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The Promise of Spiritual GrowthHave you ever been told to grow up? Is spiritual growth a necessity or an optional extra? What can cause a lack of spiritual growth? As individuals and as the church we are called to be spirit filled, spirit led, spirit grown. We all need grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour and in this study we will examine seven signs of spiritual growth. The call to spiritual growth is not a suggestion. 1 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Saviour through your apostles. 3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. (2 Peter 3:1-18)

Living the Promises of God Session 8 1 March 2011

There may be times when you find it difficult to reconcile God’s truth to your own opinion or worldview, God’s truth is eternal, it does not change, our understanding of the truth does change as we allow God to work in our hearts and minds.

These sessions are not about opinion, they are about learning truth, the truth contained in the Bible, together we are going to focus on how we apply God’s truth, black & white in a grey world. To set godly priorities, grow in Christian character and live according to God’s standards so that we are a living witness to others. Notes from previous sessions are available from the Bible Study Section of www.ashingdonelim.co.uk.

Faith Service Worship Vision

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Grow!Grow – Present imperative in the Greek. This is a command for ongoing passionate pursuit of Christ. Spiritual growth is given as a lifestyle not a seminar.

There may be many excuses given for lack of spiritual growth but none are acceptable. We are commanded to grow and keep on growing.

What does it mean to grow in grace and intimate knowledge of Jesus?

For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. (Romans 8.29)

Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. (Philippians 2:12-13 NLT)

Do we let God work in us or do we try to do it ourselves? How should we let God work in us?

Why is it difficult for us to let God do what God needs to do in our lives?

1 Radical thinkingDo you think you need a radical transformation of your way of thinking? God gives us the new birth when we are born again of the Spirit but not a new brain. 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1,2)

Why would Paul have to warn us to not be conformed or molded by the world’s way of thinking?

Is it possible to for your actions to change without your attitude changing?

We are called and commanded to undergo transformation through God’s presence, power and promises in our life that will find demonstrations in character and conduct. The word transformed comes from a Greek word which gave us metamorphosis. When you hear this word you should think going from a caterpillar to a butterfly. This metamorphosis begins at the new birth and continues with a new brain (a new way of thinking).

Has your way of thinking changed since you became a Christian?

Can you provide a specific example of something where you have a differnent view or mindset now?

Do you agree that your mindset is determined by what you set your mind on?

Why is the right mindset so important?

If there is not a reformation in your way of thinking any outward change will be superficial and short lived.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:1-2)

Set your mind on things aboveAn article in a US newspaper reported: A young man who once found a $5 bill on the street resolved that from that time on he would never lift his eyes while walking. The paper went on to say that over the years he accumulated, among other things, 29,516 buttons, 54,172 pins, 12 cents, a bent back, and a miserly disposition. But he also lost something—the glory of sunlight, the radiance of the stars, the smiles of friends, and the freshness of blue skies.

Some Christians are like that man. While you may not walk around staring at the ground, you are so engrossed with the things of this life that they give little attention to spiritual and eternal values. Perhaps you’ve gotten a taste of some fleeting pleasure offered by the world and you’ve been spending all your time pursuing it. But that is dangerous. When God’s children, who are “seated with Christ in the heavenlies,” give their affection and attention to a world that is passing away, we lose the upward look. Our perspective becomes distorted, and we fail to bask in heaven’s sunlight. Taken up with the things of this world, we can become defeated, delinquent Christians. Buttons, pins, and pennies, but no treasures laid up in heaven!

To live for the things of this world is to miss life’s best.

Set your mind on the things of the SpiritThose who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. (Romans 8.5 NLT)

What does this verse mean? How do we do it?

It really means seeking, focusing, directing our attention to the things of the Spirit. It requires a relationship with God and it requires discipline.

Would you be willing to give up your other things to pray and seek God?

Would you give up hobbies or habits to have more time to study your Bible and pray?

“The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.” (John 6:63)

How can setting our minds on the promises and principles of God lead to a revolution in our thought life?

“Come let us reason together” (Isaiah 1:18) let’s talk to God and get our minds set right.

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Satan battles for our minds1) Accept that you have the capacity to think correctly: “we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor 2:16)

2) Sift your thoughts through God’s grid – His word and will for your life: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Cor 10:5)

3) Choose to reject dark and negative thoughts that do not glorify Christ in you.

