I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.
But that doesn’t mean you should all look and speak and act the same. Out of the generosity of Christ, each of us is given his own gift. The text for this is,
He climbed the high mountain, He captured the enemy and seized the booty, He handed it all out in gifts to the people.
Is it not true that the One who climbed up also climbed down, down to the valley of earth? And the One who climbed down is the One who climbed back up, up to highest heaven. He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.
No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love—like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.
And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They’ve refused for so long to deal with God that they’ve lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can’t think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion.
But that’s no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.
What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.
Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can’t work.
Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.
Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
Ephesians 4:1-5:2 The Message (MSG)
I used to like reading Peterson because he could say things I couldn’t say. I was a senior pastor at age 25. There were people in the church who had children who were in the church longer than I had been alive. It was hard to say things like, “Grow up” to anyone… but I could read it if it was in a Bible translation.
That was Ephesians 4:1-5:2 and I’m going to use it as a backdrop as we talk today about Spiritual growth and 5 things you never want to forget about it.
5 things you never want to forget about spiritual growth
1. Spiritual growth is a choice
Our passage says:
I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere.
Spiritual growth is a choice. It’s possible to grow in the wrong direction…
a. The hearts of some grow dull – cf. Mt 13:15
b. The love of many grow cold – cf. Mt 24:12
c. There is the danger of growing weary in doing good – cf. Ga 6:9; 2 Th 3:13
d.There is possibility of growing corrupt according to deceitful lusts – cf. Ep 4:22
e. There are those who grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived – cf. 2 Ti 3:13
Joshua told the people: if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15 New International Version (NIV)
For some of us that’s a daily choice, until it becomes a habit.
For others of us their is a circumstance or problem that brings the choice out again.
But if we’re not growing, we’re sliding back.
Are you ready to choose to grow a bit more?
Never forget – spiritual growth is a choice
2. Spiritual growth takes discipline
Our passage says:
And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
1. Jesus said eternal life takes work – cf. Jn 6:27
2. Paul wrote that he was pressing on – cf. Ph 2:12; 3:13-14
3. Peter wrote that it we needed to keep adding on- cf. 2 Pe 1:5,10
But don’t forget…
WE ARE NOT ALONE IN OUR EFFORTS…
While we work out our salvation, God is at work in us – cf. Ph 2:12-13
He strengthens us by His Spirit in our inner man – cf. Ep 3:16
He empowers us with unimaginable power that is in us – cf. Ep 3:20
He provides the armor to stand strong in the power of His might – cf. Ep 6:10-11
We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us – cf. Ph 4:13
God will complete the work He started when He saved us – cf. Ph 1:6
Spiritual growth takes discipline…but God is on our side.
3. Spiritual growth requires community
Our passage says:
You were all called to travel on the same road and in the same direction, so stay together, both outwardly and inwardly. You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness.
a. Together we get our meaning
In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t. Romans 12:5 The Message (MSG)
b.Together we spur each other on.
So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 The Message (MSG)
c. Together we are encouraged
So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 The Message (MSG)
d. Together we’re healed
Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. James 5:16 The Message (MSG)
e. Together we meet our need to contribute
Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes! 1 Peter 4:10 The Message (MSG)
f. Together we grow
I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences. Ephesians 4:2 The Message (MSG)
We need each other for spiritual growth.
Deepen relationships.
Join a study group.
Start a study group.
Risk more with others.
Risk more for others.
4. Spiritual growth changes everything
Our passage says:
…everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.
As we grow spiritually, everything changes.
a. Spiritual growth changes our thoughts
there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They’ve refused for so long to deal with God that they’ve lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can’t think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion. But that’s no life for you.
b. Spiritual growth changes our words
Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
c. Spiritual growth changes our actions
Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
d. Spiritual growth changes our attitudes
What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.
e.Spiritual growth changes our reactions
Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.
f. Spiritual growth changes our desires
Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us.
g. Spiritual growth changes our relationships
Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
Spiritual growth changes everything. Some things change in an instant. Some times we need to live up to what we’ve already attained. The theological term for this is sanctification.
5. Spiritual growth happens with habits
Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny. – Emerson, Ralph Waldo
Thought – I want to grow spiritually
Action –
A. BIBLE READING…
So clean house! Make a clean sweep of malice and pretense, envy and hurtful talk. You’ve had a taste of God. Now, like infants at the breast, drink deep of God’s pure kindness. Then you’ll grow up mature and whole in God. 1 Peter 2:1-3 The Message (MSG)
B. PRAYING…
Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality. Romans 12:12 The Message (MSG)
C. SINGING…
Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you’ve sinned, you’ll be forgiven—healed inside and out. James 5:13 The Message (MSG)
D. Praying in the Holy Spirit
But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life! Jude 1:20 The Message (MSG)
E. Meeting together…
So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 The Message (MSG)
Conclusion
So the 5 things I never want to forget about spiritual growth are:
-
- Spiritual growth is a choice – I can grow to become more like Christ or I can let my love grow cold
- Spiritual growth takes discipline – but don’t forget it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.
- Spiritual growth requires community – so let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out
- Spiritual growth changes everything – so embrace a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.
- Spiritual growth happens with habits – What habits are you going to make room for in your life so you can grow up mature and whole in God?
What do you think? Tell us in the comments.
Leave a Reply