THIS IS YOUR LIFE!
EPHESIANS 4:11-16
I Love My Life Sunday? [Kimberly-self!]
John 12:25
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
I Love My Lord Sunday!
This is a once in a lifetime day, the average lifespan will actually see it 2 x’s, but only once in the stage of life you’re in for sure! This is a good day to say time out, and take stock!
Question:
1) How long have you been a Christian?
2) Does your spiritual maturity correspond to your chronological age in Christ? How would you assess your spiritual progress?
Infancy
Adolescent
Young Adult
Median Adult
Mature Adult
3) How concerned are you...how passionate and driven are you...to move from where you are spiritually to the next level of spiritual maturity?
The older I get—the more I see that spiritual growth is the ultimate priority in life...because our spiritual growth, or the lack of it, controls every other area of our lives. When we are growing spiritually in Christ—every other area of our lives is growing as well. [not numerical]
Spiritual growth is foremost and central to all personal growth...it is the ultimate priority and yet it is without a doubt the most neglected priority. Churches are filled, quite honestly, with spiritual infants.
Ex: Aaron/Jeremy—special needs, 27, like a 2 year old.
I was very troubled. Then I began to think that is typical of many churches that are filled with Christians who have grown old chronologically but never grew spiritually and remain spiritual infants. These kind of Christians:
• Require constant attention
• Someone has to spoon-feed them
• They regularly raise a stink and someone has to change their diapers.
Listen—God does not intend for you to remain a spiritual baby. He wants you to grow.
2 Peter 3:18 says, “Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 4—and let me show you from God’s Word how He plans for you to grow spiritually.
TEXT EPHESIANS 4:11-16
Focus your attention closely to V. 13. God is working to build up Christ’s Body.
And look closely again at V. 15
It’s God’s intention that you and I:
• “Become mature”
• “Grow up into Christ Jesus.”
Sometimes we don’t want our kids to grow up. “I don’t want you to get older!”
I wonder if that’s what has happened to you somewhere along the way? You got saved, you were excited to learn and grow in Christ—and grow you did. In fact, you felt like you could not grow fast enough.
But then something happened along the way.
• You got hurt.
• You went through a crisis.
• You got disappointed.
• You felt God taking you a direction and refused to go.
• You stumbled and fell—and you felt such shame that you never recovered.
• Or, you simply gradually became distracted by other things and neglected your spiritual life.
Many of you could go back to a very precise moment or event when your spiritual growth literally came to a grinding halt.
I believe God has given me the mandate and responsibility to be a catalyst for spiritual growth in your life. And I believe it is extremely important that the church give full attention to the spiritual growth of her members.
John MacArthur says, “We don’t hear much about spiritual growth these days. God’s design is that we be seasoned to maturity through a continual process of growth.”
“The contemporary church’s de-emphasis of spiritual growth has reaped a bitter harvest. Millions of professing Christians suffer from arrested development. Churches are filled with people who are spiritually immature, undiscerning, weak and fragile. Spiritual under-development is the rule, no longer the exception.” (Keys to Spiritual Growth—p. 13).
Hebrews 5:11-14
…we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. [12] For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. [13] For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. [14] But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
1 Cor. 3:1-2
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. [2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
No shame in being a baby in Christ, if you are just starting out for Him! [many new believers/making new start]
This is a journey…God doesn’t expect perfection, just growth! [grow in grace!] Just don’t turn an 11 day journey into 40 years!
Now let me share with you some observations I have made concerning spiritual growth:
1) Spiritual growth is not CONSTANT but INTERMITTENT.
a) If you were to chart your spiritual growth, it would probably not look like this: [illustrate]
…It would probably look more like this:
b) You would recognize times of accelerated growth, interspersed with times of extreme set-back and defeat.
c) You would find peaks and valleys.
2) Spiritual growth is not ACCIDENTAL but INTENTIONAL.
a) Spiritual growth does not happen simply with time. Spiritual growth is not chronological and is not measured by the calendar.
b) This is why some people can be Christians for years and still not display much spiritual growth.
c) You do not grow accidentally. You grow only when you are intentional about growth.
