Tips For Spiritual Growth

7 Spiritual Growth Tips

The children’s song says, “Read your Bible. Pray every day and you’ll grow, grow, grow.” Daily prayer and Bible reading are two of the foundations for spiritual growth.

Read Your Bible

Get into God’s Word daily. You don’t have to dedicate every waking moment to Bible reading, but you should spend time in God’s Word each day. Find a Bible reading plan that you can stick to. Many people read three chapters a day in their Bible to help them read completely through in one year. Instead of reading for a certain number of chapters each day you can choose to read for a set amount of time.
The last two years I have taken the number of pages and my Bible and divide it by the number 300. For me that works out to just over five pages a day. With that schedule I can read the Bible in a little over 10 months which gives me a few extra days to linger on certain passages or get distracted in studying a topic if I want.

Pray Every Day

While reading the Bible is God’s way of communicating with us, prayer is our way of talking to Him. You should have a prayer list that you pray through. A few suggested items for daily prayer are your spouse, kids, extended family members and missionary families you know. You can also pray as God brings needs and blessings to your mind. Certainly you can pray at any time or place; but having a dedicated prayer time each day will help you stay connected with the Lord.

Attend Church

Fellowshipping with other Christians is one of the things Jesus taught us while he was on the earth. Those who refuse to congregate with other believers are often those who have trouble avoiding temptation in their lives.

God has given His blessing on the organization of the church. It is the authority which God has established in the life of a believer. The church does not exist to tell an individual Christian what he can and cannot do, rather it was founded by Jesus to give Christians a place where they can serve in the body of Christ and get the spiritual help they need.

Baptism

Obedience is a key ingredient to spiritual growth. The first step of obedience after salvation that the Bible teaches is baptism (Matthew 28:19, 20). This announces to others that you have been saved. Baptism does not save the believer, but spiritual growth will be limited if the believer refuses to follow the Lord in baptism.
Baptism is a public identification that the person trusts in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection for their salvation. Jesus was baptized as an example for us (Matthew 3:13-17).

Serve Others

Finding a way to be involved in the lives of others is a sure way to grow spiritually. When other people are asking you questions about the Bible you will become more studious of God’s Word.

Witness

You should be active in sharing your Christian testimony with others. In Romans 1:16 Paul states that he is not ashamed of the Gospel. As a child of God you have been given the gift of salvation through the Gospel. This is a gift that is available to others as well, but they need someone to tell them about the love and forgiveness God offers. You can do this by being a witness to them.

Give

As a Christian who is involved in a local church, there are plenty of opportunities to give to the needs of the church and the needs of others. Besides the fact that the Bible teaches us that everything belongs to God, it teaches the principle of the tithe. There are differing opinions on tithing and whether it is necessary still today; however, whatever you believe about the teaching of tithing, the Bible clearly shows that we should support the work of the ministry (1 Corinthians 16:1, 2; 2 Corinthians 9:7), and particularly those who teach us God’s Word (1 Timothy 5:17).

I hope these seven spiritual growth tips have been a help. These are just the basics. Any time God teaches you something from His Word you can continue to grow only as you obey.





by David Peach

A Hope that God knows His plan for us

Day 11 (17 Aug 2017, Thursday)

In Jeremiah 29:4-9, Jeremiah comforted the exiled Jews in Babylon.  He exhorted them to take Babylon as their home, multiplying their descendants and establishing their businesses and praying for the city they dwelt in.  But they were warned to reject the words of the false prophets.  God destined their period of exile to be seventy years.  When the days finally came to its fullness, God would show His favour by bringing them home.

The Jews were puzzled by the letter as they thought that their captivity would end soon but Jeremiah told them to wait for seventy years.  They were instructed to devote themselves like the locals, and contributed their effort in the infrastructural work of Babylon.  They were told to flourish in the homeland of their enemy, and later to return to their own homeland which was devastated and destitute.
Nobody in their right mind would think that this could amount to something “hopeful”.

However, God’s thoughts and His ways are higher than ours. The Lord said through Jeremiah in verse 11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Our hope lies not on the amount for knowledge that we have, but on the premise that “God knows.”  He has predestined and He has a plan.  When we place our hope on God who is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient, we shall enjoy peace and be able to do our work well and hope for the mighty deeds of our Lord.

Pray for the States of Malaysia  :  Johor

Johor has the second highest rate of reported illegitimate births by teens aging from 10 to 19 years old based on year 2012-2015 statistics.  Pray against the underlying spirit of immorality behind this and pray that the many affected teens and their offspring will receive adequate attention and help.

Pray for the plight and wellbeing of the Orang Seletar, one of the people groups residing along the coast overlooking the Tebrau Straits, as they have been forced to relocate several times due to the development plans there.

Johor’s eastern coast between Kota Tinggi, Penggerang and Mersing is one of the major entry and departure points for illegal Indonesian immigrants.  Pray for the police patrolling the area to apply measures and solutions to curb all forms of illegal incursions.


 Necf Malaysia

Download 2017 NECF Malaysia  40Days Fast & Prayer (Prayer Booklet)

Elevating Ourselves

Today's Scripture: Proverbs 18

Proverbs 18 (KJV)

1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.

4 The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.

10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.

12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.

17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord.

