We Are Created to Grow Up in God

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To Grow We Must Move From Malice to Maturity

As a born again people. And let me make sure we all have the same understanding of what it means to be born again. When we say that someone are born again saying that they have been spiritually born again. That they are saved. That they have become a new creature. What they have done is they have made Jesus the Lord of their life and by doing so they have have had a spiritual birth. They may have been physically alive before, but it was not until they accepted Christ as their Savior that the Spirit of God made them spiritually alive.

But once you are saved, born again, redeemed, and a new creature, then what? Is that all there is to it? Are you done in God? Or is there something that you should not next? That you should be doing now?

Peter makes the case that we should move from malice to maturity in Christ. He tell us we need to lay down our life, our lust, our old loves. We are to cast them aside. We are to throw them off.

Actions such as malice, guile, envy, hypocrisy and evil speakings have not place is a Christian's tool box. They should not be a go-to for the born again as we are to not operate like we did before. We have been irrevocably changed by Christ. And being such, they have no place in our lives. They are not productive. They are not helpful. They are not becoming. They are not God-glorifying. They are not going to make you better looking either.

Malice though, it is not often referenced to in our day in age, but it happens all the time. We often redefine it or dress it up. But malice is the an ill will, all out wickedness and evil. It is seeking to deliberately cause trouble to others. It is committing spiteful acts to harm others. Their is nothing good that can be said about this evil that lives in our hearts except that Jesus died to saves us from this and every-other form of sin.

As for guile in our lives, it does not deserve an audience either. To establish how inappropriate it is in our lives we need to know that it comes form the same roots as divination or what we call witchcraft. It is far from God and far from the good things He purposes for you. It also involves the plotting of evil. The crafting of vile acts and tricks. It is when we are deceitful and ruthless. Guile also harbors in it performing cunning and duplicitous acts. This is not just a New Testament concept

Psalm 36:4 ESV

He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.

Hypocrisies are something we may know more about. We often despise it but live it out. Children point it out in their parents and teachers. And often rightfully so. But hypocrisy is not just being two faced but also being something you not. It is living out a lie as if playing a part on the stage. We get hypocrisy all to well. We are experts at pointing it out. I hear people that say that they we refuse to attend such and such church because hey are all hypocrites. I must confess that when this happens I openly laugh. I can chuckle at the reasoning because the same people will go to Wal-mart or Target or work as the same people are there but they have no problem being there with the same people they complained about. But I think that is hypocritical. The Church is supposed to have sinful people in the pews.

Hypocrisies are something we may know more about. We often despise it but live it out. Children point it out in their parents and teachers. And often rightfully so. But hypocrisy is not just being two faced but also being something you not. It is living out a lie as if playing a part on the stage. We get hypocrisy all to well. We are experts at pointing it out. I hear people that say that they we refuse to attend such and such church because hey are all hypocrites. I must confess that when this happens I openly laugh. I can chuckle at the reasoning because the same people will go to Wal-mart or Target or work as the same people are there but they have no problem being there with the same people they complained about. But I think that is hypocritical. The Church is supposed to have sinful people in the pews. And we want as many hypocrites a we can get in this Church because we believe that God will change there lives and because we want to love them like Jesus loves us!

And we want as many hypocrites a we can get in this Church because we believe that God will change there lives and because we want to love them like Jesus loves us!

Envy is also a simple beast to define. Oh yes it is the green eyed, jealous monster of sin in our lives. But... it is deeper. It is not just the wishing you had what someone else has been blessed with. Its the painful and resentful awareness of something enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage. It is a pretty twisted deal when we remember

Romans 12:15 ESV

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

How can you rejoice with your neighbor when they got a promotion or a new truck, when you are mad they they got it and lusting after what they were blessed with? And how does investing so much give you a better life? Or a closer walk with God? What does it improve? How does it make life better?

How can you rejoice with your neighbor when they got a promotion or a new truck, when you are mad they they got it and lusting after what they were blessed with? And how does investing so much give you a better life? Or a closer walk with God? What does it improve? How does it make life better?

As for the reference to evil speaking, this can be correctly translated as “a defamation of character” or “slander of every kind."

Any form of detraction, speaking against another, or defaming another or what we might refer to as backbiting is not to live in our hearts or spring from our mouths. James said it this way -

James 3:9–10 ESV

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

This is equally as evil and sinful as any other sin. I say this because it equally separates us from God as any other sin does. And all sin stains the soul. There are no "better sins." And if anything this sin is so easy for us to fall into. We often do it not knowingly or wanting to. It is so second nature for us that we do like we do breathing. That is, without though. It just happens so easily and effortlessly for many.

When you really think about these issues of sin, they lack the marks of maturity. They are more inline with a petulant child who is prone to fits of rage and throws temper-tantrums when they don't get what they want. This is why we are called to lay them aside. To drop the like a hot rock.

We are created to Grow Together in God

To Grow We Must Move From Surviving to Spiritually Fed

If you and I were traveling to Dallas for a conference and as we got down the road a little ways and we noticed a sign saying Conroe 10 miles, what would we need to do? Would you suggest we just keep going the same way and keep pursuing the same direction? Or would we turn around and go the right direction. When you and I turn around and go the right directions or God's way, that is what we call repentance. But changing direction is not in itself enough. I could go from one bad direction to another wrong direction. So you could turn from a life of crippling alcoholism to a cult. It would be a change but not the right one. This would be like turning off to head to Livingstone instead of Conroe when where we really needed to head was to Dallas. A change, a turn a new direction but still the direction. So you and I have to repent and turn to God and follow Him and His Word in our live.

That is what verse 2 is about.

As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

1 Peter 2:2 ESV

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—

A new born baby, when it is all cute and splotchy and wrinkly, it needs milk. It desires milk. And when it does not get enough milk, what does it do? It cries out for milk. And it will keep crying till it gets milk and it is satisfied. And it will feed deeply on the milk or formula, it grow from all the nutrients and it time will be hungry again.

We need such a hunger in our relationship that we desire God more. We need to be concerned about growing. Just as we would feed a baby, we need to feed our young spiritual lives so we may become stronger and healthier.

Our Lord is concerned that we grow. Almighty God desires thatwe grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ—that we no longer be spiritual babes or children tossed about with every wind of doctrine. Instead, that we may grow up in all things into Him who is the Head—Christ. And that we grow to become more and more like Him, measured by the stature of the fullness of Christ

Ephesians 4:13–16 ESV

until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

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: 14 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; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The Apostle Paul also role-modeled for us that we are to care about and pray for the spiritual growth of others.

Philippians 1:9–11 ESV

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

(KJV 1900) — 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

That my friend is a big, bold prayer that was prayed out of sincere love and a true concern.

Peter also did this in the 2nd book by his name.

2 Peter 3:18 ESV

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.

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

To Grow We Must Move From Nibbles to Nuggets

1 Peter 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

1 Peter 2:3 ESV

if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Last week, I snuck out of town for a day to see my Mom. And as Remington and I drove into town about 11'ish. As we creeped into town, she and I passed one of her favorite places to get food from. A restaurant called Zayra's. Its a little, yellow, Mexican food restaurant in an old gas station is is literally open 23 hours a day. They close for 1 simple hour to complete a full clean up. Then it is back to the grind. Remington loves this place due to their Barbacoa.

Now if you are not familiar, Barbacoa is beef that is slow-cooked over an open fire, or in a hole dug in the ground covered with leaves until it is tender. Traditionally if would have been the super fine and tender met from the skull and the cheeks. But really it is the process and the spices, not the cut of meat. But Barbacoa is not the same as bar-b-que. There is a certain combination of spices that give it a wonderful, deep flavor that make you want to just have more. Barbacoat is known for its deep, strong flavor. For many people it has the texture of a good pot roast. Remington loves it! But when she tries to get it anywhere else it is never as good. She will always compares it to the Barbacoa from Zayra's. She knows what the good stuff from the little hole in the wall restaurant test like and it is the measuring stick for all others. And no one has ever come close to her favorite Barbacoa at Zayra's

This goes for God's word as well. We need to keep going back to the table of God and dine on His word regularly. We need to sit down at the table with God and break bread with Him. We need to converse with our Lord in prayer. And by this is mean we should listen as well as speak.

Where Peter speaks how of tasting and see how good Jehovah God is he is referencing Scripture that would’ve connected with his audience.

Psalm 34:8 ESV

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

We should go to the Bible and find time and time again that God is good. That He loves us. Had He desired, plans and purposes great and wonderful things for us. It is our goal to grow and increase in our present knowledge of Christ or tasting as it is referred too. We don't just want to take a sample like we do at the grocery store, but once we have experienced God’s grace in our new birth, and find that indeed the Lord is good, We should want more. We should desire more.

And as the Psalms said. Anyone who trusts God and does this will be blessed. Are you blessed? Are you fully trusting in God.