Date: July 8,
2015
Scriptures: John
15:4, Psalm 81:11, Proverbs 3:5, 1 Corinthians 10:23, Ephesians 4:22, Philippians
1:6 1 Peter 2:12, Romans 8:29, Romans 8:37, 2 Corinthians 3:17 – 18, Romans
15:4, 1 Peter 5:10, James 1:3, Hebrews 10:6, James 1:2, Luke 10:19, 2 Corinthians
2:15, Psalm 62:6, Psalm 125:1
Sermon Topic: Spiritual
Growth
Sermon Notes:
Spiritual Growth is not only a large area of discuss but it’s
something that we all need to do. Grow in the grace and the knowledge of God.
The ability to grow is in every believer but the potential to grow doesn’t guarantee
fruitfulness. We must grow in love, knowledge, holiness and faith.
John 15:4 – Abide in me, and I in
you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no
more can ye, except ye abide in me. In order to grow and bear
fruit we must be in Christ. All that we have no, there is nothing else that god
needs to create for us, but we need to grow in the knowledge of what we have so
when things happen, don’t contradict what God says. Discipline your mind and
your speech.
Psalm 81:11 – But my people would not
hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. No good
thing will he withhold if I walk upright before God, love my neighbor doesn’t prevent
us from having to deal with trials and life’s issues.
During sickness and sorrow – don’t throw up your hands. God
has already told us what to do. Proverbs
3:5 – Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Don’t get distracted by situations – continue to trust him even when
it seems like he won’t answer our prayers.
Job didn’t give credit to the enemy and he said he would
come forth as pure gold because of his trials. That attitude is essential for a
victorious life.
We need spiritual maturity – Have a positive attitude if I
want to grow. When I mature in the word. Ephesians
4:22 – That ye put
off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according
to the deceitful lusts. Don’t allow yourself
to respond to situations before Christ. Philippians
1:6 – Being
confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will
perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Don’t give negative
thoughts life by speaking it. When you put words in the air you give life to
what you say.
1 Corinthians 10:23
– All things are lawful
for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all
things edify not. Govern your speech. How do your actions
affect other people? When we get to situations in our lives we should
discipline our mind and speech. All things that we do must have edification. Some
things we do that are lawful may impact someone else in a negative manner.
Growing spiritually will get us to a place where we know
what to do. We can discern what is proper and what is not.
Before you do something,
you must ask yourself the following questions:
· Will it damage your influence?
· Will it take away from my ability?
· Will people not trust me?
· Will I be a violent point of reference?
1 Peter 2:12 – Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas
they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they
shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. You should
have honest conversations amongst those who are saved. No matter how they speak
about us, our conversation must be honest.
The essential element of spiritual growth is to become more
like Christ. That’s why we continue to grow to be more like Christ. Romans 8:29 – For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate
to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among
many brethren. When we look at this passage we’re destined to
be in the image of Christ. We’re called, justified and glorified.
When that becomes a reality in our lives then we can boldly
say – If God be for us, who can be against us? Whatever I’m dealing with, I don’t
say negative stuff. Romans 8:37 – For whom he did foreknow,
he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might
be the firstborn among many brethren. We are more than
conquerors, no matter the magnitude of the situation, I’m more than a conqueror
through Christ. I get my direction and instruction through him. I’m more than a
conqueror through him.
We need to have the faith to believe it. Jesus didn’t say we
needed great faith, he said we need faith the size of a mustard seed? Do you
know how small a mustard seed is? See picture below.
It makes no difference what you do, God loves us just the same
as he did before. Where the spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. The Holy
Spirit dwells in us. As spiritual growth occurs in our lives, we change. The
more you learn about Christ the more you change.
There are things you can handle now that you couldn’t handle
five years ago because you weren’t on the level of Christ. Five years ago you would’ve
gone crazy but now we know what to say and what not to say.
God causes us to grow spiritually. That’s why the word of
God helps us grow, it equips us.
Romans 15:4 – For whatsoever things
were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience
and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our
learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have
hope. We are able to see examples to follow from the Bible. We
have to keep the word in the midst of our hearts to make it through trials.
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.
He called us. I quickly move from the suffering when I read this
verse. Set my mind on being perfect, settled and stablished.
This tells me that the suffering I’m dealing with won’t be
forever. It’s not the end. I’m coming out of it. He’s going to strengthen me.
Suffering no longer has a shattering affect because God
keeps us.
When you’re going through something don’t dwell on it. We
can persevere if we grow spiritually.
James 1:3 – Knowing this, that the
trying of your faith worketh patience. I gotta let patience
have her perfect work. James 1:2 – My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations.
Count it all joy. This comes from growing in the word.
Our faith will be tried but everything that happens to us –
there’s a purpose.
Hebrews 10:6 – In burnt offerings and
sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. You have need
of patience until the promise shows up.
We can’t doubt because doubt cancels everything. Think about
what you say before you say it.
We must repent when we speak badly. We can speak to him like
he’s our father. When you say something that goes against the word of God you
can say, “I don’t know why I said that, I’m sorry”.
Once we confess it God forgets it as if you never said it.
We have authority, but we must recognize our authority
through the covenant of Christ. Everything begins with the word of God.
Luke 10:19 – Behold, I give unto you
power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy:
and nothing shall by any means hurt you. We have the
authority over demonic forces. Resist the devil and he will flee. We need
confidence in the word of God. The knowledge of God’s love for you produces
confidence.
I’m a winner – never see yourself as a loser. 2 Corinthians 2:15 – For
we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them
that perish. We always are lead to triumph.
The more you are in the word, the more you love the word. The closer you are to
God.
The further away you are from distractions it’s the word of
God.
We need to have the confidence. So we aren’t moved by
circumstances. With confidence I’m not moved by circumstances.
Psalm 62:6 – He only is my rock and
my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved. I’m not depending on anyone. He is my rock.
He
only!
I shall not be moved. No matter what happens, I won’t be
moved from my place in Christ he is my rock and salvation.
He is my deliverer, healer and my all.
Psalm 125:1 – They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for
ever. Those who trust in the Lord are like Mt. Zion who
cannot be moved!
You’re a winner right now!
There is no demon that can take that title from me. We need
to see the enemy as he is – a defeated foe.
He was defeated at Calvary.
The blood still works, it will never lose its power.
We must apply the word!
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