The Levels of Biblical Growth
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Text: 2 Peter 1:11
intro: In order to really comprehend today’s message, I want to begin by just taking a moment and think back to the time in our life before Christ. Do we realize that even when we were at enmity with God, He was at work in our lives? Just think, in the midst of Him drawing us to Himself. He began to put people into our lives, that had that great and powerful message that we now know as the Gospel of Christ! Through God using them to share that message we began to understand our position before the Lord and in our sinfulness we called upon the Lord to save us from our sin and came to faith in Christ! But, is that all? In coming to faith in Christ, have I fulfilled all that God has planned for me? I can answer that question with great confidence in the Scriptures, NOT AT ALL!
The Bible is clear that each of us will give an account for this new life the Lord has given us. Can I share the heart of your pastor this morning? After I stand and give an account for my own life, I will then stand and give an account for how I watched over each of your souls… I don’t share that with you today because I am worried about you making me look bad, that isn’t my judgement. I share this with you today, because my greatest desire as I watch over your soul, is not for you stand before Christ and receive nothing for a reward, but that each of you might stand before Him and receive abundantly. That being said, it is paramount that we understand that no one receives an abundant reward up there, unless we live the abundant life in Christ down here! That is what Peter is talking about in our opening text this morning!
For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Now as we consider God’s plan for our life, now that we are saved, we must look at the truths presented today very carefully. Giving discernment for where we truthfully are on God’s plan for Biblical growth. It doesn’t do me any good to lie about where I am at… We may live in the age of Laodicea, but that doesn’t mean that we have to settle as Laodiceans not knowing where we stand. But, in asking God for help, and then being truthful with ourselves, we will see where we are, and what is needed to progress further. Our study today is primarily out of 1 John, but it hinges on our theme from this year of, “Adding To Your Faith.”
Let’s Talk Purpose: Today’s study is built around the premise in Romans.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Do you realize what God is telling us there? That when you look out the window at creation, there is nothing that you see that is by mistake. Everything you see in creation has a purpose, and that purpose is to take something that is physical and teach us something spiritual that is not only about us, but most importantly about the God that created it all!
Biblical Growth Pattern: In our Bible God has used this same principle. He has given us things that are physical to help us understand the spiritual! The Lord used by study in 1 John to lead to this today, I want the ladies in here to understand that John doesn’t have any thing against women, this is a spiritual lesson, one in which I believe we can all arrive at and one that I believe God wants each of us to arrive at!
*A Disclaimer: The goal of today’s preaching is not for us to determine where everyone else is at. This is an inward look, not an outward one…
Baby:
Baby:
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Physical: Do you all remember when Amanda was carrying Novalee, for nine months we watched and waiting until that day came where she was delivered. Do you remember the first day that her and Doug brought her to church, how we all ooh’ed, and aah’ed over that precious little life.
Spiritual: That is what it is like spiritually. We prayed for open doors, God worked at drawing, the Spirit stirred, and finally someone comes to Christ! Everyone is so excited, and rightfully so! It is an exciting time for a body of believers. And listen, being a babe in Christ, isn’t a problem, it is what God calls us when we first get saved. The problem comes from us staying as a newborn babe.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
In this world in which we live, do you know how strange it would be for someone to be born and stay a baby the rest of their life. Could you imagine going to the store holding what looks like a newborn baby and someone asking how old your baby is, and you say um, “He is 16”… The same is true of a babe in Christ, that stays a babe in Christ…
Attributes: A babe in Christ, has only what is required to be saved… Like that baby that is first brought home from the hospital. They can’t feed themselves, cloth themselves, change themselves. They are entirely dependent on those around them… This is the most vulnerable stage in our Christian growth. Is it is why discipleship is so important. To consider the additions of our faith in conjunction with this growth this is the virtue level. They are saved, but without knowledge. I have never met a new born believer that didn’t have virtue. A steadfast mind to please the God that saved me!
When that baby grows it develops into the next stage of its life!
Little Children:
Little Children:
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.
Physical: At this age, a child begins to do a little bit for themselves but what is great, is that they still depend on mom and dad for so much, and they never worry about their needs being met!
Spiritual: Please understand that John is giving us spiritual lessons, he is writing to spiritual children, not 2 and 3 year old’s.
