SPIRITUAL GROWTH IN CHRIST

Hebrews 5:

11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,

13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.

14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

C. S. Lewis reminds us that it may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird, but it is a far sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg.  Christian - you are like an egg at present. You can't just go on indefinitely being an ordinary decent egg.

Christ does not intend that we be saved, sanctified, and petrified. He wants us to grow in His knowledge and in a personal relationship with Him. God desires to empower us through the Holy Spirit to live a Christ-directed life.

What does it mean to grow in Christ?

·         Our relationship with Christ is all about faith (Gal.2:20).

·         We grow in our faith in Christ by allowing the Holy Spirit to renew our minds through the Word of God.

·         It means to increase in our knowledge of Christ, our love for Him, and in obedience to Him.

·         "Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom You have sent" (John 17:3).

What does Jesus say is the essence of eternal life?

·         "Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment."

·         How would loving God with all your heart, soul and mind affect our life?

·         Just as it is a natural process for a child to grow in a loving relationship with a parent, so it is also natural for us to grow in your love relationship with God.

How can you grow in Christ? Communication.

·         God communicates with us through the Bible, revealing His character and His will.

o   "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16,17).

·         We communicate with God through prayer -- sharing our thoughts, our needs and our desires to do His will.

o   "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6,7)

o   "This is the assurance we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us -- whatever we ask -- we know that we have what we asked of Him" (1 John 5:14,15).

o   "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus"
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).

o   "Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20).

·         We communicate with Christians through fellowship -- encouraging and building up one another.

o   "And let is consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10: 24,25).

o   The Greek word for fellowship, koinonia, means "sharing in common." We desperately need to share our Christian experience with others who love God and walk with Him, and likewise allow them to share with us. The church where we can meet other Christians and hear God's word, is God's appointed place for Christians to meet. Bible studies and meetings are also extremely helpful.

The forgotten command of Discipleship of the Church

We are to be “Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught” (Titus 1:9). Paul explains God’s preservation process for the church is to continue, “The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).
I believe the modern church has a problem: few are able to teach, few are faithful men.

Jesus commanded the church Matthew 28:19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” “As you go on your way, teach all the nations making them your pupils (of Jesus), baptizing them.”

We may tell them of Jesus, we may baptize, but I think we often neglect the teaching of them personally. Christ commissioned His disciples to go and teach, make disciples, learners of him.  This means we should imitate them. We are to be personally involved in people’s lives, not just preaching a sermon from the pulpit on a Sunday.

Yet remember, discipleship is not about one’s relationship with another Christian, it is about their relationship to Jesus (Mark 2:18, John 9:28 they are called disciples of Jesus.) In its definition or context it means a follower, a learner of Jesus.  In Acts 19 Paul met disciples of John, those who were baptized by John and had never heard of the one whom John spoke of that was to come. They were still following John’s teachings. Paul explained to them Jesus came and what he did and they were baptized as believers in Jesus. They then were to follow Christ.

The Gospel is preached for one to be saved. But then what? As one is born into the new family it is up to us to be there for them, to train them by word and example so they go from being a newborn to a mature believer. I think we miss the boat here.

When we point one to the goal of “making a decision”, or “accepting Christ”, without discipleship, how can we expect growth afterwards? People cannot be equipped to do what God has called them to do when they are untrained.

The whole purpose of leadership in the church is “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12). Because most are not taught the Scriptures properly, they have a lack of knowledge and motivation.  

Discipleship is far more important than what is discussed today.  Jesus taught those who followed him, “Whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27). A person carrying his cross entered into suffering. Without reproach, without dying to self, we cannot learn from him. Today’s church teaches blessings with no self denial but self exaltation.  Luke 9:23: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

This is not a single decision but a lifestyle. The cross we carry is a crucified life, to ourselves and the world.

Many within the Church still struggle with the same habits and bondages as before and do not move on to maturity because of one reason – no discipleship. The basics are the milk of the Word (Hebrews 6). These basics need to be taught over and over until the believer is established. If the foundational core teachings, the milk, are not taught then we cannot expect to go on to eat the meat. The bible expects those who are born spiritually to go from milk to meat to become mature and effective.

The gospel is not supposed to be a message you must attend church to hear but a message that is to go out from the church, told to those who would not attend church services. We are to present an intellectual understanding of the fallen state of man from God’s perspective to impact the culture.  That’s why I believe Apologetics (1 Peter 3:15) is necessary for Christians as well.

