HLM Live | LIVING IN CONTINUOUS INCREASE pt.2 | Next Level Series | Elvis Ghansah PENTECOST Sunday

The Holy Spirit stands as the Helper who makes possible what flesh cannot do, so the call to “continuous increase” is not wishful thinking but grace-enabled growth. The path of the righteous “shines brighter and brighter,” so the life aligned with Christ does not stay the same year after year; it advances in maturity and likeness to Jesus. Colossians 1:10 names the shape of this advance: to “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” “Walk worthy” means a day by day lifestyle that actually reflects the teachings of Christ, not just head knowledge. Because self-direction leads to destruction, the Spirit’s leading and the Word as the manual become non-negotiable lights for the path.

“Fully pleasing Him” presses into every sphere. Honor to God is measured in consistent obedience, not convenience. “Bearing fruit in every good work” insists that faith spill into practical kindness and service. Tongues and prayers without character ring hollow; since people will offend and disappoint, only grace and the Spirit keep goodness steady. Those who belong to Christ, bought with a price, keep doing good because God is the Rewarder.

“Increasing in the knowledge of God” moves from secondhand religion to personal encounter. Like Paul’s “that I may know Him,” the believer learns Christ through Scripture, communion, and daily fellowship. Real encounter with Jesus produces a real turnaround and resilient perseverance, not seasonal attendance and on-again, off-again devotion. In a fast world full of distraction, growth requires intention and holy discipline.

“Favor creates expected advancements.” Psalm 84:11 names God as sun and shield, the Giver of grace and glory who withholds no good thing from those who walk uprightly. Favor warms, grows, and protects like the sun; it does what toil cannot. Esther’s rise shows how God parents the orphan, mentors the unqualified, and opens doors no one can shut. Favor does not follow rules; it rewrites outcomes.

“Glory is the ultimate next level.” With unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, the church is transformed into His image from glory to glory. The glory seen becomes the glory reflected, and testimonies fill the earth like waters cover the sea. God seeks advancement that is primarily a new you, not just a new job or car. So the call is to press forward, refuse the past’s grip, yield to the Spirit’s guidance, and live as an overcomer while God moves from grace to grace, strength to strength.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Walk worthy, fully pleasing Him [24:11] Living worthy names a life aligned with Christ’s standards, not convenience or mood. Obedience honors God, and honor is measured in the ordinary decisions made at home, church, and work. When that aim is steady, fruitfulness is not random but rooted in a consistent yes to Jesus. [24:11]
• 2. Let faith bear practical fruit [31:17] Faith that never turns into kindness stays immature. Because people can wound and disappoint, goodness built on feelings burns out fast. Grace and the Spirit sustain a steady mercy that keeps serving when reciprocity fails, trusting God to reward what others overlook. [31:17]
• 3. Seek deeper knowledge of God [34:31] Secondhand religion cannot carry a soul through storms. Personal knowledge of God grows through Scripture, ongoing communion, and real encounters that re-route desire. As understanding deepens, discernment sharpens and love for His presence pulls the life into steadier holiness. [34:31]
• 4. Expect favor to rewrite outcomes [43:05] God as sun and shield gives grace and glory; no good thing is withheld from the upright. Favor advances what diligence alone cannot, opening unanticipated doors and protecting fragile beginnings. Like Esther, the unlikely can become the appointed when God’s hand rests on a life. [43:05]
• 5. Behold His glory, be transformed [58:13] Transformation flows from long looks at the Lord’s glory, not short glances. The mirror of His presence reshapes desires, habits, and hopes until Christ’s image begins to show up in ordinary places. As glory is reflected, testimonies multiply and environments change. [58:13]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [20:43] - Pentecost and the Helper
• [21:24] - Living in continuous increase
• [24:11] - Walk worthy, fully pleasing Him
• [27:16] - Empowered by the Holy Spirit
• [29:44] - Honor God in all things
• [31:17] - Fruit in every good work
• [34:31] - Knowing God personally
• [42:01] - Favor creates expected advancements
• [43:05] - Sun and shield, grace and glory
• [49:52] - Esther and unlikely promotion
• [56:35] - Glory is the next level
• [57:17] - Unveiled face, mirror of glory
• [66:08] - Pressing forward to a new you
• [81:25] - Prayer, blessings, and sending

1. Colossians 1:10 lists four aspects of a believer’s growth. What are they, and how does the sermon connect "walking worthy" to daily lifestyle choices? [24:11]
2. Psalm 84:11 describes God as both a "sun" and a "shield." What practical examples from the sermon illustrate how God’s favor acts like sunlight and protection in our lives? [43:05]
3. According to the sermon, how does "increasing in the knowledge of God" differ from "secondhand religion"? What role do Scripture and personal encounters play? [34:31]

1. Why might the metaphor of God as a "sun" and "shield" in Psalm 84:11 be especially meaningful for someone facing uncertainty or opposition? How does this relate to Esther’s story? [49:52]
2. The sermon emphasizes that "favor does not follow rules; it rewrites outcomes." How does divine favor challenge human expectations of merit or fairness, and what does this reveal about God’s character? [56:11]
3. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says we are transformed by "beholding" God’s glory. What does it look like practically to take "long looks" at His glory rather than "short glances"? How does this process reshape desires and habits? [58:13]

1. "Walking worthy" means aligning daily decisions with Christ’s standards, not convenience. What is one ordinary decision (at home, work, or church) where you’ve prioritized convenience over obedience? How could the Holy Spirit help you adjust this? [29:44]
2. The sermon warns that faith without practical kindness "stays immature." Where have you struggled to turn faith into consistent acts of service, especially when others disappoint you? What step could you take this week to serve without expecting reciprocity? [31:17]
3. Esther’s story shows favor elevating the unlikely. What area of your life feels "unqualified" or stuck, and how could you actively trust God to rewrite outcomes there instead of relying solely on effort? [53:14]
4. Transformation comes from "beholding" God’s glory. What distractions most often pull your gaze away from Him? How could you create intentional space this month to "look long" at His character through Scripture, worship, or prayer? [58:13]
5. The sermon says, "God seeks a new you, not just a new job or car." What old habit, mindset, or sin have you resisted letting go of, even as you ask God for external blessings? What would surrendering this look like? [01:06:08]