Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

At one point, D.L. Moody was scheduled to hold a Revival meeting in England. An elderly pastor protested, “Why do we need this ‘Mr. Moody’? He’s uneducated and inexperienced. Who does he think he is anyway? Does he think he has a monopoly on the Holy Spirit?” 

 A younger, but wiser pastor rose and responded, “No, but the Holy Spirit has a monopoly on Mr. Moody.”

When we accepted Christ as our personal Saviour, the Holy Spirit began to dwell in us permanently. Now, as we live the Christian life, God desires for us to give up total control to Him.

God commands, “Be filled with the Spirit.” This means we are willing to yield to God complete and total control of our lives.

Who is in control of your life?

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

Prior to 1954, it was believed that running a mile in less than four minutes was impossible. Yet, for the young athlete, Roger Bannister, he was determined to do what everyone else had said was impossible. But in 1954, Bannister broke the four minute barrier, and then 46 days later, it was broken again by John Landy. It took one man to prove that it could be done so that others might follow.

The Christian life can be filled with difficulties so overwhelming that we might say, “This is impossible!” The truth is that there are challenges too hard for a Christian to overcome in his own strength. That is why Zechariah says, “…Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, Saith the LORD of hosts.”

The Spirit of God empowers change from the inside out. So, instead of mission impossible, God’s Spirit can bring victory.

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

In a Charlie Brown Christmas Charlie Brown was having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit. Linus told him, “Charlie Brown, you’re the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem.”

Many Christians today have a similar experience. Although life is filled with many wonderful blessings from God, they are weary, discouraged, and ready to quit.

As we walk with Christ though, He renews our strength and restores our joy. The Psalmist said, “…the LORD is the strength of my life…” (Psalm 27:1). God’s sustaining strength helps us when we are weary to continue faithfully.

C.H. Spurgeon stated, “A genuine revival without joy in the Lord is as impossible as spring without flowers.” May we draw close to Christ and be renewed and revived.

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

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As a young teen, our family went to visit Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico. As we prepared to go to the cavern, we purchased our tickets and we were each given a device that looked like the old walkman. It was our own personal, electronic tour guide. 

As you walked through the cavern, sensors would cause the device to begin playing the audio guide to tell you about the formations. The only problem was I received a device that was not operational. It would play, but it had nothing to do with the area where we were. My audio guide failed me.

Although man’s guidance may fail, the Spirit of God will never fail to guide us into the path of truth.  In John 14, He promises His disciples that the Spirit of God would be a guide in our lives.  If you are struggling with direction, seek the Lord’s help, who never ceases to offer His care.

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

In the final hours before the cross, Jesus demonstrated His deep love and concern for the disciples. He was about to “Lay down his life for his friends.” Yet, instead of worry for self, we see Him investing in the disciples. He knew that the next few hours, days, and weeks would be incredibly hard for the disciples, so He told them, “be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Christians deal with heartaches and trials just as unbelievers do. In the midst of Life’s trouble, God promises His help, grace, and strength through the person of the Holy Spirit. When you find that life is offering you lemons, remember that God has offered His Spirit to comfort, guide, and care for us in our time of need. 

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

Do you remember playing with the different shaped blocks as a child? There was a square, a circle, and a triangle, and you were supposed to fit each one through the correct hole in an adjacent block.

When God created man, He placed within each of us hole that could only be filled with His presence. Although we have attempted to fill that hole with many different things, there is only one person that will satisfy the longing in our lives.

Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever.” The presence of God’s Holy Spirit is the only thing that can offer man a satisfied heart and life. Every other pursuit will leave you longing for more. Today, God invites you to trust in Him and know the power of His presence in your life.

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham

Years ago, I heard the story of a child who had gotten saved, and his father told him that according to Ephesians 3:17, Jesus lived in him. Amazed, then he looked in the mirror and asked, “How does he fit? He must be sticking out somewhere!”

At the very moment of your salvation, God Himself came to live within you. The Bible says that, “…your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you…”. The body of the believer becomes the place where God dwells, and the implication is our lives are sanctified for His use.

In every way we are affected by this nearness of God. It affects how we think and feel. Instead of growing fearful, we can be courageous knowing He is near. Instead of dwelling on the failures of the past, we can instead think about the opportunities that lie before us. You see, the presence of God’s Spirit in our life transforms us from the inside out.

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

As a child, I often needed wisdom and direction from those that were older. For example, I needed my parents to teach me not to put objects in the receptacles in the house. I needed council to avoid destructive friendships.  I needed advice on how to follow the will of God in my life. I would often rely on the wisdom of parents, pastors, and other godly mentors in my life.  

As we age, this need for wisdom and discernment doesn’t go away. In fact, as adults, our need for discernment is even greater than when we were mere children. 

The Great King Solomon asked God, “give therefore thy servant an understanding heart…” As he began to lead the people of God, He needed the help of God.

Today, the Bible is a guide that when we read, study, and meditate on it becomes a guide for every area and need in our life.

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

One of the most popular fish for aquariums is a shark. Yet, you don’t catch a giant, eight foot shark; rather, you find a young shark that is only six inches long. If you catch a small shark and confine it, it will stay size proportionate to the aquarium you put it in. Sharks can be six inches long yet fully matured. But if you turn them loose in the ocean, they grow to their normal length of eight feet.

That is like what happens to some Christians. Some Christians are stuck in a small aquarium that has limited their growth. The boundaries of this aquarium are not made of glass, but of insecurity, doubt, and fear. Yet, when they get in God’s Word, they see the Bible is able to set them free from these confines so that they can grow!  

As the Bible says, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him…”

Welcome to Daily Growth Point, I’m Pastor John Bingham.

In ninth grade history class, our teacher had a notorious habit of starting the class with, “Open your books, read the chapter, and answer the questions at the end of the chapter. Turn in your work by the end of the class.” Then, he would promptly sit down and take a nap.

Needless to say, my love of history died that year. But, when I entered Bible college, my love of history was revived because it was not just about facts, but about understanding the riches of who God is.

When we read the Bible, it is not just a history book where we are learning facts. Instead, it is a spiritual book where we can learn about who God is. This is why we are encouraged to “…grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord…” Studying the Bible gives us a deeper richer love for the One that loves us and gave himself for us.