Attributes: “…because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake.” Now listen, their sins were forgiven them, back when they became a babe in Christ so what is John talking about here? Do you remember when you first recieved Christ as your Saviour? Oh, how everything was just great, it was like walking around on a fluffy spiritual cloud. Then all of a sudden, that beautiful sunny day, with those great big cumulus clouds, when all of a sudden out of nowhere, and with out warning a storm cloud came rolling in and ruined your parade. Do you remember what you began to doubt? Maybe I didn’t really believe, or maybe it wasn’t enough belief. Did I say the right thing, or think the right thing, what is all a show, and for I think most of us, we went through this time when we called on the Lord over and over again thinking that, it was what was needed… We move from the baby stage to the little children stage when we have nailed the genuineness of our conversion! What a wonderful time in the Christian’s life, when the doubt of their salvation is not longer lingering, they have just come to the place where through the knowledge of the Scriptures, they have security through God and His word! This is the knowledge stage of our addition!
Children:
Children:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Physical: We have reached the wonderful time in a child’s life where temper tantrums begin to come out of nowhere… This is the time in every child’s life where they begin to like what they like and throw a tantrum over everything that they don’t like. Children for some reason like things that are round, they like donuts,and donut holes, waffles, and pizza. This can be a dangerous age because they have just enough knowledge to know that they want, but not enough to know what is best for them. I like to call this stage the independent stage.
Spiritual: This is the case spiritually as well… This is where we know it is best for us to feed our spiritual needs upon the word of God, but we just don’t feel like it… We are satisfied with our spiritual potato chips and spiritual pizza. Here is what is scary to me as a pastor, that when a child wants something bad enough, you sometimes give in even though it isn’t what they need.
I don’t have any data to prove my belief here, but I believe that most Christians never move past these first three growth periods in their Christian life. Which is why we see so many depart from the truth...
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
It is not for a lack of knowledge… I know men that are brilliant men concerning the Scriptures and have turned from the truth. I believe there are a few reasons… One, is because false teachers are trained to pray on these three levels, and two, is that there is a complete lack of temperance, which means it is to much of me…
We grow past this level of our growth, when we learn to be tempered by the Spirit of God and allow Him to lead and guide us in His truth! This is the addition of temperance. When lacking temperance, we lack spiritual discernment and without that, we are vulnerable to false teachers.
Young Men:
Young Men:
I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
Physical: This is the age, when things really start to develop. You remember the teenage years in your physical maturity right? There was nothing too hard for you...
Spiritual: This is the stage when the believer really begins to have a handle on the word of God, is tempered in truth, but still has moments when pride gets the best of them. Right,those moments when we would take out our Bible and almost look for a fight… Bring on the false teachers, I am ready to go…
This is the time when really starts to work in your life but it is also a trying time. This is the age, when the inner turmoil is most felt. We have overcome the wicked one, but why do I still have sin in my life. Maybe I didn’t overcome the wicked one after all… Doctrinal were are unmovable but spiritually we are at times like a fish out of water.
This is where we must add the patience but not just patience, but the patience of hope that the Bible speaks about.
We have to realize that if the Devil died today, most of us would never even realize it. Do you know why we wouldn’t realize it? Because we would still have a fight on our hands… The life that is lived in this body has not yet recieved its promised redemption… Our battle isn’t with the devil, my battle is with me… The problem is my flesh...
Just think of a young man, who’s body is starting to fill out, he gets a few whiskers on his chin. He begins to walk a little different, his facial expressions begin to change, and if you accidentally make eye contact, he may say, “hey, what are you looking at”… They can size everyone up, determine where you are spiritually, because they have it all figured out.
But here is the key to growing past this stage, pat yourself on the back, because you have made it this far, but swallow real hard and recognize, that there is still a long ways to go. You have to add patience!
Fathers:
Fathers:
I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Listen carefully here, because this is the place where I believe God has an opportunity to really start to use us greatly!
Physical: When we think of a father, you think of development and maturity.
Spiritual: We are talking about maturity and the fruit that is brought forth through a spiritually mature Christian. This is the place where we begin to slow down a little bit, and is really the place that we grow to a place where we know begin to know God! Oh, it is an exciting place!
