity of being rooted in sure ground. 
The purpose of roots is twofold:-
First-to support the plant in the soil and,
Second- to draw out the vital chemicals necessary for the plant.
Our spiritual roots should serve the same purpose in our lives. We need to be firmly embedded in the soil of God's love so that our Christian lives are firm. Apart from this, we must also draw our spiritual life and strength from our loving God to flood our hearts and fill our souls.
Why do so many believers lack deep roots? What is the cause of this problem? In Matt. 13:5-6, 20-21, the Lord gave us answers. The heart, likened to the soil, is described as 'Stony Ground'. The seed of course is the Word of God. A rocky or stony ground has no depth of soil to support growth and so it cannot root properly. When the trials and storms of life come life withers.
What causes a heart to be hardened and offer no good soil? In Mark 16:14, we have the basic problem-Unbelief. It acts as a kind of rejection. The seed falls and finds no hospitable soil to root. It is rejected. What is the remedy for such a soil? We moisten it. The farmer upturns the soil with his plough and then the rain penetrates it.
In a similar way we need to do the same. Plough the heart to upturn it for the Word of God and then soften it with the tears of prayer. Cry out to the Lord of Mercy-Ps. 42:3.
                                                                                To be continued

Spiritual Growth - Eph.4:11-16.
Obstacles to Spiritual Growth.
One of the most serious obstacles is the lack of a clear Conversion. It stems from the lack of a clear representation of the Gospel of Salvation.
We are saved by responding to God's Grace. The response is in us, all else is in God. It is His work. Conversion demands a surrender of self, we turn to God in total surrender. This of course is not flattering to our ego, that is why many people keep going round in circles, always learning but never coming to the knowledge of a full and unreserved commitment to the Word. This kind of state will never bring release and true joy to the person but only deception and instability. The person tries with his mind to serve God but with his heart serves the world. James 1:8 tells us that a double minded person is unstable in all his ways.
A person may go to Church, pray, sing hymns, read the Bible, but he may not be converted or born from above. Many people confuse church going with Salvation. Unless a person experiences a Spiritual Rebirth, followed by a clear change of direction in his life then all that happened to him was a sham conversion. Proverbs 28:13; The person who receives Mercy and Forgiveness from God is the one who forsakes the old life.
One of the common failures in the Church is people who have only experienced a conversion in their minds but not in their hearts. They seem eager to learn but the life of Christ is not evident within them. It is a case of worshiping the Lord with their lips but not with the heart, because the heart has not been converted to Christ.
What is a True conversion, what example do we have in the Scripture? Phil.3:11. One of the most moving conversions is that of the jailer in Philippi-Acts 16:28-34, What must I do to be saved? Here, we have true conviction of sin and repentance. The outward signs: Commitment to Christ, treats his captors with love and care (the brethren), baptized in water. A change of mind that leads to a change in course. There must be evidence of a new life and we need to see that.

