Resolved to Grow
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all welcome okay if you don’t, hold till all served
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
1 Cor. 11
Pray for bread
Pray for Cup
Welcome New Members
Welcome New Members
Remember to invite people to Bertha’s memorial service and for the cooks among us to bring food and if possible provide help for the meal at noon on Tuesday.
Resolved to Grow
Resolved to Grow
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
People are busy attempting to keep their New Year’s Resolutions so I thought I would share some with you this morning.
People are busy attempting to keep their New Year’s Resolutions so I thought I would share some with you this morning.
Here are some New Year’s resolutions from children:
Joey, age 10, writes, “My New Year’s resolution is to not eat as much sugar—but I probably won’t keep it.
Hannah, age 7, says, “My New Year’s resolution is to stop picking my nose—It is going to be hard.”
Declan, age 11, states, “My New Year’s resolution is to eat 10 bags of oranges every month.”
Jude, age 7, made a resolution concerning fruit as well saying, “I resolve to eat more bananas because I only eat two or three bananas a day now.”
Hannah, age 7, says, “My New Year’s resolution is to stop picking my nose—It is going to be hard.”
Maggie age 13, made the following resolution about dancing: “I am resolved to make it through the year without seeing my mom to the whip, the she adds, “please God.” So, I guess moms, if you want to embarrass your teens just bust out a dance move.
Finally, Kendra, age 6, writes this about New Year’s Day resolutions: “What is the point of making resolutions if you never really keep them?’
Today’s message and those that will follow in the next weeks, will challenge you, not to make a resolution, but to resolve in your heart that you will take intentional steps to grow deeper in your Christian faith in 2020.
Next week we will host a guest speaker, Ron Cox.
Brother Cox is speaking at our men’s convention this coming Friday and Saturday.
Men, if at all possible sign up today (men waiting at door when you leave).
If you can’t pay today, that’s okay, get signed up.
If you can’t pay at all, that’s okay, get signed up and then show up.
We wouldn’t charge, but we are providing a rib supper on Friday and a fish fry on Saturday.
So sign up, invite your friends, bring your sons, and let’s do this.
Young men, lets do this.
Two weeks from now I will continue this series called “I am Resolved.”
It will continue for six weeks.
During that time I will give you seven different spiritual activities that you can plan to incorporate into your life.
If you will be here, discover those seven principles, plan to incorporate them into your life, and then intentionally follow that plan, then 2020 will see you make great leaps in spiritual growth.
Today, I want us to see the need to take our lives off spiritual cruise control and push forward in our spiritual lives.
The apostle Paul well understood the need to continually pursue spiritual growth.
The apostle Paul well understood the need to continually pursue spiritual growth.
Paul was a mighty man of God.
He walked close to the Lord.
The Lord did miracles through Paul.
Paul’s hand penned books found in our Bibles.
Yet Paul never got to a place in his life on earth where he stopped striving for spiritual growth.
Listen to what Paul wrote about spiritual growth in :
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.
In the first part of v. 13 Paul says he had not yet taken hold of everything God had for him.
As close as he was to God, he could grow closer.
As great a job he did at serving the Lord, he could still learn to serve the Lord better.
He realized that there is no point in life where we can say we have arrived, that we have all the Lord we need, and that there is no more need for spiritual growth in our lives.
No, Paul knew, and we should know, that as long as there is breath in us, we need to grow spiritually and become more and more the person Christ wants us to be.
My challenge to you today and throughout this message is a bold, demanding, but for every Christian, a necessary challenge.
It is a challenge for you to make and then intentionally follow a plan for spiritual growth.
I am resolved, and I challenge you, to be resolved to grow in Christ in 2020.
I am resolved, and I challenge you, to be resolved to grow in Christ in 2020.
BODY
BODY
To achieve spiritual growth in 2020 you need to understand the power of pursuing “one thing.”
To achieve spiritual growth in 2020 you need to understand the power of pursuing “one thing.”
In the second sentence of v. 13 Paul says, “But one thing I do” ().
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
What did Paul mean by this statement?
First, we need to be clear about what he did not mean.
He did not mean he was casting aside all his responsibilities in order to pursue spiritual growth.
He still needed to make tents in order to support his ministry.
He still needed to deal with the issues of the church.
He still had a great deal of things to do that in and of themselves were not what we would consider spiritual pursuits.
So, what then did he mean?
He meant that his spiritual life, his relationship with Christ, his spiritual growth was the most important element of his life—it was the one thing he would do as he took care of other tasks.
He meant that he incorporates spiritual growth into every phase of his life.
Whether he was directing the affairs of a church, appointing deacons and elders, or stitching a flap on a tent, he was aware of God and pursuing spiritual growth.
For us it means that everyday activities provide a way for us to pursue spiritual growth.
Driving to Springfield with some slow-poke riding in the passing lane provides an opportunity to grow in patience and perseverance.
Dealing with an irate customer who is angry over some trivial matter provides an opportunity grow in kindness, love, and inner peace.