We too are supposed to be equipped in the church to be able to answer people and lead them to a correct understanding of what is written. But to do this we must know the Scripture. Believers that see the power of God at work in their life personally are the ones to confidently speak the gospel to others.

Twice Jesus specifically said, “blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it” (Luke 11:28; also 8:21) referring to the person in Psalm 1 who will be as a fruitful tree. John 15:8: “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” We are showing ourselves to be in relationship with Him by learning which when applied will produce the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. This is supposed to be a natural process of the Holy Spirit’s work in a believer’s life as we co-operate by obedience. If a person is a devoted Christian but has not discipled another, it means they have not taken the time to reproduce. We do not measure a person’s spiritual life by how many disciples they produce but it certainly should be part of their development to maturity.

Lord, Help me commit myself fresh to discipleship to strengthen what remains.

You Believe... But Do You Trust?

It is far more challenging (and rewarding) to place our trust in Jesus than merely to believe in Him. What does it really mean to simply say, “I believe that Jesus died for my sins, that he is my savior, that he is the second person of the Trinity and the only way to God"?  Perhaps nothing.

Just because one believes that these things are true does not necessarily mean that one is any different, any more loving, any more connected to God than if one didn’t believe these things.

However, if YOU place your TRUST in Jesus, if you open your heart to Him, you will enter into a relationship of faith that will change you.

What does it mean to trust?

1. Trust is the act of depending upon someone else to do what is needed.

1) We must let go of self to trust someone else – Proverbs 3:5-6

2) Abraham depended upon God to do what was needed

Genesis 18:25 "Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?"

3) With Jesus, it is depending upon Him to do what is needed and right.

a. He has done what is needed for our salvation

 Romans 5:8 "But God commendeth…."

b. He will continue to do what is right

 Matthew 28:20 "with you always."

2. Trust means that we take someone at their word.

1) Luke 5:1-11.

2) Matthew 14:25-31

3) Isaiah 55:11 "So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

3. Trust means believing someone's promise.

1) Hebrews 6:13-18

2) Romans 4:17-22

What is sweet about trust?

1. When we completely and totally trust someone, we have no worries.

1) Matthew 6:25-34.

2) Philippians 4:6 "In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God."

2. We don't have to do it by ourselves.

1) Have you ever doubted your own ability? I have.

2) Consider Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things…."

3. Some things we can't do ourselves.

1) We can't control the universe. But Jesus can!

Ephesians 1:21-22 "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church."

2) We can't trust in our own righteousness to save us. But Jesus can!

Philippians 3:8-9 "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."

3) We can't bring ourselves back from the dead. But Jesus can!

Philippians 3:10-11 "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead."

4. It is sweet to trust in Jesus when we feel as if the whole world is out of control – it is then that we can put our complete trust in Him and He will provide.

Why do we trust Jesus?

1. Because He offered His life for our salvation.

1) John 3:16 "For God so loved the world . . . ."

2) John 15:13 "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you."

3) 2 Corinthians 5:15 "And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."

2. Because God declared Him to be His Son by the resurrection of the dead. Romans 1:4.

3. Because He is now in control of all things. Hebrews 1:1-3

4. Because He has all authority. Matthew 28:18

5. Because without Him there is no hope. Ephesians 2:12

6. Because Jesus keeps His promises. 2 Peter 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promises…."

The Prodigal Son had two Petitions

A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living— Luke 15:11-12

Father, Give Me

I had never noticed before that the prodigal made two petitions to his father. The first was: "Father, give me." He said, "Give me the portion of goods that falleth to me."

The son wanted to leave home. He was tired of it and all it represented. He felt that he was missing things. The world was big, and he was getting independent, he was young, and he was missing things. It is always bitter, when my heart has felt it is missing something.  

The fatal mistake the prodigal made was this—he thought that all that he wanted was far off. Just like me, like us. It’s always better elsewhere. We miss what we have because we want what we don’t have. He thought that the appeasing of his restlessness lay somewhere over the hills and far away. He was destined to learn better and he came to his father and said, "Father, give me."

Mark this; there is no asking of advice. There is no consulting of the father's wishes. There is no effort to learn the father's will in regard to the disposition of the patrimony. It is the selfish cry of thoughtlessness, self centeredness.  Declaring what is his will: "Father, give me what is mine."

Father, Make Me

So he got his will, his portion, and departed, and we know the tragic consequences, just like we have seen in our lives.  The prodigal tried to feed his soul on sense.  Then the prodigal came to himself. Memories of home began to waken. He lay in his shed thinking of his father. Prayers rose within his heart.