1 Peter 2:2
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2 Peter 1:5-6
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; [6] And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness…
3) Spiritual growth is not OPTIONAL but IMPERATIVE.
a) Spiritual growth is the most important issue you have to deal with...because every other area of our lives issues out of our spiritual well-being. [hub ill.]
b) Our problem is—we often approach the pains in our life by treating symptoms rather than dealing with the root issue.
Ex: It is futile to try to patch together a problem marriage if husband and wife are unwilling to deal with their spiritual life.
• It is futile to try to heal emotional problems if the person is unwilling to focus on spiritual issues.
d) Every human being is a 3-part being—body, soul, and spirit. It is foolish to try to fix body and/or soul but neglect the spirit.
Proverbs 4:23
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
4) Spiritual growth is the natural product of spiritual LIFE.
a) Growth is one of the essential signs of life—in both the physical and spiritual realms.
b) Where there is no growth, no life exists.
AND
Where there is not spiritual growth, there is good reason to question whether spiritual life exists.
c) Can I be brutally honest with you? I cannot imagine how one can possibly be born-again and not have a burning passion to grow spiritually.
d) I’m sorry, but I just don’t understand how anyone could be content to just:
• Go through the motions of Christianity, or
• Play church
Now let’s look closely at what Paul told the Christians in Ephesus about spiritual growth. I want you to focus on 3 primary thoughts.
I. GOD’S DESIRE FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
II. GOD’S DESIGN FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
III. GOD’S DESCRIPTION FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
Only #1 this am…tonite the serious will find the design!
I. GOD’S DESIRE FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
• Simply put—God desires for you to grow spiritually.
• The heavenly Father does not want you to remain a spiritual infant—He wants you to grow to full maturity.
Ex: As my kids are growing up, there have been many times when I’ve said, “You are growing up too fast. Why don’t you stop growing and stay a child just a little longer?”
But the truth is, if one of them had stopped growing—I’d have them at the doctor for fear something was seriously wrong.
I truly enjoy them as children—but the truth is—I don’t want them to stay children forever. I want them to grow to be mature adults. And so it is with the heavenly Father—He desires you to grow.
V. 13 speaks of becoming.
V. 14 says the Father does not want us to be “infants.”
V. 15 says the Father wants us to “grow up into Christ.”
A. The fact is—God COMMANDS us to grow spiritually.
Verses like 1 Pet. 2:2 contain a command.
1 Peter 2:2
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2 Peter 3:18 contains a command.
2 Peter 3:18
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
B. When we neglect spiritual growth, we are DISOBEYING God.
a. Neglecting spiritual growth is not just an oversight...it is blatant disobedience and sin.
b. Whenever we have stagnated spiritually—we cannot start growing again until we first of all REPENT of neglecting our spiritual maturation.
c. I’m telling you—if we were truly sensitive to the Holy Spirit today—many of us would respond to this message by repenting to God for:
• Neglecting His Word
• Neglecting His worship
• Neglecting prayer
• Neglecting fellowship with the Saints
• Neglecting discipleship
• Neglecting so great a salvation.
II. GOD’S DESIGN FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
• God not only desires for you to grow spiritually, He has designed a way for you to be growing continually in grace.
• God provides you with 3 essential items that are to stimulate growth in your life.
A. God’s design for growth includes an INSTITUTION: THE CHURCH.
a. Ephesians 4 was written in the context of the church, the Body of Christ.
Read vv. 11-16
b. This was a letter originally addressed to a church—and while it has a message for individuals—its primary direction was toward the corporate Body, the church.
c. Now I am here to tell you—there can be no spiritual growth apart from the church.
Tho’ some will die trying!
d. If you intend to grow spiritually—then you need to unite yourself and involve yourself with a:
• Spiritual
• Loving
• Bible-believing church.
e. Nothing can replace the role of the local church.
Note: I am thankful for something like this film of the Passion, but it cannot replace the church!
A baby needs food…but also family!
The church you unite with can either stimulate and stir your spiritual growth, or stifle it.