Spiritual Growth-Eph.4:11-16
As said before, Two more agents are needed for Spiritual Growth- 1.The Holy Spirit and 2.a Suitable Environment.
The Holy Spirit is the Agent for life and works in us not only to keep that life but also to develop it towards perfection. The goal of the Holy Spirit working in us is to bring us to full maturity in Christ.. God will give us Grace and all the encouragement we need to grow as Christians. We must also be aware of our own responsibility in this. We must ensure that the Holy Spirit is free to indwell us and that He can work freely in our lives.
When we are saved, the Holy Spirit comes into our lives to stay with us and lead us in the path of God by revealing the truths of His Word. However, this is not sufficient. The Holy Spirit not only comes to live with us but He also wants to indwell us and fill us. Why? So that we become the sole possession of God and receive power to be effective witnesses to the person of Christ. It is up to us to let the Holy Spirit take control of our being. He will not do so by force but as we surrender our will to His and yield our members as instruments of holiness.
The Lord Jesus, before leaving this earth, promised His followers to send another Comforter who would remind them of all that He said and taught. The same promise holds true for us also and for every believer who belongs to God by Faith in Jesus Christ-Acts 2:37-39.
The followers of Jesus were people taught by Him for approx. three years yet lacked the full maturity and power of God in their lives. However, after Pentecost we see different people. They came to maturity and power overnight. Why? The infilling of the Holy Spirit who revolutionized their lives. It will do the same for us. We must not be satisfied with what we received from God at Salvation and stay at that. We need to claim all the fullness of God for our lives.
Paul, the Apostle, met some believers at Ephesus, Acts 19:1-7, one day and put this question to them: "Have you received the Holy Spirit since you believed?"
There is no excuse for such ignorance. God commands us to be filled-Eph.5:18, ALWAYS.
The other Agent for Spiritual Growth is a Suitable Environment.
When Saved; God, by an act of Grace, transplants us into His Kingdom and Family from the Kingdom of darkness ruled by Satan. We thus join God's Family, the Church. The Holy Spirit will then lead us to join a local Church or Fellowship. As far as the individual believer is concerned it is the Local Church or Fellowship that is of vital importance to him.
The role of the Local Church or Fellowship is to care, instruct and help believers to grow in the Faith. For his part the believer must see to it that he functions as part of this spiritual community according to the Word of God. It is in the local Church or Fellowship that the individual believer will identify with the Body of Christ and will channel all his christian activities. How well a believer will function and progress in the Faith depends on his ability to receive proper sustenance from that spiritual body he is in and how well his christian activities will fit into that body - Col.2:18-19.
Most believers are happy to identify with the Universal Church of God or Body of Christ but often find it difficult to identify with a Local Church or Fellowship. Though they find fault with most local bodies they fail to find fault with themselves. They look for a perfect body to join but will admit at heart that they are not suitable to fit into a perfect Church  or Fellowship.
The Holy Spirit will place us where He thinks best for us to be and function as believers. We, unfortunately, think we know better. Just like a plant that flourishes well when placed in a suitable soil so will a believers flourish when placed in a proper Christian environment.
What are the criteria for such growth?
Simply what a plant needs for growth-Is.53:2. The Lord Jesus Christ as a tender plant grew before His Heavenly Father while on this earth and we too have to grow likewise.
A plant has three basic needs:
Good soil
Water
Good care
A Christian has to be planted in the good soil of spirituality where he will enjoy fellowship and be watered by the Word of our God. He will also need the loving care of a body which the family of God can provide. When all these things work together then God's Grace will work for real growth in the individual life.

Spiritual Growth-Eph.4:11-16.                   Continuation
Why do we not grow spiritually?
If we fail to grow physically the problem lies with some genetic fault in us. If we do not grow spiritually the fault lies in our unwillingness or refusal to grow.
For natural growth two things are needed: Food and Exercise.
To grow spiritually two things are vital, Food for our souls- the Word of God, and spiritual Exercise-Prayer. However, for these two vital things to work two Agents are necessary: The Holy Spirit and a suitable Environment.
What is the food we need for the nourishment for our souls? Job 23:12 gives us a good understanding of this need. Just as food is vital for our bodies Job finds the Word of God more necessary for his life. To have such an experience we need to develop a healthy hunger for it. The Lord Jesus said, 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst.....'.
Like a body that is undernourished and will die if it is not fed, so a soul that is not fed with the Word of God will die. The Apostle Peter, in 1 Pet.2:1-2, tells us to develop a real desire for the pure Word of Life so that we may grow in the Faith. He gives us here a picture of a new-born baby that craves for the milk of the mother. In Ps.119:11, we note a similar attitude for the Word of God. The Psalmist treasures the Word so much that he keeps it in the center of his being. Unless we also show a similar attitude we shall find that our spiritual lives will always remain impoverished and powerless.
The second necessity for spiritual growth is Prayer. Like a baby that cries and calls for the attention of the mother, so prayer should be as natural to the believer. A person who is born of the Spirit and the Word of God should have a natural desire to pray to the Heavenly Father.
Prayer is a means by which we maintain a living relationship with our God and the means by which we communicate with Him. It is the time I talk to Him and He talks to me and it is the time I share His secrets.
No Christian life can exist and function without real prayer. There is so much in the Bible about prayer which shows us how important a role it plays in the life of the believer. The Lord Jesus was the Master of praying and set us a pattern to follow. Though He was the busiest man of His day yet He made time and found it necessary to devote time to prayer-Luke 6:12, the vital communion with His Heavenly Father. If the sinless Son of God found it so necessary to maintain that vital link with His Heavenly Father how much more should we in this present, evil world.
                                                                         To be continued

NEPAL EARTHQUAKE-Nepali Christian outreach to stricken areas.

Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
It was on 25 April 2015 Saturday at 11.57 the Earthquake started from Barpak village, Gorka District. We were at the end of our worship service; suddenly it came out and the houses were shaking. The earthquake was 7.9 scale and small earthquake is coming over and over. This violent earthquake damaged N.E. Lamjung, Gorka, Rasuwa, Dolakha, Sunsari, Sinduplanchok, Bhaktpur, Kathmandu and many more Districts.
This earthquake has devastated and brought many pain and suffering to the Nepalese people. We saw the great famine and need for the people. On April 27 we the R.... Churches of Nepal central committee had an emergency meeting and came to a conclusion to help the needy ones. We elders prayed together and asked God's Grace and mercy for the victims people and we decided to move to Lamjung district. On April 28 bro. P....and myself started to move at 10.30 but because of heavy rain in Butwal couldn't move at the right time. Then we moved at 2.30 pm on that day to Besishar Lamjung and reached at 10.00pm. From Naryanghat to Muglim the roads were jammed and we couldn't reach on time. We were so tired because of long journey.
On 29 April along with bro. Pr......and bro. Dil we started our journey at 8.30am for Kolki east Lanjung. It was a horrible journey on our motor bikes struggling on the way and reached Kolki at 3.00 pm. 12 houses were totally collapsed, 69 houses were cracked and leaking, 2 were injured and 1 dead. We heard that there were a few believers in that area but there was no one. We had an opportunity to share the Gospel to some of the people personally. Well we pray that God may change their hearts and come to Christ (In some places these brethren could not minister to people since the media reported that these Christians we attempting to forcibly convert people). We were unable to move back to Besishar on that day and  we stayed there. Midnight at 11pm there was a heavy rain and we couldn't sleep well that night because the roof was leaking. As we planned out before to help food, clothes, etc but some private schools and some other private organizations were distributing food, biscuits, noodles, etc. there. We were looking to help the believers and on 30 April we came to know that 11 Christian family houses and 1 Church meeting place is collapsed in Illam Pokhari. As we tried to visit Illam Pokhari from Kolki we were unable to go because of the roads. It was a heavy rain and the road got damaged. We started our journey at 10.00 am and reached at 3.00pm at Besishar. We hardly return back to Beshishar. It was an adventure journey, unforgettable moment we had experienced. We thank God for His grace and mercy in our journey. Thanks so much for your prayers and wiring money for the victim's people. We had discovered to help Kolki 10 houses and Illam Pokhari 14 houses. Christian people providing material (tin) for the roof and if the budget will left we will provide rice, pulse, salt, oil, etc for the Christian people in some other villages who are in great need.
Yesterday bro S..... moved back to Butwal to arrange many more things there. Including RCN, associated with the Heart Cry and other Christian brothers, down to Butwal are also going to contribute for this work. Any individual, local church or mission organisation can be part of this relief work. I am staying here in Lamjung to discover more how we can help and use the money in proper way for the needy ones. From coming Monday to Thursday we are planning to distribute what we have decided. Recently the roads are not good, totally damaged and hard to reach with material in that place where we visited. Please pray that God may open the roads and work out as we plan to help those people. Let our God be glorified in all this work. Let the Kingdom be advanced through the work of the Gospel and deeds.
In Christ,
Sarvajit.

We had the opportunity to minister in Churches in the Butwal area of Nepal last March. Churches
in Nepal are generally impoverished but are ready to help in cases like this generously.
For your benefit, I have copied Sarvajit's report exactly as it was sent together with a few photos
from the many sent.
A more recent report tells how these brothers were able to reach their desired area and distribute to the needs of the people.

