Cleric Identifies Factors Hindering Christians Growth, God’s Blessings

Christians have been advised to be steadfast and diligent in their service to God, even in times of challenges in order to experience true harvest and divine favour, as anything to the contrary could hinder spiritual growth.

Rev. Rotshak Yiltu of the COCIN Church Headquarters, Jos, Plateau State, gave the admonition on Sunday, at the 2025 Revival/Annual Harvest and Thanksgiving Service, held at ECWA 5 Mile-6 in Jalingo.

The cleric, who spoke on the theme, “Break Up Your Fallow Ground and Do Not Sow Among Thorns,” explained that many Christians struggle through life and fail to reap meaningful harvests because the thorns in their lives symbolise sin, disobedience and spiritual negligence.

Rev Yiltu said until those factors hindering their progress are uprooted, they would continue to face the troubles of life.

He added that unless believers intentionally deal with the negative habits and spiritual barriers limiting their progress, they would continue to sow without harvesting.

“If the thorns in one’s life have not been uprooted, such a person will keep struggling. To work out your salvation means you must not disobey God’s word.”

Rev. Yiltu emphasised that the coming of Jesus Christ provided salvation for mankind, but inheriting the Kingdom of God requires meeting certain divine expectations.

According to him, gratitude and thanksgiving are part of these demands that must be met to attract God’s attention.

He further said, as christians, it is important to appreciate God for preserving their lives in health and for providing needs, despite the challenges and uncertainties recorded in 2025.

“In spite of so many evils and bad occurrences within the year, it is important to appreciate God for keeping us safe in health and in wealth,” Rev. Yiltu stated.

He encouraged worshippers to cultivate a lifestyle of testimony, faith declaration, and positive expectation, and further urged Christians to guard their tongues, as any negative declaration from their mouth, either a joke becomes their prophecy.

“If you begin to testify, speaking into your expectations in faith, speaking good about your life, God will not only remember you in times of distress, He will grant your desires,” he added.

The Jos based cleric, also urged Christians to develop a renewed mindset, one that sees possibility in adversity and hope in difficult circumstances.

“I want you to see a place of lack or even a place of death as a place of supply, because God’s faithfulness becomes visible when believers break the barriers limiting their spiritual growth.”