The Gift of Growth- Personal Holiness
- Mike Barr
- Jul 31
- 2 min read
Verse of the Week
Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 2:12-13 “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
Weekly Message
These two beautiful scriptures were written by the Apostle Paul while he was being held in prison. In fact, the discussion of his confinement is laid out in between them as he wrote the book of Philippians. Paul knew that personal holiness was both a supernatural work of God and the ultimate desire of God’s heart for His people. But that work requires a surrendered life of intentionality on our part for that desire to be achieved. Paul, now writing from jail, was encouraging the Church of Philippi to continue in their growth of holiness while he was absent from their lives. In other words, he was explaining to them how it was ultimately their responsibility, not his as their spiritual father and leader, to partner with God and grow in true holiness.
Weekly prayer
Father, I pray for a greater revelation of your holiness in my life. I pray that your holiness would permeate every aspect of my emotions, my desires, my ambitions, my will and my thinking. I also pray for the grace to live a more surrender life and the capacity to grow in that grace as well. In your Son’s precious name I pray – Amen.
Interaction Question
Can you identify one area of your life that isn’t truly surrendered to God’s holiness and are you willing to fully surrender it starting now?
Written by: Mike Barr
David, that’s such a mature statement. You truly have a “Deep water walk” with God. So powerful brother!!
I would say consistency. Recently God has shown me that the fruit of faithfulness is an empowerment for consistency. But I am growing in the grace and have much room to grow.
Wow. Wow. Wow. Just wow.
I applaud your heart. Wow. 🔥
While I am a tither and a giver, the area in my life that is not totally surrendered is finances. During the course of my life, I have rarely given sacrificially. That's my prayer, to be totally surrendered to the Lord.....totally!
I believe putting things into my own understanding, not the trusting or believing in God’s word but the actual doing once I hear His word. And I believe me trying to get a starting point causes procrastination because I hear the plan and Spiritually see the vision but then flesh says, “now how will you do this” and just that quick my plan try’s to take over. But Pro.3:5~6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
So I need to surrender my Yes and trust. And remove my plans from Gods vision for me.
Amen