PASTORS CORNER

Topic: Dealing With Obstacles of Growth
One of the characteristics of a living thing is growth. The day a
living thing stops growing it dies. Do you know that as human being
you are growing as long as you are alive? Growth in human being and
other living things is not limited to physical increase in height or
weight. Cells keep growing in your body to replace the exhausted ones
in order to keep you alive. When human system is under attack of
bacterial and other disease causing organisms, sickness comes in and
when not adequately addressed leads to death. What the bacterial or
disease causing organisms do is to kill or stop the growth of cells
and nutrients to keep human alive.
In like manner, for you to grow in Christ there are obstacles that
must be specifically dealt with. The basic truth is that every
Christian is expected to be growing irrespective of your maturity or
attainment in Christ. It is a life time growing. For those who have
made considerable spiritual growth in their lives and think they have
come far enough should not relent in their thirst for more of God in
there lives.  While maturity is good, it not a time for retirement.
It is pure arrogance to think that you cannot learn anything more or
that you have come far enough that you can “ease up” on the studies.
Yet that is what some people do.
The list of obstacles to growth are so many and some obstacles are
peculiar to some individuals. The most important thing is to be able
to identify your own personal obstacles. Make a list of them and
device means of overcoming them. A saying goes thus: “a problem known
is half solved”. A key factor to overcome the obstacles is
self-discipline. Implementing means of overcoming obstacles takes
discipline.  When we lack spiritual discipline, we are not going to do
that which will promote our growth.  We will allow everything that
comes along to distract our growth.  Everything we start will either
fail to be completed or finished with less than our best.  One who
lacks discipline is quick tempered and easily discouraged. Because of
a lack of self-control, he might set out to do right, but quickly he
returns to his old ways.  Satan loves the one who doesn’t have
discipline.  It doesn’t take much effort for him keep you from
growing.
Christians are called upon to exercise self-control.  It is one of the
“Christian graces” (2 Peter 1:6) and a “fruit of the Spirit”
(Galatians 5:23).  Whether it be our tongues, our fleshly desires, our
dealing with others or our tempers we need self-control in all we do.
To achieve our spiritual goals we have to stay on course and press
toward the prize.  Jesus said, “No one having put his hand to the plow
and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).   Hebrews
10:38 says, “Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws
back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

While it is not easy, with self-discipline which must be learned and
practiced every day and all of our actions following the will of God
we are destined to grow spiritually.