Grow Up

Ephesians 4:11–16 NIV84

11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Paul tells us that the reason Christ gave gifts to the church was so that the Body grow up into Him. We need to grow into our calling. When my children were born, they were born in order to grow up and grow out. Grow into men and women. Grow out as parents and grandparents and so on. They were not born to remain babes. It is unnatural for living things not to grow. The Body of Christ needs to grow up into its calling—be the Body. In order to accomplish that growth we must grow in all things (areas in our life).

1. Grow Up Concerning Your Practice

I speak of practice as who we are or what we do

For example, doctors has their practice, like attorneys have their practice. In both cases, their practice means what they do and who they are.

For authentic believers, Christianity is our practice, we are Christians who live a Christ like life—our practice

Some say, never judge a book by its cover (don’t let the outside fool you about what is inside).

Jesus warned, Mt 7:15-16 “15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?”

Jesus told us how to recognize people

You are what you practice

Practice of Possessions

Luke 12:15 “15 Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.””

Don’t let possessions possess you

Many Christians place too much value on money and possessions

It isn’t wrong to have money, but we must heed the scriptural warning: “The love of money is the root of all evil”

1 Tim. 6:10 “10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

Don’t fall in love with the gift and forget the giver

2. Grow Up Concerning Your Position

1 Pet 2:9 “9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

When you know who you are, it eliminates all insecurities

Your position with God is secure

Jn 8:32 “32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””

Jn 8:36 “36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Jn 10:28 “28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.”

Grow in your calling

2 Tim 2:15 “15 Study to show yourself approved by God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

Don’t mishandle His Word

2 Tim 3:16 “16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,”

3. Grow Up Concerning Your Popularity

Phil 2:5-11 “5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

The way up is down

Jn 5:44 “44 How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?”

The only praise we should seek is the praise that comes from God

In the social media era, people are all about popularity

The popularity they seek leads them to engage in crazy behavior

Popularity is usually short-lived

It can be here today and gone tomorrow

We do not live as the world lives

We live to honor God

2 Cor 5:9 “9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.”

4. Grow Up Concerning Partnership

Christianity is not a solo game

There is safety in the midst of counselors

Prov 11:14 “14 Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisors.”

Partnership is a must to grow in Christ

Eccl 4:12 “12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

We need each other

Gal 6:6-9 “6 Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

We are partners in the Gospel

There must be two-way communication

Communicate with your actions

Each part does its part

Everyone cannot be the mouth

1 Cor 12:17-26 “17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part…”

We need each part

We need your part

Do your part

We are providing a great event with an anointed teacher so that you may continue to grow up

I need you to do your part—register for the seminar today