Practicle Principles for Spiritual Growth

An old farmer frequently described his Christian experience by saying, “Well, I’m not making much progress, but I’m established!” One spring when he was hauling some logs, his wagon wheels sank down to the axles in mud. Try as he would, he couldn’t get the wagon out. Defeated, he sat atop the logs, viewing the dismal situation. Soon a neighbor who had always felt uncomfortable with the farmer’s worn out testimony came along and greeted him, “Well, brother Jones, I see you’re not making much progress, but you must be content because you’re well-established!”

Many of us here today are well established, we have been saved for decades but bear no signs of maturity. In our text God through Peter urges us to grow in maturity so that we can lead a holy life! The motivation for holy living is our taste of the goodness of God.

Context: 1:13-25 A call to holy living.... since we have been bought with so high a price and born again into a newness of life we must strive to the goal of becoming a mature Christian separated unto God.

CPS: Many Christians today are mature in age but immature in holiness, and the sad thing is that they are satisfied where they are. Today we are going to talk about practical principles for Spiritual Growth.

I. We must experience the graciousness of God (3)

Wherefore (conjuctions) points us to what Peter has spoken about, that is the Salvation God has prepared for His people. While this letter is not written to us but to Jews, it is still written for us. Peter is talking about the Salvation God prepared for you (personally). Gracious is the Greek (adj) chrēstos it literally means Kindness. God is very Kind, in our rebellion He has kept us from what we deserved and given us what we do not deserve, life and for many salvation.

ILL: An atheist said, “If there is a God, may he prove himself by striking me dead right now.” Nothing happened. “You see, there is no God.” Another responded, “You’ve only proved that He is a gracious God

Tasted is the Greek verb geuomai which means to experience. Peter quotes Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”

*1 Peter 1:9 “obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

ILL: My taste of God’s Goodness in Feb. 2007. Salvtion.

A. God’s Goodness as in He chose you. 1:1-2

B. God’s Goodness as in He caused us to be Born Again in a Living Hope. 1:3

C. God’s Goodness as in the imperishable inheritance He has reserved for you. (personally) 1:4

D. God’s Goodness as in the high price He paid for your redemption 1:18-19

(NB) If we have the command to be holy as He is holy yet haven't been born again the attempt to walk in holiness is as useless as a front porch on a submarine. However if we have tasted God’s goodness and been born again, then this is the motivational factor that propels us to strive for a life of holiness. If we do not strive for holiness we are spiting in the face of God and all that He has done for us!

II. We must shed the deterrents of Spiritual growth. (1)

A. What must be done

As a person who is born again into a new life we must live in obedience to God and rid ourselves of those things that keep us from Growth. There are things that we can do that deter our growth and will keep us from holiness (Separation from the worldly unto God), we must make a conscious effort to eradicate certain things from our lives!

Laying Aside is the Greek verb apotithemai, it means to get ride of.

ILL: Taking off clothing that is dirty. *a kid playing in the gut pile, dad had to hose me off outside, take off my clothes and burn them.” WE MUST DO THIS DAILY!

ALL (Pas) Malice - Ill will or the desire to do harm to another person

All (Pas) Guile - Deceitfulness

Hypocrisies - Insincerity or duplicity (playing the part)

Envies - Jealousy

All (Pas) evil speaking - Slander, defamation

ALL WICKED CONDUCT!

Ephesians 4:22 “that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,”

1 Peter 1:14–15 “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;” (NB) Conduct

B. How to do it

You are made New! Now walk/live in the newness. You need a new attitude that is based on the Goodness of God. You must become totally dependent upon God like a young child is upon his mother.

Matthew 18:3 “and said, “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

III. We must receive the proper nourishment for Spiritual Growth. (2)

It seems the issue with spiritual growth {or lack of} boils down to attitudes. We need a new attitude. We once desired the things of the flesh but now we desire the food that causes one to grow.

ILL: When I was a baby my mom did int feed me junk food… no she gave me what I needed to grow Milk! Often when a baby cries they are hungry! Anne (Always crying… she was hungry Dad and Becky had to put oatmeal in her bottle) That is to be our attitude towards God’s word!

Desire is the Greek verb epipotheō it means to deeply desire or, to long for, to crave!

A. The Bible

Its inspiration

2 Timothy 3:16a “All Scripture is inspired by God

2. Its revelation

B. Its Purpose

Many read the Bible so that they may know but uts purpose is so that you may GROW!

2 Timothy 3:16–17 “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

Conclusion: