Growing in Grace

Title: HABITS OF GROWING BELIEVERS

Text: 2 Peter 3:18

2 Peter 3:18 KJV 1900

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.

Intro: Every living creature grows—whether they be plants, animals or humans, growth is a normal part of existence. Jesus wants us to grow, to progress in our Christian life so we become spiritually mature and become good examples.

Unlike in the physical world, growth is inevitable as time goes by. In the spiritual world, the passing of time does not guarantee growth. God helping us, we must develop habits to spiritually grow in our Christian life as time goes by.

Habit #1: Study the Bible John 5:39

John 5:39 KJV 1900

39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV 1900

15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Bible is the truth – the word of God. It is the only tangible thing on earth that closely resembles the nature character of God.

It is:

living Heb. 4:12

Hebrews 4:12 KJV 1900

12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

holy 2 Tim. 3:15

2 Timothy 3:15 KJV 1900

15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

perfect Psa. 19:7

Psalm 19:7 KJV 1900

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

eternal Matt. 24:35

Matthew 24:35 KJV 1900

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

light Psa. 119:105

Psalm 119:105 KJV 1900

105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.

spirit John 6:63

John 6:63 KJV 1900

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

sanctifier John 17:17

John 17:17 KJV 1900

17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

God is bound with His word!

The will, precepts, promises, and warnings of God are written in the Bible. Don’t just merely read it, but study and memorize it to be wise. Believe it to be strong. It is food for the inner man—the soul/spirit. It will guide you in all your life and will judge all men in the last day (John 12:48). A mature believer will always read, study, meditate, and memorize the scriptures.

Habit #2: Keep on Praying (Luke 18:1; 1 Thess. 5:17)

Luke 18:1 KJV 1900

1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV 1900

17 Pray without ceasing.

Bible study gives us “LIGHT” while prayer gives us “HEAT” in our spiritual life. As children of God, we can request by prayer the provision, grace, peace and mercy that we have as privileges.

In prayer we must: (a) have faith in God (Heb 11:6); (b) Be free from iniquity (Psa. 66:18); (c) Forgive others(Mark 11:25); (d) Ask according to His will (1 John 5:14); (e) In the power of the Spirit (Rom. 8:26); (f) Through Jesus (John 14:14); and (g) for the Father’s glory (John 14:13).

Habit #3: Rely upon the Spirit (Rom. 8:9; 1 John 4:13)

Romans 8:9 KJV 1900

9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

1 John 4:13 KJV 1900

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come to comfort, guide and teach His disciples (John 16:13). At conversion, the Holy Spirit seals and indwells the believer (Eph. 1:13). The true Christian is also empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

Acts 1:8 KJV 1900

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

It is the job of the Spirit to ensure that the believer is brought to a close personal relationship with Jesus. The maturing Christian will depend more and more on God’s Spirit, and less and less on himself (Zec 4:6b). The Holy Spirit reminds the Christian about the things Jesus has taught him (John 14:26) so that he can walk uprightly before God.

Zechariah 4:6 KJV 1900

6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, Saith the Lord of hosts.

Habit #4: Bear the Cross (Luke 9:23; Phil 3:10)

Luke 9:23 KJV 1900

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Philippians 3:10 KJV 1900

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

To bear the cross means to practice self-denial

We know that the hardest person to deny is our SELF! To deny our self means to abstain from its fleshly lusts and deeds, i.e., the very sinful things which it loves and craves (cf. 1 Pet. 2:11). Self-denial involves detachment from the world and contentment in Christ.

The cross symbolizes SUFFERING for Christ and DEATH to our old sinful nature. Believers are not immune from sufferings esp. for God and His righteousness. Look at Joseph, Job, Stephen, Paul, and our Lord Jesus! Patience in suffering makes us more like Jesus (1 Pet. 3:14). Incredibly, there is joy even in the midst of suffering (Acts 5:41; 16:22-25).

Habit #5: Live for God’s Glory (I Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17)

1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV 1900

31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:17 KJV 1900

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

The Christian life also means stewardship and accountability. We are not our own, we were bought with a great price and we rightfully belong to God (1 Cor. 6:19-20).

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 KJV 1900

19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Habit #6: Focus on the Eternal (Heb. 12:2; Tit. 2:13)

Hebrews 12:2 KJV 1900

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Titus 2:13 KJV 1900

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Following Jesus also means to keep your spiritual eyes fixed upon Him and His soon return. Since Christ rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is coming back soon, to follow Christ means to focus our hearts and minds on the eternal and heavenly (Col. 3:1-2).

A believer is supposed to have proper priorities and values. We are to value what is important to God, like living the Gospel, loving and edifying each other, praying, giving, helping the needy, serious Bible study, making Jesus #1 in all things, etc.

We are still in the world to continue the work the Lord began, but we do not belong to this world. We are just pilgrims passing by and this sinful world is not our home! (1 John 2:15-17).