KEYS TO SPIRITUAL GROWTH PART 2

PRINCIPLES OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Hebrews 6:1a

Heb. 6:1a NIV - Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity.

AMP - THEREFORE LET us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ (the Messiah), advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity.

INTRO:  This is the second sermon in our 4 part series, “Keys to spiritual growth.”  Last week we looked at some introductory keys that are very important.  They are: (1) Watch out who you listen too; (2) Watch out what you say; (3) Grow in Grace; (4) Grow in the knowledge of Christ; (5) And spiritual growth is for God’s glory, not ours.

Also, remember the definition of spiritual growth that we are going with during this series, “Matching our practice (attitudes and actions) with our position in Christ.

This week we are looking at the subject, “Principles of spiritual growth.”

In every area of our lives, there should be signs of growth.  We should experience growth in our relationship with our spouses, our children and grandchildren (if you have any), at our jobs, in our churches, with our friends, and most importantly with our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Here in our Scripture text the Author is telling the readers that we must go beyond the elemental teachings concerning Christ.  As the AMP puts it: advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity.  If we are not growing in Christ as well as all the areas of our life, then we start drying up and become stale.

This morning we are going to look at some principles that will help us to grow spiritually.  I’ve come up with some fancy names for these principles so that may be we can remember them.  However, they are all biblical and essential in out continued growth.  These principles aren’t just for growing in our relationship with Christ by the way, but they can also be used for every area of our lives.  Let’s look.

1.  The Big, Better, Best Principle – being faithful in small things.

Matthew 5:21 CEV - The master answered, 'You did well. You are a good and loyal servant. Because you were loyal with small things, I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my joy with me.'

A.     The Big, Better, Best principle can be explained this way:  When we have small things, we want bigger things.  But when we have bigger things, we want the better, and when we finally have the better, we go crazy until we get the best.

1.      This is a common progression in all areas of life, even in our spiritual life.

B.     Now there is nothing wrong with having a desire for big, better, and best, as long as you don’t let it consume you.

1.      Neither should we let our pursuit of these things make us despise the small things and the small beginnings.

Zechariah 4:10a NLT - Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.

2.      Small things and small beginnings are the times where we learned to grow.  We grow from counsel and advice, to successes and mistakes.

3.      We can be ready for the big, better, and best if we first haven’t gone through the times of the small. 

4.      We must treat these small things with just as much importance as the big, better, and best things.  For if we don’t, we may not get to experience the latter.  We will always be stuck on the smaller.

C.     The key to this principle is faithfulness.

1.      We must be faithful to the task, no matter how great or small the mission or task is.

D.     One of the worst jobs in the military is being on the field sanitation team.  During times of war and battle, this team is responsible for making sure there is soap, water, and other toiletries for the soldiers to stay clean with.  They are also responsible for cleaning up any of the sewage left over, even to the point of digging ditches for it.  If they did not have this responsibility and take it seriously, then there would not be proper sewage flow and there would be contamination and disease.  So there job, even though it may seem small and even gross is just as important as the soldiers and officers out there doing the other jobs.

E.      Jesus said if we would be faithful in these small things and beginnings, He will put us in charge of greater things.

2.  The Love Me Tender Principle – love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 22:36-39 NIV - 36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'^[a] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

A.     If everyone would just treat people they way they would want to be treated, and love their neighbor as they love themselves, this world would be a much better place.

B.     You see, this is another growth principle.

1.      If we would just endeavor to understand this principle and put it into practice, then we would be bigger people, becoming better, because we are living out the best of what the Father wants.

2.      The key to this principle is love.

John 13:35 AMP - By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].

C.     While I haven’t verified this, some Scholars will tell you that the word LOVE is used throughout the entire Bible 508 times, with 202 of those times being in the New Testament.

D.     Examples from Scripture of who we are supposed to love:

1.      Love our neighbors.

2.      Love our enemies.

3.      Love our spouses.

4.      Love our God.

E.      When you can truly adapt this principle to your life, and look at the ones who hate you and tell them, “I love you,” then you have grown.

3.  The Don’t Worry, Be Happy Principle – being content without complaining.

Philippians 4:11 AMP - Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be ^[a] content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.

A.     This is probably the hardest one for all of us to apply to our lives.

1.      Why?  Because humans by nature are complainers.  We just love to complain.

2.      If you didn’t have anything to complain about, we would complain about that fact.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 NIV - 6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

B.     If we want to grow, not just spiritually, but in every area of our lives, then we have to learn how to walk in contentment.

C.     I personally believe that if we would learn to walk in contentment, perhaps we would see the big, better, and best part of growth occur quicker.

D.     Understand this:  The big, better, and best in life doesn’t come from striving, but from relying – relying on God in every area of our life.

4.  The Garden Principle – sowing and reaping.

Galatians 6:7-10 NIV - 7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature^[a]will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

A.     This is perhaps the principle that we seemingly forget about.

1.      We live in a world and society where we expect something for nothing.

2.      It is what I call, the “lottery mindset.”  Where we hope by giving our dollar, we will win the big payout of millions.  The only problem with this is the fact that it is more likely that you will be struck by lightening twice in your life than it is that you will win the lottery once.

B.     The idea behind the principle is you don’t get something out of nothing, you have to sow toward what you want to grow.

1.      Meaning, if you want tomatoes, you sow tomato seeds.

C.     You can’t grow unless you spend time doing things that create growth.

1.      If you want to grow spiritually, read your Bible, pray and seek His face, listen and obey the message being taught.

2.      If you want to grow in your marriage, spend time with your spouse, find out their needs and pursue meeting those needs.

3.      If you want to grow in your finances – invest in the Kingdom of God.  He promises to meet your needs when you do.

1 Corinthians 9:6-8 NIV - 6Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

CONCL:  We could go on, but let’s stop there.  Church, God wants us to grow in Him.  He wants that growth to affect every area of our lives.  Our families, our careers, our church, our habits, our rests…everything.  He doesn’t want us to stay where we are.  All of us have room for growth.  Let’s seek His face and endeavor to allow His Spirit to grow us up into His image and likeness.