When I was younger, I was a huge Red Sox fan… I have never had cable so I didn’t watch them on tv, but I grew to love listening to play by play on the radio. I could listen to Joe Castinglion and Dave Obrien any time! My favorite sports moment is getting home after listening to the Red Sox game with the whole family in the van, they all went in and I sat in the driveway to listen to the end of the game. It is 2013, the Red Sox are playing the Tigers, at Fenway Park. The series was 0-1 the Red Sox are two innings from falling into an 0-2 hole. Will Middlebrooks got it rolling with a one-out double, followed by a walk to Jacoby Ellsbury. Then my favorite player, 5’8” second basemen Dustin Pedroa hits a two out single. Then who steps up to the plate steps up to the plate, but Mr. Clutch himself, David Ortiz. The Tiger’s manager Jim Leyland responds by bringing in their closer Benoit. A pitcher that David Ortiz had never hit a homor against in his carrier. David Obrien finishes telling the listeners the stats when the pitch is thrown and it’s a hit, but not any hit, it is a grand slam, over the head of Torii Hunter. The Red Sox were trailing 5-1, that swing tied the game and that game would be won in the bottom of the ninth in walk off fashion. The Red Sox went on that year to win it all!!!
Now, here is a truth concerning all of this. As much as I knew about these players back then. I didn’t actually know any one of them...
As a young man spiritually, we know a whole lot of the Bible, and a whole lot about the God of that Bible. Spiritual father’s have grown to the place where they not only know a whole lot of the Bible, and a whole lot about the God of the Bible, but they have grown to know the God of the Bible! They have grown to a place where they have matured to where they really can start reproducing spiritual offspring, their is fruit, and there is a sense of godliness about them...
And so this is the addition of godliness.
Elder:
Elder:
Physical: This is age where you start to really become tender. Through the lessons of life, and people, you really settle in, and are not easily moved. This also is the age, where you really begin to see yourself in other people and begin to invest in them to help them.
Spiritual: The elder is the age where the believer develops the pastoral mindset. It is where their terminology changes, where they become much more sensitive towards people, caring not so much for the outward but about their heart. Where we truly want what is best for families, and not what is best for you. If I could describe it this way, there is a sense of ownership.
In our Bible the office of the pastor is also refereed to as bishop, shepherd, and presbyter and elder. I believe this is the same office, but the Bible is teaching five different functions of this office and using the different words to do that.
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
Yes, there is an office of an elder, and we see it again in Acts.
And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
This is an office that not everyone will take up. Different parts of the same body. Women won’t ever hold this office, and to be truthful, very few men will ever hold this office in the church.
A spiritual elder, as far as growth is concerned, is someone who has been equipped by God, and through the word of God who now acts a spiritual mentor for those in the younger stages of their walk.
This is the addition of brotherly kindness!
Aged:
Aged:
yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age;
They shall be fat and flourishing;
Physical: Experienced, in every aspect of life.
Spiritual: This is the age where people truly, come to you for wise council and they trust what you are going to say, because of your vast experience, because of your knowledge of the God of the Bible, and because of your knowledge of people. These are not washed up pew warmers. They are fruit bearing in this season of life, and it is the best possible fruit one can have! Sure they may have 100’s of socks, and lots of t-shirts, but these are the people, that know how to truly love people to Christ, and help them grow by speaking the truth in love.
This is the addition of Charity! Love displayed toward the brethren!
And when you have reached the spiritual place of being aged, then you have built your house of Wisdom! This is where we go from experience, experienced. That doesn’t mean you are done, there is lots and lots of maintenance… Which will lead only to further growth, and more experience!
Closing: I stated earlier that being a spiritual father was the place that God really wants us all of obtain. I said that because, once we have those other things figured out, the these next two, really are the result of time spent knowing God. Experience will take a father to an elder, and more experience will take him to be aged. Our time spent knowing God, (Godliness) leads to brotherly kindness, and more time eventually leads to charity.
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
I am going to ask each of you, to consider where you are at this morning, and as you go home, seek the Lord concerning these things. First I would ask, have you started your career path of spiritual growth. Are you born again, if not, from personal experience I can tell you that it is the greatest decision you will ever make. But don’t just take my word for it, find out for yourself.
Then I am going to ask, that each of you to consider where you are at in terms of your spiritual growth. The world is full of baby’s, little children and children. We need more young men, fathers, elders, and aged. In the day of itching ears, let us strive, to live the abundant Christian life, that Christ died to give each of us.