Spiritual Growth - Eph.4:11-16.
What does it mean? To increase in the Faith and reach maturity spiritually.
Why do we need this, what is the purpose? If we failed in this it would be against the will of God and we would be unfit to live in Heaven.
The whole of life speaks about growth. Humans, birds, animals, plants, etc., come into the world and go on to reach a stage in their lives when full growth is reached or achieved. Nature has the principle of growth in its foundation.
Someone put it like this, 'All things have built into them the Law of growth and if they do not grow they violate the purpose of living' . God has arranged the world with one view in mind-Life and Growth. Everything that happens to our Christian lives has one purpose and goal-that we may grow in Christ. Paul, the Apostle, in v.15, put it like this, 'Grow into Him in all things....'
In saving us God intends that one day we should live with Him in Eternity. That means that we will live with a Holy, Eternal God. But before that happens He intends us to go through a process that will enable us to live with Him in Heaven. Why does God not take us into Heaven immediately the moment we are saved? The answer may not be so obvious. Heaven is not made up of spiritual babies. If it were, we would not even know who God was, what holiness is, etc. etc. We prepare for Heaven here on earth-a long process.
When saved, God's plan and will for us is not just to join a Church or become familiar with the ins and outs of a Denomination but grow in Christ and become like Him. The job of the Church is to make believers real spiritually minded people, mature in the Faith and knowledge of our Saviour and God.
At conversion, the life of God that enters our being has within it the potential to develop us into the image of Christ. And so, the Holy Spirit enters our life and starts to prod us towards growth. He builds in us the urge to grow, naturally and spiritually. If we do not grow it is not because God has not set the stage for growth but because we fail to do so. There is nothing more distressing in the Christian Church than to watch people who do not grow in the Faith. We get anxious about a plant in our garden that despite the care we give it fails to grow. How much more should we be about our life which is eternal if it does not grow.
How do we recognize that there no spiritual growth?
In exactly the same way that a human being fails to grow physically or mentally. Believers who fail to grow simply live stunted lives spiritually, always learning but never advancing into the deeper things of the Word. Feeding on milk but not on solid food-Spiritual babies. 1 Cor.3:1-3.
                                                                       To be continued

Genesis 3:1-24, 4:1-7.                      continuation
 In the few verses of chapter 4:1-7 we have the story of the first family on earth. However, we need to remember that the family was instituted by God.
We note that Cain was a farmer whereas Abel was a shepherd. Both professions were related to God's creation. God instructed Adam to till the ground and look after  the animal creation. We see here the age old traditions passed on by parents to their children, from generation to generation. Apart from their work and daily routine we also notice something else-Worship. Both sons, in the course of running their daily lives recognize the need to come before God and offer their gifts. How did they know about Worship or what led them to such practice? Perhaps the answer lay deep in their own hearts. Why do we gather together to Worship? Simply because deep in our hearts we have the urge to do so and give reverence to God. Worship means to Serve. Cain and Abel were no different from us plus of course the fact that their parents told them about the relationship they had with God. Most of us have heard something about God from some source. Nothing strange about the need to Worship. Remember the woman at the well? John 4:21-14. However, it is one thing to talk about Worship but another thing to actually practice it or agree what form it should take.
Cain and Abel found soon enough what was required of them in Worship. They both brought offerings to the Lord from the labour of their hands. These were free-will offerings that nobody forced them to make. Worship must stem from deep within our hearts and come out freely-Rom 12:1. How then should Worship be? The answer was given by the Lord to the woman at the well-
'In Spirit and in Truth' . God will only accept Worship when it is offered by the Holy Spirit in agreement with His Word. Cain found out early enough in Creation that worship involves coming before God in the prescribed way that He laid out.
We read however, that Abel's offering is accepted by God whereas Cain's is rejected. Does God reject our Worship and our offerings? The Bible makes it clear that sometimes He does. The obvious question then is, what kind of Worship and free will offering is accepted by God? We are told in verse 4 that Abel brought to the Lord of his flocks and the Lord had respect for it. In other words, Abel knew what kind of Worship and offering was accepted. He did not have a Bible so that he could read and studly it neither did he go to the local Church. As a son of Adam and Eve he received knowledge about God from his parents. He knew that God sacrificed an animal to clothe his parents. He knew that sacrificing an animal was not just to clothe people but also something more than that. It was a blood sacrifice.
As believers, we walk by Faith and by not by sight. We should know what is expected from us in our walk with God and we should not need to be told every morning what shoe to put on. The Lord Jesus referred to Abel as 'Righteous' . Cain knew about those tings concerning God but he chose to go his own different way, like so many believers. What was behind Cain's reaction? Pride? Ps.10:4.
God rejected Cain's offering and he felt unhappy about the whole thing but God pointed out to him that his heart was filled   with envy and hatred. Sounds familiar? Remember Joseph and his brothers? 1 John 3:13 tells us not to be surprised if the world hates us. The Bible warns that if someone wants to live a godly life he shall suffer persecution. Persecution comes not only from the world but also from carnal believers-1 John 3:11-12.          End.

