From: "Gospel Messenger Service" Subject: Gift of Growth Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 10:04:22 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0006_01C5F595.75AA6280" X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Unsent: 1 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0006_01C5F595.75AA6280 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable THE GIFT OF GROWTH By "Rebekah" the Bride (Phil.1:6; 2:13; Eph.2:8-10; 3:16-20; Matt.6:28-29 Isa.42:8; Ps.127:1; 2 Cor.3:18; Jn.15:1-5; Col.2:6-7 2 Pet.3:18; Jam.4:8(a); Jude 21; Isa.27:2-6)=20 *** So many Christian leaders tell God's people how to grow. Some give a list of things to do as through this life we go. And number one on this "do" list of things they say to do, is go to church on Sunday morn, for it's important to. *** They say, "To grow, read scripture, and you surely ought to pray; yes, read your Bible, pray to God, just do that every day." They'll tell you that is how you grow, and there's more you should do: Good works, and share your faith and give-a list of "dos" for you. *** The six things on the list above are all good things to do, if they are done spontaneously and Christ is leading you. But they are not what make you grow and this I hope you'll see; for you have not been given that responsibility. *** If doing all that list of things is what would make us grow, then we would get the glory for our growth-oh, don't you know? And sharing glory with us is not something God will do. Give up control of growing, it's God's work He does IN you. *** God is the One who "grows" us, He's in charge of that in me. But we must LET Him do that-give control to Him, you see. Then we will give Him glory when we see His growth in us; and we will know that growth comes from the Lord-in Him we'll trust. *** "Consider the field lilies, how they grow," Christ Jesus said. A lesson's here on growing in this scripture that I read. No toiling and no spinning, that's what lilies do not do. They do not make themselves grow, Jesus said it, and it's true. *** We're lilies in God's garden and He waters us each day. His "Son" shines on us daily and that really is God's way that He grows us as Christians-He performs His work inside; so we'll do His good pleasure as we in His love abide. *** We'll bear much fruit if we stay close to Jesus every day. Fruit of the Spirit-that is growth! It's growing in God's way. Abide in Christ, that is our part, beholding Him inside; Just keeping ourselves in His love, His love so deep and wide. *** I wish all Christian leaders would tell Christians how to grow, by telling them to stay close to the Savior here below. Then they would grow in God's way, just like lilies they would be; and they would see that growing's God's responsibility. *** And all the things I listed that some leaders say to do, would all be done-as God so led-spontaneously, too. But they would not be used as tools to make a Christian grow; and Christ would bear His fruit through them as they give up control. *** Salvation is a gift of God but growth is a gift, too. It's God's work He does IN us not the works or things WE do. Unless the Lord builds us (His house) our labor is in vain; we are His workmanship and growth from Him we will obtain. *** Stay close to God so He can give the gift of growth to you. Yes, that is one thing, that is something, God wants YOU to do. That's how you just cooperate with the Gardener Divine. Let's let HIM grow us, let HIM build, inside your life and mine. ------=_NextPart_000_0006_01C5F595.75AA6280 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
THE GIFT OF=20 GROWTH
 
By "Rebekah" the = Bride
 
(Phil.1:6; 2:13; Eph.2:8-10; 3:16-20; = Matt.6:28-29
Isa.42:8; Ps.127:1; 2 Cor.3:18; = Jn.15:1-5;=20 Col.2:6-7
2 Pet.3:18; Jam.4:8(a); Jude 21; = Isa.27:2-6)=20
***
So many Christian leaders tell God=92s people how to = grow.
Some give a list of things to do as through this = life we=20 go.
And number one on this "do" list of things they say = to=20 do,
is go to church on Sunday morn, for it=92s important = to.
***
They say, "To grow, read scripture, and you surely = ought to=20 pray;
yes, read your Bible, pray to God, just do that = every=20 day."
They=92ll tell you that is how you grow, and = there=92s more you=20 should do:
Good works, and share your faith and give=97a list = of "dos" for=20 you.
***
The six things on the list above are all good things = to=20 do,
if they are done spontaneously and Christ is leading = you.
But they are not what make you grow and this I hope = you=92ll=20 see;
for you have not been given that = responsibility.
***
If doing all that list of things is what would make = us=20 grow,
then we would get the glory for our growth=97oh, = don=92t you=20 know?
And sharing glory with us is not something God will = do.
Give up control of growing, it=92s God=92s work He = does IN=20 you.
***
God is the One who "grows" us, He=92s in charge of = that in=20 me.
But we must LET Him do that=97give control to Him, = you=20 see.
Then we will give Him glory when we see His growth = in=20 us;
and we will know that growth comes from the = Lord=97in Him we=92ll=20 trust.
***
"Consider the field lilies, how they grow," Christ = Jesus=20 said.
A lesson=92s here on growing in this scripture that = I=20 read.
No toiling and no spinning, that=92s what lilies do = not=20 do.
They do not make themselves grow, Jesus said it, and = it=92s=20 true.
***
We=92re lilies in God=92s garden and He waters us = each day.
His "Son" shines on us daily and that really is = God=92s=20 way
that He grows us as Christians=97He performs His = work=20 inside;
so we=92ll do His good pleasure as we in His love = abide.
***
We=92ll bear much fruit if we stay close to Jesus = every=20 day.
Fruit of the Spirit=97that is growth! It=92s growing = in God=92s=20 way.
Abide in Christ, that is our part, beholding Him = inside;
Just keeping ourselves in His love, His love so deep = and=20 wide.
***
I wish all Christian leaders would tell Christians = how to=20 grow,
by telling them to stay close to the Savior here = below.
Then they would grow in God=92s way, just like = lilies they would=20 be;
and they would see that growing=92s God=92s = responsibility.
***
And all the things I listed that some leaders say to = do,
would all be done=97as God so led=97spontaneously, = too.
But they would not be used as tools to make a = Christian=20 grow;
and Christ would bear His fruit through them as they = give up=20 control.
***
Salvation is a gift of God but growth is a gift, = too.
It=92s God=92s work He does IN us not the works or = things WE=20 do.
Unless the Lord builds us (His house) our labor is = in=20 vain;
we are His workmanship and growth from Him we will=20 obtain.
***
Stay close to God so He can give the gift of growth = to=20 you.
Yes, that is one thing, that is something, God wants = YOU to=20 do.
That=92s how you just cooperate with the Gardener = Divine.
Let=92s let HIM grow us, let HIM build, inside your = life and=20 mine.
 
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