I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”  Luke 15: 18-19

And now his petition was not "Father, give me." He had got all he asked, and he was miserable. His one impassioned cry was, "Father, make me." "Father, make me anything you please. Make me a hired servant if you want to. I have no will but yours now. I am an ignorant child and you are wise." Taught by life, disciplined by sorrow and the making of my own folly. Insistence now passes into submission. Once he knew no will but his own will. He must have it, or he would hate his father. Once the only proof of love at home was the getting of the thing that he demanded. But now, "Father, I leave it all to thee. Thou art wise; I have been very foolish. Make me—anything thou pleasest."

This is MY Prayer.

 

"When I awake, I am still with thee." Psa 139:18

A man, who is religious with his God, is shallow in his relationship with God, and content with an occasional acknowledgment of God. He wages his warfare on the field of business in total forgetfulness of the divine—a mark of a religious life which is neither very deep nor very real. One that rarely thrills in spiritual strength or joy.

This was me at times. I want it no more.

The relationship of the psalmist is different. It’s real. It’s relational. The psalmist's recognition is continuous; always he sets the Lord before him.

And it is this continual recognition and this unvarying practice of God's presence which kindles the psalmist when he is discouraged and brings the joy that cometh in the morning. And it was because the psalmist lived with God and went to sleep under the wings of God that he could take his pen and write in all sincerity, "When I awake, I am still with thee."

This text is full of meaning when we think of waking up from our spiritual lethargy.

Our prayers—how cold and formal they can become; they are merely the semblance and mockery of prayer. And the Bible loses its freshness and its blessing and does not leap to meet our needs when we come to it. There settles down a deadness on our spirits, and we go to church and listen to the preaching and might as well be a thousand miles away.

Have you known these desert seasons? Lethargy?

The greatest of all questions is just this, "Am I with God, and is God with me?"

Do I trust Him and try to serve Him now? If not, when I awake—what then?

But if I do …

and if I seek His face…

then when I awake…

this will be the glory of it all…

 that "I am still with Thee."

What Kind Of Man Am I?

Lord Help Me, Mold Me, Transform Me…

Purpose

·         A man must have a vision

·         A realistic and objective worldview

·         A purpose

Confident

·         A man has a foundation he builds his life upon

·         He must be confident, in who he is, and who he is not

·         This confidence is in his essence, it’s a fortitude of his health

Heart

·         A real man is strong, and his strength enlarges his heart

·         He has compassion

·         He can feel and be empathetic

·         He cares for others

Spirit

·         All people are flesh and spirit

·         A Man’s spirit is made whole by God

·         A man will seek and develop this spiritual relationship

Follow Me

Two great moments in our lives are when we are born and when we discover why we were born.

I know we were created for a reason—a divine purpose. Our lives are not accidents or fate. God has a personal plan for each of us. His purpose in our lives can only be accomplished because of Jesus Christ.

So I believe life really has only two roads, and we are on one of them.

One leads to death and eternal punishment—the other to everlasting life.

The single most important directive in the Gospels is the Savior's "follow me."

It occurs in all four Gospels by the Evangelists.

·         "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Matthew 16:24).

·         "As He was passing along, He saw Levi, the son of Alpheus, sitting in the tax collector's place and He said to him, 'Follow me"' (Mark 2:14).

·         "'One thing is still lacking to you. Sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.' When he heard these things he was much grieved, for he was very rich" (Luke 18:22-23).

·         "You do not believe because you are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me" (John 10:27).

As we read these great masters of the spiritual life they keep insisting on the necessity of following in the footsteps of the Divine Master.  As Christians, I think we accept this principle of Christian sanctity.

But then we look around us at the world of noise and frenzied activity, of blaring voices in the media clamoring for attention, and millions of daily words poured out in print demanding to be read. We see the streets of our cities crowded with people and moving vehicles. We look at the sky and see planes traveling at speeds that were not even dreamed of at the beginning of this century. We find ourselves surrounded by human beings, like ourselves, who are pre-occupied with money and pleasure and "having a good time," and then we wonder.  Or do we even?

Our faith is tried to its roots as we compare the quiet words of the Savior, "Follow Me," with the allegedly real world in which we live.

How, we ask, can a believer in Christ be His devoted follower in an age that is so immersed in space and time as to seem oblivious of heaven and eternity and everything that Jesus stands for?

Pursuit of Holiness.