THE CHRISTIAN GROWTH PROCESS!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY APRIL 26, 2020.

SUBJECT: THE CHRISTIAN GROWTH PROCESS!

Memory verse: "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1 vs 6.)

READ: Mark 4 vs 26 - 29: 

4:26: And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground,
4:27: and should sleep by night and rise up by day, and the seed should spout and grow, he himself does not know how.
4:28: For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head.
4:29: But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.

INTIMATION:

Christian growth and maturity is a lifelong process. This process began when we accepted Christ, and continues until He returns. 

The God who began a good work in us continues it throughout our lifetime and will finish it when we meet Christ face to face. 

Although we have a new nature, we don’t automatically think all good thoughts and have all pure attitudes when we become new  people in Christ. But if we keep listening to God, we will be changing all the times. As you look over the last year, you will observe some changes for the better in your thoughts and attitudes. Change may be slow, but your life will change significantly if you trust God to change you.

God’s work for us began when Christ died on the cross in our place. His work in us began when we first believed. Now, the Holy Spirit lives in us, enabling us to be more like Christ every day. 

God has not left us alone in our struggles to do His will. He reaches down to human beings, and asks for our response. He wants to come alongside us and be within us to help. God gives us the desire and the power to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2 vs 13). The secret to a changed life is to submit to God’s control and let Him work. 

Life in Christ here on earth is never complete. Heaven promises completeness; until then, growth is the normal pattern. Growth often endures seasons of drought and drabness. The key to growth includes daily devotion to Christ through Bible study and prayers. Perhaps you need to intensify your study and find helps that provide more substance. Perhaps you need to grow by engaging in new areas of service that express your faith. Seek God for how He would have you keep growing in your faith. 

Think about what you are doing that might be spiritually ineffective or obsolete. 

We often expect quick changes in our lives and quick victories over sin. However, our journey with God is a lifelong process, and the changes and victories may take time. It is easy to grow impatient with God and feel like giving up hope because things are moving too slowly. You may 

sometimes feel as though you aren’t making progress in your spiritual life. It’s noteworthy that w

hen God starts a project, He completes it! God will help you grow in grace until He has completed His work in your life. Although w

hen we are close to a situation, it is difficult to see progress. But when we look back, we can see that God never stopped working.

Christians have entered into a covenant with God through Jesus Christ and should be responsive to what God expects for a growing relationship with Him. God’s followers should learn and understand His Word, accept and absorb them, and put into practice

. 

Many spiritual functions parallel physical functions. As our bodies hunger and thirst, so do our souls. The living Word, Jesus Christ, and the written Word, the Bible, can satisfy our hungry and thirsty souls. 

Have you made spiritual progress lately? Recording your thoughts about God and lessons you have learned over a period of time can be a valuable aid to spiritual growth. A record of your spiritual pilgrimage will let you check up on your progress and avoid repeating past mistakes. 

No one is competent to carry out the responsibilities of God’s calling in his or her own strength. Without the Holy Spirit’s enabling, our natural talent can carry us only so far. We need the character and special strength that only God gives.

When you are discouraged, remember that God won’t give up on you. He promises to finish the work He has begun. When we feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by your shortcomings, remember God’s promise and provision. Don’t let your present condition rob you of the joy of knowing Christ or keep you from growing closer to Him. All who believe in the Lord Jesus will be considered blameless when Christ returns. Today’s struggles, difficulties, and failures don’t tell the whole story. Keep the big picture in mind. If you have faith in Christ, even if it is weak, you are and will be saved.

Prayer: Abba Father, let Your abundant grace and fellowship of the Holy Spirit abide with me all through my spiritual growth process, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!