Growth_point Society

30/08/2018

Divine relationship between Christ and the Church

God has always used the relationship between husband and wife as an analogy of the divine relationship between Christ and the Church

The Apostle Paul explains the physical relationship and divine spiritual relationship in Ephesians 5:22-33: “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.

“For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.”

Clearly, human marriage is intended to represent the ultimate marriage relationship. The joining as one flesh on the physical level has a spiritual parallel in the special and intimate relationship Christ shares with His people.

As Paul further explained, “He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:17).

God speaking through the prophet Isaiah shows a different scenario in Isaiah 3, God now stands in Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah due to her disobedience.

Isaiah 3:1 See now, the Lord,
the Lord Almighty,
is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah
both supply and support:
all supplies of food and all supplies of water,
2 the hero and the warrior,
the judge and the prophet,
the diviner and the elder,
3 the captain of fifty and the man of rank,
the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.
Here God has removes his covering.

Men has totally abdicated his roles as head his house hold.

Isaiah 3:6 A man will seize one of his brothers
in his father’s house, and say,
“You have a cloak, you be our leader;
take charge of this heap of ruins!”
7 But in that day he will cry out,
“I have no remedy.
I have no food or clothing in my house;
do not make me the leader of the people.”

Those who God as put in places of Authority of God's people God is not happy with how you have exercised the authority he gave you

Isaiah 3:14 The Lord enters into judgment
against the elders and leaders of his people:
“It is you who have ruined my vineyard;
the plunder from the poor is in your houses.
15 What do you mean by crushing my people
and grinding the faces of the poor?”
declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.

Does this sound familiar to the Church today? My brothers and sisters let us wake up from our sleep.

Isaiah 3:16 The Lord says,
“The women of Zion are haughty,
walking along with outstretched necks,
flirting with their eyes,
strutting along with swaying hips,
with ornaments jingling on their ankles.
17 Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion;
the Lord will make their scalps bald.”

The women resembling the Church has become adulterous. No longer faithful to God but is prostituting herself in broad day light. Only self seeking, gratifying the flesh. Listening to other voices like Eve listened to the serpent and we know what happened. (Church ONLY the voice of GOD, Yes he DID say you will surely die)

Isaiah 3:17 Therefore the Lord will bring sores on the heads of the women of Zion;
the Lord will make their scalps bald.”

Why is God making her bold?

1 Corinthians 11:15
15 But if a woman has long hair, it is her ornament and glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering.

God is therefore stripping the woman/church of her Glory

This bring us to chapter 4 of Isaiah
Isaiah 4:4 And in that day [a]seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread and provide our own apparel; only let us be called by your name to take away our reproach [of being unmarried].

Now seven women will take hold of one man saying, We will eat our own bread and provide our own apparel; only let us be called by your name

These women only want their shame covered but they want to eat of THIER OWN BREAD. Ohh Lord help the Church today. The Church wants to be call by his name but they do not want to be fed by Christ. Christ is the Bread of Life but they want their OWN BREAD. Their OWN GOSPEL, They do not want to be clothed by their husband. They will cloth themselves. This Church has no Love, no Fidelity no Word No Covering.

May God help us to be the Ephesians 5 church that is subject to Christ as her head:

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the church, Himself the Savior of [His] body.
24 As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
26 So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word,
27 That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless].

Again “He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Corinthians 6:17).

GrowthPoint Bible Society says be blessed. See you at our Bible Study Session tonight August 30th at the Sunrise Hotel, Nairobi from 5pm to 8pm.

Come so we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith in the WORD of GOD.

23/08/2018

We continue with our study of Romans 1

Romans AMPC 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ, for it is God’s power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek"

The NIV Renders it this way

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

What is the Gospel: This Dictionary meaning was amazing

"gos·pel noun: gospel "the teaching or revelation of Christ" A REVELATION of Christ"

As we have seen before, Paul has reason to say this because he has a first hand understanding and experience of the revelation of Christ.

Galatians 1:15 "But when He, Who had chosen and set me apart [even] before I was born and had called me by His grace (His undeserved favor and blessing), saw fit and was pleased

16 To reveal (unveil, disclose) His Son within me so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles (the non-Jewish world) as the glad tidings (Gospel), immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood [did not consult or counsel with any frail human being or communicate with anyone]."

In Galatians 1:16 we see the unadulterated, PURE Gospel. This is the CORE of the massage that PAUL preaches. In fact the Revelator, God, ensured that this GOSPEL does not get contaminated. That is why after GOD saw it fit to reveal CHRIST in him, Paul says

In Galatians 1:16b"....immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood [did not consult or counsel with any frail human being or communicate with anyone]."

This is the unadulterated, PURE, direct download GOSPEL from God. Paul says in Galatians 1:12 "For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but [it came to me] through a [direct] revelation [given] by Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."

