The Means of Spiritual Growth

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Prayer and Devotion Zoom Fellowhsip  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  7:42
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God has provided various means by which believers may grow spiritually.

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Thesis:
God has provided various means by which believers may grow spiritually.

God supplies the resources for spiritual growth

Php 2:13; 2Pe 1:3
Philippians 2:13 ESV
13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
2 Peter 1:3 ESV
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
See also Jn 1:16; 4:14; 15:2,5; 1Co 10:13; 2Co 3:18; 9:10; Gal 5:22-23; Php 1:6; Col 2:19; Jas 1:17; 4:6; Jude 24

God’s people must make efforts to grow spiritually

Php 2:12; 2Pe 1:5-9
Philippians 2:12 ESV
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,
2 Peter 1:5–9 ESV
5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
See also Ro 6:19; 2Co 7:1; Gal 5:16,25; Eph 5:15-16; 6:11-13; 1Ti 4:7; 6:11-12; 2Ti 1:6; 2Pe 3:14; 1Jn 3:3; Jude 20

Specific means of spiritual growth

Death to self-interest

Col 3:5
Colossians 3:5 ESV
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
See also Mt 16:24 pp Mk 8:34 pp Lk 9:23; Ro 6:6,12; 8:13; Eph 4:22; Col 3:9; 1Pe 1:14; 2:11

The Scriptures

2Ti 3:16-17
2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
See also Jos 1:8; Ps 19:7-8; 119:9-11; Jn 17:17; Eph 6:17; Col 3:16; 1Pe 2:2; 1Jn 2:14

Prayer

Mt 6:13 pp Lk 11:4
Col 4:2
Colossians 4:2 ESV
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
See also 1Ch 16:11; Mt 7:11 pp Lk 11:13; Mt 26:41 pp Mk 14:38 pp Lk 22:46; Jn 16:24; Ac 4:29-31; Eph 6:18; 1Th 5:17; Jas 1:5

Focusing on Jesus Christ

Heb 3:1
Hebrews 3:1 ESV
1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession,
See also Mt 11:29; Jn 13:15; Ro 15:5; Php 2:5; Heb 12:2-3; 1Pe 2:21; 1Jn 2:6

The role of the Holy Spirit in spiritual growth

Eph 3:16-18
Ephesians 3:16–18 ESV
16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
See also Eph 1:13-14,17; 2:19-22

Christian leadership

Eph 4:11-13
Ephesians 4:11–13 ESV
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 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,
See also 1Co 4:16; 11:1; Php 1:25; 3:17; Heb 13:7,17; 1Pe 5:2-3

Faith in God

Eph 6:16
Ephesians 6:16 ESV
16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;
See also Heb 11:6; 1Jn 5:4

Suffering and testing

Ro 5:3-4
Romans 5:3–4 ESV
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
See also Job 23:10; Ps 119:67; Zec 13:9; Heb 12:10-11; 1Pe 1:6-7; Jas 1:2-4

Perseverance

Heb 12:1
Hebrews 12:1 ESV
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
See also Php 3:12-14; 1Ti 4:15

Cultivating wholesome thinking

Php 4:8
Philippians 4:8 ESV
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

God will bring the spiritual growth of believers to completion

Philippians 1:6 ESV
6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
1Jn 3:2
See also Eph 5:25-27; Php 1:6; Jude 24-25; Rev 21:2
May the Lord bless those who Hear and Do His Word
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