Philippians 3:12-13
“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead” (Philippians 3:12-13).
Introduction: Paul, probably the greatest Christian to ever live, wrote this twenty-five years after his conversion. If after twenty-five years he still needed to grow, we certainly need to grow more, don’t we? We will discover 5 main principles to live by in order to grow spiritually.
Principle 1: We Must Study God’s Word
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are a normal part of the day. We all revolve our days around eating food. You probably wouldn’t think of going without physical food for a week or even a day, would you? Food is necessary for physical life. Without food, we become weakened and eventually become ill. Just as this occurs, lack of spiritual food produces the same results in our spiritual lives. Our culture tends to consider people “spiritual” merely if they have an interest in spiritual things. That is NOT the biblical perspective. Only those who hear God’s voice and obey it are spiritual. Read James 1:18-27.
Lets examine what the Bible tells us is the spiritual food for a Christian. 1 Peter 2:2 tells us, “…as new born babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow…” As infants have a taste for their mother’s milk, so we are to develop a taste and a craving for the life-giving Word of God. Growing in Christ requires that we spend time in His word.
Commentator Matthew Henry puts it like this, “A new life requires suitable food. They, being newly born (spiritually), must desire the milk of the word. Infants desire common milk, and their desires toward it are fervent and frequent.
In what ways have you made it a consistent spiritual diet? At another time, for a deeper study, read Psalm 119 and write down several ways that God’s Word can help you in your daily life.
Let’s examine what Jesus said about this subject. Jesus said, “…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). How have you applied this to your life? How has this application nourished your life?
Jesus also tells us in the Gospel of John 8:31-32, “If you continue in My Word, than you are truly disciples of mine. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” What does this mean in your life? Once you are spiritually mature you are to meditate on the Word day and night. This is what Jesus means by “continue” in My Word. “Blessed is the man who…delights in the law of the Lord. And in His law, he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1-3). The word “law” here is referring to the “Word” of God. How can we do this in our hectic world today?
If we do not earnestly seek for the will of God in our lives, He will let us stumble. The morning is an excellent time for devotions. If you schedule to do it during your day or in the evening, what happens when your day or evening become so hectic that your devotion time gets pushed out of the line up?
By having communion with God the Father in the morning, we are saying, “God, you are most important in my priorities and I will give you the first fruit of my day.” If we allow time for God first thing in the morning, He will bring together the rest of your day. You will be full spiritually and will not be hungry for this world. If you wait until later to have devotions with your Father, it most likely gets pushed out of the line up and never gets done, sometimes going days without talking with God or reading His Word. You will fill yourself up with the world and be to stuffed to eat spiritually when you get home.
Principle 2: We Must Pray
In Matt. 26:31-75 Jesus gives the command to His disciples to “Watch and pray…” (v.41). Why do you think He commanded this? If you go on to read, He tells us why, “So that you will not enter into temptation.” Jesus commanded His disciples to “watch and pray.” The word “watch” here means to “be wide awake, alert.”
Alexander Maclaren said, “Watchfulness and prayer are inseparable. The one discerns dangers; the other arms against them.”
Why do you think Peter failed so much at resisting temptation? Peter’s flesh was weak because of his prayerlessness. Apparently he did not feel sufficient need for it. He would rather sleep. When physically exhausted, sleep is undoubtedly more important than prayer, but at the crisis moment peter should have prayed. Jesus was about to be crucified! What was the most serious result of Peter’s prayerfulness? He ended up denying Jesus three times. Think about your prayer life. What has been the result of your prayerlessness?
Further along in the chapter Matt. also shows that Peter had too much confidence in himself.
If prayer was so important to Jesus, it should be that much more important for us to pray. If we examine how Christ experienced inner power to face the severest tests of His life, we will see that He did by spending so much time in concentrated prayer.
R.A Torrey states, “Prayer took much of the time and strength of Jesus. One who does not spend much time in prayer cannot properly be called a follower of Jesus Christ.”
Well, how often are we to pray? 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells, “Continually.” Prayer without ceasing involves conversing with our heavenly father in a simple and free way throughout our day. Our prayer life should be such that we come to know the Lord Jesus in an intimate, personal way. Our prayer life becomes effective as our relationship with Christ becomes more intimate.
Try to make a list of ways you can increase the amount of time you spend in prayer.
Principle 3: We Must Fellowship with Other Christians
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
The Bible tells us in Hebrew 10:23-25 that we are not to neglect or “forsake” “…our own assembling together.” Matthew Henry writes, “It is the will of Christ that His followers should assemble together…the communion of saints is a great help and privilege, and a good means of steadiness and perseverance.” According to the passages you read in 1 Corinthians, we should stimulate each other to love and good deeds and encourage one another. In what ways have you done this recently and for whom?
