Sunday Words of Encouragement September 10, 2023, Five Enemies of Growth

Our Sunday School teacher had a good message today which he titled “Cheating on God.”
The lesson was based on the scripture James 4:1-5.

Our service included Communion and a guest pastor, Duke Matlock, (author of Get Up and Grow).
Pastor Matlock identified Five Enemies of Growth.
He referenced the story of the talents from Matthew 25:14-29.
He noted that his greatest challenge was always self. His second greatest challenge was developing team, and the third is developing leaders.

To Pastor Matlock the desert looks lifeless, but grass and trees show life. He encouraged us to invest in God's talents... We need to have a healthy mindset. We want life to count. We are taught to have a future we need growth. No human has reached full potential, but the future is filled with hope. We can be committed to being better each day.
Growing and improving positions us for God's favor. Sometimes we set our goals too small.

Enemy 1 - ego. There is a fine line between confidence and arrogance. We should never fail to recognize God's favor.
Enemy 2 - complacency. Just going along is not growing. We need to go beyond to nurture the relationship with God and others.
Enemy 3 - distractions. Things of the world – like a boat and a Harley – are distractions from God’s kingdom.
Enemy 4 – our past. Past success does not predict future success.
Enemy 5 - laziness. Each Growth journey has to be active.

God has equipped you for His purpose.
We have three “friends” to help our growth:
Desire for things of God (Matthew 5:6).
Discipline.
Determination.

Why do you follow and worship God? We choose God. Each person has to choose for themselves.
People learn by being loved and loving others. God wants to do something with each person.

I found this song for today: I Still Choose You.

Verses for Today:
Excerpts from Matthew 25:14-29.
19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’
21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’

24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’
26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.


Heavenly Father, I praise you for all you have provided. Help me to choose You each and every day.