Genesis 3:1-24, 4:1-7                  continuation
'And Eve conceived and bare Cain...from the Lord' . Another strange statement that we often find in the Bible. Eve's words couldn't be more puzzling. Did God have a hand in the birth of Cain? How? Earlier, we are told clearly that Adam 'knew his wife and she conceived....' .
We have a similar case to that of Hannah in 1 Sam.1. Hannah was barren and desperately wanting to have a child. Finally, after promising to give the child back to God, God granted her request. In a way, Samuel was a child from God. Hannah simply offered the child back to God. The case with Eve is different of course but the principle is the same. Perhaps the effects of sin affected Eve's childbearing so she intreated God for a child.
In 2 Cor.5:17, Paul gives us the answer to the puzzle. In Christ, the purpose of Creation is restored in man and even sex finds its original purpose and place in our lives. Passions and desires can be curbed and they find a new direction. No more slaves to sin but serving Christ in newness of life.
It is interesting to note Cain's name-a Spear. Could it be the thing that pierced a shut womb? Cain's name also signifies the role he played later in life, the attack and murder of his brother.
After Cain, Eve had another son called Abel-Breath or Vapor. How significant-Job 33:4.
The parents who once knew God are now away from God's life and communion; but fulfilling God's command to be fruitful and multiply. What is the fruit of their relationship? Their first child turns out to be a murderer whereas the second one a peacemaker, a breath of life.
How did Adam and Eve as parents influence their children? What sort of effect did their lives have on them? Questions that trouble parents throughout the history of the family-Pro.22:6. From later events it is obvious that both children had a knowledge of who God was and what He required from them. Knowledge that was handed down from their parents. Could Adam and Eve ever forget their life in the garden of Eden and the fellowship they had with God? Can we ever forget the love of God shed in our hearts once we have tasted it, even when we backslide?
                                                                      to be continued

Genesis 3:1-24, 4:1-7.                           continuation
What happened to the Garden of Eden? The Bible does not tell us, God did not consider it important. It probably perished in the Flood.
Now, man is left outside till the time God opens the door for him to enter Paradise and find fellowship with God. This was achieved on the resurrection day when victory over the devil and death was gained.
Not only is man expelled from the Garden but he is also not to go near the Tree of Life. Why? In our sinful state we cannot approach a holy God. Only when sin is dealt with in our lives can we do so. However, the day is coming when man will again be able to partake of the Tree of Life in the Paradise of God-Rev.22:2.
Chapter 3 closes with the information that God put a guard at the entrance of the Garden to stop anybody going in, a Cherubim. We only know what a Cherubim looks like from the description of those placed on top of the Ark of the Covenant. Cherubim are guardians of God's holiness. Apart
from the Cherubim, God also placed the flaming sword that turned. Again, we are not told what a flaming sword was like or why God placed it there but we can gather its symbolism from somewhere else-Eph.6:17, 'The sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God' .
The flaming fire of the Word brings judgment upon the sinner who tries to enter Heaven or God's presence  without the Blood.
'Adam knew his wife....' . The first mention in the Bible of a physical relationship between a man and a woman. God's words to Eve were, 'her desire would be for her husband' . What kind of desire? The kind of desire that leads a woman to depend upon a man. More than a desire for companionship but one of lust. A desire that leads to an abnormal relationship, different from what God intended or had in mind.
What was God's intention at creation? When God had finished His creation He looked at everything and found it to be 'good and perfect'. The man and the woman were also perfect. They had God's character, the ability to think and decide, to love and be loved but not to harbor evil and commit evil in their lives. That came afterwards. Their relationship was based on God's moral character, even for procuring offspring. How was that to be accomplished? A relationship based on childbearing and not based on lust. We only know of their kind of relationship after the fall.
There is no doubt that at Creation the man and the woman were given the sex drive in their being 
but not in the form we witness today.
The Bible points to the fact of their physical relation after the fall, implying something different from what God intended. They would now have sex and be fruitful but not without pain, lust and passion. Is sex then something ugly and dirty? Not necessarily, a God given desire is abused by man.
What is the answer? In 2 Cor.5:17, the Apostle gives us the answer. In Christ, Creation's purpose is restored in man, even sex finds its original purpose and place in our lives. Passions and desires can be curbed and find a new direction. No more slaves to sin but newness of life in Christ.
                                                                                                         To be continued

