Purposed For Growth

Text: 2 Peter 3:17-18

Main Point: For Christians to understand God has purposed them to grow/mature spiritually, How God desires us to mature, the benefits to growing, and to what chief purpose should they prioritize growing spiritually.

Introduction

In so many ways, we are all growing. Im not insinuating that all those ways are good and profitable, but certain growth patterns are present in all of our lives. For some of you, it is growth in your professional resume, your investments, personal debt, bad health habits, etc.

That being said, how many of you have any kind of established and protected pattern to grow spiritually? Some of you may have a plan to go to church, read you Bible, attend Bible study, etc, but none of those plans are protected very well. What I mean is, all it takes is a moment of selfish desire or slight inconvenience to throw you off that plan.

Peter was writing to a group of scattered Believers who were being influenced to quit following and growing in Christ.

I want you to hear something very sad that the Hebrew writer said to a bunch of Christian Jews:

Hebrews 5:12–14 “12 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. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

Q — If I were to ask you, “Are you in a spiritual position to where you can teach your children the essentials truths of God’s Word” or “Are you able to share the Gospel with your children and lead them into trust Christ as Savior?”

Our theme passage speaks directly to this: Philippians 3:12–14 “12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Verses 1 and 2 describe the meaning behind why the subsequent verses were written to these believers.

A believer is always a target for the devil to use false teachers to lead you away from the truth.

A believer is not immune to being led astray. Peter said, “lest ye also…”

steadfastness ⇔ steadiness n. — freedom from wavering or indecision; especially constancy of resolve or conduct.

Peter gives the only prescription that prevents a believer from being a victim of the enemy.

Grow in grace:

Grow in knowledge of Jesus Christ

1) The Warning For Growth

A. Peter speaks with urgency

Notice verses 1-2.

“stir” = to stimulate feelings or action; conceived of as stirring someone from sleep.

“pure minds” = being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech.

Their minds required a “stirring up” in order to remember the words of truth spoken by the prophets and their Savior Jesus Christ.

Due to the fact that a believer’s faith and practice of a surrendered life to Jesus is centered on and fueled by the future promises of Christ, Satan uses people to sow thoughts of doubt regarding Jesus’ faithfulness.

Peter was speaking to a group of maturing believers who presented their minds to God in order to grow spiritually.

Application: Protect your spiritual schedule like you protect your paycheck.

Everyone in your church understands protecting something valuable.

A doctor doesn't skip sterilizing instruments because he's busy. A contractor doesn't leave thousands of dollars of tools in the yard overnight. A teacher doesn't accidentally forget the first day of school. A farmer doesn't forget feeding livestock.

Yet Christians often leave their spiritual life completely unprotected.

Challenge — If Satan can't keep you from church, he'll simply keep you distracted enough that church never changes you.

Ask: What interrupts your Bible reading? What consistently replaces prayer? What steals your attention from Christ?

If something always wins, then that thing has become your priority.

B. Peter warns them not to fall into error

Notice verses 3-4

a) There are people who are not good for your spiritual growth!

“scoffers” = someone who jeers, mocks, or treats someone with contempt.

2 Timothy 3:1–2 “1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”

2 Timothy 4:3 “3 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;”

This group of scoffers were casting doubt through their ignorance that God (if existing at all) does not keep His promises and therefore should be abandoned.

LISTEN…

Throughout your life, your mind will be touched by many of these types of people.

DON’T think that their influence has not been or is not today affective on the mind of Believers!

Peter said (v17), “beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your stedfastness.”

b) Satan desires you to become spiritually unstable

“stedfastness” = freedom from wavering or indecision.

Peter is making you aware that you are at risk of becoming an unstable soul if spiritual growth is not a HIGH PRIORITY.

2) The Ways We Must Grow

A. At what rate should we grow?

This should not be treated like school testing; expecting everyone to be at the same level at the same time.

It is important that you don’t mistake spiritual growth for personal preference!

What Peter is saying is this, “But be constantly growing.” That is the literal translation.

Spiritual growth should never be in spurts, but a constant experience of development.

Application: Don't confuse attendance with maturity.

I've known people who have attended church faithfully for thirty years yet are no more forgiving, patient, humble, or joyful than they were thirty years ago."

Attendance is wonderful. Growth is the goal.

B. What areas should we grow in?

a) We must grow IN GRACE

To “grow in grace” has to do with maturing your character to resemble that of Jesus Christ.

It would make the most sense for someone who has been radically changed by God’s grace to do nothing to hinder GROWING in that same grace.

Application: Measure growth differently.

Most people measure life by: promotions; retirement accounts; new equipment; bigger homes; children's accomplishments

God measures differently: Ask:

Am I quicker to forgive? Do I complain less? Do I trust God more? Am I easier to correct? Do I love people more?

Those are measurements heaven celebrates.

Q — If your children become the exact kind of Christian you are, would you rejoice or worry?

You must understand, being saved by God’s grace is just the beginning of the work of grace in your life!

NEVER FORGET…our God is the “God of all grace” — 1 Peter 5:10 “10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

God’s grace strengthens us — 2 Timothy 2:1–4 “1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”

God’s grace empowers you to endure suffering — 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 “7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

Trials and suffering does a unique work in our lives.

They both tend to drain your own resources and leave you relying only upon God’s.

These are costly lesson, but are always priceless!

Dr. Charles Stanley once said, “One of the greatest lesson he learned in His Christian life was this: To view everything as coming from God.”

Example: The next time a fellow Believer speaks words of judgement on your or is rude to you, that is when you say to God, “Thank you Lord! That must have come from You. You must know how much I need to grow in meekness and forgiveness.”

God’s grace helps you give when it’s difficult to give — 2 Corinthians 8:1–5 “1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.”

God’s grace helps you sing when it’s difficult to — Colossians 3:16 “16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

Too many times, Christians develop in their own minds that God’s grace reaches it’s limits when it comes to helping them.

b) We must grow IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS CHRIST

2 Peter 1:3–8 “3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 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. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Quote: All of us know far more of the Bible than we really live. Knowledge without grace is a terrible weapon, and grace without knowledge can be very shallow. But when we combine grace and knowledge, we have a marvelous tool for building our lives and for building the church. (Warren Werisbe)

This kind of growth requires a great deal of diligence, discipline, and prioritization.

Drifting away from spiritual growth is a natural thing, but growing spiritually is a development of intention and dedication.

APPLICATION — Many believers spend: 2 hours scrolling; 15 minutes watching television; 30 minutes listening to sports talk; but five minutes in God's Word.

Ask: “What would happen if we reversed those numbers?"

Here is he KEY:

This growth begins on the inside.

Illustration: An apple that has worm holes on the outside reveals that a worm started on the inside.

You can add all the exterior things you want to your life, if God’s Word don’t get into your heart, growth won’t happen.

God set up a wonderful community to help you with this!

You grow best when you are in a loving family!

Can you study at home, pray, and sing at home…yes. However, you can be encouraged by other hearing other believers pray, praise, and testify.

Illustration: A baby needs a family for protection, provision, and affection. Tests prove that babies who are raised alone, without special love, tend to develop physical and emotional problems very early. (Warren Wiersbe)

That being said, while the church should be a maternity ward, it can quickly become a nursing home to a bunch of spiritual infants.

3) To What Purpose Do We Grow?

A. Growth is accomplished to the glory of God

Nothing pleases God more than when we prioritized what we are predestined to become — Romans 8:29 “29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

God isn't merely trying to make you: happier; wealthier; more; successful; He's making you look like Jesus.

That's His purpose.

Conclusion

Divine Life Before Divine Growth

The only reason any of us can rejoice in the fact that I grew in my understanding of my sin, rebellion, and unbelief of the Gospel is accredited to the “divine power” or Jesus Christ.

We learn of our lack of spiritual life and how we receive spiritual life through the work of the Holy Spirit.

He desires for us all to come to understand the truth about our soul, sin, condemnation, justice, righteousness, justification, forgiveness, eternal life, and a future judgement.

We need to be asking ourselves this question: Are the things that I am adding to my life connected to divine power? Are