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CHRISTIAN GROWTH

Victor M. Eskew

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Individuals often become Christians in order to obtain the blessings. 

1.      Salvation from sins is the initial blessing (Rom. 6:17-18)

2.      Salvation in heaven is the ultimate blessing (Col. 1:5).

 

B.      The Christian life, however, also has responsibilities attached to it.

 

C.     One of the responsibilities that we have is to grow as children of God.

1.      When we obey the gospel, we are born again (John 3:3-5).

2.      When we come up from the waters of baptism, we are like infants. 

3.      We are then responsible for growing into mature adults in Christ.

 

D.    In this lesson, we want to discuss the subject:  “Christian Growth.”

 

I.                   GROWTH IS COMMANDED

 

A.    I Peter 2:2

 

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

 

B.      II Peter 3:18

 

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and for ever.  Amen.

 

C.     Commands from God are not supposed to optional for the Christian.

1.      They express the will of our Master.

2.      As His servants, our responsibility is to carry out His express orders.

 

II.                GROWTH MUST BE DESIRED

 

A.    Physically, we do not have to desire to grow. 

1.      An infant naturally grows into a toddler.

2.      A toddler naturally grows into a little boy or girl.

3.      In time, we grow into adulthood.

 

B.      Spiritual growth differs from physical growth in that we must desire it.

1.      Desire:  want, long for, yearn for, crave, wish to obtain

2.      It is not an inherent desire. 

3.      It is a desire that we must:

a.      Choose for ourselves

b.      Cultivate over a long period of time

 

C.     “As newborn babes, desire…” (I Pet. 2:2).

1.      Peter stresses the strength of the desire.

2.      Peter stresses the urgency of the desire.

3.      Peter stresses the continual nature of the desire.

 

III.             GROWTH REQUIRES EFFORT

 

A.    There is not a lot of effort required to grow physically.  We just grow.  We hardly pay any attention to it, except for the fact that we know it happens very fast.

 

B.      Spiritual grow is of a different order.  To grow, we must put in time and effort.

1.      Committing to being spiritual

a.      Four times the New Testament speaks of individuals who are spiritual (I Cor. 2:15; 3:1; 14:37; Gal. 6:1).

 

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness…

 

b.      When we obeyed the gospel, we became stones in a spiritual house (I Pet. 2:5).  At that point in time, our citizenship was established in heaven (Phil. 3:20).

c.       Our focus should have become the spiritual.  (NOTE:  We probably do not emphasize this enough).

d.      If we are not spiritual, the spiritual will not interest us very much.  If we are not interested in spiritual things, we can never grow spiritually.

2.      Studying God’s Word

a.      In the two passages that command us to grow, they both focus on the need of the knowledge of God’s Word.

1)      “…desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

2)      “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ…”

b.      This is our spiritual food.

1)      The Word of God nourishes our inner man allowing it to grow.

2)      Colossians 3:10

 

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.

 

3)      Here is a refreshing fact.  You can never eat too much of God’s Word.  Another way of saying this is:  “The fatter you are, the better.”

3.      Refraining from sin

a.      Sin violates the law (I John 3:4).

b.      Sin does exactly opposite of what the study of the Word of God does. 

c.       Instead of allowing us to grow, it impedes our growth.  We are going backward instead of forward.

d.      Sin separates us from God (Isa. 59:1-2) and takes us out of the spiritual into the carnal and worldly.  A Christian cannot grow and flourish in that realm (See Ps. 1:2-3)

4.      Exercising our faith

a.      The opposite of committing sin is the exercise of one’s faith.

b.      What we mean by this is “the doing of God’s Word.”

1.      Just as exercise is important for a growing body, so is the exercise of faith.

2.      Hebrews 5:14

 

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

 

3.      IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION:  This is the purpose of the works of the church.  They enable us to put our faith in action.  (See James 2:14)

What doth is profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works?  can faith save him?

 

5.      Following the example of faithful

a.      There should be faithful individuals in the church who have already reached maturity.

b.      These individuals need to be immolated.

c.       I Corinthians 11:1

 

Be ye followers of men, even as I also am of Christ.

 

1)      They give us a standard.

2)      They can aid and shorten our journey to maturity.

3)      They can warn us about things that will hinder our growth.

 

IV.             GROWTH CAN BE OBTAINED

 

A.    Spiritual growth and spiritual maturity are not pipe dreams.

 

B.      Growth can be a reality.

1.      The Hebrew writer told the Christians to whom he wrote that they should have been teachers, but they had not grown (Heb. 5:12-13). 

2.      NOTE:  Their growth should have been a reality.

 

C.     Examples:

1.      Peter struggled, but became a marvelous apostle, elder, preacher, and teacher in the body of Christ (I Pet. 5:1).

2.      John Mark eventually became profitable to the apostle Paul (II Tim. 4:11).

3.      Churches like the church if Corinth were carnal instead of spiritual (I Cor. 3:1-3), but they gave heed to Paul’s instructions and developed themselves into more mature Christians. 

4.      Timothy grew in his faith and Paul used him extensively during his 2nd and 3rd missionary journeys.

 

D.    You can grow, and you can grow quickly, if you desire to do so.

 

V.                GROWTH HAS ITS REWARDS

 

A.    Knowledge

1.      The mature Christian has studied the Bible (II Tim. 2:15).

2.      He not only knows it, but he also knows how to apply it to circumstances and situations in life.

3.      He has answers to questions because he can discern between good and evil (Heb. 5:12).

 

B.      Utility

1.      This man is extremely useful in the kingdom.

2.      He can be a teacher. 

He can be a leader. 

He can be a servant.

He can be a soul-winner.

He can be a comforter.

He can be an adviser.

He can be a warrior.

3.      II Timothy 3:17

 

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 

 

C.     Wisdom for others

1.      The full grown man has knowledge and experience.

2.      He is a fountain of wisdom for those who have not reached maturity.

a.      Job 12:12

 

With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.

 

b.      Job 32:7

 

I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

 

D.    A powerful example for others

1.      Remember, to be mature, a person must exercise his faith.

2.      The mature have been doing this for years and years.

3.      We ought to be able to walk behind them and eventually walk through the gates of heaven.

4.      Paul’s words to Timothy:  “Be thou an example of the believers…” (I Tim. 4:12)_.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    Growth is essential to the newborn child of God.

1.      It is commanded by God.

2.      It must be desired.

3.      It requires a lot of effort.

4.      It can be obtained.

5.      It has it rewards.

 

B.      It can also be neglected. 

1.      When it is neglected, it shows.

2.      Hebrews 5:12b-13

 

…ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness:  for he is a babe.

 

3.      Weak

Little knowledge

Unfaithful in basic Christian duties

Involved in sin

Caught up in the things of the world

No interest in being a leader

A poor example to others

Hardness of heart

 

C.     My friends, we want you to grow.  As you do, you will become less like the world and more like Jesus Christ.