Part V
The Environment of Growing
In Grace
Intro: We have examined the growing
process from several various perspectives. We looked at the growth of a newborn
baby in the message “The Expectations of Growing in Grace”. We looked at the growth of a plant in the
message “The Evidence of Growing in Grace”.
Though we have gleaned some great truths from these messages, we are
neither newborn babies nor plants. We
are Christians, and we are interested in growing as a Christian – growing in
grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. How is this possible?
Granted, this
message is based on the assumption that the Christian has a DESIRE to grow.
It doesn’t matter
how conducive the environment is for growth, the Christian must want to grow in
grace.
I want to direct
your attention to several key elements in this verse.
The verse could be
broken down 3 different sections:
1. The Attitude of Growing (grow
in grace)
Grace is a very
misunderstood and distorted doctrine.
Here are a few basic facts about GRACE:
The grace of God can be
perverted.
·
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old
ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into
lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
This describes the
crowd that use the grace of God as a license to sin; a get-out-of-hell-free
card; a blanket OK from God to live anyway they want to and still be “saved”.
This crowd
describes the so-called “gay Christian community”. “Christian rock and roll musicians,
contemporary musicians, gospel quartet musicians, even some country music
artists that can get up and sing about how much they love God and how much God
loves them, and then crawl on their bus and get drunk, smoke, fornicate, cheat
on their wives and still sing about the Amazing Grace of God.
The grace of God
can be abused.
·
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we
continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.
This describes the
average Christian that sins all they want to, and then come crawling to God on
an altar on Sunday morning and get forgiveness, time after time after
time.
They sin
deliberately and then want to cash in their “where sin did abound, grace did
much more abound” coupon.
The grace of God
can be frustrated.
·
Galatians 2:21 I do
not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then
Christ is dead in vain.
The grace of God
can be frustrated by people in several different ways.
The Calvinist frustrate grace
with a doctrine known as Sovereign Grace (or Irresistible Grace).
They believe that when God
decides (or wills) to show grace toward a sinner, they can’t resist.
·
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all
men,
2. The Academics of Growing - grow in knowledge
Growing will be a
result of hearing more, learning more and incorporating more in your life.
Jesus was “full of
grace and truth”.
·
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound
toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to
every good work:
·
Titus 2:11,12 For
the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us
that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world;
3. Achievement of Growing - To him be glory
Growth is not to
make us look good; it is to bring glory and honor to him.
Growth shouldn’t be
motivated by selfish reasons or desire for vainglory.
Growth that
elevates man, or man’s accomplishments is not growth, but is shrinkage.
It makes man larger
than God, and man’s work larger than God’s work.
·
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
·
II Cor. 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is
made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take
pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in
distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
I. There has to be Strong Exposition from
the Scriptures
·
Not
Radical
There’s nothing new
under the sun. New doctrine doesn’t stimulate growth. Old doctrine does though!
·
Not
Racist
I’m commanded to
preach the Word. Not my white, rebel flag heritage. That’s not Bible preaching.
·
Not Ranting
I’m not commanded
to preach against presidents, and against voting, and against government.
I’m commanded to
preach the exact opposite. Pray for your
leaders, pay your taxes. Obey your
authority.
The pulpit is not a
soap box. It’s a sacred desk; designed
to expound Scripture; not my political views.
God’s word preached
with power and without fear and favor will produce growth.
·
Titus 1:2, 3 In hope of eternal life, which God, that
cannot lie, promised before the world began; But hath in due times manifested
his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the
commandment of God our Saviour;
II. There hast to be Specific
Enlightenment from the Spirit
·
John 16:12, 13 I
have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when
he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he
shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak:
and he will shew you things to come.
It’s imperative
that the environment be a place where the Spirit of God has freedom and liberty
to work.
An environment
where the Holy Spirit is grieved is a place where people dry up and become
stagnant.
If the Spirit is
working, and pointing out things in people’s lives, they can continue to grow in
grace.
·
Ephesians 4:29, 30 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of
your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister
grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are
sealed unto the day of redemption.
III. There has to be Serious Examples in
the Sanctuary
You need to find
somebody spiritual to get close to. That
means those you target may not be…
·
the
popular people – that’s a
proud reason
I Cor. 12:22, 23 Nay,
much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are
necessary:
And
those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we
bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant
comeliness.
·
the
wealthy people – that’s a
selfish reason
James 2:2-4 For
if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and
there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto
him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or
sit here under my footstool:
·
the
fun people – that’s a
carnal reason
1 Corinthians 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of
them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to
play.
·
the
same-age people – that’s a
childish reason
Proverbs 16:31 The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be
found in the way of righteousness.)
Find somebody that
is growing and get close to them and help each other!
·
Proverbs 27:17 Iron
sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
NOTE:
If you are
struggling to stay spiritual, don’t hang around carnal people!
If you are
struggling to get a burden for souls, don’t hang around people that never soul
win.
If you are
struggling to get excited about church, don’t hang around people that are
critical of our church.
If you are
struggling to grow, don’t hang around people that are weak, unfruitful and
withering.
If you want to pray
more, fellowship with people that pray.
If you want to get
more out of your Bible reading, fellowship with people that get help out of
their Bible.
If you want to be a
soulwinner, fellowship with people that are soul conscience.
If you want to get
more sober minded about God, fellowship with sober minded people.
NOTE:
The surest way to
grow is to find someone eager, excited, growing, sincere, praying, witnessing,
and hook up with them.
Illustration: When they want to make a new arrow, they
put a wet, crooked stick between 2 straight ones.
Hook up with some
growing people and watch God take your walk to another level.
