That Ye May Grow
1 Peter 1:22 - 2:3
God has created life in such a way that all things living naturally grow and develop. From that moment of conception to the close of our earthly days, we grow. This is the pattern of life. We grow. This is true in our physical life and it ought to be equally true in our spiritual life. God has designed the spiritual life to be a life marked by growth and development. But is it not strange to you that we quickly recognize any deficiency in physical growth and yet give very little thought to our lack of spiritual growth. The truth is we not only ignore it; we have accepted it as being the norm. This is the day in which we live.
Charles Spurgeon, the famed pastor of the Metropolitan Baptist Tabernacle in London made this observation in the late 1800’s when he came in contact with a community of small framed men.
“There was once in London a club of small men, whose qualification for membership lay in their not exceeding five feet in height; these men held, or pretended to hold, the opinion that they were nearer the perfection of manhood than others, for they argued that primeval men had been far more gigantic than the present race, and consequently the way of progress was to grow less and less, and the human race as it perfected itself would become as diminutive as themselves. Such a club of Christians might be established, and without any difficulty might attain to an enormously numerous membership; for the notion is common that our dwarfish Christianity is after all the standard, and many even imagine that nobler Christians are enthusiasts, fanatical and hot-blooded; while we are cool because we are wise, and indifferent because intelligent. We must get rid of this nonsense. The fact is, the most of us are vastly inferior to the early Christians…”
It is amazing to think that his observations are 140 years old! Not much has changed. If it has, I would think it has gotten worse. For most Christians, we are so accustomed to not growing we are content to remain as new born babes. And we look upon those who are growing with suspicion. But God’s will for all of His children is that we grow up to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That is God’s will for you! And for me!
The question then that is raised is: “How do I grow?” Notice again the passage before us this morning. Peter speaks expressly when he wrote, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” Peter knew what was needed for growth and he calls his reader’s attention to it.
Do you want to grow? Do you want to progress in in your walk with God? In these few verses Peter highlight 3 things that are necessary for growth.
That Ye May Grow:
1. Appreciate the Word of God
Peter identifies the primary source of Christian growth as being the Word of God. He places much value on the Scripture in this crucial area. How well do you esteem the Bible? What value do you place upon it? Consider how others have expressed their appreciation of the Word of God.
Notice the Lord’s estimation of its worth in Psalm 138:2
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
David said in Psalm 19:10 that the Word of God is:
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Paul gave this summation of the importance and effect of the Bible when he wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16, 17
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The late Dr R G Lee, former pastor of the Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis TN expressed the value of God’s Word in this way:
"The Bible is a book beyond all books as a river is above and beyond a rivulet. The Bible is a book beyond all books as the sun is above and beyond a candle in brightness. The Bible is a book beyond all books as the wings of an eagle is above and beyond the wings of a sparrow. It is supernatural in origin, eternal in duration, inexpressible in value, immeasurable in influence, infinite in scope, divine in authorship, human in penmanship, regenerative in power, infallible in authority, universal in interest, personal in application, and inspired in totality. This is the Book that has walked more paths, travelled more highways, knocked at more doors and spoken to more people in their mother tongue than in other book this world has ever known or will know."
What value do you ascribe to this Holy Book? Do you recognize its importance? Do you appreciate God’s Word –or is it just another book among the others? Those who would grow will be those who appreciate God’s Word. They recognize its value and authority.
That Ye May Grow:
Firstly, Appreciate the Word of God and secondly:
2. Develop an Appetite for the Word of God
Notice again verse 2. Peter says, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word.” The word desire literally means to long for. In other passages it is used to describe a believer’s attitude toward heaven. For example, in 2 Corinthians 5:2, Paul says the child of God earnestly desires to be clothed with our heavenly body –to have this mortality clothed with immortality.
Let me ask you this question: Is your desire for the Word of God equal to your desire to be in Heaven? God chose to use the same word to describe our attitudes about these two issues. The desire that God is referring to is an all-consuming addiction. It is an insatiable desire. One in which you cannot have enough. As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word!
There is only one thing that can generate that type of appetite. That is exposure. Look closely at verse 3. Peter says, “If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” To taste something you have had to be exposed to it –you have had to experience it for yourself. That is where desire and appetite come from.
Why is the drug-fiend enslaved to his drugs? -exposure
Why is the drunkard powerless to give up the bottle? –exposure
Go down the list, tick the boxes: the underlying reason people are in the mess they are in is because of what they expose themselves to. Christian, do you know why you struggle to overcome what you listen to, what you set before your eyes, and what you give yourself to? You develop an appetite for those things you expose yourself to.
It is equally true on a positive note. If you are going to grow as a Christian; if you are going to develop and mature in your faith –it will be done by exposing yourself to those things that are conducive for growth. God’s Word is essential for growth. You cannot grow without it.
Psalm 119:130 -The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Romans 10:17 –Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God
2 Timothy 3:15-17 - And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
God’s Word is profitable! It tells us what is right, what is wrong, how to get right and how to stay right, so that we might be complete, mature and equipped for every good work! Friend, you will only develop an appetite for the Word of God by exposing yourself to it.
That ye may grow:
Appreciate the Word of God
Develop an Appetite for the Word of God and thirdly,
3. Assimilate the Word of God
The language that Peter uses here creates a very vivid picture of an infant being fed. But let me ask you; is it enough to just put the food in your mouth? Is it enough to chew it up? Does growth require more than just having the food sitting in your stomach? Of course it does. For our bodies to get the most out of our food, the digestion process must be complete. What enters our mouth must be broken down and assimilated into the rest of our body. It is not enough to have your breakfast sitting in your tummy; it has to be applied to your muscles and tissue. That is exactly what must take place with the Bible.
As you develop your appetite for God’s Word, you must assimilate it to your life. It must be applied. We must be doers of the Word and not hearers only. Put God’s Word to use –allow God’s Word to have free course in your life. God’s Word has a work to do!
Jeremiah 23:29 -Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?
Hebrews 4:12- For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
As a fire, the Bible purifies. As a hammer, the Bible breaks away those callused and sin hardened areas. As a two-edged sword, the Bible is like a scalpel in the hand of the Great Physician opening up, exposing our sin, and carefully removing those things that do not bring glory to God. *When we allow God’s Word to do accomplish its mighty work, 1 Peter 2:1 is accomplished.
Do you really want to grow? Assimilation or application is a key ingredient. Allow God’s Word to do its perfect work in your heart. Appreciate it – Develop an Appetite for it – Assimilate it.
What is your heart attitude towards the Bible? What does your behavior towards it reveal? There are many of us who know in our heart we are not growing because we have neglected God’s Word. We have not given it the place of importance it deserves. We are not reading it because it we have little or no appetite for it. Right now our hearts are heavy because God the Holy Spirit is revealing to us areas in our lives that are weak and anemic. We are burdened because we know right now the flesh is winning simply because we have neglected to feed on God’s Word. Ask God to give you the victory in this right now. Determine by God’s grace, you will make time for God’s Word. –That Ye May Grow.
