Very briefly in this article, I just want to share with us on a subject matter that is simple and very relevant to us as believers when it comes to our day-to-day commuting in this part of eternity. I want to share with us on what has been titled: Building Spiritual Capacity. Somebody may say: why do I even need to build spiritual capacity, of what use is it going to be to me? The truth of the matter is that we live in a physical world, yet, we need spiritual capacity to go through it. Paul said something profound in Ephesians 6:10-13:

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

There exists all manner of capacity buildings available to man. There is the physical capacity, there is intellectual capacity, and there is the spiritual capacity. Our focus actually is on building spiritual capacity. The starting point to building spiritual capacity is to first and foremost understand what spiritual capacity is. When we talk about spiritual capacity, it is not the same as physical capacity or intellectual capacity or financial capacity. As a matter of fact, physical, intellectual or financial capacity has little or nothing to do when it comes to spiritual capacity. A man may look physically capable, intellectually sound; but may be totally weak when it comes to spiritual capabilities.

The Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8:27, he had money, he had influence, he was educated, but he didn’t have the spiritual capacity when it comes to understanding the word of God. When it comes to building spiritual capacity, there is no way we can do it outside of God. Building spiritual capacity is the main deal because man is spirit, and God dwells in the spiritual realm. So, spiritual capacity is built

 

What it requires to Build Spiritual Capacity

- The Holy Spirit

We live in the dispensation of the Holy Spirit and there is no way we would build spiritual capacity outside of Him. We need the ministry of the Holy Spirit more than we need anything else. One of the things that the Holy Spirit does is that He gives us strenght on the inside. The Christian life is a life that is lived from the inside-out. Paul said in the verses below:

“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— ¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Ephesians 3:16-19

 

- Prayer

Another way to build spiritual capacity is through prayer. Prayer is much more than asking God for bread and butter, prayer develops us and builds in us the capacity to go through life by the strength it supplies. Jesus said in Luke 18:1 that men ought always to pray and not faint. The result of a prayerless life is a fainting life. Paul said in Jude 1:20 to build up ourselves on our faith by praying in the Holy Ghost. If you don’t pray, there is no building up that would take place. At that point when it feels Jesus was getting tired of His assignment, when He was approaching the end of it, the Bible says He became sorrowful and was greatly distressed. What does that tell us? It means that at that moment, His physical strenght was not enough to go through that spiritual assignment and burden. So, the Bible made us to understand that He went to pray. The result of that prayer we discovered helped Jesus to complete His assignment on earth. Read the portion of the Bible below for a robus understanding.

“Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” ³⁷ And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. ³⁸ Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.” ³⁹ He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” ⁴⁰ Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? ⁴¹ Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” ⁴² Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.” ⁴³ And He came and found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So He left them, went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. ⁴⁵ Then He came to His disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Rise, let us be going. See, My betrayer is at hand.”

Matthew 26:36-44

 

- Knowledge

You cannot build spiritual capacity if you don’t have the knowledge of the word of God. It is a shameful thing not to have the knowledge of God. How do you get the knowledge of God? The answer is simple: from the word of God. The Bible contains what God is to us. The Bible is our manual, it is our express entry into God. So, you want to develop spiritual capacity, you cannot do it outside the knowledge of God. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:34: Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. What does that tell us? It means it is a shameful thing not to have the knowledge of God.

It is a shame for you to know everything in the world but do not know anything about God, Paul said it is a shame. The knowledge of the word of God brings us to the place of having an intimate relationship with God.

 

I believe you have learnt something! 

Thanks for the gift of your time, We are Obayomi Abiola Benjamin and Lara Gboyega Adedeji!

Feel free to share your thoughts or testimony in the comment box below. I promise to respond to them as soon as possible!