The Source of Spiritual Power
Notes
Transcript
We’re going to talk this morning about spiritual growth. This goes by different names. Sometimes we call it spiritual growth, sometimes we call it growing in Christ, growing in our faith, becoming more like Jesus, growing in Christlikeness, or by the theological term for it which it sanctification.
Basically all those terms point to the same thing and that one thing is this: if I am a brand new Christian, how do I grow up in my knowledge of God and my obedience to God?
Basically I’m going to try to answer four questions that believers have about this process of becoming mature Christians.
What’s the source of the power that enables us to make that journey?
And how does God deal with us when we take that journey seriously — does He reward us? Does He honor our efforts at all?
And what if I don’t grow as a Christian? What does that mean about my spiritual health and what’s at stake if I stay there?
And finally, what is the aim, the goal, the end-game, the ultimate purpose of all of this?
May the Lord bless the preaching of John 15:1-8.
[SLIDE: #1 THE SOURCE]
#1: The source of spiritual growth
#1: The source of spiritual growth
This answers the question: what is the source of the spiritual power that enables me to grow as a Christian?
We shouldn’t confuse this with something else. Spiritual growth is not the same thing as maximizing your potential. What do I mean by maximizing my potential? I mean striving to be the best possible version of myself I can be. That’s good if you want to pursue that, but that isn’t the same thing as growing spiritually. Growing spiritually is not becoming the best version of myself; growing spiritually means to grow in godliness, to grow in obedience, to grow in knowledge of God’s word.
If you try to maximize your potential, you look within yourself. Our culture tells us, You have every resource you need within yourself; all you have to do is look within, summon your own superhuman strength, and believe in yourself. But to grow spiritually, Jesus tells us to forget ourselves, and look outside of ourselves to Him. He is the Source.
[SLIDE: JER 2:21 NIV]
I had planted you like a choice vine
of sound and reliable stock.
How then did you turn against me
into a corrupt, wild vine?
How does Jesus communicate this? Look with me at verse 1: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1 ESV). So Jesus describes Himself as the true vine. The nation of Israel was described in the OT as a vine. The vine did not bear fruit. They failed in their mission of living holy lives that pointed to the true God. Jeremiah 2:21 says, “Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?” (NIV).
So God destroyed the vine and started over with Jesus. Jesus the Messiah, the promised Deliverer of Israel, comes to do what Israel failed to do. That’s what Jesus means when He calls Himself “the true vine.”
Anybody ever tended to a vine? You understand exactly what Jesus is saying in verse 2: Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away” (John 15:2a ESV). We’ll come back to what that means later. Then Jesus says, “every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”
So, what does it mean to bear fruit?
[SLIDE: GAL 5:22-23 ESV]
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
So then, how do we make sure that we are a fruitful branch and not an unfruitful branch? Go to the source. Look at vv. 4-5: If you want to grow spiritually, here’s your task: “Abide in me, and I in you.” Remain close to me. Stay near to me. Spend time with me. We’re going to look at how we do that in a minute.
Abide in me. Why? Because the branches depend on the vine for life and nourishment and growth. Look at the rest of verses 4-5: As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5 ESV).
So what does it mean to abide in Jesus? The word simply means “remain”; “stay”. When Jesus says “Abide in me”, He is saying that we can experience the closest possible fellowship with Him. But it’s not automatic. We have to cultivate that fellowship. That’s what it means to “remain”, to “abide”, to stay close by His side. We do that by keeping His word in our heart. Look at verse 7: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15: 7 ESV).
[SLIDE: INTERNALIZE THE WORD]
Internalize the Word:
Study the Word
Memorize and recite it
Ask God to help you understand
Take notes during sermon
Go to Bible study or Equip Session
Where do we find Jesus’ words? In the Bible alone. This means we must read His word. And it means we must internalize His word. Study it. Memorize it. Take a verse with you throughout the day and chew on it — recite to yourself and ask God to make its meaning clear to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to bury His word so deeply in your heart so that it comes back out in the form of a changed life.
Take notes during the sermon. Come to Bible study or go to our equip session on Sunday nights. Experiencing God is just the first one. We’re going to offer more to equip you to grow in Christlikeness. The way we abide in Jesus — the way we stay close to Him — the way by which we keep close by His side is through internalizing Scripture. We also see this in John 8:31, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (John 8:31 ESV).
It makes sense that Jesus would be the source of spiritual growth. After all, Jesus is fully man, yes, but also Jesus is fully God. Jesus is the I Am. Do you remember in the OT when Moses asked God what His name was? God said, “Tell them I Am sent you.” God’s name is I Am. He is raw, pure, existence. He has all life in Himself.
[SLIDE: JESUS IS “I AM”]
Jesus is “I Am”
I am the Bread of life (Jn 6:35)
I am the Light of the world (Jn 8:12)
I am the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:11)
I am the Door of the sheep (Jn 10:7)
I am the resurrection and the life (Jn 11:25)
I am the way, the truth, and the life (Jn 14:6)
I am the true vine (Jn 15:1)
In John’s gospel, Jesus takes up this name of God and applies it to Himself. Seven times Jesus calls Himself the I Am, but then pairs it with a word picture to show us what I Am means. John 6:35, Jesus says “I am the Bread of Life.” John 8:12, “I am the Light of the World.” John 10:11, “I am the Good Shepherd.” John 10:7, “I am the Door of the Sheep.” John 11:25, “I am the resurrection and the life.” John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. And here in John 15:1, “I am the true vine” — the source of life, nourishment, health.
What is the source of spiritual power, spiritual growth? Jesus, the true vine, is the source of spiritual power.
[SLIDE: #2: THE REWARD]
#2: The reward of spiritual growth
#2: The reward of spiritual growth
And how does God deal with us when we take that journey seriously — does He reward us? Does He honor our efforts at all?
Look at verse 7: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
Wow, ok. Well, since you’re offering, Jesus — I want money to take my family on a cruise. I’d love to have a bunch of new clothes. Maybe a pair of nice shoes too. A new truck. A second house. What? I’m just doing what Jesus said. Ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you.
[SLIDE: THEOLOGY OF PRAYER]
Theology of prayer:
God hears & answers prayer
God knows what we really need & what will harm us
So, God will not give us anything we ask for
He will answer us if we are reconciled with others
He will answer when we pray according to His will
That’s not at all what Jesus is saying here. Let’s do a little theology together here.
We know God hears us pray. We know God answers prayer.
We also know that He knows more about what is best for us than we do.
We also know that He may not answer our prayers if we haven’t done all we can to reconcile with others. “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matt 5:23-24 ESV).
There must be some kind of criteria for determining what kind of prayers God answers. That criteria is what we call God’s will. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions” (James 4:3 ESV).
And is this not exactly what Jesus calls for in verse 7: “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you” — then, and only then, does Jesus say, “ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7 ESV). So when our prayers are for things that God also desires us to have, when our hearts are beating in tune with His heart — if, in the words of Christ we are abiding in Him, that is when we can know God will give us what we ask for. So if you want God to answer your prayers, walk closely with Christ. Walk in Him. Abide in HIm. Let Him abide in you. And see your prayers answered — the reward of spiritual growth.
Well, Pastor Dustin, that’s great, but what if I don’t grow as a Christian? What if I’m not growing right now and in fact I can’t tell you about a time when I have grown in Christ — what does that mean about my spiritual health? What’s at stake if I stay there?
[SLIDE: #3: THE URGENCY]
#3: The urgency of spiritual growth
#3: The urgency of spiritual growth
Why is spiritual growth urgent? Spiritual growth is an urgent thing because the Bible says that true Christians will grow and it warns us about the danger of not growing.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.
So go back to those dead branches — the dead growth on the vine that’s just taking up space. Look at verse 2: “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away.” Now skip down to verse 6: “If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers, and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned”.
I have a hard time reading that and thinking anything other than an unsaved person. The imagery of being pulled off the vine, gathered up, and burned clearly indicates everlasting punishment.
I think when Jesus talks about the dead branches that are pulled off the vine and burned — Jesus is talking about professing Christians who are not really Christians at all. They think they are. But the fact that they have never displayed any spiritual growth betrays their profession. They sit in the pew week in and week out, but they show zero interest in the things of God. They don’t even have a desire to grow. They don’t usually even think anything is wrong with them.
But the only explanation for them is that they’re spiritually dead, which is why they don’t produce fruit. They are torn off, thrown away, gathered up, and burned. And the last judgment will make it clear that they were never genuine in the first place.
“Pastor Dustin, that’s kind of scary”. You bet it is.
How worried would you be about your kids or grandkids if one of them grew physically but deteriorated or didn[‘t progress mentally? We wouldn’t make excuses for them. We would say, “Something is wrong and we need help.”
Just as children grow and develop, so Christians are to grow in knowledge of the word, obedience to God, love for one another. If they don’t, we must be willing to come alongside them and express our concern for them. “But they might get offended.” They might. Is that too high a price to pay?
Am I a dead branch?
Prayerfully take a hard look at your life (2Pet. 1:10)
Start doing the things that make for growth
Now if you’re worried about this being you — if you’re asking, “Hmm, am I the dead branch?”, do two things. Take a stone cold, totally objective look at your life. Be brutally honest. This is biblical: you’re taking the advice of 1Pet 1:10, “Therefore, brothers, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure.”
