Grow up in Christ

Grow up In Christ
Eph 4:15:
15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

How can we grow more and more like Christ? The Answer is that Christ forms us into a body- into a group of individuals who are united in their purpose and in their love for one another and for the Lord.

If an individual stumbles, the rest of the group is there to pick that person up and help him or her walk with God again.

If a person sins, he or she can find restoration through the church even as the rest of the body continues to witness to God’s truth. As part of Christ’s body, do you reflect part of God’s character and carry out your special role in His work?

1. Grow Up Concerning Possessions

Luke 12:15
15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.”

Jesus says that the Good life has nothing to do with being wealthy , so to guard against greed(desire for what we don’t have).

This is the exact opposite of what society usually says.

Advertisers spend millions of dollars to entice us to think that if we buy more and more of their products , we will be happier, more fulfilled, more comfortable.

How do you respond to the constant pressure to buy? We need to learn to tune out expensive enticements and concentrate instead on the truly fulfilled life- living in a relationship with God and doing his work.

A. Many Christians place too much value on money and possessions.

B It isn’t wrong to have money, but we must heed the scriptural warning.
1 Tim 6:10:
For the love of money is the root of all evil.

If we have enough… let us be content. But when is enough enough? How can we truly be content ? There is a difference between what we need and what we want. We may have all that we need to live (that is, we have enough), but we merely want.

We must choose to be content without having all that we want.

C. We grow up concerning possessions when we give God first place.

Matt 6:33

33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

If we put God first he will give you everything you need.

2. Grow Up Concerning Pleasure

2 Tim 3:4

In the last days,
4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.

Why is it so tempting to love pleasure rather than God?

Pleasure is something we can control: God cannot be controlled.
Most pleasures can be obtained easily: love for God requires effort and sometimes sacrifice.

Pleasures benefits us now: the benefit of loving God are often in the future.

Pleasures has a narcotic effect: it takes our minds off ourselves and our problems.

Love for God reminds us of our need and responsibilities.

Pleasure cooperated with pride. It makes us feel good when we look good in the eyes of others.

To love God we must lay aside our pride and our accomplishments.

Have you chosen to love pleasures, or to love God?

A. We live in a pleasure- seeking, pleasure- loving society.

Billions of dollars are spent on pleasure yearly. People are searching for fun more than for God.

B. the greatest pleasure possible is knowing Christ. He offers real and lasting enjoyment and satisfies the longing soul.

Psalms 107:9
9 For he satisfies the thirsty
and fills the hungry with good things.

Lost , hungry, thirsty, and exhausted
Anyone who recognizes his or her own lostness can receive the offer of Jesus to satisfy.

Jesus is the way, the bread from heaven, the living water, and the giver of rest. Have you received his life giving offer?

C. Grow up concerning pleasures. Be faithful in prayer and the ministry of God’s Word, and enjoy the fellowship of other Christians.

3. Grow Up Concerning Popularity

John 5:44

No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God.

Whose praise do you seek?

A. It is natural to desire appreciation and the good will of others, but we should not seek exaltation and glory from them.

B. Popularity is usually short-lived. It can be here today and gone tomorrow.

C. Growing up concerning popularity means seeking to please and glorify God. His approval endures as long as we trust him.

Isa. 26:4
Trust in the LORD forever,
For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.


4. Grow Up Concerning Position

John 6:27

27 But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”

Jesus criticized the people who followed him for the physical and temporal benefits and not for the satisfying of their spiritual hunger.

Many people use religion to gain prestige, comfort, or even political votes.

But those are self-centered motives.

True believers follow Jesus simply because they know he had the truth and his way is the way to live.

A. Some Christians put too much importance on their position. They live, eat, and sleep for their jobs.

B. Work is necessary, but we must give God first place. Take time to do God’s work, attend his house, and encourage others.


C. A glorious promotion awaits those who grow up in Christ. They will be promoted to a land that is fairer than day, eternal in the heavens.

If we grow up in Christ we will spend eternality with Him in Heaven.

Story:
Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.
A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants.
The race began.Honestly, no one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.
You heard statements such as:
“Oh, WAY too difficult!” “They will NEVER make it to the top.” “There’s not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!”
The tiny frogs began collapsing, one by one, except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher.
The crowd continued to yell, “It is too difficult! No one will make it!” More tiny frogs got tired and gave up.
But one continued higher and higher and higher. This one wouldn’t give up!
At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top! Then all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it.
A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal? It turned out that the winner was deaf!

Sometimes in order to grow up in Christ we have to turn a deaf ear to what this world is screaming at us such as “you need possessions , pleasures , popularity and position.”

All we ever will need is Jesus and we will succeed in this life and the one to come.