Scripture
While searching this week for a story to introduce my new series of sermons, my eye caught the following headline: “Man Lives in a Tree after Fight with His Wife—50 Years Ago!”
I suppose I was drawn to this story because my first counseling assignment as a freshly-installed Associate Pastor was to go and counsel a man who had been kicked out of his house by his wife. It was the middle of winter, and there was about 2 inches of snow on the ground. I found the man in a tree house in his back yard. So I climbed up the tree and joined him in his tree house. And there we sat, cold and shivering, for my very first counseling session! But that’s a story for another occasion. . . .
It turns out that Gayadhar Parida of India, who is now 83-years old, has spent the last 50 years of his life living in a tree house. He has repeatedly turned down pleas by his wife and children to return home.
Parida’s wife said: “We quarreled over a tiny issue and that is why he left me and promised not to live with me and return home until his death. I have tried a lot and forced him to come back, but he has refused all the time.”
Parida’s strange home is a makeshift shed on a tree, located about half a mile from his actual house. For many years Parida lived in a mango tree, but was forced to move to his new tree after his old tree collapsed in a storm.
Now, one might wonder, what in the world does Gayadhar Parida hope to accomplish by living in a tree house?
Parida claims that the unusual lifestyle has helped in his spiritual growth and in overcoming tensions after the estrangement with his wife.
I don’t think that Parida’s approach is working, do you?
But how does one grow spiritually?
That is the subject that is going to occupy our attention for the next few weeks. As we prepare to embark on a Capital Stewardship Campaign in the fall, we need to understand that what we do with our financial resources is just one part of our spiritual lives. And so I want us to look at the larger picture of using the means of grace in order to grow spiritually.
With that in mind, let’s read the exhortation from the apostle Peter to grow spiritually in 2 Peter 3:18:
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen" (2 Peter 3:18).
Introduction
Every Christian desires to grow and mature in his or her walk with Christ. But our desire does not always match reality.
And so, beginning today, I would like to look more closely at the word of God in order to learn how we are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Lesson
Today’s message is an introduction to the keys to spiritual growth. I would like us to consider briefly some important matters about spiritual growth, such as:
1. The priority of spiritual growth,
2. Observations about spiritual growth,
3. A definition of spiritual growth,
4. The master key to spiritual growth, and
5. The progression of spiritual growth.
So with that outline in mind, let us begin our study today.
I. The Priority of Spiritual Growth
First, be aware of the priority of spiritual growth.
Spiritual growth is one of the most important subjects a Christian can study in the word of God. The apostle Peter ended his practical letters with an exhortation for Christians to grow: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).
Spiritual growth is essential to the life of a Christian, just as physical growth is essential to the life of a child.
Because God commands us to mature spiritually, we need to understand how that happens.
II. Observations about Spiritual Growth
Second, let’s make some observations about spiritual growth.
It is important to understand several concepts that are not the primary issues in spiritual growth.
A. It Isn’t Necessarily Related to Time
First, spiritual growth isn’t necessarily related to time.
Some people have been Christians for a long time and have grown little spiritually, while others have been Christians for a short time and have grown much spiritually.
Your commitment to growth is what matters, not the amount of time elapsed from your conversion. Spiritual maturity cannot be measured by the calendar.
B. It Isn’t Necessarily Related to Knowledge
Second, spiritual growth isn’t necessarily related to knowledge.
The issue is not knowledge alone but what you do with what you know. The Bible says that “knowledge puffs up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Knowledge can make you proud and actually retard spiritual growth. Only when knowledge conforms you to the image of Christ does it help you grow.
C. It Isn’t Necessarily Related to Religious Activity
Third, spiritual growth isn’t necessarily related to religious activity.
Some people think that they have grown spiritually if they have served on a committee, sung in the choir, or been otherwise active in the church. They assume that if they’re busy, they must be growing spiritual.
But the Pharisees were busy with religion, and no one was further from the truth than they were. In Matthew 7:22-23 Jesus said, “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Being busy doesn’t even result in salvation, let alone spiritual growth.
