The Process of Spiritual Growth

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This sermon was given on April 17, 2016 at Wayside Community Church. It was on the subject of discipleship and it discusses some of the influences that help to shape a disciple of Jesus.

Written Excerpts:

Ephesians 4:13-15 (KJV) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Introduction:

Last Sunday we had a guest missionary speaker, but the few weeks prior to that I had been sharing the burden of my heart regarding the matter of Christian discipleship. We talked about the call that Christ gives for us to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him. We also talked about what it means to be a disciple.

The last time I challenged us with the command or mandate that Jesus left with His disciples prior to His return to heaven… Go and teach all nations (make disciples of the peoples / ethnic groups)

I felt impressed to do one more message on this topic of discipleship for today – the subject of spiritual growth.

Growing is a vital part of everyday human development and many references in Scripture draw an analogy between growing spiritually and growing physically.

I had been reading over some materials that were written by Dr. Charles Lake, who is a pastor and author. He has written one of the many discipleship curricula that is available. Today I want to share some thoughts about the process of spiritual growth that I have adapted from Dr. Lake’s material.

As we talk to you about spiritual growth, I want to emphasize two basic points:

I.    Spiritual growth is normal for the Christian life.

II.  Spiritual growth results from several influences.

I.    Spiritual Growth Is Normal. (The absence of growth is abnormal.)

The Bible is very clear about the analogy between natural birth/growth and spiritual birth/growth.

First, there must be a birth.

John 1:12-13 (NKJV) But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 3:7 “You must be born again.”

I’m convinced, based on years of ministry experience, that some people aren’t growing spiritually in Christ because they’ve never truly had a spiritual birth. They’ve never experienced a moment in their lives when they truly repented of sin and committed their lives to the power and authority of Christ.

They have probably just started trying to assimilate some of the normal practices that Christians do without really experiencing a transforming spiritual birth.

Second, there must be signs of normal growth and development.

We have recently rejoiced over the birth of little Oakley. After she was born, Kenton and Mandy didn’t bring Oakley home from the hospital and place her in a baby bed, then walk away saying, “Well, we got that all finished.” No! It isn’t finished. Their job and her growth is just getting started.

Every child desperately needs the nurture and help of his or her parents, but the parents are also are looking for the normal signs of development in their child. The same analogy applies to spiritual growth.

When we are spiritually born, we all need the nurture and guidance that older Christians can provide, but we also need to be showing signs that we are making progress and developing more and more in the knowledge and grace of Jesus.

The Apostle Paul expressed this point in different ways in regards to churches he helped get started and in individuals he led to Christ. For example, the believers in the Galatian church, who had reverted back to some legalistic errors of Judaism. He refers to them as “little children” probably because he felt the tenderness of being their spiritual father (i.e., the one who first led them to Christ). It may also appropriately describe the fact that they hadn’t developed into spiritually mature believers yet.

Galatians 4:19 (NKJV) My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,

(R. Alan Cole, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries) “… with a typical mixture of metaphor, Paul says he is in labor all over again until Christ be formed in you... No-one doubts his meaning: it is the agony of the pastor, watching for signs of Christian growth in his flock…

Paul is agonizing over them until Christ takes shape in their lives and they more accurately demonstrate His character and grace.

Christian discipleship is about growing more and more in the knowledge of Christ as the knowledge works itself out in daily practice at home, at work, at church and in the community.

II.  Several Things Influence our Spiritual Growth.

Dr. Lake says, “Spiritual growth is a co-operative venture.  Christ and His Word at work in the heart of the believer, coupled with disciplined obedience on the part of the believer, coupled with effective discipling [results] in intentional, measurable growth.”

In this statement he identifies at least 4 influences that effect spiritual growth in the life of a believer: Christ, the Word, the aid of a discipler and the obedient cooperation of the disciple.

Actually, for our purposes today, we will combine the influence of Christ and the Word because both are active in us through the Holy Spirit.

Role of Christ and the Word

Philippians 1:1-6 (NKJV) Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 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 2:12-13 (NKJV) Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

When we are born again and begin walking with the Lord we benefit from the very presence of Christ through the Holy Spirit, living inside of us and transforming us more and more into the image of Christ.

As we read, and study and memorize the Word it changes our patterns of thinking from a secular mindset or worldview into a biblical view of life and a new set of values.

Again, the Holy Spirit is at work in us through the living Word of God.

When Christ is living in us by His Spirit we begin to change. “Old things pass away and behold all things become new.” We’re truly a “new creation.” The same is true as the Word of God becomes more and more familiar to us because of reading and studying it.

The Role of the Discipler

In addition to the work that Christ and the Word is doing in the life of the new Christian, there is the additional influence of the “discipler” – the person who is teaching, encouraging, and modeling the Christian faith and life.

Listen to some of these statements by the Apostle Paul.

Colossians 1:28 (NKJV) Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 (NKJV) But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

Did this effort have any valuable and noticeable results?

1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 (NKJV) And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.

The Role of the Disciple

Finally, the role of the disciple is primarily the role of cooperation and obedience to Christ.

Philippians 2:12 (NKJV) Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

Does not mean – “figure it out for yourself; whatever you think salvation means for you.” Rather, it means – “Carefully (with fear and trembling) figure out how to let your salvation work itself out in your life.”

Dr. Lake – “We must work out what God in His grace has worked in us, applying to its fullest consequences what the Word of God teaches.”

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (KJV) But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

1 Timothy 4:7-8 (NASB) But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Greek word for “exercise” (NASB “discipline”) is same word that our English word gymnasium comes from. “No pain, no gain.”

Conclusion:

There are a couple of other influences that definitely has an impact on every Christian’s spiritual growth, which we haven’t mentioned today because we’re focusing primarily on the subject of making disciples.

Those influences include: the corporate body of Christ (the church) and the ministry of prayer.

We don’t have time to deal with these topics today, but both prayer and the church have a great deal of influence on the growth of a disciple of Jesus.

As a discipler of the people everywhere he went, Paul not only sought to win people to Christ, but he earnestly worked to teach them, train them and grow them into mature Christians so that they would live and do just like he was and just like Jesus did.

Philippians 4:9 (NKJV) The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

As a pastor, my role and responsibility is to reproduce more and more people who follow Jesus as I follow Him. I recognize that God has called me to receive specialized theological education and pastoral training, and not everyone receives that calling. But He has called me and each one of us to not only follow Him ourselves, but we are to create followers (make disciples) who will follow Christ like we do.

When my time of service here as pastor has ended, I hope I will leave behind a host of people who love Jesus, and love people, and serve others, and lead people to know Christ, and teach them to carefully follow God’s Word and to become actively involved in carrying out Christ’s mission in our world.