Spiritual Growth 2
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Today’s Reading from God’s Word
Today’s Reading from God’s Word
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Introduction
Introduction
It is certainly good to be back in this pulpit.
As you know, two Sunday’s ago I was in Louisiana wrapping up a gospel meeting & last Sunday Wilson & Julie were here for our weekend workshop on dealing with the pain of life.
And so now, we’re back to normal — and that’s good.
You know, we’ve been so blessed this year. We have so many with us who are just beginning their walk with Jesus.
How wonderful that is.
And I want to say that if you’re new here — or not so new — we are committed to helping you and every other Christian that is a part of this church to become grounded in your faith.
Our desire for you is to:
18 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.
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord… Jesus Christ.
What does it mean to grow spiritually? What is a simple definition for that?
Here’s a basic explanation:
Spiritual growth is a decreasing frequency of sin in one’s life and the increasing frequency of godliness — which moves us toward Christlikeness.
Every Christian should have the desire to grow spiritually. To be more like Christ.
To be like what Paul said in:
18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
This growth is natural — just like a baby. Babies grow — it’s what they do. And so it should be for the Christian.
Because you are alive in Christ, you grow.
But, it’s not all passive.
There are some things you must do by the power of the Spirit to enhance and increase that growth.
To me, there is nothing sadder than to see a fellow Christian whose growth has been hindered or limited.
The goal is to grow as fast as possible into becoming like Christ — individually and collectively.
So, what is it that makes us grow?
I’ve kept 2 Corinthians 3:18 on the screen for a reason — let’s revisit it.
“we all, …are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image…”
Would it be safe to sway that somehow spiritual growth is linked to beholding the glory of the Lord?
A growing consciousness of living the type of life that brings Him glory in every way?
This, I think, is the key fundamental to every Christian’s progress.
Remember, you have been saved to bring God glory.
5 Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the Gentiles,
7 since they set out for the sake of the Name, accepting nothing from pagans.
Those who preach and teach — those who engage in ministry — go out for “the sake of the name.” We go out for the glory of the one whose name we wear.
This is the bottom line.
18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
When we focus on the glory of the Lord, the Spirit will move us from level of glory to the next and the more and more conformed to Christ we’ll become.
So today we’ll work on answering this question: “What does it look like to live to the glory of God so that I will experience genuine spiritual growth?
Focus Your Life on Living for God’s Glory
Focus Your Life on Living for God’s Glory
This is not accomplished by accident. It is very intentional. You have to determine what is the focus of your life.
Let’s look at a passage from 1 Corinthians.
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
“whatever you do…”
You must get down to the most basic level — even with nonspiritual activities.
Does this action bring glory to God?
Do these words bring honor to His name?
Do the patterns of my life bring God joy? Are they well-pleasing in God’s sight?
Jesus said:
50 I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it and judges.
18 The one who speaks on his own seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
Jesus’ total concern was the glory of God. He was a servant who provided the perfect example and commitment to exalting His father.
And so we, as His disciples, must aim our lives at bringing God glory - from the most basic decisions of life - and all the way upward from there.
How much would your connection to Christianity grow if you filtered everything in your life through this process?
Will it glorify God?
Will it bring honor to Christ?
Will it exalt my relationship with Him?
So how do we do this practically? Day in and Day out?
Today
Today
We’ll look at 4 things:
Preferring Jesus and his kingdom above all else.
Being content to doing his will at any cost.
Being zealous for what is right, while hating all that dishonrs Him.
Avoiding competition in the church.
Prefer Jesus and His Kingdom Above All Else
Prefer Jesus and His Kingdom Above All Else
Nothing should be more important than the Kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Nothing.
Not your personal agenda, not your possessions. Not your plans. Not your talents. Not your career. Not your hobbies. Nothing.
Who will you stand with when the pressure comes?
Matthew 16:21 - Jesus begin to teach the disciples about his impending death and resurrection.
Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes him. Jesus’ response is worth taking note:
Matthew 16:23 (CSB)
23 Jesus turned and told Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me because you’re not thinking about God’s concerns but human concerns.”
How often do we hinder our own spiritual growth by choosing what we prefer over what God prefers?
Do we have the courage to apply what is said next in this text?
Matthew 16:24 (CSB)
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
Are we willing to deny ourselves and focus on God’s concerns?
Some might say “yes” but would balk at the prospect of giving up a car, house, time, or energy for Christ.