It is this GOSPEL that Paul is talking about in Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, understand this that: inherent in the GOSPEL, the GOSPEL in itself, not MAN, or any messenger thereof but the GOSPEL all by its self, the REVELATION of Christ in you, ROMANS 1:16 is saying and we quote it again "it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: ..(NIV)" The AMPC renders it this way "for it is God’s power working unto salvation [for deliverance from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a personal trust and a confident surrender and firm reliance..."

When preaching this GOSPEL there in no need for tricks and fake miracles NO. WHY? "because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

Romans 1:17 For in the Gospel a righteousness which God ascribes is revealed, both springing from faith and leading to faith [disclosed through the way of faith that arouses to more faith]. As it is written, The man who through faith is just and upright shall live and shall live by faith.

A righteousness which God ascribes is revealed. Hallelluya!!!

To GOD be the Glory "ROMANS 10:17 So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself)."

As this WORD is coming your way WELCOME him, Let him gain entrance into you,

John 1:12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—
13 Who owe their birth neither to [c]bloods nor to the will of the flesh [that of physical impulse] nor to the will of man [that of a natural father], but to God. [They are born of God!]

The POWER inherent in the GOSPEL.

This is a DNA change. What a father!!.

GrowthPoint Bible Society says be blessed. See you at our Bible Study Session tonight August 23rd at the Sunrise Hotel, Nairobi from 5pm to 8pm.

Come so we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith in the WORD of GOD.

16/08/2018

Romans 1:1 AMPC
"FROM PAUL, a bond servant of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) called to be an apostle, (a special messenger) set apart to [preach] the Gospel (good news) of and from God"

During our Bible study session last Thursday we studied Romans 1:1

Our emphasis was on Paul's introduction to the book of Romans.

We looked at his introduction of himself in two perspective:
1. An apostle
2. A bond slave

The message translation the bible renders it this way
Romans 1 :1 "I, Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ on assignment, ----"

Paul calls himself a devoted slave. We discovered that a bond slave is an obedient and devoted servant. He is not bound to man's opinion or human intervention but is one on an assignment and fully authorized to represent the Master.

To understand Paul better, in Galatians Paul introduces himself this way.

Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle—[special messenger appointed and commissioned and sent out] not from [any body of] men nor by or through [a]any man, but by and through Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and God the Father, Who raised Him from among the dead—

There is a TOTAL, unambiguous awareness of his allegiance(loyalty), servanthood, message and mission. His calling and commission is NOT "from [any body of] men nor by or through [a]any man, but by and through Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and God the Father" NOT even his own worldly ambition. He says, totally, without question, I am a SLAVE or a BOND SERVANT.

Galatians 1:10 Now am I trying to win the favor of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).
11 For I want you to know, brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not man’s gospel [a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standard].
12 For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but [it came to me] through a [direct] revelation [given] by Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."

Paul does not CARE about human approval, notoriety, or any opinions from man. He says I am a bond Servant of Christ. His training is directly from God his master. He has disregarded all the training he has had from Judaism and from the feet of Gamaliel his life long teacher before his conversion. He counts it as nothing.
Galatians 1:15‭-‬16 AMPC‬

“But when He, Who had chosen and set me apart [even] before I was born and had called me by His grace (His undeserved favor and blessing), saw fit and was pleased [Isa. 49:1; Jer. 1:5.] To reveal (unveil, disclose) His Son within me so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles (the non-Jewish world) as the glad tidings (Gospel), immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood [did not consult or counsel with any frail human being or communicate with anyone].”
For Paul and all of us, Christ must be revealed in us so that we might proclaim Him to the world.

This was very profound of a slave. One who is a bond servant totally devoted to the one who called Him. Paul knew he was chosen vessel and set apart. This is how God wants us to operate. We are set apart special vessel to God. We must heed to His call in our lives. He chose us we didn't choose Him. That is a true bond servant of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul declares he was called not on human terms but it was grace that singled him out to reveal Christ to the gentiles.
Going back to Galatians 1:1 AMPC

PAUL, AN apostle– [special messenger appointed and commissioned and sent out] not from [any body of] men nor by or through any man, but by and through Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and God the Father, Who raised Him from among the dead–

The second thing we learnt is Paul's Apostleship. We looked at the definition of an Apostle and discovered the word means a special messenger. Paul was on an assignment to proclaim God's words and acts. He was a special messenger with a special message from God. Galatians 1:1 above states clearly shows us that Paul's authority as an apostle didn't come through the appointment of some human intervention. His appointment came directly from our Lord Jesus the Messiah and God the Father who raised Him from the dead. Many call themselves but Paul was called specially by God with only one message that concerns God's Son and his need to be revealed in us. There are many who preach another message, but an Apostle is one singled out, set apart by Jesus Christ to preach the good news of Salvation.
Galatians 1:12‭-‬14 AMPC‬