Don’t unite with a church that:
• Does not believe, teach, and preach the Bible
• Does not emphasize spiritual discipleship
• Does not have an atmosphere of love and life.
Search out a spirit-filled church and then pour your life into the ministry of that church.
Ex: Every once in a while, I meet a person who does not believe in the institutional, local church. They feel too spiritual to join a local, visible, organized Body of Believers. Warren Wiersbe tells of a Pastor friend who was approached by an individual wanting his church to support his mission work financially.
The Pastor asked the man, “What church do you belong to?” And the man rather indignantly said, “I belong to the invisible church.” The Pastor said, “Okay, then at what church do you regularly worship?” The man with greater indigence said, “I worship with the invisible church.”
The Pastor finally said, “Okay, then here is some invisible money to help you with your mission work for the invisible church.”
B. God’s design for growth includes INDIVIDUALS: GIFTED LEADERS.
vv. 11-12
APOSTLES:
• The office of Apostle was a temporary office in the early church.
• It was a primary office for laying the “foundation of the church” (see Eph. 2:20).
• There were 13 Apostles, including Matthias, who replaced Judas, and Paul who was later appointed by Christ as the Apostle to the Gentiles.
• Their qualifications were two-fold:
1) They were witnesses to the resurrected Christ.
2) They were directly appointed to this office by Christ Himself.
• A second class of Apostles seemed to have served as long as the original Apostles were alive. These men included Barnabas (Acts 14:3), Silas, and Timothy (1 Thess. 3:2).
• Apostles’ ministries were always authenticated by signs and wonders.
PROPHETS:
• This also was a special office of leadership given to the first century church for the establishment of the church.
• I do not believe this was ever intended to be an enduring office.
• The prophets often spoke direct, personal, specific revelation from God. And sometimes they merely expounded in revelation already given.
• The prophets’ ministry and message were always under the authority of the Apostles.
EVANGELISTS:
• This was an enduring office in the church, filled by men whose primary role was to evangelize (literally, “preach the Good News”).
• Philip was a Deacon and an Evangelist (Acts 8). He shows us that a New Testament Evangelist is not a man with 10 suits and 10 sermons running a road show.
• New Testament Evangelists were missionaries, church planters, and soul-winners.
• They preached and explained the message of salvation in Jesus Christ, taught the new believers, then moved to new territory and people where the gospel had not been previously preached.
PASTOR-TEACHERS:
• The title “Pastor” (poimen) means “Shepherd.” It emphasizes the care, protection, and leadership of the man of God for the flock of God.
• Teaching (didaskaloi) refers to the primary work of a Pastor.
• As the Apostolic era came to a close, the office of Pastor-Teacher (elder or bishop speak of the same office) became the highest level of leadership with the church.
• The Pastor-Teacher is to preach, protect, oversee, and guide the local church.
c. Paul says these gifted men are given to the church to, “prepare you for works of service” (KJV says, “Equip the Saints for the work of the ministry”).
d. This means the Pastor is not the hired hand of the church—paid to do the work of the church.
He is the spiritual leader of the church whose primary role is to teach, train, and equip the people to do the work of the ministry.
e. A biblical Pastor will see himself as an equipper!
f. A Pastor should be a stimulator and catalyst of spiritual growth in your life.
g. When you are looking for a church home—you need to find a church where the Pastor, on a weekly basis, from the pulpit and from his own lifestyle and personality, challenges you and stirs you to grow spiritually.
h. I pray that my testimony as a Pastor would be that of the Apostle Paul in Col. 1:28-29.
Col. 1:28-29
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: [29] Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
C. God’s design for growth includes INSTRUMENTS:
a. The Holy Spirit is an instrument of growth.
If the Holy Spirit is in you—He will continually:
• Prompt you to grow spiritually
• The Holy Spirit is God Almighty living inside of you—and He is God’s agent of personal, spiritual growth.
• You need to learn how to listen to the Holy Spirit, how to recognize His voice, and submit continually to His promptings.
