Growth in the Life with God

True blue

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy,” Martin Luther King, Jr.

Empty Religion

Amulet vs relationship – 1 Samuel 4:3-9

The Ark had “power” – 1 Samuel 5:1-5

Good ground

Matthew 13:18–23 18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. 20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

With joy – people who profess a belief in Jesus, but they don’t trust Jesus

Have belief but not faith

Joy until adversity or tribulation

Belief is shallow

Cannot endure the persecution, and they fall away

Is your heart good ground that understands the word, bears fruit?

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.
Psalm 119:104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.

We are continually assimilating from our environment either true life from our Creator/Redeemer, or counterfeit “life” from the Deceiver, which is no life at all.

Renew our mind to our identity, hold on to my identity in CHRIST.

Identity first, eventually that takes root and then you will see the fruit in behavior.

“You cannot repent too soon, because you do not know how soon it may be too late.” Thomas Fuller (1608-1661)

Alive

Ephesians 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
Revelation 3:1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

In many ways, the new life of the Christian is like the definition of life.

According to Erwin Schrödinger, the Nobel Prize–winning physicist, something is considered to be alive “when it goes on ‘doing something,’ moving, exchanging material with its environment, and so forth.”

A living organism avoids decay and death, only “by eating, drinking, breathing and (in the case of plants) assimilating” life-nourishing elements from outside itself.

This continuous process is called metabolism, which comes from the Greek word metaballein, meaning change or exchange.

Plants absorb light and other elements from the atmosphere.

Animals also look for similar life-giving provisions.

In the same manner, human life is a continual metabolism, drawing in life from outside of ourselves.

Psalm 1:1–3 1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

The Lord offers this “continual metabolism”, drawing in life from outside of ourselves; from Him.

2 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
1 John 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Colossians 3:4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Nefesh

One of the key Hebrew words related to human nature, nefesh, is often translated “soul.”

The term depicts the h uman person as a being of desires, drives, and appetites that must be fulfilled in order to be alive.

In short, it is our very nature to live by hungering and thirsting for nourishment from sources beyond ourselves.

3 John 2–4 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
Soul prospers
Walk in the truth

However, we do not always take in what is good for us or what is truly life-enhancing.

1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

For example, a chocolate bar and a cup of coffee gives a surge of life, but the subsequent letdown lets us know that some “life sources” can be hollow.

Nevertheless, as long as we’re alive, this fundamental process of drawing life from outside of ourselves never ceases.

1 John 2:3–6 3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

We’re continually taking in either healthy nourishment that promotes life and growth or imbibing harmful toxic material that leads to sickness and death.

1 John 2:15–17 15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

This reality in our physical life is equally valid in our spiritual life.

1 Samuel 30:6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Understanding this truth is vital for understanding our spiritual growth.

We are continually assimilating from our environment either true life from our Creator/Redeemer, or counterfeit “life” from the Deceiver, which is no life at all.

Ephesians 5:7–9 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
2 Timothy 3:7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

It is the very n ature of our heart—our inner person—to be open to outside influences that shape and form who we really are.

Mark 4:24–25 (NLT) Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
1 Timothy 4:16 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

It is no wonder that Scripture urges us to “watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life”

Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.

Growing up is a fundamental part of our life

Life is either a constant progression or regression.

We need to grow spiritually.

We want more than knowledge of biblical and theological doctrines.

We want to experience God.

It starts with a relationship with God.

John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

We are not born again just so we can be in heaven someday, but we are born from above by the Spirit of God to actually live a brand-new life in Christ now.

In the same way that we are born physically to grow to maturity,

We are born again spiritually to grow to maturity.

But what does this spiritual growth in our new life look like?

We see and feel change in our bodies,

but in the inner person, change is often subtle, giving an illusion that we’re somehow standing still.

How do we know if we are really growing?

Are we growing in our spiritual life when we gain more Bible and theological knowledge?

Easy to memorize the Bible.

Does growth mean increased faithfulness in Christian practices—Bible reading, church attendance, witnessing, good behavior, loving actions and so forth?

Or does spiritual transformation mean more religious feelings, more zeal and passion in worship, or more “spiritual” experiences?

True Growth

All of these things may be evidences of growth.

But they also could be of our own doing rather than actually flowing from our new life.

Genuine spiritual growth is an increase in the experience of the new life of which Jesus spoke when he said,

† “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (NASB) or

† “life in all its fullness” (John 10:10 GNT).

John 10:10 (NKJV) The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

† Or as Paul described it, “life indeed” (1 Tim. 6:19 NASB) or

† “that which is truly life” (ESV).

1 Timothy 6:19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

This new life is the indestructible life of the living God himself.

It is growth in the Life of God in us.

It is Christ’s life lived in us as our own life

† this is what the apostle had in mind when he wrote “Christ, who is our life”

Colossians 3:4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

† Paul said of himself “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”

Galatians 2:20 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.

In short, it is Christ’s life produced in us by the “Spirit of life”

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Galatians 6:8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

It is only when we live with Christ that life becomes really worthy of living,

that we begin to live at all in the real sense of the word.

We will continue studying about how God’s heart is all about us keeping our faith real.