For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but [it came to me] through a [direct] revelation [given] by Jesus Christ (the Messiah). You have heard of my earlier career and former manner of life in the Jewish religion (Judaism), how I persecuted and abused the church of God furiously and extensively, and [with fanatical zeal did my best] to make havoc of it and destroy it. And [you have heard how] I outstripped many of the men of my own generation among the people of my race in [my advancement in study and observance of the laws of] Judaism, so extremely enthusiastic and zealous I was for the traditions of my ancestors.
The Bible is clear that Paul didn't deserve to be called An Apostle because of is former life as a great persecutor of Christ. God chose him with the assignment of revealing Christ to the gentiles. It was God's grace that is why Paul is called the Apostle of grace

Come to the next GrowthPoint Bible Study Session as we continue from verse 1 of Romans. We meet tonight at the Sunrise Hotel from 5pm to 8pm. See you there

09/08/2018

Romans 1:11‭-‬12 NIV
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

It's amazing. Paul says

"I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—"

Brothers & Sisters, the spiritual gift (singular) Paul wanted to impart to them that would make them strong is very evident in verse 12:

Romans 1:12 That is, that we may be mutually strengthened and encouraged and comforted by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Paul was talking about the gift of MUTUAL ENCOURAGEMENT in the Lord. Paul new that if the Church could become one as the true body of Christ. Mutually encouraging one another it will grow strong. Paul was not coming to lecture theology from a point of authority to the Church in Rome. He was coming as a brother in humility to the only ONE AND ONLY TEACHER, "The HOLY SPIRIT" who is resident in every believer.

The gift of mutual encouragement. This calls for humility of all members of the body of Christ.

1 Peter 5:5 ---- Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, [b]so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)—[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble.
6 Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,
7 Casting the [c]whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, [d]once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you [e]watchfully.

1 Peter 5:5b instructs us to Cloth ourselves with humility. As in cover your NAKEDNESS with humility.

Humility will free you from pride and arrogance toward one another. This allows you to be able to MUTUALLY be encouraged by each other's faith. Submitting therefore to one another out of reverence for CHRIST who is in all those who believe

THE GIFT OF MUTUAL ENCOURAGMENT.

You can not be too "ANOINTED" to benefit from clothing yourself with HUMILITY.

1 Peter 5:6 AMPC
"Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,"

FINALY please note:

Only after verse 1 Peter 5:6 above can we proceed or graduate to verse 1 Peter 5:7-11 which says

7 Casting the [c]whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, [d]once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you [e]watchfully.
8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [[f]in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.
9 Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same ([g]identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.
10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.
11 To Him be the dominion (power, authority, rule) forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

Without Humility or submitting yourselves to God, to his WORD, you are MEAT for the devil. Without Humility you can not withstand the devil, be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same ([g]identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.

WE ARE ONE BODY

Ephesians 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

GrowthPoint Bible Society says be blessed. See you at our Bible Study Session tonight August 9th at the Sunrise Hotel, Nairobi from 5pm to 8pm. Come so we maybe mutually encouraged by each other's faith in the WORD of GOD.

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

05/08/2018

Here is what the Word says

James 4:3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. NIV

APMC renders it this way
James 4:3 [Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.
4 You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.
5 Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit [to be welcome] with a jealous love?
6 But He gives us more and more grace ([a]power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it).
7 So be subject to God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.

NIV renders it this way

James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

In order to resist the Devil we MUST be subject to GOD, in other words we MUST Submit yourselves to God. That means we MUST submit ourselves to the WORD OF GOD. But to submit to the WORD of GOD you MUST know his WORD. As this WORD gains entrance into your soul:

Isaiah 55:10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my WORD that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

We need the entrance of God's WORD.

Come to Bible Study and let the WORD of GOD gain entrance into our lives.

James 4:5 Or do you suppose that the Scripture is speaking to no purpose that says, The Spirit Whom He has caused to dwell in us yearns over us and He yearns for the Spirit [to be welcome] with a jealous love?

Romans 1013 For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved.
14 But how are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed [in Whom they have no faith, on Whom they have no reliance]? And how are they to believe in Him [adhere to, trust in, and rely upon Him] of Whom they have never heard?
7 So faith comes by hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the preaching [of the message that came from the lips] of Christ (the Messiah Himself).

The Bible is the WORD that comes from the lips of Christ.

FAITH comes by the entrance of GOD'S WORD

See you every Thursday 5pm to 8pm at Sunrise Hotel, Nairobi, Let us mutually encourage each other with HIS WORD.

05/08/2018

30/07/2018

Join us for the next GrowthPoint Bible Study Session at Sunrise Hotel, Nairobi every THURSDAY from 5pm to 8PM. We are studying Romans 1.

30/07/2018

Join us Every THURSDAY at Sunrise Hotel from 5pm to 8pm