GIVE GROWTH A CHANCE?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Look up these words: GROWTH, INCREASE, MATURITY… DISCUSS WHAT WILL WE DO THIS DAY, THIS WEEK, THIS MONTH, AND THIS YEAR?
THE LESSON OF ANOTHER CHANCE….
Why do we seldom desire to give another chance? 1. They wasted their opportunities? 2. There is no fruit?
3. The tree had 3 chances already? 4. Fruit tree or firewood tree?
Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
5. WELL, LET’S GIVE THE TREE ANOTHER CHANCE. 6. TO GIVE ANOTHER CHANCE MEANS SOME DIRTY, HARD WORK… 7. We need to have people that can see the potential in the hopeless?
DID THE SECOND CHANCE TREE BEAR FRUIT? The answer is according to your opinion. See the Bible does not say: MAYBE IT DID? MAYBE IT DIDN’T? The answer is all about TRYING AGAIN AND NOT GIVING UP… who will invest in another chance?
COULD IT BE THAT PEOPLE LOVE GIVE THINGS MORE THAN SMALL…
Zechariah 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH SMALL STUFF… LET US DISCUSS POTENTIAL…
GOD’S PLAN IS SMALL BUT GROWING…
Mark 4:30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? 31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: 32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
HEALTHY GROWTH KNOWS STAGES… GROWTH IS NOT A SUDDEN OVER NIGHT ISSUE…
*1. As we know human life it starts as an INFANT… new life, just starting… cries, eats, cries, dirties diapers and careless about others, drinks milk.
*2. BABY… focuses on self, seeks its own way, temper fits if does not get its way, drinks milk and a few veggies, the baby cries a lot and has limited non-understandable conversations,
*3. The TODDLER STAGE learns to walk, still self center, still in diapers.
*4. The CHILD STAGE eats a little better, the child will often lie or not tell the truth, hates to hear NO, NO, does not like to be corrected, repeat what they hear, emotional outburst, temper used to manipulate adults, demanding, seldom appreciate anything, walks but falls a lot.
*5. TEENAGER: learning, growing, developing muscles, exercise, preparing for life… focuses ahead.
*6. The FATHER STAGE: RELATIONSHIPS, works, dreams, vision, begat new life, trains.
*7. GRANDPARENT STAGE: slows down, enjoys life more.
LIVING WITH JESUS by Juan Carlos Orte
JUST GETTING FAT?
We have a phenomenon in the church today which I call “eternal babyhood of the believer.”
We have members of our churches who after years of hearing messages are just the same as always.
They continually need a minister to keep after them, changing their diapers, putting talcum power on them, Checking that their milk is not too hot. The church seems more like a hospital than an army.
Sometimes we fool ourselves because we grow numerically. We seem to think that is growth.
But to grow in numbers alone may not be spiritual growth. Cemeteries also grow numerically.
To have a 100 people without love, then to have 200 people without love is just getting fat…
REMEMBER THE PRODIGAL SON LEAVING HOME? HE SAID : GIVE ME, WHEN HE RETURNS HE SAYS FATHER MAKE ME. MATURITY AND GROWTH SAYS SEARCH ME, TRY ME….
1 Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and even as we do toward you:
SOME SEEM TO NEVER MATURE OR GROW FOR THEY LIE AND THE TRUTH IS NOT IN THEM.
Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
IF WE REALLY GROW TO BE HEALTHY WE NEED A BALANCED DIET
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
HEALTHY GROWTH SEEKS MORE THAN GAMES AND PLAYING… WE MUST ESTABLISH A VALUE SYSTEM AND PRIORITIES..
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
LIFE OFTEN MAKES US EMPTY AND TIRED AND WE DESIRE TO QUIT… DO NOT GROW WEARY IN WELL DOING…
TO INCREASE AND GROW WE LEARN WE CANNOT RUN AWAY…
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
REAL GROWTH AND MATURITY MUST COME TO UNDERSTAND TRIALS ARE TOOLS FOR GOD’S REFINEMENT
Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE IN SHEEP AND GOATS… AVOID NEGATIVE PEOPLE, NEGATIVE TALK, NEGATIVE ATTITUDES
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Romans 16:17 (MSG) One final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth.
GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU, REFUSE TO PLAY EMOTIONAL GAMES.
Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
GROWTH AND INCREASE COMES BY PRAISE AND EDIFICATION. QUIT CRYING OVER THE PAST, PRAISE GOD.
Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
SUSTAINED GROWTH COMES BY SEEKING WISDOM… WE NEED SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT TO GROW LIKE JESUS.
Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
YOU WILL BE A SPIRITUAL MIDGET WITHOUT BEING TOTALLY SOLD OUT TO LOVE…
DO WE REALLY LOVE EACH OTHER? AND REALLY LOVE GOD… LOVE IS A KEY TO THE HEART OF GOD… AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
1 John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
GROWTH WILL LOGICALLY FOLLOW A PERSON THAT CONTROLS THEIR LIPS AND WORDS…Listen more than you talk…
James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
GROWTH AND MATURITY CAN NEVER EXIST WHERE THERE IS DIVISON AND DISAGREEMENT… Do we practice Harmony- UNITY?
Matthew 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
United we stand
Matthew 12:25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
TWO NECESSARY ISSUES FOR REAL GROWTH IS PATIENCE AND FORBEARANCE. Are we forbearance patient with each other?
Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
CONCLUSION: FOR REAL SUSTAINED GROWTH WE MUST BE COOL, CALM AND COLLECTED… DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF, BY THE WAY EVERYTHING IS SMALL STUFF… SET GOALS, KEEP THEM MEASURABLE, BE ACCOUNTABLE… Quit making mountains out of molehills. There is a solution seek God. Are we at the altar seeking growth or will we make the choice of staying the same. COUNT THE COST!
The last item to consider about growth maybe: Do we quickly forgive?
Matthew 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I would love to hear from you!