The Holy Spirit within us:
• Empowers us for service (Acts 1:8)
• Teaches us spiritual truth (John 14:26)
• Gives us spiritual life (John 6:63)
• Confirms and seals our salvation (Rom. 8:16; Eph. 1:13)
• Convicts us of sin (John 16:8)
• Comforts us (John 14:26)
• Produces spiritual fruit (Gal. 5:22)
• Guides our praying (Rom. 8:26).
• When the Holy Spirit is in you—He will stir you to grow spiritually.
b. The Bible is an instrument of growth.
• In fact, you cannot possibly grow spiritually apart from God’s Word.
2 Tim 3:16-17
John 15:3
Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
• Let me tell you—you need to pour yourself into the Book every day.
• Read it.
• Meditate on it.
• Memorize it.
• Make notes on it.
• Study it.
And most important of all, believe it and obey it!
• Again, you need to be in a church where the Pastor does not just give a “Feel good about yourself” sermon, but where the Pastor studies and prepares and then comes to the pulpit and feeds you God’s Word.
• 1 Pet. 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby.”
c. Prayer is an instrument of growth.
• The primary goal of prayer is not to present a “wish list” of your wants and needs to a “cosmic” Santa Claus.
But it is to get to know the true, loving, wise, eternal, omnipotent God.
• Paul says Epaphras was committed to the ministry of prayer as a means of building up believers. Paul said of him in
Col. 4:12-13
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. [13] For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.
• When you are investing much time in prayer and conversing with God in His Word...you will grow spiritually.
d. Christian fellowship is an instrument of growth.
Hebrews 10:24
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
• Prov. 27:17 -- iron sharpeneth iron…
• I believe spirit-filled, godly men and women help to stimulate us and hold us accountable to grow spiritually.
• If you really want to grow spiritually, then also get involved with a small fellowship, Bible study, or accountability group.
e. Testing/Suffering are instruments of growth.
James 1:2-4
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.
• Suffering is God’s custom-designed program for purging and purifying our lives and refining our character.
• Peter tells us that God uses suffering to build up and prepare us for spiritual ministry.
1 Peter 5:10
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
• Paul tells us that the only way to know Christ in the deepest, most intimate levels, is to share in His suffering.
• Philip. 3:10
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death…
Never, ever view the pains and problems you face in life as your adversary. Rather welcome them, rejoice in them, because your Father is using them to produce maturity in you.
• I promise you, promise you, promise you...without exception, the greatest periods of spiritual growth in my life have occurred during times of adversity and pain.
Conclusion of Point: God’s Design For Growth.
I’m telling you—God has arranged and designed it so that you have every opportunity to grow spiritually. Listen carefully—IF YOU ARE NOT GROWING SPIRITUALLY YOU HAVE ONLY ONE PERSON TO BLAME!!
1. God’s design for growth includes an INSTITUTION: THE CHURCH.
2. God’s design for growth includes INDIVIDUALS: GIFTED LEADERS.
3. God’s design for growth includes INSTRUMENTS:
THE HOLY SPIRIT
THE BIBLE
PRAYER
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
TESTING/SUFFERING.
III. GOD’S DESCRIPTION OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
• The question that now needs to be asked is simply this: “How does God define or describe spiritual growth?”
• “What is spiritual growth—and how can one recognize and measure it?”
A. Ephesians 4 Gives Us At Least 4 Characteristics Of Spiritual Growth. Spiritual Growth Might Be Described In These 4 Ways:
1. Spiritual growth is described as DOCTRINAL STABILITY.
Ephes. 4:13-14
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: [14] That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
a. The words used here are very, very picturesque words. For example, the word “sleight” (Kubia) means literally “loaded dice.”
AND
“Craftiness” speaks of intentional scheming to undermine gospel truth.
b. I’m telling you—surely there had never been a day when the church has been more inundated with false teaching that is like “loaded dice”...on the surface it looks good but the inside is evil.
c. We are being bombarded with teaching that appears on the surface to be true—but beneath the veneer you find the doctrine of demons:
• New Age Philosophy
• Mormonism
• Prosperity Gospel (“Name it and claim it” or “Blab it and grab it”).