D. It Isn’t Necessarily Related to Prosperity
Finally, spiritual growth isn’t necessarily related to prosperity.
Some people believe that because they have prospered, they have God’s favor. If they possess much, they think that God has blessed them because they are such wonderful Christians. God may have blessed them, but that isn’t necessarily an indication that they are spiritually mature.
III. A Definition of Spiritual Growth
Third, this brings us to a definition of spiritual growth.
Spiritual growth is not mystical, sentimental, devotional, or psychological. It is not the result of some clever secret or formula. Spiritual growth is simply matching your practice with your position in Christ.
Your position in Christ is perfect: you have a righteousness from God (Romans 1:17). You are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10). You have all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). You have all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).
But now you need to make progress so that your practice moves toward your position in Christ. And it’s a life-long journey.
IV. The Master Key to Spiritual Growth
Fourth, I would like us to look at the master key to spiritual growth.
The most important concept in understanding and experiencing spiritual growth is in 2 Peter 3:18: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.”
The master key to spiritual growth is the glory of God. Giving glory to God is vitally related to spiritual growth. Therefore, it is essential to understand what it means to glorify God.
A. Illustrations of God’s Glory
First, let’s notice some illustrations of God’s glory.
Everything exists for the purpose of glorifying God.
The Westminster Shorter Catechism begins by stating that “man’s chief end (i.e., purpose) is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever” (Q/A 1).
The entire universe glorifies God. Psalm 19:1 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
The angels glorify God. The angels who appeared at the birth of Jesus said, “Glory to God in the highest” (Luke 2:14a).
The saints in heaven glorify God. Revelation tells us that at history’s climax, when all the saints are safely in heaven, they will sing a great song giving glory to God (cf. Revelation 5:8-14).
B. Responses to God’s Glory
Second, what are some responses to the glory of God?
One response to the glory of God is condemnation. God’s judgment has fallen on the entire human race because of our failure to give him glory. The apostle Paul recounts our defection from the truth in Romans 1-3. In Romans 1:21, he tells us that the basic problem is that “although they [i.e., people] knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him.”
All people knew God through their conscience “since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them” (Romans 1:19).
They also knew him through creation, “for since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen” (Romans 1:20).
But though people had both an internal and an external knowledge of God, they failed to give him glory. Instead, they “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles” (Romans 1:23). They invented idolatrous systems of religion.
When people abandoned the concept of glorifying God, they cut themselves off from spiritual life and growth. The history of mankind is therefore a descent, not an ascent. People cannot grow because they refuse to give glory to God.
But, thankfully, God does not leave his elect there. After regeneration and conversion, our response now to the glory of God is change. As we who are believers glorify God, we begin to grow. The apostle Paul, writing to the Christians at Corinth, says, “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Because of the great truths revealed in the Bible, we can view God’s glory increasingly clearly. And as we do, we grow spiritually, moving from one level of glory to the next.
As the end of verse 18 says, the Holy Spirit energizes our growth. “The Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6), and growth is one aspect of life. He infuses our lives with his power, making us more and more into the image of Christ.
We should not be preoccupied with the Holy Spirit’s work, however, or with our own activity. We should focus primarily on the glory of the Lord.
C. Rejection of God’s Glory
And third, notice what happens when God’s glory is rejected.
Nothing is more important to God than his glory. In Isaiah 48:11 God says, “I will not yield my glory to another.”
God has created everything to glorify himself. Therefore he strongly opposes those who act contrary to that purpose. Let me give you two illustrations of this truth, one from the Old Testament and the other from the New Testament.
The first illustration of what happens when God’s glory is rejected concerns king Nebuchadnezzar. In Daniel 4:30 Nebuchadnezzar said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
Having accomplished some great things, he was saying, “How wonderful I am! Look what I’ve done!”
Verse 31 says, “The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, ‘This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.’”
