06/11/2016

OUR UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH

1 Thessalonians 3:10; 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:23,24

Apostle Paul expressed his commitment and concern for the growth of the Thessalonian believers. Although he acknowledged their work of faith, labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, he still needed to “perfect that which is lacking in [their] faith”. His effort produced the desired result and he was pleased that their “faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of [them] toward each other aboundeth”.

Man has three parts: the spirit, soul and body. Most people do whatever it takes for the body to keep alive and growing. Only few people think about the growth of their souls and spirits. The soul is the centre of affection, feeling, desire, courage, emotion, intellect, knowledge, passion and will of a person while the spirit is the part with which he contacts God. Prior to being born again, our souls and spirits were dead and could neither relate with God nor respond to His call. Quickened in the spirit, renewed in the soul and restored in the body, we became new creatures in Christ. As members and ministers, we should be committed to our spiritual growth. The Lord expects us to grow physically, mentally and spiritually.

1. THE DIVINE MANDATE FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

2 Peter 3:18; 1:3-8; Ephesians 4:13-16

The Lord has commanded His people and preachers, sons and servants, daughters and disciples to grow. And He has made adequate provision for our growth. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…According as his divine power hath given unto us all things…that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust…” (2 Peter 3:18; 1:3,4). There is no room for stagnancy in God’s kingdom. Having come into the Kingdom through the new birth experience, we must grow and bear fruit in Him.

It pleases God when we grow in (1) grace – the grace that teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world (Titus 2:11,12); (2) loveby our devotion to Him and the way we relate with other people; (3) faithto appropriate God’s promises with renewed confidence that cannot be terrified; (4) hopeby patiently waiting upon the Lord for the fulfillment of His unfailing promises; (5) knowledge of God’s promises with which to solve every problem that surfaces; (6) holiness– our understanding of it as a doctrine and manifestation of it in our character as we relate with others in our family, school or workplace; (7) self-denial which prevents us from using abusive words on others; (8) giving even in times of recession or scarcity; (9) serviceas we continually look for opportunity to serve others or add value to their lives; (10) tenderness, which makes us to be compassionate and considerate; (11) courage to withstand discouragement and pressure; (12) endurance as it is he who endures to the end that shall be saved; (13) humility– a virtuethat makes us appreciate the grace of God in all our achievements; (14) patiencein adverse situations and with all men; (15) obediencethat is alwaysprompt and wholehearted to God’s word; (16) witnessingto people around us; (17) prayer– fervent and unrelenting intercession; (18) praise of the Lord as grateful people; and (19) faithfulnessas loyal servants. Spiritual growth makes us succeed in life and ministry;and the grace of God is available for anyone who desires and prays for spiritual growth.

2. THE DESTINED MISERY OF SINFUL GROWTH

Exodus 9:34,35; 1 Kings 16:25,26,30,31; Psalm 78:12-17; Matthew 12:43-45; 23:15,33; 2 Timothy 3:13; 2 Peter 2:20

Individuals who grow from bad to worse are treading on slippery ground. They degenerate by becoming less righteous each passing day; they increasingly descend into more evil and sin, carnality and worldliness, injustice and unrighteousness, bribery and corruption, cheating and lying, extortion and stealing, hatred and pride, and backsliding and bondage. As they grow from bad to worse like Pharaoh, Ahab, Absalom, etc., their hearts are hardened. Thus, they become adamant, obstinate, hardened, headstrong, willful, unrepentant and perpetually sinful. Such people are growing wings; they are growing in evil and will end in damnation. But God wants every believer to have positive, powerful, practical, purposeful and perpetual growth.

3. THE DIVINE MEASURE OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH

1 Peter 2:1,2,5,9; Ephesians 4:12,15; 2 Corinthians 7:1

To grow spiritually, we must study and accept the totality of God’s word.“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” The word “grow” is suffixed with ‘ing’ – three letters that end the word ‘growing’. This means that spiritual growth is ongoing. Believers who are growing are abiding, not absconding; believing, not backsliding; conquering, not compromising; doing, not delaying; enduring, not endorsing evil; following, not forsaking; giving, not withholding; holy, not hypocritical; increasing, not decreasing; judging, not justifying evil; keeping, not kicking at the word of God; loving, not lusting; ministering, not minimizing; nurturing, not neglecting; obeying, not obscuring the truth; planting, not playing; quickening, not quenching; responding, not resisting; serving, not scattering; teaching, not tearing; undertaking, not undermining; vitalising, not vandalising; working, not weakening; expanding, not expiring; yearning, not yielding up the ghost; and zooming, not zigzagging. God’s power and promises will effect spiritual growth in our lives as we remain unwavering in commitment and prayer for more grace to grow and bear fruit in Him.

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