Personal Spiritual Growth
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1. Personal spiritual growth is not optional.
1. Personal spiritual growth is not optional.
2 Peter 3.
17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
A. It is something that must take place in the life of every Christian.
A. It is something that must take place in the life of every Christian.
1. It does not matter how mature or immature as a Christian one is; growth must take place.
1. It does not matter how mature or immature as a Christian one is; growth must take place.
2. If one does not grow, that one will fall from steadfastness and be led away with the error of the wicked.
2. If one does not grow, that one will fall from steadfastness and be led away with the error of the wicked.
2. Personal spiritual growth must take place before proper numeric growth will.
2. Personal spiritual growth must take place before proper numeric growth will.
A. Christians are to be examples to the world of how to live.
A. Christians are to be examples to the world of how to live.
1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
1. Jesus is to be the one who Christians follow, because He shone forth the way.
1. Jesus is to be the one who Christians follow, because He shone forth the way.
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
2. As Christians, we must reflect the light of Jesus to light the path to heaven.
2. As Christians, we must reflect the light of Jesus to light the path to heaven.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
3. Personal spiritual growth takes place in our lives when we decrease so that He can increase.
3. Personal spiritual growth takes place in our lives when we decrease so that He can increase.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
A. The more we decrease and the more Christ increases in our lives, the more we grow spiritually.
A. The more we decrease and the more Christ increases in our lives, the more we grow spiritually.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
B. The more of Christ the world sees in us, the more of an opportunity we have to help them.
B. The more of Christ the world sees in us, the more of an opportunity we have to help them.
24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
C
1. In order for the church to grow, we must die, and the world must see Christ in our place.
1. In order for the church to grow, we must die, and the world must see Christ in our place.
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
2. If the church is going to prosper, we must be transformed into Christ.
2. If the church is going to prosper, we must be transformed into Christ.
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
3. The church is His body, not ours, and He is the head of that body, not us.
3. The church is His body, not ours, and He is the head of that body, not us.
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Eph
3. How does personal spiritual grow take place?
3. How does personal spiritual grow take place?
A. We must be willing to die for Christ.
A. We must be willing to die for Christ.
B. We must be willing to live for Christ.
B. We must be willing to live for Christ.
C. We must be willing to surrender everything for Christ.
C. We must be willing to surrender everything for Christ.
BODY:
BODY:
1. WE MUST BE WILLING TO DIE FOR CHRIST.
1. WE MUST BE WILLING TO DIE FOR CHRIST.
A. The first step in growing as a Christian is to become a Christian.
A. The first step in growing as a Christian is to become a Christian.
21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
1. In order to become a Christian, that individual must die.
1. In order to become a Christian, that individual must die.
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
A. The body cannot have two heads.
A. The body cannot have two heads.
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
B. In order for Christ’s mind to be in you, your mind cannot remain.
B. In order for Christ’s mind to be in you, your mind cannot remain.
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
2. Before one becomes a Christian, life is about him.
2. Before one becomes a Christian, life is about him.
1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.” 3 What profit has a man from all his labor In which he toils under the sun?
3. Then one realizes the vanity of life and wants more, so he turns to God.
3. Then one realizes the vanity of life and wants more, so he turns to God.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.
A. But, one cannot turn to God without first denying himself.
A. But, one cannot turn to God without first denying himself.
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
Matt 16.24
1. And, one cannot deny himself without first losing his life.
1. And, one cannot deny himself without first losing his life.
37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
A. In order to grow, we must decrease so Christ can increase.
A. In order to grow, we must decrease so Christ can increase.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
2. WE MUST BE WILLING TO LIVE FOR CHRIST.
2. WE MUST BE WILLING TO LIVE FOR CHRIST.
A. The second step to growing as a Christian is to live for Christ.
A. The second step to growing as a Christian is to live for Christ.
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
1. This is hard for us to wrap our minds around; we are dead, but we live and our lives are no longer ours.
1. This is hard for us to wrap our minds around; we are dead, but we live and our lives are no longer ours.
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
2. In order to live for Christ, we have to get out of our own way.
2. In order to live for Christ, we have to get out of our own way.
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
A. This means simply obeying the commands of God, because they are the commands of God.
A. This means simply obeying the commands of God, because they are the commands of God.
19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
Rom
3. In order to continue to grow, we have to decrease so Christ can increase; the more we decrease, the more He increases.
3. In order to continue to grow, we have to decrease so Christ can increase; the more we decrease, the more He increases.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
A. This means walking the walk, even when it is hard or inconvenient, because that is what Jesus would do.
A. This means walking the walk, even when it is hard or inconvenient, because that is what Jesus would do.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
B. Personal spiritual growth does not come from the easy things in life.
B. Personal spiritual growth does not come from the easy things in life.
3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. 2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
C. Spiritual growth comes from adding the fruit of the Spirit to our lives.
C. Spiritual growth comes from adding the fruit of the Spirit to our lives.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Gal 5.
D. Spiritual growth comes from adding the Christian graces to our lives.
D. Spiritual growth comes from adding the Christian graces to our lives.
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
E. Spiritual growth comes when we count all things as loss so that we might gain Christ.
E. Spiritual growth comes when we count all things as loss so that we might gain Christ.
8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
Phil
CONCLUSION:
CONCLUSION:
1. How much of Christ can be seen in you?
1. How much of Christ can be seen in you?
A. How much of Christ will be seen in you tomorrow?
A. How much of Christ will be seen in you tomorrow?
B. Have you personally grown spiritually?
B. Have you personally grown spiritually?
1. If there is less of you, there will be more of Christ to be seen.
1. If there is less of you, there will be more of Christ to be seen.
2. What are you doing in your life so that Christ will increase and you will decrease?
2. What are you doing in your life so that Christ will increase and you will decrease?
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
C. Are you willing to surrender everything for Christ?
C. Are you willing to surrender everything for Christ?