2 Ravenous for the WordDo you have a ravenous hunger for the word of God?

“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” (1 Peter 2.2)

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word. As a child of God we should desire deeply the word and will of God. There should also be a revising of our desires. New birth brings new mindset, outlook, character, conduct, etc. The Bible clearly tells us that if we are in Christ we are a new creature. The old things pass away behold new things come.

What in your life right now shows a deep longing for God’s Word?

Mark Twain said, “Most people are bothered by those passages in the Bible which they cannot understand; but as for me, I always notice that passage in the scripture which trouble me the most are the ones I do understand.”

Would you say you have a healthy diet from God’s Word? Why? How?

Some suggestions to help with your diet of God’s word

Memorise – This is one way we fill and set our minds on things above

Meditate – Understand the promises and presence of God in your life

Make use of – Apply the truths you have learned

“They overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:11)

His word is our weapon against falsehood and our food for growth.

3 Ready responsibilityOne of the sure signs of spiritual stagnation is the ability to makes excuses. The opposite of responsibility is making excuses. Jesus said the chief character trait of a steward is that they be found faithful. We all are given stewardship of the grace that God has given us.

Are you a person that accepts the responsibility given to you as a servant of God?

Do you make excuses for immaturity? Do you make excuses for unfaithfulness, unkindness, lack of self-control, lack of compassion, disobedience, laziness, etc?

Someone once said, “Bad men excuses their faults, good men abandon them.” So if we truly take responsibility that means no excuses.

4 Repentance neededRepentance is not merely acknowledging wrongdoing or promising to do better. Repentance means we turn from sin toward the sovereign of the universe. This is a redirecting of our life energies. Simply it is saying no to sin and yes to God. Paul teaches “you should repent and turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.” (Acts 26:20)

There is an ongoing turning to God. Repentance is not a one-time decision it is a life time direction.

5 Relinquishied rightsThe Preacher Adrian Rogers wrote: “If you teach people about their rights you will have a revolution, if you teach them about their responsibilities a revival.”

Jesus taught us to give up our rights. Turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, forgive 70 times seven.

6 Reaching others“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Do you have a willingness to serve Him with the spiritual gifts He has given you and not just the talents you feel like using?

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:35-45)

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An example, of this is the apostle Paul who never claimed to be a great speaker. Yet God empowered him to become the greatest preacher, other than Jesus Christ, of all time.

A willingness to serve the Lord in His power and not your own strength.

Do you ever refuse to do certain things that God is urging you to do because you don’t “feel” adequate?

These are the times God wants us to follow through because it is His adequacy through us that achieves the God-given goal.

We can do nothing without Him. Learning to abide in Him will lead us to places we would not go on our own. It will also lead to growth.

7 Righteous desireTrue passion for God requires an ongoing investment in things of eternal value. It also requires a true conviction and desire to know and experience God’s love above and beyond all the world has to offer. Paul wrote of the priceless value of intimate knowledge of Jesus in Philippians: But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:7-8)

How do you know if you are hungering and thirsting for righteousness?

1. You will have an increasing desire to know Jesus more intimately.

2. You will have a desire to obey God that overpowers you need to fulfill personal desires.

3. You will have a growing passion to for Christ, this is what drives us to worship and love Him.

4. You will grow in your loving acceptances of God’s plan for your life.

There is a false idea that godly passion is something you learn or achieve through some form of study. The truth is there is no one formula for gaining a passion for God. Why? It is something God places and cultivates in us. He places a desire to know him in all people. However we must respond to the desire.

How do we respond and cultivate this? First begin with prayer. A humble heart devoted to God in prayer is the place to begin. David was said to be a man after God’s heart. What we see in his life is a great dependence on God in prayer as evidenced in the Psalms and a wild abandon in worship.

It is through prayer we open our hearts to God. It Is also where we find Him waiting to satisfy every need we have. “As the deer pants for the water, so my soul pants (desires) You, O God.” (Psalm 42:1)

Spiritual growth begins in His presence. If your schedule is to tight, ask Him to help you find a time and place to be alone. God takes advantage of whatever time we spend with Him to grow us and teach us principles from His heart.

What do we find when we seek Him?

The passion of God’s heart is to love and care for you for all eternity.

Calvin Miller in The Taste of Joy; wrote: Christ is not a happiness capsule; he is the way to the Father. But the way to the Father is not a carnival ride in which we sit and do nothing while we are whisked through various spiritual sensations.

We are given a command to keep on growing.

God’s purpose for us is to be made like Jesus.