Personal Growth

By Min. Irene Kitamirike – Member of the KLT Mass Choir, Entrepreneur, Mother, Mentor and Graduate Science in Information Technology.(MUK) KLT Eagles Service – 30^th March, 2023

Personal growth is the ability of an individual to rise from one level of competence to another, higher. Personal Growth is an individual effort, follow along to know why.

Zacchaeus in today’s modern age is what would be a definition of a successful person, chief tax agent Say at URA.  Body height to him is not a matter of concern. His Status Quo was of good height as some millennials would Say. It is still stunning to Imagine a Rich man, a full Oga not walking but running to climb a tree. Even us in our insufficiency, there’s if any, a handful of events that could make some of us run, with extreme consideration climb a tree on any given day. Up until today, I still have the question consciously in my mind, “Why Zacchaeus??” Rich! Employed! Respected! high profile! Why throw all that under the bus?

There’s something that we carry, you and me, something valuable, something in Christ, something that Christ passed on to us that even people that the world respects do not have. We might not see it but its there. Crowds followed Jesus but not all saw it. Imagine the lady that took the initiative to touch the helm of his garment.

The point is, when you walk right and purpose to grow yourself as Jesus did, you will reach an extent that even the wealthy can’t do without you. Am communicating to someone out there that’s looked down on them selves at certain moments in their life. You’ve thought, May be there’s someone else that’s better than me. Just work on your self and rest will be aligned your way.

Zacchaeus was running to Jesus that he didn’t have, despite presumably having it all before the eyes of men, he lacked Jesus. Literally speaking Zacchaeus is short, summarized. We can be a point in time where we have everything but we are short, we can’t see Jesus, we have to climb a tree. When Zacchaeus climbed the tree, guess what, boom Jesus saw him and transformation begun. “Ooh Zacchaeus, today I’ll be at you house” Genuine growth begins in the spiritual realm. (Matthew 13:32)

What we are is the out come of constant cultivation of our spiritual being. We have looked at the seasons of spiritual growth for the month of March Ploughing, Planting, Weeding & Harvesting. Considering a mustard seed, that’s what we’re. Life of a farmer revolves around a seed. Figuratively, plant can work as an illustration of growth. When a seed is planted, firstly, it dies; when Zacchaeus ran ahead of the crowd to climb the tree, he broke all protocol of the wealthy, he died to self-statue. He took on a personal initiative to see that which he perceived of Christ. Even us, as a mustard seed, we’re meant to die upon planting, forget the former and now focus on why you had to climb the tree.

Why do we need to climb the tree [why die to self, why get planted]?

1. We’re a mustard seed – when fully grown we are to be a source of provision as a Mustard Tree that grows too big.
2. Jesus grew – As a role model in Luke 2:52. (…increase in stature, wisdom and favor with God)

Wisdom is the ability to apply befitting knowledge into one’s life. Not Knowing as often confused, its application. Jesus Spent 33 years on earth, 30 of those acquiring knowledge. Even when he knew so much about everything, its not the knowledge that made him wise, it’s the application of this knowledge that made him wise. He knew he was going to face the presidents of the time. He knew he had to sit in debates and be able to defend, to defend the Bible. He had to defend his father’s kingdom, but he does not defend the Kingdom by only knowing about the Kingdom he needed knowledge of the world as well. The reason why we have to go to school is to acquire that knowledge and then when we’ve got out of there, be able to defend the Kingdom of God against any odds.

James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you”

As mentioned earlier, Growth begins in the spiritual. Jesus starts his journey with the wilderness. This is basically P.1, He cannot just face the world although he has so much knowledge, he had to humble himself in the wilderness and pray for 40 days.

It’s is important to note: We do not grow in knowledge, we accumulate knowledge. We rather grow in wisdom.

It’s not possible to talk about the Bibilical context of Wisdom without mentioning Arguably the wisest Human to ever live, King Solomon,

2 Chronicles 1:11, Then God said to Solomon, because this was in your heart and you have not asked riches or wealth or Honor or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked Long Life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may judge my people over whom I have made you king.

We see that, Wisdom and knowledge are granted to Solomon, along with riches and wealth and Honor, beyond any of the kings that Israel had seen before.

 Solomon Applying James 1:5 that says if anyone lack wisdom, Let them ask of me.

Solomon asks for wisdom because he knew that having knowledge without the ability to apply it is useless. We have been told so much in this church, but if you cannot be able to apply it, then it becomes useless. We have read so much. We have listened to so many sermons, but if we cannot be able to apply, It is useless. It is God who gives us wisdom. And the reason why we acquire wisdom, is to be able to apply it because of our responsibilities towards the kingdom.

If you are responsible in something small, God will give you wisdom on how to handle it, and eventually it’ll become bigger and bigger as your responsibility circles will grow.

One time when I was meditating, I realized, Once you know what to do with what you have, the universe can trust you with more. It is not wise to ask for more. It is wise to ask for wisdom on how to handle the little that we.

Today I have come just to encourage someone; Begin with what you have. If you have a responsibility at your home, begin from there, God will give you more wisdom on how to handle bigger things, start small it maybe a team that you lead at your hostel, Class, Village or at your workplace. Ask God to give you wisdom on how to guide the team or that one person you’ll be amazed at how much you can be able to do, and eventually that is what the world is looking for. The reason why Jesus grew was because he had the responsibility of the whole world on his shoulders, it was inevitable. He had to grow. He had to increase in wisdom.

Like Zacchaeus, when you add what you have on the Christ that you meet, it’ll be able to benefit others as a master seed. Do not remain a master seed, a local champion, where you are the one that is ahead of everyone. You are the only one that is being celebrated. You are the only one that knows everything. And then you reach a point where you feel like you do not see the need for growing because everyone around you is below you. praise the Lord. It is good to look ahead and see who is higher, see something in them, Fall in love with that, and then begin to pursue it. You can never be the highest. You can never be the only champion. Wisdom helps us to realize that we have stayed in a place for so long. It helps us to realize that it’s time to move on.

As we wrap up, The growth process begins in the spiritual realm, where we cultivate our spiritual being. It is only after ploughing, planting, weeding, and harvesting (catch up on these series on our YouTube Channel: Kingdom Life Tabernacle – Uganda.) that we can experience the fullness of our growth. We are like mustard seeds that grow too big and become a source of provision when fully grown.

Jesus serves as a role model for personal growth, as he increased in stature, wisdom, and favour with God. Wisdom is not only about acquiring knowledge but also applying it to our lives. James 1:5 advises us to ask God for wisdom, and He will generously give it to us.

Solomon, who asked God for wisdom and knowledge instead of riches, wealth, and honour, was granted all these things and more. This shows that growth in wisdom and knowledge leads to greater success in all areas of life.

To the body of Christ, we have no choice but to grow. We have no choice but to be to better ourselves., personal growth is a continuous process of becoming better versions of ourselves. It requires individual effort, determination, and a focus on our spiritual growth. Let us all strive for personal growth in all areas of our lives and seek God’s wisdom and knowledge to achieve success.