Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 4 July 2021 By Dr. D.K Olukoya – Spiritual Growth (II)
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TOPIC: Spiritual Growth (II) (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Devotional 4 July 2021)
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 40-345
FIRE SCRIPTURE: Matthew 13:1-23
1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.
9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.
14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
MEMORY VERSE: “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” – Psalms 92:12
MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE:
Spiritual growth, just as in the physical is an ongoing process, not a destination. You never arrive there until you get to heaven.
PRAISE WORSHIP: Take a worship song as led by the Holy Spirit
PROPHETIC WORD FOR TODAY:
YOUR LIFE SHALL NOT BE A DISAPPOINTMENT TO HEAVEN. HEAVEN WILL REJOICE IN YOU AND YOUR FRUITS, IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
The MESSAGE:
In continuation of the message on spiritual growth, it will be important to know that certain things are required of every believer who truly desires to grow. You must embrace a new way of life, putting away your former ways of doing things, relating with people, talking. A total change from who you were to an entire new being. Like a growing eagle, you shed of old feathers to grow new ones. But here you keep growing until you meet with Jesus.
Also Read: OPEN HEAVEN 4 JULY 2021 – A DIVINE TOUCH
Jesus started by saying that except you abide in Him, you can do nothing. This emphasises your spiritual powerlessness except you are connected to the Source, the Vine. So stay connected!
Today’s Fire Scripture also stresses the importance of growth, using image of the farmer planting the seed. Jesus gave us the interpretation of the parable. Hence, we can see the different types of soil and growth. The seed is the word of God that fell by the roadside, rocky soil, among the thorns and on good soil.
The soil is the human heart. What is the condition of your heart? You cannot grow except you are rightly fed. The word of God is the Bread of Life. You need it for strength and stamina, and the divine watering to nurture you into healthy and productive stage. No wonder the seeds that fell by the roadside were easily pecked of by birds of this world; it gained no root at all. The one on the rock couldn’t either, because that heart is not divinely pliable, referring to hardhearted, obstinate and unbroken Christians.
Sad enough, the ones that fell among the thorns were choked up by the cares and worries of this world. How can you be carnal, yet desire spiritual growth? Here comes the big difference: those that fell on the good soil yielded in threefold. That is a heart that loves God and his fellow humans. It is an obedient, loyal and surrendered heart. A committed Christian has a broken and contrite spirit.
Dearly beloved, there’s still room for you to amend your ways. You cannot call yourself a Christian and remain a spiritual baby or toddler, and nothing changes in your life! Read and meditate on the words of this favourite hymn:
PRAYER POINTS:
MORNING
- Satanic garbage in my heart, be evacuated, in the name of Jesus.
- Arrows of spiritual stagnation, depart from my life, in the name of Jesus.
- O God, arise and plant Your word in my heart, in the name of Jesus.
EVENING
- Powers assigned to hinder and terminate my spiritual progress, fall down and die, in the name of Jesus.
- Spirit of total obedience, baptise my life, in the name of Jesus.
- O God my Father, feed me, nourish me and let me flourish and be productive for Your glory, in the name of Jesus.
- I shall bring forth fruits and they shall abide in the Lord, in the name of Jesus.
MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)