Growing Strong in Christ
Colossians 2:4-7
Intro: I believe one of the problems we have today is that is weak Christians.
-It’s a problem in our churches as it leads to the
acceptance of false teaching and false teachers.
-It leads to problems in our churches.
-It leads to problems in our families. (Men)
-It leads to problems in our personal lives.
This year I have been asking God to take me to new
levels in my relationship with Him.
-I want to be closer to God.
-I want to be right with God.
Paul tells us how we can be stronger in the Lord.
Notice how our growth in the Lord protects us from the deceitful and enticing words of false teachers. Vs 4
Paul is praising the Christians at Colosse for their
strong faith in Christ. Vs 5
I. It begins with our relationship with the Lord. Vs 7
-As ye have therefore received Christ.
-We begin with the assumption that you really know the Lord.
-Are you 100% sure of your faith in Christ.
-I think it’s good to constantly be questioning our
relationship with the Lord.
--Not that we doubt our salvation
--But to have assurance of our salvation.
-From the Word.
1 John 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
-From the Spirit
Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
-Do you KNOW, without any doubt that you have received Christ?
II. So walk in Him.
-1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought
himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
-Walking in Christ means that we are…
--Following Him.
--Obeying Him.
--Walking by faith and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
-NOT walking (depending on) in the flesh.
-We are imitation Christ in our lives. (disciples)
III. Rooted…Vs. 7
-If we are going to grow to be strong Christians it
means that we must be rooted in Christ.
-We must sink our roots deep into the Lord.
-We must sink our roots deep into the Word of God.
- From the roots we get.
--A strong foundation.
--A sure anchor
--All our energy.
--All our nourishment.
-Everything we need to live and thrive for the Lord.
-Illustration.
--Like the trees the stood the storm of Hurricane
Andrew
--Those with deep roots (oaks) stood the storm.
--Those with shallow root (fichus) did not survive.
-When we are rooted in Christ we not only build a
strong foundation, we get everything we need to
survive the storms.
IV. Built up in Him.
-We must be built up in the Lord.
-“Built up” means to be constantly growing in the
Lord.
-How much effort to you put into growing in the Lord?
-It doesn’t come automatically by itself.
-It takes work.
-Reading, studying, serving.
-Don’t let yourself get stagnate…Get involved in
those things that will build you up in the Lord.
V. Stablished in the faith. (as ye have been taught)
-“Stablished” means to “make it firm”.
-We are weak because we have a wishy-washy faith.
--Do you believe God…or not?
-We can pray for stronger faith.
--Man in Mark 9:24
--“Help mine unbelief”
-Take faith risks….trust the Lord.
--Pray for the impossible
--Pray for God to do things we cannot do.
VI. Abounding therein.
-“Abounding” means to do more than you have done.
-It’s time to take another step.
-To move beyond what you are doing now and take the next step for God.
--It may be in obedience.
--Being baptized.
--Giving
--Actively witnessing.
--It may be in moving closer to God.
--It may be in stepping out in service.
-I want to encourage you today to stretch you faith.
-Are you satisfied with your walk with God?
--We should never be satisfied.
--We should always be abounding…moving on for God.
-In what area of your life to you need to abound.
Notice we do it with thanksgiving.
Conclusion.
I want to be stronger than I am.
I want to abound for God.
