10 BARRIERS TO BELIEVERS SPIRITUAL GROWTH
It is a privilege to be who are, not truly a merit. “Vessels of glory are always vessels of mercy” says Gbile Akanni. No one make progress in life because of their own doings but it is God that showeth Mercy.
There are so many things so many believers do, but here is few things that doesn’t impress me and when you do it no matter who you are, I see it as you are not wise no matter who you think you are:
1. SWOWING OFF:
I don’t care how good, gifted and talented you are but if you have to show off and tell everyone about it you are not as good, gifted and talented as you think. (Proverbs 25:14; 27:1-2) Stop showing off.
“When you think yourself to be very high minded, the truth is, it is because you don’t know yourself. If you think you are so important before people and that’s why everyone is looking for you, then you are not wise. Humble yourself and know that you are not as important as you think”
“Stop showing off, it doesn’t change anything. Let people see the need to do so for you. Sometimes the best you may be showing off might be someone’s else’s least expectation about you”
2. HYPOCRISY:
HYPOCRISY is the act of given good impression about yourself where as you are something else in the secret. HYPOCRISY is the genesis of showing off. There are those who pray and do things only because they are aware that someone is taking note of them. There are people who don’t have a personal prayer life or personal studying life but the day you visit them they put an act to show you what they are not. To them being a Christian is being religious and full of Hypocrisy.
Often times I keep seeing people exhibiting these disgusting habits:
¶ When you are living with people in a confine environment or room, don’t sit there praying and shouting when the rest are sleeping, because you are not praying but causing nuisance. and making noise
¶ Don’t act too Spiritual when you are in the means of people, you are certainly not, don’t play music or gospel messages to distract the peace of others.
¶ Be conservative and stop showing off. A secret prayer life is more effective than a public prayer life. Those who show in the public how much they pray are certainly not prayer warriors. True prayer warriors are not known for blowing trumpets about how they pray.
3. CRITICITISM:
“Criticitism is a product of ignorance and those who judge and critize others are not wise. Don’t judge people base on what others told you about them; judge no man but if you must judge, judge people base on what you know about them. Rumors can make you dislike innocent people. Be wise and say NO to Criticitism, it is an act of unrighteousness to criticize people”
“When all you see is the shortcomings of people you would never see your own shortcomings. Hypocrites points accusing fingers on others what they might be guilty of”
“You don’t have the moral right to criticize or judge others unless you are perfect and if you are not perfect but you still criticize others then maybe you don’t know your own problem, because those who don’t know their own problems see problem in others who might just be better than them”
4. NEGATIVITY AND FEAR:
“Fear hath a torment …” Negative people want you to think like them and believe their fears. They don’t see anything wrong with their negative attitude and with what they do but they always see something in people to correct. They want you to believe what is things that are not after you. Negative people see fault in everything and never see what is good.
5. OVERCONFIDENCE & PRIDE:
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18) “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5)
Pride always object to everything people say or do. He thinks himself too higher than he ought to. His pride could be base on his knowledge, position, exposition, position, talents or gifts. He tries to pull down others and always want to be the object of attraction. He feels he is alright without anyone and don’t see anyone better than Him. His pride make him to be overconfident and contentious. His pride make him disregard counsel and instructions. “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Proverbs 29:1)
6. POSITION SEEKING:
The expectations of most contentious believers is attention and recognition. He is never satisfied being a flow member unless someone has given him a special introduction according to His level of achievement. He claims he doesn’t seek after position, power or recognition but all his actions shows that’s what he looks for. Those who put their heart and attention on the crown of position hardly get it but those who forget the crown and give attention to building their character are always get the privilege of being crown. Don’t seek position, find yourself a position where you are willing to genuinely live, serve others and be satisfied without recognition
7. ARGUEMENT:
“The way of the fool is right in his own eyes…” (Proverbs 12:16a). Argument is not part of the fruit of the Spirit; and those who go about argueing with people who are filled of their own ways are not wise “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like him” (Proverbs 26:4)
“Everyway of a man is right in his own eyes…” (Proverbs 21:2a) and “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25). Argument is the nature a fools. If you sit up in a place trying to argue and prove what is right or who is right or wrong then you are not wise. If they think they are right, let them be right but never argue with anyone about anything.
8. DECEIT AND LYING:
“Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil….” “The lip of truth shall be established; but a lying tongue is but for a moment” Being deceitful is being cunning; it is not being alrightly honest and sincere in what you say or do. So many believers lie to cover up their deceitful nature but “He that told a lie is not innocent..” Why Is Lying a Problem? “Lying is harmful to ourselves and to the people we are in relationships with. Lying is an act of betrayal, and it violates the trust your friend, partner, or family member is trying to build with you. When people uncover lies, depending on how damaging the lies are, some relationships are ruined beyond repair. The risk is not worth losing such a valuable connection. Lying also goes more complicated the longer someone lies” Pray like the Psalmist, “Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue (Psalm 120:2)
9. EYE SERVICE:
“Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (Ephesians 6:6)
Eye service is the acting of doing what you don’t do or won’t do naturally simply with an attempt to please or impress someone in search of favour or in to avoid seen not being faithful. It doesn’t matter how many times you make everyone to believe you are faithful, but “Be not deceive: God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Galatians 6:7-8)
10. JEALOUSY ENVY & EVIL SPEAKING:
A jealous and envious man cannot stand to see anyone doing better than him. When he see someone doing better than him, he must look for something to discredit such a person and say alot of ill things against such person out of Hypocrisy.
“Jealousy is a form of hatred built upon insecurity.” “Jealousy is when you count someone else’s blessings instead of your own.”
Charles G Finney said, “When there are dissensions, and jealousies, and evil speakings among professors of religion, then there is great need of a revival. These things show that Christians have got far from God, and it is time to think earnestly of a revival.”
“People who are intimidated by you talk bad about you with hopes that others won’t find you so appealing. Don’t ruin other people’s happiness just because you can’t find your own.”
“Don’t compare your insides with other people’s outsides.” According to Jerry Bridge, “The cure for the sin of envy and jealousy is to find our contentment in God.” All these are the characteristics of the natural man who think himself to be more higher than he ought to. Examine yourself today and repent from all these if you exhibiting any of these.
I agree with Charles G Finney, “When there are dissensions, and jealousies, and evil speakings among professors of religion, then there is great need of a revival. These things show that Christians have got far from God, and it is time to think earnestly of a revival.” Christ is far from anyone who exhibit these works of the flesh.O