Ex: You can turn your television on on Sunday morning and get a plethora of false teachers:
• Religious hucksters in the health and wealth movement
• False teachers in the New Age philosophy
• Romanism (sacramental salvation).
And you can also find solid, Bible-believing teachers who “rightly divide the Word of Truth.”
d. The problem is—the average Christian today can’t tell the difference between the two.
e. I watch people send their money off to these religious hucksters—put your hand on the tv…
f. Spiritual maturity produces doctrinal stability and discernment in you, so you are not persuaded by these false teachers and the latest religious fad.
Ex: Let me tell you how foolish this gets. Some elements of Christianity have gotten caught up in “Holy Laughter.” It is a mass hysteria of laughter led by a preacher who is just a “Christian counselor.”
Well, the sensationalism of that has begun to wear off and now some are getting caught up in “Holy Barking.” Mass hysteria of barking and howling like dogs.
Recently, in a church in Mississippi, a man began to jump and whoop like a gorilla. Everyone said, “Praise the Lord—it’s of God.” Then he began to dance and move in sensual motions. Everyone said, “Praise God—it’s of God.” Then he jumped into the lap of the Pastor’s wife and began to fondle her...Was this of God? How foolish!!
g. You need to “grow up” so you won’t be “caught up” in the foolishness and fraud that is out there!
2. Spiritual growth is described as LOVING STANDARDS.
Eph 4:15
a. When you are growing spiritually, you are able to speak the truth in love.
b. That is, you maintain high, righteous, biblical standards of truth...but you promote and enforce the standards of truth in a spirit of love.
c. There are people who are adamant proponents of the truth...but they do not have love, and they end up being:
• Harsh
• Intolerant
• Legalistic
• Self-righteous
• Dictatorial
• Impatient
And they drive people further from the truth rather than closer to it.
d. Others feel like truth is not important, just be loving and understanding. But this is not true love.
Ex: Is it loving for a doctor to be very compassionate and kind to you, but never tell you what’s wrong with you?
e. The mature Christian is committed to high standards (truth) but expresses those standards in a sweet spirit of sacrificial love.
3. Spiritual growth is described as CHRIST’S SUFFICIENCY.
Eph 4:13
a. Real spiritual maturity means, “growing up into Him...”
b. Spiritual maturity is growing in the Christ-life.
• Becoming more like Jesus.
• Getting to know Jesus.
• Loving Jesus.
• Trusting Jesus.
• Depending on Jesus.
• Abiding in Jesus.
• Relying upon Jesus.
• Submitting to Jesus.
• Living out of your identity in Jesus.
c. John the Baptist described it this way, “I must decrease...He must increase.”
d. Spiritual maturity is learning how to decrease so Jesus Christ can increase in us in every way!
4. Spiritual maturity is described as GIFTED SERVICE.
Eph 4:12
Eph 4:16
Mature Christians—are service-oriented, ministering Christians.
Let me say it outright...if you are not serving and ministering in the Body of Christ, you are not a mature Christian!!
• We do not serve in order to produce spiritual growth.
• We grow spiritually and spiritual growth produces service.
Sometimes we confuse spiritual growth with religious, church activity. The fact is, sometimes our busyness impedes our spiritual growth. [Mary/Martha]
As you grow, you recognize your spiritual gift and you serve and minister in the Body according to your giftedness!
Conclusion of Point: God’s Description For Spiritual Growth.
Spiritual growth is described as:
1. Doctrinal Stability
2. Loving Standards
3. Christ’s Sufficiency
4. Gifted Service.
Conclusion of Sermon: Are You Growing Spiritually Today?
1) I can’t tell you how urgent and critical it is that you concern yourself with growing spiritually.
2) Has your spiritual growth somehow plateaued?
3) Have you been neglecting the most essential issue of your whole life?
Let me tell you what God is doing here today—and prompting many of you to do.
1) God is leading some of you to get saved—by committing your life to Jesus Christ.
2) God is leading some of you to repent of the spiritual neglect and apathy in your life.
3) God is leading some of you to join this spirit-filled church.
4) Become a Pediatrician…discipling others to grow
5) Become an Obstetrician…deliving new babes in Christ!
