God’s Process For Spiritual Growth
Going To The Next Level Series
Review the past six weeks…
Going To The Next Level.
· Daring To Get Out Of The Boat
· Taking Risks That Please God
· When The Dreams Doesn’t Happen Right Away
· How God Uses Circumstances For Our Growth
Three Ways Circumstances Come About:
· From my own doing
· From Satan
· From God (He directly allows them)
Three Ways You Can Deal With Circumstances
· You can remove the circumstances
· You can remove yourself from the circumstances
· You can allow God to work out the circumstances
How God Uses Circumstances to Help Us Reach Our Dreams:
1. God uses circumstances to expose certain needs in our lives and then to
establish the characteristics of Christ in these areas.
2. God uses circumstances to deal with our inner self and then for the life of Christ
to be revealed to us.
3. God uses circumstances so that we can find the abundance for every situation.
4. God uses circumstances in order to bring us into a place of spiritual enlargement.
· God determines the limits to which evil and its effects may go.
WHEN CIRCUMSTANCES DON’T GO YOUR WAY…
1. Train your eyes to see the potential around you.
· Look for evidence of God’s presence not His absence
2. Use well the authority given you.
3. Do what you can with what you have.
4. Don’t compare yourself to others
TODAY…
GOD’S PROCESS FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
I believe that God wants you to dream big dreams for your life and go to a higher level.
However… I know that there is a process in order to get us ready for those dreams.
I want help you understand a little on how God works in our lives.
How many know that God will go to great lengths to get our attention?
How many know that it is God’s desire that you grow?
Remember from the last sermon… that it is God’s desire for all of us to grow spiritually and that we be conformed to the image of His Son.
We all read Romans 8:28 (All things work together for good…) but we neglect v.29…
Rom 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (NKJ)
Phil 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him. (NLT)
Some Things You Need To Know…
Some suppositions…
· It is God’s desire that we grow and move to the next level.
Isa 54:2 "Enlarge your house; build an addition; spread out your home!
Isa 54:3 For you will soon be bursting at the seams. (NLT)
Eph 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.
· There is a process of growth for every Christian.
It doesn’t "just happen.
Even the men and the women of the Bible had "to grow."
John The Baptist
Luke 1:80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit;... (NIV)
Jesus
Luke 2:40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. (NKJ)
Acts 9:22 But Saul increased all the more in strength...
Stages Of Spiritual Maturity For Christians
1. The Baby Christian
This is the newly born-again believer who has just accepted Christ as Lord and Savior.
He is like the natural baby in that he/she needs to be care for. You are always having to burp them and change their diapers.
One of the greatest days of our lives was when we able to leave the house without a diaper bag.
1 Pet 2:2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,(NKJ)
When you first come to Christ you should desire the word of God.
What do we know about the baby Christian?
· Their sins are forgiven - 1 John 2:12
1 John 2:12 I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.
· They are admonished to sin not - 1 John 2:1
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
· They are admonished to grow up 1 Peter 2:2
1 Pet 2:2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby..
2. The Carnal Christian
This is the person who is still governed more by his soul than his spirit.
He is up one day and down the next. He never knows total victory in Christ.
He is hot and he is cold.
1 Cor 3:3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
3. The Young Man Stage
Keep in mind that this is not a gender issue but a spiritual issue.
This season becomes a great “growing” season.
· They are called "over-comers" - 1 John 2:13-14
1 John 2:13 I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.
1 John 2:14 I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one.
· Their strength comes from having the word of God in them
Psa 119:9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
4. The Father Stage
· They knew God from the beginning - 1 John 2:13-14
We must honor those in our midst who are in the Father stage.
There Is A Difference Between God’s Judgment And Discipline
Judgment happens because of my rebellion to God.
Discipline happens through a Father that loves me and wants me to get to where God wants me to be.
Isa 1:19-20 19 If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; 20 But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword’’; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken. (NKJ)
Heb 3:7-11 7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ""Today, if you will hear His voice, 8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, 9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years. 10 Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, "They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’ 11 So I swore in My wrath, "They shall not enter My rest.’ ’’ (NKJ)
1. He Disciplines Us From Going Our Own Way And Doing Our Own Thing.
God’s Purpose - To get us to do His thing
Ps 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word. (NKJ)
Ps 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes. (NKJ)
Example of Michelle as a baby and kept crawling to the fireplace….
2. That We May Learn To Be Partakers Of God’s Divine Nature
Heb 12:5-13 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ""My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.’’ 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. (NKJ)
Methods Of Discipline
1. By His Grace
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
Titus 2:12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
I’ve been thinking about this all week. How does God use His grace in leading us?
How many know that God sometimes allows us to make our own minds and make our own decisions?
He is not going to force you to follow Him.
The scriptures even say that He allowed someone to be turned over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh.
With each of these disciplines… the heat gets turned up little by little… until at the end – it becomes more and more severe.
God’s grace is the easiest of all the disciplines.
I’m so glad that God always allows u-turns back to God.
2. By His Word
2 Tim 3:14-17 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. (NKJ)
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (NKJ)
3. Through leadership
This can be gentle or hard - depending on the leader.
I have seen leaders who have been healers and redemptive in their leadership and I have seen leaders who were harsh.
Some of you have had good bosses and some of you have had bosses from hell.
One of the responsibilities of Pastor Greg before he arrived here was to be an interim pastor for churches that were falling apart because of the harshness of the leader.
Heb 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. (NIV)
2 Tim 4:1-2 1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching. (NKJ)
4. The bit and bridle method
Ps 32:8-9 8 I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life; I will advise you and watch your progress. 9 Don’t be like a senseless horse or mule that has to have a bit in its mouth to keep it in line (TLB)
This really leads us. God knows how to handle the reigns.
This is not a comfortable experience.
Example of riding horses with my brother and Rick in Barstow.
5. Through the rod of men
2 Sam 7:14 14 ""I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. (NKJ)
How? When I refuse the bit and bridle method - God will send people who will bring open rebuke and persecution to us. This could even be through an enemy.
6. Through sickness and pain
Job 33:14-26 14 For God may speak in one way, or in another, yet man does not perceive it. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, 16 Then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction. 17 In order to turn man from his deed, and conceal pride from man, 18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. 19 ""Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, and with strong pain in many of his bones, 20 So that his life abhors bread, and his soul succulent food. 21 His flesh wastes away from sight, and his bones stick out which once were not seen. 22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, and his life to the executioners. 23 ""If there is a messenger for him, a mediator, one among a thousand, to show man His uprightness, 24 Then He is gracious to him, and says, "Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom’; 25 His flesh shall be young like a child’s, he shall return to the days of his youth. 26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, he shall see His face with joy, for He restores to man His righteousness. (NKJ)
This is not a very pleasant method. God will allow sickness and pain as a means to get our attention.
I heard this story the other day about the acorn tree. I thought you would like it…
If you said to an acorn - "Do you want to be like that big oak tree? It would probably say, "yes, yes, but how?"
1- You have to be buried
2- Your hard outer shell has to come off
3- You have grow down to grow up
4- You must endure all types of weather
We’ve talked a lot about dreaming big for your life over the last few weeks.
Yes… dream big – but don’t despise the days of small beginnings and the days that God is allowing you to go through the process of Growth.