But then again, there are those who prefer God’s honor above everything and will take up their cross and follow Him.
They live for the glory of God no matter the price.
This is where one proves that he or she loves the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.
37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
So you will grow when you begin everything you do — even life’s most basic things — to God’s glory — no matter the cost or what the price.
It is, whatever glorifies Him. Whatever honors Him.
Be Content to do His will at Any Cost
Be Content to do His will at Any Cost
Think of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11.
38 The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.
35 Women received their dead, raised to life again. Other people were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.
36 Others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment.
37 They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated.
These were willing to pay any price.
They lived to the glory of God — wahtever it cost.
Look at what Jesus said in John 12.
John 12:27–28 (CSB)
27 “Now my soul is troubled. What should I say—Father, save me from this hour? But that is why I came to this hour.
28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
Jesus is praying that God’s name be glorified by his death.
He was content to do the Father’s will — no matter the cost.
How could we forget Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?
15 Now if you’re ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, fall down and worship the statue I made. But if you don’t worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire—and who is the god who can rescue you from my power?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, “Nebuchadnezzar, we don’t need to give you an answer to this question.
17 If the God we serve exists, then he can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and he can rescue us from the power of you, the king.
18 But even if he does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.”
No compromise.
No wavering.
Even in the midst of certain death - they lived for the will of God.
You live for the glory of God when it is the aim of your life.
You will never hit what you’re not aiming for.
We live for the glory of God which means we prefer him above all else and do what he asks no matter how much it might cost us personally.
Be Zealous for what is right; Hate what is wrong.
Be Zealous for what is right; Hate what is wrong.
The Christian loves what is right and hates what threatens right.
Look at how Jesus praised the Ephesian church:
Revelation 2:2 (CSB)
2 I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people. You have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and you have found them to be liars.
If we’re aiming at the glory of God, we’ll find it impossible to tolerate those who promote evil.
Psalm 69:9 (CSB)
9 because zeal for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
When God’s name is dishonored, do we feel the pain?
How many of you were upset by the Olympic opening ceremony?
Outright blasphemy projected on our screens. Mockery of Jesus and Christianity.
Satanism.
Depravity.
You need to see we’re in the midst of a spiritual war — and the enemy doesn’t even hide it any more.
What’s the NT connection to this psalm?
14 In the temple he found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and he also found the money changers sitting there.
15 After making a whip out of cords, he drove everyone out of the temple with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money changers’ coins and overturned the tables.
16 He told those who were selling doves, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
17 And his disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal for your house will consume me.
Here, Jesus was righteously indignant when he saw the name of God being dishonored.
Are we in pain when God is dishonored?
Does it make you cringe?
Avoiding Competition in the Church
Avoiding Competition in the Church
The point in all that we do is the glory of God — not our own glory or recognition.
Others may outdo us because God has blessed them with greater talents.
And that’s OK.
Sometimes, our own growth is held back because of rivalry and jealousy.
The church is full of it.
Which reveals people aren’t living to the glory of God — they’re living to the exaltation of self.
We need to get to the point where we’re all living to the glory of God so that we’ll be thrilled when God blesses fellow Christians — no matter what is going on with us.
Look with me at Philippians 1.
Philippians 1:12–14 (CSB)
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel,
13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ.
14 Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word fearlessly.
Paul’s circumstances were awful. But he turned it all around — and make himself effective where he was.
This was despite what was going on on the outside:
15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will.
16 These preach out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;
17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment.
Some were out there trying to put Paul down.
They wanted to make themselves look better by throwing him shade.
He’s old. He’s boring.
Maybe he did something to get himself in that position.
And out of selfish ambition and impure motives, envy, and strife, they pushed themselves up seeking admiration, honor, and acclaim.
To this Paul says:
Philippians 1:18 (CSB)
18 What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice
For Paul all that mattered was that Christ was preached. It didn’t matter who got the credit.
How could Paul say that?
Philippians 1:21 (CSB)
21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Competition and rivalry will destroy us. It leads to superficial relationships and division.
It is always about Christ.
As We Close…
As We Close…
How do you live to the glory of God?
By preferring His kingdom above everything.
By being willing to pay the price.
By experiencing how whatever hurts Him hurts you deeply because you are so identified with his glory and exaltation.
By choosing not to engage in competition with others in the church.
Let us desire to give God the glory — above all else.
Let us choose to aim our life at that purpose so that we will honor God.
18 We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Help us to grow by allowing the Spirit to do His work.