WHERE DREAMS GROW

By Anne Irungu

For anything to grow and flourish, it must be provided with the best and most appropriate circumstances. Our dreams will need a biblical atmosphere, which is motivation.

1. MOTIVATING PROPERLY

Take it higher by getting deeper in the bible. Go through the bible on your own and write down everything that you find motivational.

1 Thessalonians 1:3
Faith was the basis of the Thessalonians' work.

Q. What is your motivation?

If your roots are well established, then you will grow, but if you are shallow, then your ministry will be the same.

Love will produce great labour. When you do things out of duty, on the other hand, you will easily complain, burn out and give up when you meet an obstacle.

Endurance: they knew what they were hoping for and so endured.

Q. Do you endure through challenges or do you easily give up?

In you life and in the lives of the disciples around you and those whom you lead, don't focus on the fruit, i.e. work, labour and endurance, but on the roots, i.e. faith, love and hope. When the roots are in good shape, the fruit will follow.

Several things that should motivate us are:

a. THE WORD OF GOD

We must get back to the word of God:

Mark 4:14, 20 The farmer sows the seed of the word of God and produces fruit.
Hebrews 4:12 The word of God is living and active and is the only thing that will change.
1 Corinthians 3:6,7 Our role is to plant and water. God brings about the fruit.
Mark 4:26,27 The word grows like seed in soil and provides long-term motivation.

1 Corinthians 13:13
Q. Do you understand love? We must love God and people.

b. WINNING GOD'S APPROVAL

Q. Who is God to you and what is your view of him? Q. What do you want from your relationship with God?

Colossians 3:23 Remember that you need to be real and accountable because of God. c. FEAR OF GOD

2 Corinthians 5:10
We are all held accountable for the choices that we make here on earth.

d. LOVE FOR OTHERS

2 Corinthians 5:11
Luke 16:27,28 Until you appreciate heaven, you will not be urgent to love others and help them to get there.

John 16:8 You do not have love if you cannot talk to your friends and relatives about Jesus

e. LOVE FOR CHRIST

Q. What things have you learnt about Christ? Live them out.

Galatians 2:20 We have life in God because of Christ's love for us.

f. THE MISSION

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 Our mission is from God alone.
2 Corinthians 6:1 We are God's fellow workers.

g. A HOPE OF HEAVEN

2 Corinthians 5:8 Paul lived daily for Christ. Q. Do you really understand heaven? Does it motivate you?
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

h. JESUS

John 3:14,15 Q. Do you know and teach about Jesus, or are you limited only to the first principles classes?
John 12:32 It is important that as you make disciples and disciple Christians you draw people to Jesus and not to yourself.

1 Corinthians 2:1,2 All that Paul wanted to understand was Christ and him crucified. That was his overriding desire and priority.

Q. What position have you given Christ in your life?

2 Corinthians 4:10,11 Christ has got to be revealed in you - in every one of us - when you speak.
Philippians 3:7,8 Q. Do you have your priorities right? Christ must be first.

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