Washing the dishes or milking the cows gives the opportunity to sing praises unto the Lord, pray in your spirit, and practice joy in the face of suffering when one of the cows slaps you in the face with a manure soaked tail.
Seeking the Lord and spiritual growth is not the only thing we do, but it is the “one thing” we do in everything we do.
If you were to ask Paul who he was or what he did how would he reply? He could say--
Preacher
Author
Missionary
Church planter
Mentor to young ministers
He was all this and more!
But in he said he was a servant of Christ Jesus emphasizing the fact that no matter what he did he pursued Christ and that growing in Christ was his one thing!
If someone asks us who we are or what we do how would we respond.
I would likely say “pastor” or “minister” and its okay to say that.
I can’t afford for that to be all that I am—I must be a servant of Christ, a disciple of Christ, a man who is intentionally pursuing spiritual growth!
Who are you?
A father.
A mother.
A nurse.
A farmer.
Retired.
Dental hygienist.
Teacher
Banker
Lawyer
Certainly you can be these things.
But above all this, we must be disciples of Christ who intentionally pursue spiritual growth!
That must be our one thing we do in everything we do.
To achieve spiritual growth in 2020 you need to forget the past ().
To achieve spiritual growth in 2020 you need to forget the past ().
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
Paul understood and taught us the need to forget what is behind us.
He didn’t mean that we cold literally forget the past.
Only God does that when He promises us that He not only forgives us our sins but He forgets our sins.
Paul meant that we cannot allow the past to hinder our growth in Christ.
We learn from the past.
The past gives us wisdom sometimes in what to do and what not to do.
We cannot allow the past to determine our future.
Paul had great success in his past, but that great success had to be laid aside in order to pursue a greater future.
The Lord blessed this church last year.
Blessed in salvations, baptisms, Holy Spirit baptisms, and numerical growth and that is wonderful and reason to celebrate.
We can’t be content to bask in the revival spirit that fell upon us in the last few months of last year.
Instead, let us rejoice in what he has done, but stretch forward for more of Him this year.
Paul had great failures in his past, especially before he trusted Christ for salvation.
He persecuted Christians.
He put them in jail.
He stood by and watched with joy when faithful Stephen was executed.
He said that he was guilty of murder.
He said that he was the worst of sinners ().
He did not allow past failure to dictate his present life or his pursuit of spiritual growth!
What about you?
Are past hurts keeping you from achieving spiritual growth—let them go!
Are past sins creating present guilt and shame and hindering your spiritual growth—if you have turned away from sin then Christ has forgiven and forgotten your sins and you should forgive yourself!
No matter what happened yesterday, last year, or whenever in your past, it is for your benefit that Paul tells you to forget what is past so you can move forward.
Christian friend, you are saved, you are forgiven, you are redeemed, you are set free, you are blood-bought, blood-washed, you have a new heart, a new home, a new Lord and the PAST HAS NO HOLD ON YOU!
Rejoice in Christ today!
Shout with joy in your freedom today!
Move forward in spiritual growth today!
Through Christ, you are victorious over the past!
Walk in freedom, for through Christ, old things have passed away all things have become new, and you are a new creature in Christ.
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To achieve spiritual growth in 2020 you must not allow past successes or failures to hinder your future progress.
To achieve spiritual growth in 2020 you need to strain towards what is ahead ().
To achieve spiritual growth in 2020 you need to strain towards what is ahead ().
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
If Paul had to strain to win the prize, to obtain the goal of spiritual growth and the prize of eternal life with Christ, then how much do we need to strain towards it.
Straining means:
effort,
determination,
courage,
intentionality,
perseverance,
strength,
Straining forward means possessing the strength, drive, and ability to put one foot in front of the other.
Training is part of straining.
In several passages Paul compares the Christian life and spiritual growth to an athletic contest.
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Like an athlete preparing for a contest we must get our selves ready to grow in Christ.
We must have a plan.
We must work that plan.
We must gain the strength and endurance needed to complete the race.
That’s what this series is about.
It’s about providing you information about the things you can do to strengthen yourself spiritually and to help you win the race!
Over the course of this series I will challenge to implement seven spiritual practices that will promote spiritual growth in your life.
I will encourage you to take these seven practices and create a plan of how you will implement them in your life over the course of 2020.
As you do this, you will grow exponentially in your walk with Christ and you will gain spiritual strength and endurance for the race of life.
You can grow in Christ this year if you will train and strain towards what Christ has for your future.
To achieve spiritual growth in 2020 you need to press on towards the goal ().
To achieve spiritual growth in 2020 you need to press on towards the goal ().
To achieve spiritual growth in 2020 you need to press on towards the goal ().
To achieve spiritual growth in 2020 you need to press on towards the goal ().
14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Paul declared that he would press on!
He would press forward to win the prize.
He would press forward to complete God’s call on his life.
He would press forward with his eye on the reward of heaven.
