Spiritual Growth Lesson 3 Series

“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him” (Col. 2:6).

1. The power of decisions

a. Yesterday: past decisions make me what I am.

b. Tomorrow: future dreams give me energy.

c. Today counts: the most important day of your life.

2. Spiritual growth is a choice that changes everything.

a. I choose to not give into sin.

b. I choose to submit to the authority of Christ.

c. I choose to grow inner character that is reflected through my outer person that pleases Christ and points others to Him.

Character is habitually doing the right thing in the right way.

3. You don’t have the power to live for Christ, until you make a decision to reject sin and give your body to Christ. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself” (Luke 9:23).

4. You cannot overcome sin if you never make a life-choice to be victorious. “Thanks be unto God who always causes us to triumph in Christ” (2 Cor. 2:14). You cannot manage what you don’t have.

WRONG APPROACHES TO VICTORY OVER SIN

? Ask God to take sin desire from you.

? Victory will come naturally and eventually.

? Decide to get victory compartmentally.

? You do nothing but yield.

5. Satan’s decoys. Many wrongly think you automatically grow spiritually, as you grow physically. But physical growth takes food. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2, KJV).

If you don’t make a choice to grow,

you start out at the bottom and stay there.

6. Knowledge decoy. Many think spiritual growth comes from knowing information.

a. Spiritual growth comes to every part of your life. It must be integrated and inter-connected.

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52).

7. Satan’s lures.

a. The flesh naturally resists discipline and hard work. “Much study is a weariness of the flesh” (Ecc. 12:12).

b. Pride. “I have more understanding than all my teachers” (Ps. 119:99).

8. Your spiritual growth determines the effectiveness of your ministry.

Spiritual gifts without spiritual growth = little outer fruit

Spiritual growth without spiritual gifts = little inner fruit

a. To do more for God, you must be more.

b. To grow a ministry, grow the leader.

9. Choosing to grow in Christ.

a. I will set growth goals and choose to reach them.

b. I will develop a growth plan and will work my plan.

c. I will change what keeps me from my goals.

d. I will develop growth partners and put myself in growth situations.

You cannot be tomorrow what you will not do today. Today counts!

e. I will grow in some area every day.

f. I will get my daily directions from God.

THE HOT POKER

Read great books: get breadth

Talk to great people: build dreams

Visit great places: to learn

Attend great events: to experience

10. Live by principles. Write down your principles to guide your actions and pass them to others.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.

Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.

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