CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR JULY 27, 2022 : TOPIC – AM I INCREASING ALL THE MORE?

CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR JULY 27, 2022 : TOPIC – AM I INCREASING ALL THE MORE?

LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

AM I INCREASING ALL THE MORE?

Read: Acts 9:20-22
[20]And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
[21]But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
[22]But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

MEMORISE: But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ (Acts 9:22).

EXPOSITION
In God never fancies stagnancy. Look at how He lampooned the stagnant and apostatising Hebrew brethren in Hebrews 5:11ff. His desire is that we get better in Him, by the day, attaining to the full stature of Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:29). Let us learn from how the new convert, Saul, fulfilled this.

Acts 9:22 confirms that he (Saul) increased all the more in strength (v. 22a). How? It all started with his conversion encounter with Christ (vv. 1-6). The next stage was his experience of being broken and purged, evidenced in his being made blind and plunged into a 3-day marathon fasting and prayer (vv. 8-9). Next is his experience of baptism and discipleship under Ananias (vv. 10-18). He also experienced discipleship/mentoring among the Damascus brethren (v. 19). Where are you being processed? Are you patient enough to be processed in the factory of the Holy Spirit in genuine discipleship?

One special thing worthy of note is Saul’s alarming rate of blending with Christ’s way (vv. 20,21), and this is informed by the fact of his commitment, and determination to grow in Christ (cf. Phil. 3:9,10). This is evident in his enormous knowledge and understanding of the Scripture as a result of rugged commitment to studying the Scripture in the light of Christ and fellowship with brethren. The rate at which Saul matured was alarming.

What is your rate of increase in Christ? How fast and well are you maturing in His things? Your maturity level and rate are evident to both God and people, and they determine what God would be willing to commit to you, and at what time. Be unrepentantly committed to increasing the more in the stature of our Lord Jesus Christ.

PRAYER POINT:
1. You spirit of stagnancy, out of my life, in Jesus’ name.
2. O Lord, grant my growth rate in You divine speed.
3. Lord, increase the awareness of, and interest in thorough discipleship for growth in our churches, in Jesus’ name.

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