Good morning and welcome in today. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture but before we do that I wanted to ask you a little question.
Have you ever noticed that certain plants will grow at different rates? Maybe you have grown tomato plants and watched each of them in different stages of development. Sometimes young children will have a growth spurt, and then all of a sudden they are a foot taller than the rest of their classmates! A lot of times, plants will grow differently based upon the environment in which they are raised. I’ve always found that kind of interesting because it is the same with each of us. When we are raised out in the world, we are starved of the nutrients that we actually need to survive, but what we must do is be transplanted, like moving a tree from one location to another. Rather than absorbing the teachings and philosophies of this world, our roots must be placed in fertile ground, soaking in a steady supply of God’s Word, so that we can eventually move on to Spiritual maturity.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Just like a newborn child, in order for us to grow, we will need to be on a steady diet of God’s Holy Word. This is why the Word of God needs to be preached, so that people can continually mature in their faith. When we are provided with a liberal dose of scripture, each of us can go through our own Spiritual growth spurt.
1 Peter 2 ² As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: ³ If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Becoming a Christian is all about maturing in our faith, but sometimes it takes one person a lot longer to grow up than another. Many children are so anxious to become 18 years old because they think that they have finally grown into an adult, but there is a great difference between the physical and spiritual aspects of men. Some people can be in their 50s but have never really grown up inside of their heart, because they still act like a rebellious teenager. God reaches out to this sinful world with an offer to save us, but if we truly want to obtain eternal life, people are going to have to grow up. The child of immaturity that we once were must be cast away so that the new man of God can emerge.
Ephesians 4 ¹⁷ This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, ¹⁸ Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
¹⁹ Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. ²⁰ But ye have not so learned Christ; ²¹ If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; ²³ And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; ²⁴ And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Maturity in the Christian faith requires obedience to the will of God. Children are told to eat their supper so they can grow strong, but if they don’t obey, how can they ever grow? It’s common sense that if you never obey, you will never change. When we were children, we lived the way the world lives, but in order to become a man of God requires faithful submission to His calling and purpose. Only then can we be transformed from a sinner into a saint, and from a child of the world into a child of God.
Ephesians 5 ⁸ For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: ⁹ (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) ¹⁰ Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
“As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:” 1 Peter 1:14
Each of us are sinners who at one time or another, lived and behaved just like the world does. The Apostle Peter referred to himself as a sinful man. The Apostle Paul called himself the chief of sinners. They were men who humbly accepted the truth of what they really were. But before any of us can begin our walk with God, we accept the fact that we are sinners. In my own personal opinion, it is the very first step of Truth towards God. Only when you recognize that truth will we admit our faults and diligently seek to amend our way. We must turn away from the way that we lived in the past, and conform to the will of God.
Romans 12 ¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Jesus taught Nicodemus that we need to be born again, but the only way this is going to happen is through the knowledge of God. It is only through God’s Word that we can grow into what He wants us to become.
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23
Becoming born again is about humbly submitting oneself to the will of God and becoming fruitful. This inner change must happen, otherwise people will perish.
Luke 13 ⁶ He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. ⁷ Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? ⁸ And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
⁹ And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
God grants us forgiveness so that we can go on unto perfection.
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:18
Ephesians 4 ¹⁴ 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; ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
The only way that any of us will ever grow up, is through submission and obedience to the will of God, ripping out all of the weeds of sinful living, and planting the new seed of Truth inside of our hearts. The more that we submit to the will of God, the faster we can grow, and it’s clear from the teachings of scripture that God wants each of us to go through our own Spiritual….
…..Growth Spurt
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️
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