Introduction
• We discussed last week that this is the year of God’s completeness of order. Today we need to make the 1st steps to ensure we meet our God Goals we set last week. Our goals can be met when we grow spiritually.
• Salvation is just the beginning of a relationship with God.
• After coming to faith in Christ Jesus, a person should develop a deeper friendship with the Father, learn more spiritual truth, and serve the Lord.
• Faith in action brings the manifestation.
• No matter how long a believer has been saved, your life should be characterized by spiritual growth. Your relationship should grow and flourish. You should be closer to Jesus today then you were yesterday!
• The key to set everything in order is our relationship with Jesus. If our relationship is out of order, so will be your life. Your growth is stunted when your relationship is out of whack.
• Our life should revolve around Jesus. The Kingdom!
• Today we will look at a few steps we can take to grow spiritually and strengthen our relationship with Jesus.
(NKJV) Psalm 139 1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
1) We must place focus on our relationship with Jesus.
a) We must petition God on a regular basis to examine our lives and reveal His perspective.
(NKJV) Psalm 139 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.
i) God will show us relationships that aren’t right, areas where we are no longer growing, and distractions that hinder our walk with Him.
b) We must determine in our mind not to sin and strain our relationship with the Father. Obedience to His Word will bring us the blessings in our life.
c) The Lord desires to reveal our weaknesses so that we will walk more righteously.
(NKJV) Job 23 10 But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
2) There is Order to Spiritual Growth.
a) Shout….I will be humble.
i) We need both a willingness to look within and the light of the Holy Spirit to reveal positive and negative aspects of our character. Be willing to change.
b) Shout…I will be honest with myself.
i) The Spirit of God shows us the truth about ourselves.
(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 2 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
ii) When He brings something to the surface, don’t rationalize your sin or make excuses for your behavior.
c) Shout…Lord Jesus, I will be patient.
i) The Lord reveals our wrong attitudes and actions little by little. Just as it took decades for you to become an adult, it will take time to grow spiritually.
ii) Investments take time to grow….be patient!
d) Shout…I will be of good courage.
i) You will never become the person God wants you to be until you ask Him to examine your heart. You may look healthy on the outside, but harboring sin will destroy your peace and joy.
e) Shout…I will not fear what the Lord may require.
i) Don’t refuse to listen to God’s instructions, or you will limit your spiritual growth. The Lord will strengthen you and help you obey Him
(NKJV) John 15 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
3) What happens when you yield to doing things God ways?
a) God removes all spiritual blockages.
b) Greater intimacy with God. When your conscience is clear, you will experience a closer friendship with the Lord.
c) Deeper fulfillment. Not only will your relationship with God be healthy, but He will also prompt you to set things right with other people. You will experience more peace, contentment, and joy.
d) Your priority for God increases. Those who allow the Father to examine their hearts will make room in their schedules for studying and meditation on the Scriptures and praying.
e) Your energy is renewed. Worry, resentment, fear, and other ungodly attitudes drain our energy. When we become spiritually healthy, serving God is a joy instead of a duty.
f) Order is restored in your life.
Conclusion
• As we kick off this New Year, we must also jump start for spiritual growth.
• In order to exceed our God Goals for 2010, our walk with God must become stronger. Our faith level must increase and we must depend on the leading of the Holy Spirit to direct us.
• King David said in… Psalms 139 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.
• The Holy Spirit will reveal what impedes your walk with God and show you the way to freedom.
• Let today be the start of a fresh, new season of spiritual growth in your life.
• Let us start off the New Year by placing our best foot forward in Him and His ways!
• Let us pray.
Salvation Call/ Altar Call
