Are You Growing? Series

07 03 2010 Rayleigh AM

Are you growing in Grace?

At one point during a school cricket match, the teacher said to one of his young players, “Do you understand what cooperation is? What a team is?”

The little boy nodded in the affirmative.

“Do you understand that what matters is whether we win together as a team?”

The little boy nodded yes.

“So,” the teacher continued, “when you’re out at first, you don’t argue or curse or attack the umpire. Do you understand all that?”

Again the little boy nodded.

“Good,” said the teacher. “Now go over there and explain it to your mother.”

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Anyone listen to the radio station that used to be Essex FM, it’s now called Heart.

In the morning the breakfast show is hosted by Martin and Sue.

On Thursday morning they were debating what the law says about Zebra crossings -

do drivers have to stop to let someone cross the road or can they just keep driving.

Sue was complaining because she was using a Zebra crossing and nearly got hit by a car that refused to stop.

They discovered that if someone is already using the crossing the law states that a driver must stop - but if there is no one on the crossing the driver can keep going...

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The law says that to be ignorant of the law is no excuse for not following it.

And we are held accountable for being lawful citizens.

But in reality, you cannot be expected to know more than that which you are taught.

For example, I have never been taught how to sail a boat.

And since I have not been taught,

I cannot be held accountable for not having that information.

I could probably figure it out myself over time,

but then I would still end up being taught,

even if it were being self-taught.

Where am I going with this.

As Christians it is important that we learn the truth in God’s Word for ourselves.

It is important that we learn the truth and live the truth.

All of us need a deeper understanding of God.

In 2 PETER 3:18 it says,

‘Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.’

These are the words of an old man, written down as his legacy for us.

It took a lifetime for Simon, the brash and outspoken young man to grow into the Apostle Peter, the bold and focused man of Almighty God.

And the very faults of his younger character became his strengths as he grew to maturity in Christ Jesus.

I think we can take these words, as the starting point to correct what I feel is a very neglected duty of Christians.

A neglect to see the importance of growing in Christ.

A neglect in realizing that the only way to grow in Christ is to read the Bible every day;

and to even study it to learn more about Christ and His will for us.

Let me start by talking about how;

1. WE NEED TO GROW IN CHRIST JESUS

We are to grow in the grace AND knowledge of Jesus.

Both of these things are directly connected to Jesus.

He is the Author of our Grace,

and He is the Object of the knowledge that allows us to grow in Him.

Now, we should all know what ‘knowledge’ is.

The dictionary defines ‘knowledge’ as;

‘Having awareness of something gained through experience or association.’

In other words,

if you don’t read it, if you don’t study it,

you will not have any knowledge of it.

And if you do not have knowledge of it, you will not have it.

And that is exactly where many churchgoers are today:

They don’t read the Word, yet they want to know it. So they depend on somebody else to read it for them, (pastors or teachers), and then they only make themselves available to hear it for one hour a week.

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Let’s talk about God’s ‘Grace’.

Grace is the undeserved love in which we have been favoured by God through Jesus.

And Grace manifests itself in the growing Christian as Godly integrity.

Our main focus in life should be to rest closer to His heart with each passing day.

And if your love for Him is real,

you should read His Word each day;

to receive His knowledge and revelation

so that you can lead a productive Christian life, and not languish in a watered down or lukewarm version of Christianity.

Most people watch TV for between 3 and 10 hours each day.

21-70 hours a week in front of the TV.

People may spend 35-60 hours a week on their jobs, but are not willing to spend any time with God in prayer.