Spiritual Growth and Elevation Insights

Nov 21, 2024

Lecture Notes: Spiritual Elevation and Personal Growth

Opening Prayer

  • Express gratitude for divine intervention and guidance.
  • Pray for a connection with heaven and spiritual clarity.

Welcoming Message

  • Welcome participants to the gathering, referred to as "God's citadel."
  • Emphasize the communal aspect: "God's citadel, your citadel, my citadel, our citadel."

Theme for 2024: Unusual and Uncommon Elevation

  • Prayer for 2024 to be a year of elevation.
  • Personal experience of hearing Yoruba language in the spirit, indicating divine communication.
  • Reference to Jesus speaking in parables and sometimes plainly.

Biblical Illustration: David's Anointing

  • Context: Story from 1 Samuel 16.
    • God rejects Saul as king.
    • Samuel anoints David, the youngest son of Jesse, as the next king.
    • Emphasis on God's choice being based on the heart, not appearance.
  • Key Points:
    • David's elevation is unusual as he was not the firstborn.
    • Anointing occurred while Saul was still king.
    • David's rise symbolizes God's ability to elevate unexpectedly.

Lessons from Saul's Rejection

  • Reason for Rejection: Disobedience and valuing people's opinion over God's command (1 Samuel 15).
    • "To obey is better than sacrifice."
  • Saul's kingdom was torn from him due to rebellion.

Personal Reflection on Obedience

  • Experience of divine command to "take a form and leave the rest to God."
  • Lesson on the foolishness and wisdom of God's guidance.

Elevation Through Obedience

  • Example: Saul's disobedience contrasting with David's faithfulness.
    • David's anointing led to the Spirit of the Lord coming upon him.

Renewal of Identity: Jacob to Israel

  • Genesis 32: Jacob's wrestling with God leads to a name change to Israel.
  • Importance of aligning behavior with new identity.
  • Genesis 35: Further affirmation of Jacob's new identity and blessing.

Personal Reflection: Self-Perception

  • Question: How do you feel about yourself?
    • Discusses self-perception in relation to others' success.
  • Matthew 22:34-40: Love your neighbor as yourself.
    • Importance of self-love in fulfilling the commandment to love others.

Loving Yourself

  • Key Insight: Your behavior towards others reflects your self-love.
    • Paul’s teaching on loving one's spouse as oneself (Ephesians 5:28-29).

Overcoming Self-Hate and Guilt

  • Steps to Renewal:
    1. Understand Jesus' sacrifice for you.
    2. Embrace the love of God poured into your heart.
    3. Let go of guilt and allow Jesus to cleanse you.
  • Biblical Examples: Moses, Peter, and Paul overcoming past failures.

Conclusion: Embrace Your Year of Elevation

  • Encourage participants to rid themselves of self-hate and embrace God's elevation.
  • Stand firm in faith and renew your mind for spiritual growth.

Closing Prayer

  • Pray for unusual and uncommon elevation in 2024.
  • Encourage participants to embrace God's love and purpose for their lives.