Growing In Grace Part VI
The Enemies of Growing In
Grace
Intro: We have looked at:
1.
The
Expectations of Growing In Grace
2.
The
Essentials of Growing In Grace
3.
The
Evidence of Growing In Grace
4.
The
Environment of Growing In Grace
Tonight I want us
to look at the ENEMIES of Growing in Grace. There are multiple causes for God’s
people never becoming full grown, mature, flourishing, fruitful
Christians. It would be impossible in
the message to list them all. However,
there are several that stand out in my mind.
There are some powerful enemies that stand in the way of your progress
and advancement in the kingdom of God.
Beware!
I. Principalities and Powers
In this series,
we’ve learned that Growth is Expected, and Essential. Rest assured Satan will try to stop it.
·
Eph. 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against
the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle
not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness
in high places.
New levels – new
devils.
Most Christians do
not have the stomach or spiritual strength for a prolonged Satanic attack.
When you begin to
WANT to grow, and when you begin to START to grow, expect Satanic opposition.
Satan doesn’t mind
you standing your ground, as long as you’re not gaining ground.
We have gone from
trying to be master swordsmen (Eph. 6) to being master shieldsmen.
If it’s a full-time
job to “keep the faith”, then you’re just using your shield – playing defense.
When you start
advancing on enemy territory, you will face opposition like never before.
II. Pleasure and Prosperity
·
Heb. 11:24 – 26 By faith Moses, when he was come to years,
refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction
with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt:
for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Why did it take
Moses “full forty years – Acts 7) to come to years?
He was 40 years old
before he was willing to make a conscience choice –
·
Pain or
pleasure?
·
Amusement
or affliction?
·
Riches
or reproach?
·
Sin or
suffering?
Rarely do we see
young, immature individuals make this choice.
Several stand out in my mind that made the right choice early on, but
this is rare.
·
Joseph
at age 17 stood against his older brethren. Gen. 37:2
·
David
as a shepherd boy stood against his older brethren and the king to face
Goliath. I Sam. 17
·
Jesus
in Luke 2 forsook his friends and family to do his “Father’s business”.
·
Timothy
and Titus were young men, thrust into the ministry as an example of the
believer
Most people have to
grow up in order to get the proper perspective on sinful pleasures, playing and
fun.
Until they do, they
will not grow in grace and knowledge.
It’s not that they
don’t love God, it is simply a matter of them loving themselves more.
·
Luke 12:34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
III. People and Peer-pressure
Satan will make
sure that there are people in your life that he can use to hinder your growth.
It will not be the
biker gangs, the drug rings, the bootleggers or the prostitutes.
It will not be the
ecumenical, liberal, apostate crowd.
Most of the time it
will be people that believe just like us, but have no desire to grow or
advance.
They will give you
a false sense of security when you compare yourself.
Peer-pressure has
no age limit!
If you allow those
around you that are not growing, improving, becoming more like Christ to
influence you, then you will discover that relationship is being used by Satan
to hinder your growth.
If they belittle or
laugh at your growing, or try to dissuade you from what God’s leading you to
do, BEWARE!
IV. Pride
The hardest thing
for some people to say is, “I’m doing something wrong. I need help.
If you are losing
ground in your personal walk with God, ADMIT IT!
If you are losing
ground in your home, ADMIT IT!
If you are losing
ground in the church or in your area of ministry, ADMIT IT!
Once you CONFESS
the need to grow, then you need to CHANGE something.
You cannot keep
doing what you’re doing if it is not working!
Living in a state
of denial is counterproductive to growth!
Diagnose the problem and fix it!
·
If lost
people aren’t getting saved, find out why!
·
If
young people have no desire to serve God, find out why!
·
If
marriages are crumbling, find out why!
·
If
visitors are not coming back, find out why!
·
If your
prayers aren’t getting answered, find out why!
·
If
God’s not moving in the services, find out why!
·
If your
Bible reading is dead and dry and boring, find out why!
·
If
repeated trips to the altar yield no change, find out why!
·
If the
birds aren’t singing and you’ve lost your joy, find out why!
Many people simply
have too much pride to admit that they need help in an area.
·
Proverbs 29:23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour
shall uphold the humble in spirit.
·
Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that
inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place,
with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of
the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
·
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud,
but giveth grace unto the humble.
Conclusion: When it comes to growing in grace, realize
that all of hell will stop at nothing to prevent it from happening. Recognize the roadblocks to growth, and go
forward for God!