He had gone too far—no one can compete with God. Nebuchadnezzar was like king Uzziah, of whom the Bible says that after he “became powerful, his pride led to his downfall” (2 Chronicles 26:16). God gave Uzziah leprosy, and he never healed (vv. 19-21).
Nebuchadnezzar’s story continues in Daniel 4:32-33. God said: “‘You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.’ Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.” The mighty king become a raving maniac in the wilderness.
But then we read in verse 34, “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. . . .”
He finally realized that only God deserves all glory.
The second illustration of what happens when God’s glory is rejected concerns king Herod Agrippa I. In Acts 12:21-23 we read of God’s judgment upon Herod Agrippa I, the king of Palestine from 41-44 AD: “On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, ‘This is the voice of a god, not of a man.’ Immediately, because Herod did not give praise [literally, glory] to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.” An abrupt ending to Herod’s big day!
We either glorify God or we pay the price. And whoever refuses to recognize the glory of God will be brought down by God.
Romans 1:28 says that when people failed to glorify God, he “gave them over to a depraved mind,” a doomed existence. God wants us to see, acknowledge, and submit to his glory, and he judges those who do not glorify him.
Because God’s glory is so important to him, we must focus on his glory to grow spiritually.
V. The Progression of Spiritual Growth
Finally, let’s see the progression of spiritual growth.
First John 2:12-14 lists three basic levels of spiritual growth. John used an analogy of physical human growth. In verse 12 John said, “I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.” At first, John referred to all Christians with one term, “dear children,” which simply means “offspring.” It has nothing to do with age and could refer to someone who is eighty-five years old.
However, in verses 13-14 John uses different terms, dividing the children of God into three categories, signifying three levels of spiritual growth: children, young men, and fathers.
The first level of spiritual growth is as children. In verse 13 John said, “I write to you, dear children [literally, “babies,” a different Greek word than in verse 12], because you have known the Father.” What is the first thing a child recognizes? His parents. A brand-new Christian realizes that he is a child of God—and not much else.
The next level of spiritual growth is as young men. John then said, “I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one” (v. 13). Satan is the evil one. How do you overcome Satan? Verse 14: “Because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”
Spiritual children do not have the word of God abiding in them strongly—they know only the basics. Consequently, they can be “blown here and there by every wind of teaching” (Ephesians 4:14). That is why when you lead someone to Christ, the first thing you need to do is get him grounded in the word of God so he doesn’t get confused by false teaching.
A spiritual young man is strong in the word of God and has overcome the evil one. Because Satan is a liar (John 8:44) and appears as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), he is the master of false teaching. But a spiritual young man understands biblical teaching and is not victimized by false teaching.
The last level of spiritual growth is as fathers. John describes an even deeper level of spiritual growth in verse 13: “I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning.” It’s one thing to know that you belong to the family of God and to know the word of God, but it’s another thing to know God intimately. Spiritual fathers not only know the Bible, but they also deeply know the God who wrote it.
Spiritual growth progresses from knowing you are a Christian to knowing the word of God to knowing God himself deeply.
The way to know God deeply is to spend your life focusing on his glory, thus learning to understand the fullness of his person. That focus becomes a magnet drawing you upward through the levels of spiritual maturity.
Conclusion
As you know, if you are a member of the Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church, I regularly pray for you. Some time ago I asked someone how I could pray for him. He sent me an email with a list of prayer requests, and the first request was one which warmed my heart. This member wrote: “Hello Freddy, I received your note yesterday asking for specific prayer requests. So, here are mine: (1) To consistently glorify God in all that I do.” This, brothers and sisters, is the right focus for spiritual growth. It is not, I am happy to say, living in a tree house for 50 years like Gayadhar Parida!
The apostle Paul says that “all things were created by him and for him” (Colossians 1:16). God made us for himself so that we might know him in all his fullness.
Romans 11:36 says that “from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” As you focus on the glory of God and begin to honor him, you will find yourself being changed into his very image as you grow from one level of glory to the next. That is spiritual growth. As we progress in this series of messages, you will learn to use the keys God has given us for spiritual growth. Amen.