This upward, heavenward prize is a deeper and deeper experience with Christ here on earth followed by Christ calling us to stand with Christ in for all eternity in His presence.
This prize is growing closer to Christ here below.
This prize is standing with Christ in heaven later.
This prize is a crown of life that will not fade away.
This prize is everlasting joy in Christ for all eternity.
In Paul’s time, the winner of a race was called to climb up the steps of the winner’s stand, to stand in that raised place of honor, and receive their reward—think of the olympics and how they climb the winner’s stand and receive their medals.
Perhaps Paul was thinking of this at the end of his life when he wrote ():
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
In this series I will challenge you to grow closer to Christ and to obtain spiritual growth through prayer, fasting, giving, serving, worship, Scripture, and slowing dow long enough to spend time with Christ.
We run the race to win the prize of the high calling of Christ Jesus ().
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
I want the prize
No giving up.
No turning back.Trail might get rough and tough and rocky but we press on.Hiking with nephews, their ages added together is less than my age.50 pound ruck (backpack)Rough trailMiles long.I was dragging.One more step, one more step, one more step.When we got near the end of the hike, energy picked up, renewed strength, forged ahead. The myth of the modern US church--once saved, all is easy, rosy, downhill path of roses and rainbows until God calls us home.In truth, the Christian life is a fight, a struggle, a contest, a cross country race.We must train--prayer, fasting, scripture, church attendance, giving, serving--all this builds spiritual muscle.We must be intentional--plan for our spiritual growth and put plan in practice.Above all we must put one foot in front of the other.Sometimes is is a slog through muda struggle in deep sandA climb up the rough side of the mountainStrength about goneThe get up and go has gone up an wentin that moment, we strain towards what is ahead and we press toward the goal, one foot in front of the other.To win the prize!The prize of spiritual growth.The prize of the heavenward call.
No turning back.
The trail might get rough and tough and rocky but we press on.
Hiking with nephews, their ages added together is less than my age.
50 pound ruck (backpack)
Hiked in and spent the night hiked out the next morning
Rough trail several miles long.
I was dragging.
One more step, one more step, one more step.
When we got near the end of the hike, energy picked up, renewed strength, forged ahead.
Christian life is like a hike, a fight, a struggle, a contest, a cross country race.
In truth, the Christian life is a fight, a struggle, a contest, a cross country race.We must train--prayer, fasting, scripture, church attendance, giving, serving--all this builds spiritual muscle.We must be intentional--plan for our spiritual growth and put plan in practice.Above all we must put one foot in front of the other.Sometimes is is a slog through muda struggle in deep sandA climb up the rough side of the mountainStrength about goneThe get up and go has gone up an wentin that moment, we strain towards what is ahead and we press toward the goal, one foot in front of the other.To win the prize!The prize of spiritual growth.The prize of the heavenward call.
We must train--prayer, fasting, scripture, church attendance, giving, serving--all this builds spiritual muscle.
We must be intentional--plan for our spiritual growth and put plan in practice.
Above all we must put one foot in front of the other.
Sometimes is is a slog through muda struggle in deep sandA climb up the rough side of the mountainStrength about goneThe get up and go has gone up an wentin that moment, we strain towards what is ahead and we press toward the goal, one foot in front of the other.To win the prize!The prize of spiritual growth.The prize of the heavenward call.
Sometimes is is a slog through mud or a struggle in deep sand.
Or like a climb up the rough side of the mountain.
Strength about gone--The get up and go has got up an went.
In that moment, we strain towards what is ahead and we press toward the goal, one foot in front of the other.
To win the prize!
The prize of spiritual growth.
The prize of the heavenward call.
I can almost see the finish line.
Christ shall soon return.
In a moment the twinkling of an eye
we shall be changed
The trumpet will sound.
We will be caught up together to meet the Lord
We will, so to speak, climb the winners stand and receive a crown of life that will not fade away.
We do not know what we shall be but we know this, when we see Him we shall be like Him and have a body like His glorious body.
The finish line is just in sight—let us strain forward, like runner stretching his chest forward to break the tape at the end of the race, and let us win the prize.
IN CONCLUSION
IN CONCLUSION
I am resolved that 2020 will be a year of spiritual growth for me.
I am resolved that 2020 will be a year of spiritual growth for me.
My one thing--grow in the Lord and do so in every opportunity of life, work, home, hobby, etc, one thing--grow in the Lord.
I hope to forget past success and failure.
I hope to strain and train for growth.
I want to press toward the goal and obtain the prize of God’s calling.
I pray that you too, all of us, will make growing in our spiritual lives our “one thing.”
I pray that you too, all of us, will make growing in our spiritual lives our “one thing.”
I pray that you will hear the next six messages in this series and implement them in your life and if you are already doing them, renew your commitment to them.
I hope that you will be intentional and put thought and desire into how you will put these spiritual exercises to work in your life and then do it.
This year, 2020, the last year of this decade, can be your best year of spiritual growth ever!
This year, 2020, the last year of this decade, can be your best year of spiritual growth ever!