Think of a group that you may belong to; a fraternity, sorority, political group, social club. Now suppose the members of this group never came together and most of them didn’t even know each other. All business was done through mail. How much do you think this group would mean to its members? How much enthusiasm would they have for it? How much good would the group really do them?
Likewise, Christians who have little to do with each other and never come together in a group can accomplish nothing. If the early Christians would not have assembled for mutual encouragement and common worship, Christianity would have never survived and we would not know Christ today.
There are many things we gain through fellowship. We can profit from others experiences. We receive mutual encouragement. We have the opportunity for group prayer. God especially honors group prayer (Matt.18:19). We can learn from what others have learned from the Bible. We can be involved in the planning and teamwork for reaching others with the Gospel message.
Fellowship means more than mere friendship. The Greek word for fellowship is “koinonia,” which means “sharing in common.” We desperately need to share our Christian experiences with other believers and likewise allow them to share with us.
Principle 4: We Must Witness for Christ
In the book of Romans 1:14-16, Paul tells us his own attitude about sharing the Gospel with others. Notice that there are three “I am’s” to the passage; this is the key part I would like to focus on. He writes, “I am obligated,” “I am eager,” and “I am not ashamed.”
“I am obligated”: The “Greeks” Paul refers to here were those versed in the Greek language and culture. The “non-Greeks” were people not associated with the Greek culture, generally the less educated. The wise were the morally wise and the foolish were those of low morals. So in this verse Paul makes clear that our obligation is to all kinds of people, rude, good, bad, and cultured. We have a universal debt!
“I am eager”: The Greek word for eager means “of a forward mind,” willing and ready. Paul did not witness out of sheer duty. He was eager to serve his Lord. God should not have to force us to witness.
“I am not ashamed”: There was a lot in the Gospel that might have tempted Paul to be ashamed of the Gospel, it centered on a man who was crucified. It had little appeal to the scholars of the day, and its followers were persecuted and despised. But Paul was not ashamed.
Peter told us that we should always be ready to “…give an answer for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). Also, Jesus promises us in Acts 1:8, “[You] will receive power…be my witnesses.” How is this promise shown in your life today? Try to think of and write down at least three people who you feel the Holy Spirit has impressed on your heart to witness to.
Prayerfully ask God to show you ways to share your faith in Christ with each one. It is the privilege and responsibility of every Christian to reach the world with the message of Christ. Here are some helpful suggestions:
“Avoid arguing”: Arguments never win people and usually drive them away. If the person wants to argue, don’t feel obligated to continue witnessing.
“Expect people to Trust Christ”: In John 15:5, 8, Jesus promises us much fruit if we follow Him. In Matt. 9:37-38 He says the harvest is great and the laborers are few. Multitudes are waiting to hear the Gospel message, so have no fear in approaching people. If some do not accept, do not be discouraged. Every one Jesus witnessed to didn’t accept. Leave that in God’s hands. It is our job to plant the seed. The Bible tells us that one plants, another waters, but God brings the increase. So see it is not our duty to worry about the results. It is our job to be faithful and go tell!
Principle 5: We Must Obey God
A lot of people ask why we should obey God. We should obey Him because we love Him (John 14:21). We should not only love the Lord, but in the Gospel of Matthew 22:37 it says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” We cannot divide our love and expect to give some to the Lord and some to whatever else is important to you. We also read in the Gospel of Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other…”
Before Paul’s conversion he was convinced that Christianity was a fraud and a heresy, so he took extreme measures to stamp it out. After his conversion, when he realized his mistake, he began to serve God with all of his heart. He was always either for or against Christianity, but he never made the mistake of being neutral.
Revelation 3:16 says that God counts lukewarmness and neutrality a greater sin toward Christ than active opposition to Him. Matthew Henry comments on Matt. 6:24,
“ Our Lord Jesus here exposes…those…who think to divide between God and the world, to have a treasure on earth and a treasure in Heaven too…He does not say we must not or we should not, but we Cannot.”
John tells us how we can prove we love God. John 14:21, “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me…” How have you done this today? Or even this week?
If we keep Christ’s commandment, our result is that we will “…remain in His love forever…and our joy would be made complete” John 15:10-11. A lot of people say, “Well, that is to hard, how do I do that?”
Phillipians 2:13 tells us that God is at work in us. It is imperative that we try our best to live obedient to Christ. Read Luke 6:46-49.
Conclusion: C.T Studd, a missionary to Africa, who gave up fame, fortune, and family to be spent for God on a primitive continent-wrote, “If Christ be God, and died for me, there is nothing to great that I can do for Him.”