Genesis 3:1-24, 4:1-7.                    continuation
'And for Adam and his wife the Lord God made....'
Chapter 3 closes with these profound words. What is the message?
Man has decided to go his own way and run his life without God and without the fellowship he had with God. However God does not abandon man. God seeks him and provides for him. 1 John 4:10 tells us, 'Herein is love....' .
We see the proof of this when Adam and Eve realized that they were naked and attempted to cover themselves with fig leaves, man's attempt to cover himself-a pathetic inadequate attempt. It was God who took the initiative to seek man and provide a suitable cover for him; but this cover was not a free one. It cost God something and it had a great significance - a Sacrifice. Man always prefers nakedness but God's cover speaks for righteousness and holiness.
Here,  we see that God has standards with behaviour, dress, manners, etc., whereas man has what is convenient for him. Believers need to note these standards and apply them to their lives. We note the type of cover God used to cover them-animal skins. We have the first indication of what God requires as a price for atonement-Sacrifice and the shedding of Blood: Heb.9:22.
The Cross looms ahead right from the Garden of Eden. God had to pay the price for man's redemption. The animal creation was to serve man but because of the Fall it also provided for his atonement.
When the serpent tempted Eve, he suggested that if they ate of the fruit they would become like Gods, knowing Good and Evil: Partly true but not the whole truth. They did not become Gods, they only knew Good and Evil. A temptation for them with a hidden device to become like Gods. Here, Satan's strategy is exposed, truth mixed with lies. We need to discern this strategy and not fall into this trap. As for Adam and Eve reality struck them hard and cruelly. Now they are on their own. What does the future have for them? We certainly see no repentance and no plan for what lies ahead. The opposite is true with God. He takes the initiative and points the way for them to 
take though it seems He is hard on them, rather vindictive? He causes the two people He created and looked after to become homeless and even penniless. Nowhere to go.
When people sin in the Church and refuse to repent what is the answer? God's ways are not full of errors. In evicting Adam and Eve from the Garden we are given the reason for it. The Tree of Life. Before the fall they had access to the Tree of Life but now they are barred from it, the way is blocked. Sin blocks our way to Eternity. We can only approach the Tree of Life via a prescribed way-The Blood. Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth and the life' . Had they partaken of the Tree of Life in their sinful state they would have continued like that for ever. Man is finally expelled from the Garden, the place he was supposed to look after. The Garden was not his property but he was only to care for it.
The Bible teaches that we are responsible for our actions and we should fully bear the consequence of our actions. We read in 1 Cor.10:26 that the 'Earth and the fullness thereof belong to the Lord' . Adam is told to go and work for his living outside the Garden. In the Garden there was work, pleasure and Fellowship with God. Outside there would be hard toil and pain. Adam's sphere of work and life would be the earth he was taken from.
In expelling them from The Garden  we see God's Mercy extending to them. We see a Merciful God giving them another chance and through them Mercy to the whole world - The Cross.
                                                                       To be continued
                                                                                            