23 The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.

24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Scripture Meaning

Verses
1: If we would get knowledge and grace, we must try all methods of improving ourselves.
(2). Those make nothing to purpose, of learning or religion, whose only design is to have something to make a show with.
(3). As soon as sin entered, shame followed.
(4). The well-spring of wisdom in the heart of a believer, continually supplies words of wisdom.
(5). The merits of a cause must be looked to, not the person.
(6,7). What mischief bad men do to themselves by their ungoverned tongues!
(8). How base are those that sow contention! and what fatal effects may be expected from small beginnings of jealousy!
(9). Omissions of duty, and in duty, are fatal to the soul, as well as commissions of sin.
(10,11). The Divine power, made known in and through our Lord Jesus Christ, forms a strong tower for the believer, who relies on the Lord. How deceitful the defence of the rich man, who has his portion and treasure in this world! It is a strong city and a high wall only in his own conceit; for it will fail when most in need. They will be exposed to the just wrath of that Judge whom they despised as a Saviour.
(12). After the heart has been lifted up with pride, a fall comes. But honour shall be the reward of humility.
(13). Eagerness, with self-conceit, will expose to shame.
(14). Firmness of mind supports under many pains and trials. But when the conscience is tortured with remorse, no human fortitude can bear the misery; what then will hell be?
(15). We must get knowledge, not only into our heads, but into our hearts.
(16). Blessed be the Lord, who makes us welcome to come to his throne, without money and without price. May his gifts make room for him in our souls.
(17). It is well to listen to our enemies, that we may form a better judgment of ourselves.
(18). It was customary sometimes to refer matters to God, by casting lots, with solemn prayer. The profaning the lot, by using it in matters of diversion, or coveting what belongs to others, forms an objection to this now.
(19). Great care must be taken to prevent quarrels among relations and those under obligations to each other. Wisdom and grace make it easy to forgive; but corruption makes it difficult.
(20). The belly is here put for the heart, as elsewhere; and what that is filled with, our satisfaction will be accordingly, and our inward peace.
(21). Many a one has caused his own death, or the death of others, by a false or injurious tongue. (22). A good wife is a great blessing to a man, and it is a token of Divine favour.
(23). Poverty tells men they must not order or demand. And at the throne of God's grace we are all poor, and must use entreaties.
(24). Christ Jesus never will forsake those who trust in and love him. May we be such friends to others, for our Master's sake. Having loved his own, which were in the world, he loved them unto the end; and we are his friends if we do whatever he commands us, (Joh 15:14).

Scripture Application

Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue with the Book of Proverbs with Chapter 18. In our text today we see more wisdom as the Lord lays out many cause and effects of making wise decisions.

Today there is a focus on the foolishness. In making application we see that those who put themselves before the instruction of the Lord give themselves over to foolishness. How about you? Have you made any foolish decisions in life? Let us learn from our text today to remember that foolishness comes when we elevate ourselves over the Lord and His Word instead of placing Him first in all that we do or say.

An Overflow of Hope

Day 10 (16 Aug 2017, Wednesday)

It is an amazing work of God that He fills us with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit working in us. Such a hope is neither self-manufactured, nor worked up in a frenzy by our temporal physical and emotional outburst. It is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is His greatand mighty power at work in us.

We need the Holy Spirit because it is by His power that we are filled with a confident hope in God. My prayer is that the power of the Holy Spirit may be at work in us mightily as we pray, as we worship, and as we read the Word of God throughout the days of our lives. It does not matter what we have done for the Lord, but when the Holy Spirit is at work empowering and strengthening us, the end result is the same for all, that we will be filled with a confident hope in God.

Hope, real hope, is a precious commodity and a rarity in a world that seems to be bleak and hopeless. The Church of Jesus Christ in Malaysia must stand tall and strong, holding forth the good news in Christ Jesus and to be filled with a confident hope in God. Then and only then will we see a game-changing kind of Church in our nation.

God bless Malaysia! God bless our Church in Malaysia. Amen.

Pray for the States of Malaysia : Melaka

Declare God’s blessings to be upon the diverse ethnic groups represented in the state of
Melaka, i.e. Malay, Chinese, Indian, Peranakan Chinese, Kristang and Chitty.

Land reclamation projects are carried out on a large scale along Bandaraya Melaka’s
coast due to the high demand of land for development. Such projects have had a
negative effect on the environment and marine life, adversely affecting the local
fisherman. Pray for proper regulations to be enforced and adhered to in such land
reclamation projects.

Pray that God will reverse whatever negative perception Christianity has on the locals
because of the cruel invasion of the Portuguese in 1511, and that the Church, as the
agent of God, will demonstrate Christ-like love and unity while ministering to the lost
through practical means.



 Necf Malaysia

Download 2017 NECF Malaysia  40Days Fast & Prayer (Prayer Booklet)

Israel Grants Asylum to Iranian Journalist

Israel Grants Asylum to Iranian Journalist Facing Death Penalty 

Israel Interior Minister Aryeh Deri just before the weekend granted political asylum to Neda Amin, an Iranian journalist facing the death penalty for the crime of writing a column for an Israeli media website.

Amin had previously been staying in Turkey while penning her views for the Times of Israel. But she was recently informed by Ankara that she'd have to return to Iran.

Back in her home country, Amin was facing the death penalty for cooperating with Israel.

Deri said the decision to grant her asylum was a no-brainer.
"This is a journalist whose life is in real danger, only because of writing columns on an Israeli news website. In these clear humanitarian circumstances, I authorize her entry without hesitation," announced the interior minister.

After landing in Israel over the weekend, Amin gushed her appreciation.
"I was in danger and the State of Israel saved me. I want to stay here for now, but I will honor any decision of the authorities," she told reporters.

Amin further explained that she'd been instilled with an affinity for Israel by her father.
"My father didn't really believe in Islam, so he also learned about Judaism," she said. "My roots are somewhat connected to Judaism. I loved Israel since my youth; I never accepted all the regime’s anti-Israel slogans. I always dreamed that I will somehow get to Israel."





Cred: Israel Today