Has there been any spiritual growth? Is there any desire to grow? But do it. Take a hard look at your life. Ask God to shine His light into your heart and illuminate anything that needs attention. If you’re a worrier, or if you have a tender conscience, don’t do this alone; get the help of a mature Christian you trust. But do it.
And then, start doing the things that make for growth. I often think of Revelation 2, Jesus’ letter to the church at Ephesus. He says “You have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first” (Rev. 2:4b-5a).
We’ve seen the source, the reward, the urgency, and now the aim of spiritual growth.
[SLIDE: #4: THE AIM]
#4: The aim of spiritual growth
#4: The aim of spiritual growth
What is the aim, the goal, the end-game, the ultimate purpose of all of this?
We can simplify that question? In all our efforts to grow, who are we doing it for? We might say, “Well, I hadn’t thought about that, but I guess I’m doing it for myself.” No. Verse 8: “By this my Father is glorified” — by what? “By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.”
Last Sunday we talked about worship. All of life is a worship song. Everything we do can point to God, bring honor to Him. Perhaps nothing glorifies God quite like a Christian who grows in godliness. After all, what is spiritual growth if not a becoming more and more like Him?
Jesus says “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” — sons and daughters who look increasingly like Him (Matt 5:44-45a ESV). The apostle Peter said “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1Pet 2:12 ESV).
We grow in love for Him and others, and we resemble more and more the God who is love. We grow in holiness and obedience, and we resemble the God who is holy, holy, holy. We learn to extend mercy and grace to others, and we resemble the God who forgives again and again. We grow in our steadfastness and perseverance, and we resemble the God who stays by our side for better or for worse. We grow in our marriage roles and we resemble the faithful God who keeps covenant with His people for eternity.
The source of spiritual growth, the reward of spiritual growth, the urgency of spiritual growth, the aim of spiritual growth.
[SLIDE: BACK TO TITLE]
Call for response
Call for response
Now today is Sunday. Tomorrow is Monday. Is there anything that I want you to get from this sermon and take it with you into Monday? Definitely there is — something really important. Two things, actually.
Here’s the first: It is very easy to approach this process of spiritual growth as though it is the way we gain favor with God. “I’m not growing lately. God is probably not happy with me as a result.” That’s not true. If you’re a Christian, that’s not true.
Because — before Jesus instructs the disciples on abiding in Him and bearing fruit and all of that, He first speaks four wonderfully reassuring words to them found in verse 3: “Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you” (John 15:3).
You’re already clean! Jesus is saying, “You’re already forgiven! You’re already justified! You’ve already been made clean.”
And notice the basis of that cleansing. Look at verse 3 again: You are already clean — why? Because of your good performance up to this point? Because your good deeds outweigh the bad? “You are already clean, because of the word I have spoken to you.” Jesus wants us to know that this whole process of growing has no bearing whatsoever on our standing before God. So He ties His acceptance of us to something completely separate from our performance. Have you accepted the gospel message, Jesus asks? Then you’re clean. Now, knowing that you are clean in my sight, endeavor to live a life that is clean.
If I give my daughter an enormous task to complete, how much harder will that task be for him to complete, if I tell him, “Hey, if you want my love and approval, make sure you do a good job on this.” That won’t help her. That might cripple her. But if I say, “Hey, Abigail, I know this is a hard thing you’re doing; I just want you to know that I love and accept you no matter what, and I know you can do this.” Well, then she’ll be motivated to get the job done, because she knows that my relationship with her is not at stake if she doesn’t meet my standard.
That’s what God does with us. He knows we will never truly grow if we’re not truly certain where we stand with Him.
If you have trusted Jesus as your Savior, you are completely, totally, 100% forgiven by God, accepted by God, loved by God, no matter how much progress you make. Jesus tells us that we are accepted first, He tells us we are clean first, before He then says “remain in me, and bear much fruit.”
And here’s the second thing: Some of you have been Christians a long time, but no one would know it. Some of us made professions of faith years, decades ago, but you’re still baby Christians. You’re knowledge of God’s word and your maturity as a Christian are far, far lower than they should be for your age.
If that’s you, first — remember that Jesus says “you are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.”
And second: Stop coasting. Refuse to accept the status quo. Get frustrated with yourself. Get serious about your walk with God. Take advantage of the many opportunities we offer here at Buffalo for you to grow as Christians.
This is not a cruise ship taking us to our destination while we enjoy ourselves lounging in the sun and eating all day. This is not a cruise ship. This is a marathon. We are running a race. There’s a definite finish line. We are in a war for our very souls and the souls of those around us. The stakes could not possibly be any higher. The urgency could not be greater. But the joy, the payoff, the win will prove it all to have been worthwhile.