Growing

   We see here from these Vs. that we are to grow up in Christ. We can go from babies to children to, `A perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. Or in other words, GROWING TO MATURITY.  But before a person can grow to maturity, they must have t revelation of who Jesus is.  T Church is built on this revelation. Then next they must have a knowing of who they are in Christ.

   I. Peter had a revelation of who Christ is.  MAT. 16:13‑16

        A. Everyone who is born again must have this revelation.

             1. (Romans 10:9‑10 NIV) That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (10) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

                 a. T word `Lord' here could also be translated `God'.

                 b. I really feel that a person has to have t revelation that Jesus is t Lord, t Messiah, t Christ & believe that Jesus is risen from t dead. And I think that t Word bears that out.

        B. There are rewards for having this revelation of Jesus. MAT.16:19

             1. 1st of all Jesus is saying that if you're saved, if you have this revelation of who Jesus is, then you will have t keys to unlock t treasures of heaven.

                 a. Things like Peace, Prosperity, Provision, Joy, Love, Fulfillment, Purpose in life, health, & healing.

             2. 2nd you will be able to unlock or loosen those that are bound.

                 a. Thru your confession over them, by your prayers, & by t things you speak to them.

             3. 3rd you can lock out or bind Satan's actives in your life.

                 a. These are t rewards or t benefits for those that receive t revelation that Jesus is t Christ.

   II. Once we get t revelation of who Jesus is, than we can begin to be transformed by t renewing of t mind, finding out who we are in Christ & that's when we begin to grow to maturity in Him.

        A. When we received Jesus in our hearts, we took on t nature of God.

             1. 2PE 1:1‑4 We are partakers of t divine nature.

                 a. That's why it says in (EPH 5:1) Be ye therefore followers (imitators) of God, as dear children; (KJV)

                 b. 1CO 2:16 T Bible says that you have t mind of Christ.

                 c. Jesus is God. You have t mind of God. Your partakers of His divine nature.

             2. In t Word of God we find out that we are supposed to confess t Word. & Not to confess t negative, not t problem.

             3. In t book of PROVERBS it says in (PRO 18:21) Death and life {are} in the power of the tongue:

             4. JAM 3:3‑5 James compares t tongue to a bit in a horse's mouth.

                 a. He says that t bit can change t horses' direction in life.

                 b. T same is true w/ us, t words that we speak can change our course of life.

                 c. He says t same thing here in V 4 w/ a ship & it's rudder. T rudder can change its whole course.  Same w/ t tongue.

             4. REV 12:11  Overcoming t enemy by t word of our testimony is using our divine nature.

                 a. How did Jesus overcome t enemy?  W/ t Word of God. You can look it up in (MAT 4).  Each time t Devil came to Him, He replied, `It is  written.'

        B. Turn w/ me to JOHN 1:12  We're talking about who we are in Christ.

             1. Because we are in Christ, we are t sons of God.

             2. (1JO 3:24) Says that Christ abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

             3. (Colossians 2:9‑10) For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (10) And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

             4. In (GEN 1:26) God says that we're made in God's image.

                 a. We're starting to see who we are in Christ.

   III. We're transformed in Christ.  ROM 12:1‑2

        A. Our thoughts are being renewed, our actions are being renewed, & our attitudes are being renewed.

        B. There is a process in being renewed. Eph 4:22‑24

             1. 1st V. 22 says to `put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;'

                 a. T NIV says, `to put off your old self.'

                 b. 2nd it says in V 23, `And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.'

                      i. T NIV of this V. says, (EPH 4:23) to be made new in the attitude of your minds; (NIV)

                      ii. When you start to get your mind renewed w/ t Word of God, your attitudes will begin to change.

                 c. 3rd, it says in V. 24, `to put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.'

                      i. Begin to walk in that righteousness & true holiness.

   IV.  There are different levels of growth, just like Jesus said in (MAR 4:28) For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. (KJV)

        A. He wants us to grow from t babe, to t child, & from t child to t mature Christian.

        B. Press on to be that perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

             1. Or as t NIV puts it, `become mature, attaining to the whole  measure of the fullness of Christ.' (EPH 4:13) (NIV)