How to Grow

Intro:

For the past few weeks we have been in a series entitled Grit where we have looked at how to have courage, resolve, and strength of character.

In the opener of the series we talked about how the christian life is not a punch list. Christ must be central to our lives. Acts 17:28

says, “for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’”

We must learn to invite Jesus into every moment of our life by choosing to maintain an intentional awareness of His presence.

We know that according to Philippians 1:6 that if Christ is central He will complete a good work in our life.

Philippians 1:6 “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;”

Victory for the believer begins and ends with the word of God, because what God has spoken in His word concerning our lives carries the needed strength to help us persevere no matter the situation or season we find ourselves in.

Courage, Resolve, and Strength of Character begin in the mind. We know that in life we are going to endure hardships and trials, but our secret weapon to overcome is the power to choose to Joy. When we choose Joy it changes our perspective and trajectory. It moves us from conquered to conquerers!

A major pillar that undergirds joy is contentment. Remember that Contentment is an internal satisfaction which does not demand changes in external circumstances. Discontentment arises due to hardness of heart, trials, persecutions, the worries of this life, and the lure of wealth.

Joy and contentment are a result of knowing that God really is in control. When we understand this it gives us grit to endure! Proverbs 3:5-6.

Remember Proverbs 3:5-6 which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

In the bulk of this series we have looked at trusting in the Lord with all of our heart and lean not to your own understanding, but to close out the series today I want to shift to acknowledging Him in all your ways so He can direct your steps.

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Submit:

How do we have a Christ centered life? Ephesians 2:19-22.

Ephesians 2:19-22 “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”

This passage tells us that Christ is the chief cornerstone. What does that mean? The cornerstone of a large building gives it a reliable and firm foundation, leading to the cohesion and stability of the whole building. In scripture, the cornerstone is symbolic of Jesus and the Church. 1 Peter 2:5-6.

1 Peter 2:5-6 “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.””

So, we see in both passages of scripture that intent of our relationship with Christ is to be built into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. What began with the tabernacle of meeting during the Exodus of Israel has now shifted to God dwelling in our hearts by faith.

The Cornerstone is Christ. John 14:6

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

We begin with Faith in Christ. Romans 10:9-13

“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.””

What we must understand is that confession of faith in Christ is a launch pad for kingdom living. He is our reliable and firm foundation, but we must be mindful to press on. Jesus wants to do a good work in our lives, and far to many stop short of stepping into deeper relationship with Jesus.

Punch list christianity will rob you of purpose. Going to church is not the goal, becoming the church is. If we become a dwelling place for God ministry to others will be a natural byproduct. Your cup will run over.

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Apply:

How then do we grow into dwelling place for God? 2 Peter 1:5-11.

Turn with me now to 2 Peter 1:5-11.

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

This passage reveals the process of change necessary for the life of a believer.

Faith in Christ is the Cornerstone, but it says to add to faith virtue. Virtue is Moral Goodness (this comes when we align our thinking with God’s word.).

We are to add to Virtue- Knowledge (Knowledge is a deeper understanding of the ways of God-gaining wisdom).

We add to Knowledge- Self Control (this is one who masters sensual appetites. A fruit of the spirit)

We add to Self Control- Perseverance (steadfastness, constancy, endurance).

We add to Perseverance - Godliness (reverence, respect towards God) the more you learn of Him this comes naturally. When you discover the greatness of his wisdom it shifts the posture of your heart. You can’t help but have reverence and respect towards Him.

We add to Godliness- Brotherly Kindness (love of brothers or sisters). The internal transformation of the Gospel and surrender to Jesus now begins to show externally towards others.

We add to Brotherly Kindness- Love (the greek word used here is AGAPE. this is the God kind of Love. no conditions, he loves because he loves. It is who He is.)

The Christian life is progression. God draws us to Christ by His kindness. Romans 2:4 “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” But after we have a responsibility to pursue the Kingdom. Christ brings us into the family, but we must both learn and walk in the nature of the family.

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Closing:

Sadly, Jesus tells us that there are many who will call Him Lord that He will turn away in the end. My heart burns as a pastor to not let that be said of us as a church. Luke 6:46-49.

In Luke 6:46-49 Jesus says, ““But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.””

This same message is in Matthew 7:21-23.

In Matthew 7:21-23 it says, " Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but He who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"

The cross reference of this passage is the parable of the wise and foolish Virgin's in Matthew 25:11-12 where the groom came for the bride and only half were ready. In Matthew 7:21-23 they did not do the will of the Father (Follow His Word). In Matthew 25:11-12 they did not have oil in their lamps. Oil in scripture is always representative of the Holy Spirit.

The totality of this thought is that both were rejected because they practiced lawlessness. They had made the decision to consistently reject what God had said and not put it into practice. Jesus took it a little further by saying, why do you call me Lord and not do what I say?

We have the potential to become the dwelling place of God if we will listen to and obey His word. When we obey we choose to build upon Christ the chief cornerstone. If we choose to reject His word he tells us that destruction awaits.

How then do we know if we are wise or foolish? The storms of life will reveal it. If you continue in Matthew 7:24-27 you will see that storms reveal the foundation of our life. Storms for the believer are uncomfortable for sure, but not stressful because our life is established on God's word. The believer continues to mature over time and has developed grit.

However, storms for those who hear the word, but do not do it are extremely stressful and costly. Jesus said, that when the storms came that house fell, and great was its fall.

Today, let’s make a decision to be a people who read and obey the word of God. Let’s choose to go on to maturity receiving the Spirit and Power.

Let’s Pray!

Salvation- Christ the Cornerstone

Hunger and Thirst for righteousness would arise over each person.