Genesis 3:1-24, 4:1-7.                       Continuation
'And to Adan He said....' . God's main judgement seems to fall on Adam.
He was told to look after the Garden and to rule over God's Creation, but he chose to listen to his wife rather than God. This speaks of many believers as well. They often choose to listen to anybody other than God or even the leadership of the Church. This kind of people always seem to
know better and have the best opinion of what to do.
Through Eve's persuasion Adam was led to disaster and because of this the whole creation has suffered. God's intention for Adam was to have a glorious life but disobedience ruined everything. Sin will mar all life. Adam's disobedience brought death but Jesus Christ brought resurrection and life Eternal.
God's curse came upon the very earth that was intended to support man. Farming was to become a toil, full of problems and sorrows. It would provide a living, but not without sorrow. In the end man came to misuse and mistreat the very earth that was to support him and the very animal creation that was to serve him-Rom.8:18-25.
Had Adam not sinned, what would his life have been like? The Bible does not provide explicit answers but reading between the lines we see that God's purpose was quite different for man. Without sin, there would be no moral or physical decay Even after the fall Adam lived 930 years. What if the fall had not happened?
The next thing we see, in v.20, is news. The woman gets a name, Eve, the mother of all living. What kind of living? The verse seems to be out of place in the whole account. Why did Adam call his wife a 'mother'? How can Eve be called a mother if she did not have children? The word 'living' obviously refers to human beings and not to animals already in existence before she became Eve.
The term can only apply to beings which have the 'breath' of life in them like we see it in-Gen.2:7.
As human beings we are all descended from Eve, but what makes us alive is the very breath of the Almighty breathed into our first ancestors. Humanly speaking, we are related to Adam and Eve but spiritually we are related to our Lord Jesus Christ, our Great Kinsman.
                                                                         To be continued

Genesis 3:1-24, 4:1-7                              continuation
God's judgement upon the man, the woman and the serpent is of significance to us.
As regards the serpent: we see the spiritual battle involved between us and the forces of the Devil - Eph.6:12. Of all the animal creation the serpent was brought very low in having to crawl on the earth signifying its sphere of activity. Its intelligence would be restricted to the animal world only and be at enmity with man.
God is not only addressing the serpent but also the force behind it. God's words reveal His plan - the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, fulfilled at the Cross. The enmity between the seed of the woman and the serpent will continue unabated till the day when God brings about the final restoration of the whole creation.
God could have ended the whole affair of the Garden there and then and start afresh, but here we see God's wisdom unfold. More glory is brought upon His Name by taking fallen man and enabling him to overcome temptation to gain eternal Salvation through the Blood paid for sin. God's master plan was the best kept secret. Satan thought that he scored something in the Garden but God had the final word. On the Resurrection Day Satan must have got an awful shock from the resurrection and an even  worse one from the birth of The Church.
God's judgement upon all three seemed to be hard. Let us ask ourselves. Does sin deserve a mild approach? Adam and Eve were warned by God about the consequence of disobedience. They had no excuse, much less the serpent- 'The soul that sins shall die'.
The immediate result of their action was separation from God, the source of life. Their spirit could no longer be sustained by His spirit and that separation led to moral and spiritual decline. Physical death was the natural result. Real life, the life of God can only exist when the Holy Spirit fills our lives and we are alive to God. Jesus said, 'I have come that they might have life and have it more abundantly' .
Both Adam and Eve had to learn now how to manage without God. The woman is told what her role in life would be. She is delegated to being subject to her husband. This is God's order and no amount of rebellion by women can reverse things. Her desire is to be for the man and nothing can deny that either. In the Garden  the woman took the initiative and fell to the serpent's temptation. Her initiative is now turned to her disadvantage. She persuaded the man she should honour and respect to yield to temptation and now she is the one to yield to his desires and rule.
Sin has an uncanny justice upon the sinner. The things we desire by disobeying God will turn round to enslave us. Satan will tempt us to rise above God's order of things to cast away God's authority over us.
Eve's judgement did not only apply to her personality but also to her physical nature. God told them at creation to be fruitful and multiply-a clear blessing. Fruitful, yes, but now not without pain and sorrow-Romans 10:22. We all want to have God's blessing in our lives but it cannot be earned or claimed, only bestowed by God. However, Satan by cunning and temptation can even turn blessings to curse. Adam was blessed with a wife but what a failure it all turned out to be!