How to Grow!
Introduction:
Col 2:6-10
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
As we look at today’s text we see Paul describing to a group of Christians in Colasse. These Christians were having problems in worship as the were worshiping Angels and not Jesus. These Christians were, from the text, having problems with their relationship with Jesus. I have found in my life and in many others that it is easy to be lead astray an begin to be seduced by the worshiping of others besides Jesus. As we look at today’s text I want to look at some things that can help us maintain that deep rooted relationship that Paul was telling the believers in the Collasion Church to have.
I. To have a deep rooted relationship with Jesus we need to learn to live in union with Him.
A. First we must become with Christ.
verse 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
1. Today’s text gives us the first thing we have to do.
a. We must be one with Christ.
2. We become one with Christ when we accept Him as our savior.
B. We can relate this oneness with Jesus like that of a marrige.
1. When two individuals commit to each other in marrage they become one.
2. When we make that commitment we are no longer free to do as we pleas but we are rooted in Jesus
II. The second thing we need to do is to keep our roots deeply rooted in Jesus
A. A tree depends on its roots.
1. The roots draw life from the soil.
2. The roots give stability to the tree.
A tree is know by it’s fruit and to grow good fruit a tree needs good roots.
3. To get good roots though you have to feed them.
B. We, as spiritual trees, need good roots in Jesus.
verse7 Rooted and built up in him,
1. The text means to keep our roots in Jesus.
2. We draw our life form Jesus.
a. He is the soil where we get Life
John 15:4-5
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
b. He came to bring life and more abundently
III. To stand well we need to build your life on Christ.
A. Houses need a solid foundation.
1. A house cannot stand without a solid foundation
2. There are two kinds of construction workers in this world and Jesus described them.
Matt 7:24-26
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
B. Spiritual Houses need a good foundation to.
1. There is a foundation laid.
1 Cor 3:11
11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
2. The foundation we build on has to be good but we must also continue to build.
a. Most Christians fail to become active members because the construction stops.
b. Most Churches fail because the building stops.
*We aren’t talking about the bricks and cement.
IV. We stand well when we learn to become stronger in faith.
A. Faith means having confidence in God.
1. Having confidence means that no matter what God will work things out.
a. Having faith doesn’t mean everything will be to our liking
b. Having faith doesn’t mean that everything will seem good.
c. It’s easy to have faith when we get what we want or things go good.
*The true test of faith is when we are happy even when we don’t have it the way we want it
2. Having confidence in God doesn’t mean life wont through us curve balls.
John 16:33
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
B. We have to build on faith and strengthen it.
1. Faith needs to be strengthened
a. How do we do it.
Rom 10:17
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
V. We stand when we are filled with thanksgiving.
A. I’m not talking about an out ward expression.
1.
B. Thanksgiving refers to the inward condition of the heart.
1. When the inward condition is thankful it produces the outward expression of the heart.
2. The reverse of this is when the inward condition is not good then it to produces the outward expressions of the heart.
3. Whatever is on the inside will come out.
a. good or bad
Matt 15:18-19
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Conclusion:
