Growth in Christian preaching often symbolizes spiritual development and maturity, reflecting the believer's progress in faith and character (Luke 2:52). Illustrations typically use natural and everyday images—such as plants shedding shells, climbing mountains, or ripening fruit—to depict gradual, necessary stages of transformation and deepening wisdom.
”Do not pray for easy lives; pray to be stronger people. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle. Every day you shall wonder at yourself, at the richness of life which has come to you by the grace of God.” — Phillips Brooks
LOOK AT THE FRUIT
(a phrase sometimes heard when I enter the pulpit each week)
I was a portrait of lawn care expertise. My driveway was littered with a lawnmower, three rakes, two bags of grass seed, a gas can, and a fertilizer spreader. As I surveyed the scene, I thought to myself, “I look like a real pro here.”
Of course it wouldn’t take long to dispel that myth; one glance over at my front yard would reveal that this lawn care prince is actually a lawn maintenance pauper whose green thumb tends toward tannish brown. Rather than a seasoned pro I was actually a practiced procrastinator, trying once again to remedy a year’s neglect with a single day’s hard work. Perhaps this year that technique will work (it never has before), but for the moment, the yard tells the real truth. “Just wait till next year … “
One of Jesus’ most useful teachings was this: “By their fruit you will recognize them.” His subject was teachers and he was offering a practical test to help believers determine which teachers are righteous guides and which are actually ravenous wolves. Jesus solution? Look at the fruit (the results) of their work.
A new preacher arrives and starts doing things a little differently; is he a heretic or a hero? Don’t get too focused on the particular methods he uses or superficial measures of success (like your church’s attendance). Instead, look at the fruit. Is his work moving people closer to Christ and to one another, or creating division within the body? Does his work push their gaze toward Christ … or pull it toward himself?
I often read about new ministries, new programs, and new opportunities for our congregation; how do I know which ones are going to be truly beneficial and which will be useless or even dangerous? I look at the fruit. Do people who have participated leave with a deeper love for God? Are they forced to re-examine their commitment to discipleship? Do they make meaningful, lasting changes in their lives or merely experience a weekend high? The fruit tells the tale.
Most importantly, how do we know where we stand in our growth as individual believers? Outward measures are notoriously unreliable and easily manipulated. Instead, we can most accurately gauge our progress by looking inward for signs of fruit in our lives. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. The “fruit” of the spirit grow within and spill over into our daily actions as we mature in Christ. And while you may measure your growth by other criteria, these are the harvest that God checks for.
Want a quick check of your Christian walk? It’s easy. Just look at the fruit.
Scripture: “Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. … Then the Lord called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ And he said, ‘Here I am!’” (1 Sam. 3:1, 3-4).
On my way to age 50, I woke up and realized I was hearing this old, familiar story in a different way. For as long as I can remember, when I heard the story of God calling little Samuel while he lived with the old priest, Eli, I always identified with Samuel. I was one of those pastors who heard the voice of God as a youth. While I was still much too young to understand the full implications, God called me to serve him as a leader in his church. Similarly, Samuel’s story is about a boy called by God, a boy far too young to understand the full meaning of that call.
But then one day I was 50, and I realized that I no longer identified with little Samuel. I was starting to identify with aging Eli. Here was old Eli, working in the temple for a lifetime, and had God ever spoken so directly to him? Had God ever awakened him in the middle of the night, calling him by his very own name?
Why had God only spoken to this Samuel, a boarder in the Lord’s house, but not to old, experienced, dedicated Eli, nor any of Eli’s children?
Here I am, now having served the Lord as a pastor for over 30 years. Some little upstart shows up, somebody in his early twenties, telling me that God has spoken to him, telling me that God has called. Why did God not speak directly to me? Why does God insist on speaking to someone half my years?
Here is my church, shrinking in membership. Then there is that new church, that young church on the edge of town. Their building is not nearly so nice as ours. They obviously have a less able and less experienced pastor! And yet they grow. Why would God bless their efforts so profusely?
This story of little Samuel and old Eli becomes a story for those of us in the latter stages of our careers. To serve this God means to let this God be God–sovereign. This God is free to bypass us and go to those less experienced, these young upstarts, who do not have our maturity, experience, and wisdom. In each generation, God calls those whom God calls.
Why does God do this? Think about it. One day when I was young, God called me. One day, a long time ago, I was the young upstart. Now, I am the old, accommodated member of the establishment. To keep his church alive, thank God, the Lord goes to a new generation. Maybe God does this to keep shaking things up. Or maybe he does this to keep proving to us that the church is of God, not of us. God keeps sustaining the church by infusing new life into it–by calling people whom we might not have called.
Philippians 3:12–21 — Joy in Spiritual Progress « Leader information shown in these braces »
A. Joy in Persevering to the Goal Philippians 3:12–14 (NAS)
1. 12 Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. «
a. comments from Biblical Museum (Holwick 25490, 25513)
(A) perfect — Rom 7:21 — spiritual perfection
(B) but…after {press on} — {2} 2 Cor 71-2, Heb 12:1, 14-15 — I am pressing forward in the Divine life
(C) apprehend {lay hold} — lay hold on, {seize, grasp} (figure taken from the Stadium)
(D) one thing — {1} Ps 27:4, Mark 10:21, Luke 10:42 — those who succeed are usually men who mind one thing
(E) forgetting — not obliterating from memory, but ceasing to trust
(F) those {what}…behind — the part of the race already run
(G) and…forth {forward} — as the racer his hand; so, the Christian his heart and desire
(H) mark {goal} — the goal
(I) prize…calling {call} — the crown of life — {3} 1 Cor 9:24-25, 2 Tim 4:7-8, 1 Pet 5:10 »
2. what attitudes should we avoid?
a. « “obtained” self-satisfaction (that we have arrived) »
b. « “perfect” pride (we will return to the meaning of this word) »
c. « contentment with past accomplishments, etc »
3. every Christian has the same goal; what is it (watch out!)? « — fulfilling the purpose for which we have been saved »
4. what should characterize our pursuit of this goal? « — single-mindedness, total commitment, focus (see {1} above) »
5. what may this require from us? « — cleansing of our lives (see {2} above, including Hebrews 12:12–13) »
6. what is the nature of the prize? « — graciously given by God (Psalm 31:19) a crown of righteousness (see {3}, James 1:12) »
B. Joy in Pursuing a Good Example Philippians 3:15–17 (NAS)
1. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. 17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. «
a. comments from Biblical Museum (Holwick 25482)
(A) perfect {mature} — Heb 5:14 — Gk., men who have passed out of the rudimentary discipline or ordinances (Lightfoot)
(B) be…minded {this mind} — run by the rule of verse 13
(C) and…minded {think otherwise, different attitude} — if ye are in error about anything
(D) God…you — Hos 6:3, Col 2:7 — by His Spirit guide you aright
(E) whereto {to which, to the degree}…attained — the past has lessons for the future
(F) walk…rule {keep living…standard} — 1 Cor 15:58 — union in things known and agreed upon
(G) be…me {join…example} — 1 Cor 11:1, Phil 4:9, 1 Pet 5:3 — vie with each other in imitating me (Lightfoot)
(H) mark…ensample {note…pattern} — follow them which walk by our example »
2. Paul’s attitude
a. What if you are perfect?!? What is the idea of perfect when applied to Christians … see Hebrews 5:14 which uses this same word « — spiritually mature; able to discern between good and evil practically; not a destination but a journey »
b. How will God reveal our wrong attitudes to us? … see Colossians 4:12, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Colossians 3:16 « — through others prayers, God’s words, Christian correction »
3. Paul’s walk
a. How can you identify a good example (since we cannot observe Jesus and Paul as they walked on the earth)?
C. Joy in Freedom from the Earthly Philippians 3:18–19 (NAS)
1. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. «
a. comments from Biblical Museum (Holwick 25483)
(A) many…weeping — Ps 119:136 — the wicked who try to lead others astray
(B) that…Christ — Rom 2:23-24, 2 Pet 2:1-2, Gal 5:4 — regard it as an offence or foolishness
(C) whose…destruction — the end of their opposition will be their own perdition
(D) whose…belly {appetite} — Rom 16:17-18 — the aim of their life, sensual desire, gluttony
(E) whose…shame — what they now glory in will be their shame in the end
(F) who…things — Tit 1:11, Rom 8:6-7 — their mind fixed on things earthly, sensual, devilish »
2. Can professing Christians be enemies of Christ? « — see Matthew 7:22ff, 25:37ff »
3. What marks these enemies of Christ and His salvation?
a. « they are destined for judgment »
b. « they are ruled by their own desires »
c. « they take pride in what is wrong »
d. « they are bound to this world »
D. Joy in Looking to the Heavenly Philippians 3:20-21 (NAS)
1. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. «
a. comments from Biblical Museum (Holwick 25484)
(A) conversation {citizenship} — Heb 11:16 — Gk., citizenship
(B) heaven — Eph 2:6, Heb 12:22-23 — we are citizens of the heavenly commonwealth
(C) from…Saviour — Tit 2:11, 13, Heb 9:28, 1 Cor 1:7 — we eagerly await as a Saviour
(D) change {transform} — transform
(E) vile body {lowly body, of humble state} — 1 Cor 15:43-53 — body of humiliation
(F) glorious body — Col 3:4 — body of His glory {as NAS}
(G) working {exertion} — strange, complete, irresistible
(H) he…himself — the body is only one of all things under Christ »
2. Christians have a dual citizenship; what steps did God take to give this to us … Ephesians 2:4–6?
a. « exercised the richness of His mercy »
b. « in His love sent the Father gave the Son »
c. « resurrected us from deadness in sin by His grace »
3. Christians have been saved by the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ but we still await His appearing when He will save us from … ?
a. « the body of this humiliation »
(A) either, « as it has decayed in the grave »
(B) or « as it is still walking this earth »
b. so, how should we be waiting for His appearing?
“that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” (Philippians 3:10-12 NKJV)
Not yet Perfect
• that…him — personally, practically, experimentally
• power…resurrection — Rom 6:3, Col 3:1-2 — virtue flowing from His resurrection: (1) To quicken our souls; (2) Confirm our hope of resurrection; (3) Assuring us of present justification; (4) Assuring us of final justification. (Ellicott)
• and…death — 2 Cor 4:10-11, Gal 2:20
• if…dead — 1 Cor 9:26-27, Luke 14:14, John 5:29 — expression not of doubt but a modest hope
• perfect — Rom 7:21 — spiritual perfection
• but…after[press on] — 2 Cor 7:2, Heb 12:1, 14-15 — I am pressing forward in the Divine life
• apprehend[lay hold] — lay hold on, [seize, grasp] (figure taken from the Stadium)
Believers dying with Christ — Rev. C. Morris
I. Christ’s history gives an intelligent idea of our spiritual life.
II. Spiritual life is the power coming from the strength and life of Christ to us. The death of Christ maybe regarded as –
1. A physical or natural event;
2. An act — Christ had power not to die.
III. His death was the highest exhibition of His spiritual life. By it –
1. He kept sin out of Himself;
2. He made a provision to get sin out of men.
Learn:-
1. There was a certain mind, temper, and spirit in Christ;
2. It was that mind which led Him to the death of the cross;
3. That which was in Christ, and was thus manifested, is to be in us. We are not called to suffer, but we are called to show Christ’s spirit under sufferings.
The sculptor and his work — The artist that is satisfied with his transcript of his ideal will not grow any more. There is a touching story told of a modern sculptor who was found standing in front of his masterpiece, sank in sad reverie, and when they asked him why he was so sad, “Because,” he answered, “I am satisfied with it.” “I have embodied,” he would say, “all that I can think or feel. There it is. And because there is no discord between what I dream and what I can do, I feel that the limit of my growth is reached.” — Maclaren
“Every saint must suffer, because Christ suffered. Christ must not have a delicate body under a crucified head.” — Gurnall
“Religion is the best armour that a man can have, but it is the worse cloak.” — Bunyan
“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.” (Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV)
Working Out Salvation
• as…obeyed — John 6:28-29 — as ye have been obedient to God
• not…only — ye need not the prompting of my presence
• work…trembling — Heb 4:11, 2 Cor 7:1, 2 Pet 1:10, Heb 6:11-12, 4:1 — be nervously anxious to be and do right
• for…you — 2 Cor 3:5, Eph 2:8-9 — this is your encouragement, that the work within is a work of God
• both…pleasure — Prov 16:1, Jer 32:39, Heb 13:20-21 — He supplies the impulse, and, through you, He performs the work. To Him, therefore, be all the praise.
Perfecting salvation — J. W. Coombs, B.A.
I. The Christian’s work — the completion of his salvation
II. His spirit — reverence and self-distrust
III. His warning and encouragement
Your own salvation — C. Wills, M.A.
It is “your own salvation,” because it must be wrought out –
I. In yourself, your own self;
II. By yourself, your own self — that is, by you, God working in you;
III. For your own self — what you sow that will you reap.
Working out salvation — It is but too common with some professors, under a pretence of magnifying the grace of God, to excuse their want of zeal, and their negligence in the duties of religion, by pleading that they can do nothing without the sensible influence of grace upon their minds. “I once heard,” adds Mr Buck, “a zealous minister (now with God) talking in his sleep, which was a very customary thing with him, and lamenting this disposition in some professors, which he thus reproved: ‘I am a poor creature, says one; and I can do nothing, says another. No, and I am afraid you do not want to do much. I know you have no strength of your own, but how is it you do not cry to the strong for strength.?’”
“Alone He works in all, yet He alone seems not to work.” — Thomson
“If we make religion our business, God will make it our blessedness.” — J. Adam
Sir Edmund Hillary is famous for being the first man to climb Mount Everest. But what you may not know is that his first attempt to do so was a terrible disaster. Two men in his party perished on the attempt and in fact, Sir Edmund only barely got down the mountain alive. Upon returning to England following the disastrous try, Hillary was asked to speak before the Royal Society in London. As he walked on stage, there behind him was placed a huge picture of the mountain. As he approached center stage, Hillary turned his back on the audience and faced Mount Everest directly. In a voice, steady and strong he said, “Mount Everest, I'm coming back and I'm going to conquer you because you can't get any bigger but I can.”
“This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.” — John 15:12
In a recent ministry trip God blessed me with especially hospitable and gracious hosts. While they were returning me to the airport, I noticed a small seat pillow sitting in the back seat of their automobile on which were embroidered the words, “All things grow with love.” Noting the loving spirit of my hosts, their eagerness to be a blessing to me and see to my needs, I realized that this proverb was more than incidental. It was their motto and very motivational. The more I thought it over, the more it gripped me. Truly, where love is all things grow.
Everything around us confirms this. To thrive, plants need a gardener’s loving attention and constant care. To be happy and healthy, ani mals need, not just feeding and watering but also petting and praise. To grow and develop properly, babies need, not only milk and cereal but also holding and doting love-talk. To grow old with grace, the elderly need the loving care of their devoted children, or, if they have none, kind caretakers. Why, even inanimate objects grow with love. To restore their stately beauty, old houses need the renovative labors of owners driven by a love for architectural and decorative splendor. All these familiar things grow for one reason: someone lavishes love upon them. And they are not alone. Consider these things that also grow with TLC, or tender love and care.
Things Grown With Love …
Children
To develop as healthy human beings, children need more than the physical necessities of life in this world, such as food, clothing, shelter, health care, and education. They need constant parental training, including intercession, instruction, counsel, and, when necessary, discipline. But even all these efforts may fail to produce desired results if one more vital ingredient is missing passionate parental love. If we don’t love our children with patient, selfless interest, who will? To have a delicious cake, you must put all the ingredients into the mix in proper proportion. If our kids are troubled, perhaps we need to see if we’re mixing in enough love. Are we consistently kind or curt, attentive or distracted, honest or proud? Do we listen, or lecture only? Do we praise their strengths or just criticize their weaknesses? Do we admit it when we fail them, or always blame them for failing us? Are we ready to commit our- selves to willingly serve our children’s eternal welfare daily? Nothing less than this is love.
Friendships
Sometimes we moan and fret because people don’t seem to want to be around us. At times this happens for spiritual reasons; the children of darkness naturally avoid the children of light. But there are other reasons we should consider. Are we being talkative, kind and gracious with other people, or are we withdrawn, silent, and apathetic? To build relationships, we must relate to others warmly: “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly” (Proverbs 18:24). Friendliness builds friendships; coldness creates callousness. If you want others to care for you, care for them first. Reach out to bless them in a timely and practical way. And be understanding and ready to forgive them if they fail to respond. Perhaps they haven’t yet learned the lesson you are just now learning.
Churches
If you want the Lord to add disciples to your local fellowship, consider this: love the people you already have. That is, give yourself to help and bless them in every way you can. Congregants, intercede for one another daily, for your them in every way you can. Congregants intercede for one another daily , for your leaders, your church body, and its outreaches. This will release the Holy Spirit to cultivate greater love, sweeter fellowship, and stronger unity in your ranks. Leaders, commit to becoming extraordinary givers. Pastors and teachers, study and prepare rich loaves of Word-bread for your people so their faith will be nourished and grow. Deacons, prayerfully seek God’s way to solve every problem your congregation faces and pursue it. Elders, teach and counsel patiently even the slowest, most hopeless member of the flock, remembering that even “the least of these my brethren” (Matthew 25:40, 45) are precious to Jesus and that His love through you may yet deliver them. Foster a family spirit. Be accessible, as parents are to their children. Share both spiritual and natural activities: pray and play, intercede and interact, mingle and minister, and work and walk together. Share portions of your food — Bible truths and fellowship meals. Share victories and defeats; rejoice at one another’s successes and comfort those who suffer setbacks. Refuse to hold any unkind attitude toward even the most “thorny” member of your church. Pray for them, and, whenever possible, conquer their offensiveness with non-resistance and kindness, and quickly mend any misunderstandings and rifts they create. If you’re not willing to do this, remember Jesus’ challenge to Peter: “Lovest thou Me?… Feed My sheep” (John 21:15,16, 17). Won’t you walk in love toward them for His sake?
Ministries
Would you like your ministry to grow? Do you want it to yield more blessing to the saints and glory to Christ? Then begin loving it. That is, don’t just be dutiful; be passionate about the thing Jesus has given you to do. Delight in your calling: “I delight to do thy will, 0 my God” (Ps. 40:8, emphasis added). Praise God for giving you your ministry assign- ment, whether it is large or small, noticed or unnoticed. Diligently practice your ministry gift that you may perfect it: “Neglect not the gift that is in thee … give thyself wholly… that thy profiting may appear to [the blessing of] all” (1 Timothy 4:14-15). Don’t be envious, wanting another minister’s work or gift; be enthusiastic, heartily building whatever “tabernacle” God has called you to build. Give yourself to that work daily with abandon: “Give thyself wholly” (v. 15, emphasis added). Lovingly build your house of ministry day by day prayer upon prayer, study upon study, message upon message, mission upon mission, blessing upon blessing — until God’s glory descends upon it and raises and enlarges it to fulfill His predestined plan.
Our Personal Fellowship With Jesus
Sometimes we envy saints who walk very closely with Jesus, yet fail to see the reason they do so. It’s not because Jesus prefers them, nor because their human “stuff” is superior to ours. It’s because they’ve given themselves to Him in love. That is, they’ve consistently chosen Him above all other things and now have only one great desire remaining: to please Him. Knowing that He said, “If you love Me, keep My command- ments” (John 14:15), they prayerfully study His Word daily and meditate upon it. Aware that He loves obedience, they set their hearts to obey His Word and follow His guidance at every opportunity. Aware that He urged us to, “Watch ye… and pray always” (Luke 21:36), they have times of prayer and pray all the time. Conscious of His loving invitation, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28), they seek His face when people and problems drain them. Knowing that He promised, “I will come again” (John 14:3), they earnestly prepare them- selves for His appearing. Mindful that He seeks “true worshippers” (John 4:23), they worship Him privately every day; as cooing turtledoves, they softly thank Him, bless His name, and sing unto Him, and tell Him often that they love Him. So, by love, their personal fellowship with Him grows.
[Editorial addition]
The other side of this spiritual axiom is equally true: without love all things wither and die. Where there is no affectionate care, the divisive, diminishing, destructive force of callousness takes a heavy toll. Children become confused, angry, and frustrated — troubled adults in the making. Friendships cool, fade and cease. Churches become carnal, fragmented, and Spiritless, and cease radiating light and life to their communities. Ministries become weak and ineffective. Ministers become mere religious professionals, rather than passionate prophets. And our personal relationships with Jesus become meaning less — distant, dormant, past religious experiences rather than currently active wells of living water springing up with new life day by day.
Perhaps this is why the Bible emphasizes walking in love so heavily. The apostle Paul pleaded with the Ephesians to put away all bitterness, wrath, and malice and “be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another … and walk in love” (Ephesians 4:31-5:2, emphasis added). He taught the Colossians that “love … is the bond of perfectness” (Colossians 3:14), or the spiritual bonding agent without which perfect unity cannot exist. And He declared that love was the greatest” Christian virtue (I Corinthians 13:13) and that even if we have all knowledge, gifts, faith, and power, but lack a loving spirit, we are “noth ing” (vv. 1-3). The apostle John strongly agreed. He wrote, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God” (1 John 4:7); and again, “If we love one anoth- er, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected [fully developed, matured] in us” (v. 12). Most significantly, Jesus’ greatest commandment to Christians was that we lovingly care for each another: “This is My [personal and distinctive] commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12). These statements prove that Jesus and His apostles recognized that all things grow with love, and that without it neither individual Christians, churches, nor ministries can grow and mature.
Thus they set the ways of life and death before us. Whatever we love will live and grow. Whatever we refuse to love will wither and die. So, my friend, grow something! Love it.
A friend was telling me that her folks had just returned from an early summer Alaska cruise. She said they enjoyed the trip a great deal, but she said, her dad came home with one observation in particular that really impressed him.
He said the flowers in Alaska are huge! The pansies, day lilies and impatiens all had flowers that were just immense. Even the dandelions stood two feet above the grass with flowers that were 6” across. He wondered what kind of fertilizer the Alaskans were using – but when he inquired they said “none.” Why then, he asked, are the flowers so big? The answer came back: Nearly twenty hours of sunlight!
With that much exposure to sunlight, anything would grow bigger and stronger. The same principle applies if I want to grow in Christ. If I want to get bigger in love, stronger in patience, stand taller in selflessness, shine brighter in godliness – I need to spend more time in the Son.
What is the world's record for the men's high jump? As of March 10, 1991 the American Record by Hollis Conway was 2.40 meters (That’s 7’10.5”)
As of March 4, 1989 the World Record set by Javir Sotomayor of Budapest was 2.43 meters (That’s 7’ 11.25”)
I would be lucky if I could clear 4 feet. If I couldn’t clear a 5’ bar you wouldn’t be surprised. If Javir Sotomayor of Budapest couldn’t make it we would suspect something was wrong. How did Sotomayor come to being able to almost jump over my living room wall? …one notch at a time. He just lived up to what he had already come to know while all the time wanting just a little bit more.
Paul said “Only let us live up to what we have attained” (Phil. 3:16)
In Jesus, we live in the maturity He has already produced in us while all the time seeking to have more of Him live through us.
2 Peter 1:8–9 — Improving Our Vision « Leader information shown in this fashion »
A. The Condition 2 Peter 1:8a
1. various translations of the this part of the verse …
a. AV – For if these things be in you, and abound, …
b. NAS – For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, …
c. NIV – For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, …
d. J. B. Phillips – If you have these qualities existing and growing in you …
e. NLT – The more you grow like this, …
2. “these things” — let’s review; what things are these?
a. 1. « faith; the spiritual foundation of the following »
b. 2. « virtue, goodness of life, moral excellence »
c. 3. « knowledge; discretion and understanding of the truth »
d. 4. « temperance, self-control »
e. 5. « patience, perseverance, endurance »
f. 6. « godliness: right worship and devotion to God »
g. 7. « brotherly kindness or love; philadelphia »
h. 8. « real Christian, God-given love; agape »
3. what are the two conditions concerning “these things”
a. “be in you” — this is literally « “be in your possession,” that is, they are your personal property; this is static, from a verb meaning not a temporary but a permanent state.. »
b. “and abound” — what do the alternative translations tell us concerning this word? « — this is not a static item, but one that is continually improving … growth in these is expected »
B. The Result 2 Peter 1:8b
1. various translations of this part of the verse …
a. AV – … they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful …
b. NAS – … they render you neither useless nor unfruitful …
c. NIV – … they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive …
d. J. B. Phillips – … then it means {… knowing … Christ} has not made your lives either complacent or unproductive.. …
e. NLT – … the more you will become productive and useful. …
2. “they make {you}”
a. what is the “they?” « — the possessed and increasing 8 virtues »
b. how do the other translations render “make?” « — render, keep; … literally: set down, put in place; to constitute »
3. “barren” — how about the other translations for this word?
a. « useless, ineffective, complacent, {not} useful … from this verse you can again see the weakness of paraphrases, as they seek to capture the idea they lose some of the flavour »
b. Greek: argon, an inert gas « — lit., not working; hence, unemployed or idle »
4. “unfruitful” — literal translation, “without fruit”
a. hence, figuratively: « unproductive, not fulfilling the design »
C. The Forum: 2 Peter 1:8c
1. various translations of this part of the verse …
a. AV – … in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
b. NAS – … in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
c. NIV – … in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
d. J. B. Phillips – … that knowing our Lord Jesus Christ …
e. NLT – … in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. What makes this knowledge different from that in verses 5–6? « — usually, with no specific object, usually this knowledge is the truth or wisdom of God; here the object is a Person, recognizing or understanding by personal experience the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ »
3. the Philips paraphrase (see previous segment of this verse) seems to me to be foreign to what Peter is saying here …
D. The Alternative: 2 Peter 1:9a
1. various translations of the this part of the verse …
a. AV – But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, …
b. NAS – For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, …
c. NIV – But if anyone does not have them, he is short-sighted and blind, …
d. J. B. Phillips – The man whose life fails to exhibit these qualities is blind—his eyes so dosed …
e. NLT – But those who fail to develop these virtues are blind or, at least, very shortsighted. …
2. “lacketh”
a. other translations? « — not have, not exhibit, not develop »
b. literally « — “is not beside” … is not accompanied by »
c. so, what about the believer whose life is thus stunted? … what is the alternative? … here is their sad situation …
3. “blind” « – either physically, but also frequently mentally, that is ignorant or dull of apprehension »
4. “cannot see afar” – Greek, myopazo (literally, one shutting the eyes, squinting; from which we get our word “myopia”) … hence the other translations
5. in what area is such a person blind/ … what is it that this person fails “to see” « … let’s look at the rest of this verse »
E. The Failure: 2 Peter 1:9b
1. various translations of this part of the verse …
a. AV – … and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
b. NAS – … having forgotten his purification from his former sins.
c. NIV – … and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
d. J. B. Phillips – … that he has forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
e. NLT – … They have already forgotten that God has cleansed them form their old life of sin.
2. “forgotten” – « “having taken or received forgetfulness, oblivion” »
a. « there is no indication here of a deliberate rejection of truth, but rather of a carelessness respecting it … does this strike a familiar chord? »
b. what does this tell us about the ordinances?
3. “purged … sins” – what has Christ done in respect to our sins? « — cleansed us, purified us »
4. note the subtle change in how the NLT renders this, which is « — that we have been cleansed from the life of sin, rather than from the sin itself; this gives an inaccurate portrayal of atonement … let us look at Revelation 1:5–6 in a closing note of praise »
2 Peter 3:14–18 — Steadfastness « Leader information shown in this fashion »
A. 3:14–15a — Hence a call for Diligence
1. AV: 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15a And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; …
2. NIV: 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15s Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, …
3. NAS: 14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15a and regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation; …
4. J. B. Philips: 14 Because, my dear friends, you have a hope like this before you, I urge you to make certain that the day will find you at peace with God, flawless and blameless in his sight. 15a Meanwhile, consider our Lord’s patience for man’s salvation, …
5. NLT: 14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to live a pure and blameless life. And be at peace with God. 15a And remember, the Lord is waiting so that people have time to be saved. …
6. RGH: 14 Hence, dearly beloved ones, in looking forward to these things, be eager to be found in peace by Him, spotless and blameless, 15a and consider the longsuffering of our Lord to be salvation; …
7. What are the things to which we are looking forward? « — the new creation which will result from Christi’s return »
8. What attitude is encouraged here (the same theme is found in 2 Peter 1:5, 10, 15 « — that of being eager, diligent, zealous, earnest »
9. In what direction is this attitude to be directed « — fulfilling of our reconciled situation with God in Christ »
10. What are the marks of practical righteousness? « — cleansed of the evidences of sin (spotless) and its consequences (blameless) »
11. The scoffers look at God’s inaction and treat it as an evidence of His indifference, His unfaithfulness, or His non-existence; what does Peter say it is? « — it is the opportunity afforded by God so that salvation can be realized by men and women »
B. 3:15b–16 — Paul and I Agree
1. AV: 15b … even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
2. NIV: 15b … just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
3. NAS: 15b … just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.
4. J. B. Philips: 15b … as our dear brother Paul pointed out in his letter to you, written out of the wisdom God gave him. This is how be writes in all his letters when be refers to these things. 16 There are some points in his letters which are difficult to understand, and which ill-informed and unbalanced people distort (as they do the other scriptures), and bring disaster on their own heads.
5. NLT: 15b … This is just as our beloved brother Paul wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him — 16 speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters around to mean something quite different from what he meant, just as they do the other parts of Scripture — and the result is disaster for them.
6. RGH: 15b … just as Paul, our dearly beloved brother, according to his gift of wisdom, wrote to you about these things 16 as he speaks in all his epistles, wherein are some hard things to understand; which the unlearned and unsteadfast contort to their own destruction as they do with the rest of the Scriptures.
7. In Romans 2:4, what similar message did Paul present? « — God’s delay in judgement is so man may come to repentance … »
8. It is a good assumption that Galatians had already been written; how did Peter respond to 2:11, 14ff? « — accepted it and read Paul »
9. What do we learn about Paul’s writings « — their early and wide distribution and acceptance as equal with Old Testament »
10. How do the merely curious respond to truth « — see 2 Tim 4:3 »
C. 3:17 — Remain Steadfast
1. AV: Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2. NIV: Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.
3. NAS: You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness,
4. J. B. Philips: But you, my friends whom I love, are forewarned, and should therefore be very careful not to be carried away by the errors of unprincipled men and so lose your proper foothold.
5. NLT: I am warning you ahead of time, dear friends, so that you can watch out and not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people. I don’t want you to lose your own secure footing.
6. RGH: You, therefore, dearly beloved ones, since you are forewarned, guard yourselves lest being swept away with the error of the irreligious you might fall off from your own steadfastness:
7. What is the forewarning that we have? « — that judgement is coming, that everything in this world is transient and fleeting »
8. What are some means given to guard ourselves? « — the next verse gives a summary, but also see (Eph 6:10ff, 2 Thes 3:3, 1 Tim 6:20, 2 Tim 1:12, 14, 1 John 5:21, Jude 1:24) »
9. The word “wicked” (lawless, unprincipled, irreligious) contains not just a legal but a spiritual flavour: it refers to those who are immoral; what are the impetus to immorality? « — the old nature, lust, pride, self-centredness, … »
10. What are some means given to guard ourselves from these? « — the Holy Spirit, the Word, praise, prayer and confession »
11. “Steadfastness” — this word, or its relatives and opposites, is found in 1 Peter 5:10 (”establish”), 2 Peter 1:12 (”established”), 2:14 (”unstable”) and 3:16 (”unstable”); is this to be thought a present or future state, (and in what context)
a. in 1 Peter 5:10? « – future after God’s purposes fulfilled »
b. in 2 Peter 1:12? « — present in the response and acceptance of the truth »
D. 3:18 — How to Stay Steadfast
1. AV: 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. NIV: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever! Amen.
3. NAS: but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
4. J. B. Philips: On the contrary, you should grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ — to him be glory now and until the day of eternity!
5. NLT: But grow in the special favour and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be all glory and honour, both now and forevermore. Amen.
6. RGH: But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and unto the day of the age. So be it.
7. The word grow in the Greek as in the English often has reference to the produce of a farmer; what two harvests are we to seek?
a. grace « — a practical realization of God’s undeserved favour shown to us which is reflected in our daily living? Thankful response to Him by our lives. »
b. knowledge « — (of our Saviour God) this is the day to day walk with Jesus our Lord God, walking in His ways, love and commands; with increased intimacy and fellowship »
8. How will these harvests help in our guarding ourselves from being swept away with the error of the irreligious? « — if the root of the danger is “self” then these change our focus outward and upward. Discuss how this is the case. »
9. In the light of Isaiah 42:8, 48:11, what do you think of Peter’s closing prayer?
Acts 11:19–30 — “Growth of Church at Antioch” — (outline by F. F. Bruce, NICNT) « Leader information shown in this fashion »
{A.} The Birth of the Church (1:1–5:42)
{B.} Persecution and Expansion (6:1–9:31)
{1.} Stephen (6:1–8:1a)
{2.} Philip (8:1b–40)
{3.} Conversion of Saul of Tarsus (9:1–31)
{C.} The Acts of Peter and Beginnings of Gentile Christianity, 9:32-12:25
{1.} Peter in West Judaea (9:32-43)
{2.} The Story of Cornelius (10:1–48)
A. Cornelius the Centurion Sees a Vision (10:1–8)
B. Peter, the Apostle, Sees a Vision (10:9–16)
C. The Two Visions are Connected (10:17–23a)
D. Peter Enters the House of Cornelius (10:23b–33)
E. Gentiles Hear the Good News (10:34–43)
F. Gentiles Receive the Holy Spirit (10:44-48)
{3.} Peter’s Action Endorsed at Jerusalem (11:1–18}
A. Peter Called to Account (11:1–3)
B. Peter’s Defence (11:4–17)
1. Peter Narrates His Vision (11:4–10)
2. Peter Relates Being Summoned to Cornelius (11:11-14)
3. Peter Tells What God Did (11:15–17
C. Peter’s Defence Accepted (11:18)
{4}. Antioch Becomes a Christian Base (11:19–30)
A. Gentile Evangelization in Antioch 11:19–21 (NKJV)
1. 19 Now those who were scattered after the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to no one but the Jews only. 20 But some of them were men from Cyprus and Cyrene, who, when they had come to Antioch, spoke to the Hellenists, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord.
a. Cyrene (modern Shahhat in the Cyrenicia region) was in North Africa (modern Libya); home of one, Simon, Mark 15:21
b. Phoenicia was the coastal region within Syria
c. Antioch (modern Antakya, Turkey) in northern Syria, was founded 300 BC by Seleucus Nicator, first ruler of Seleucids, and named after his father Antiochus
d. “Hellenists” – the context shows that this is to be understood as “Greeks,” a common New Testament term for Gentiles
2. Luke now leaves Peter for a while, and certainly as the principal in the spread of the Gospel, and begins to tie together threads that have already been introduced;
a. Acts 4:36 – Who was the Levite who came from Cyprus? « – Barnabas, so get ready for his entering the picture again! »
b. Acts 6:5 – Which of the Seven was associated with Antioch? « – Nicolas (Nicolaus) a proselyte »
c. Acts 8:4 – To what event does Luke return to head into another direction? « – the spread of the gospel by persecution »
3. At first, this evangelization was to Jews; who took it outside of that nation? « – men of Cyrene and Cyprus who would themselves have been new believers; these were Greek-speaking Jews »
4. By what name did they preach? … it’s significance? « — Lord Jesus; Sovereign and Saviour. F. F. Bruce says that many mystery cults sought a divine lord who could guarantee immortal salvation; the name Christ (Messiah) would be less pertinent that the God become man who died and rose from the dead »
5. What differentiates this history from that of the Ethiopian eunuch and the centurion, Cornelius? « – its scope, not just one individual, nor a family-friend group, but the city at large (this was the third largest city of the Roman empire) »
B. Barnabas’ and Saul’s Ministry in Antioch 11:22–26 (NKJV)
1. 22 Then news of these things came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas to go as far as Antioch. 23 When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord. 24 For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas departed for Tarsus to seek Saul. 26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
2. What parallel happened in Samaria (Acts 8:14)? « – when they received Christ there, the Jerusalem church sent John and Peter; literally, it says that the church “out-apostled” Barnabas; we should probably distinguish “Jesus’ apostles” from the “church apostles,” the latter being missionaries or representatives, as is also to be found in 2 Corinthians 8:23. »
3. Barnabas again lives up to the meaning of his name, which is (Acts 4:36)? « – son of consolation, exhortation or encouragement) »
4. What was his message? « – keep on following the Lord »
5. What are we taught about the qualifications of servanthood? « – they will be recognizable and evidence not of self-righteousness but of the Holy Spirit’s work accompany by reliance upon God »
6. From Antioch to Tarsus was about 200km (125 miles) by land. The word “seek” here is intensive, to search diligently or again and again. That Saul was not at his “home address,” coupled with Philippians 3:8 has led to what conclusion concerning Paul? « – that he had been disinherited by his family (as other Christians) but also note that Paul was already engage in evangelism in Cilicia (see Galatians 1:23, 2:2, 7 et alii). »
7. What was the primary activity engage in the Church of Antioch (compare Ephesians 4:11-12)? « – teaching; saint-building; so how were people converted? … by the witness of believers »
8. The word translated “called” has as it usual meaning, “they conducted their affairs or business” ie., under the name of “Christian” or “Christ-people.” It is moot whether it was invented by unbelievers or believers, but it does suggest self-examination as to what we consider our business in life to be.
C. Famine Relief 11:27–30 (NKJV)
1. 27 And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. 30 This they also did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
2. It is now about 10–15 years after Pentecost (there were repeated famines in Claudius’ rule, starting 41 AD). Prophets were ranked second to apostles (1 Corinthians 12:28). Few, if any, of the New Testament books had yet been written. In this time, the role of prophets was (1 Corinthians 14:3) to … « speak edification, and exhortation and comfort (strengthening) to men. » What role is Ababus (who reappears in Acts 21:10) fulfilling here? « – fortelling the famine involves all these; » how? « – teaching and encouraging the response they should make, strengthen others in the church »
3. What principle of Christian giving is illustrated here (compare with 1 Corinthians 16:2)? How, if at all, is this related to tithing? « – giving in accordance with one’s ability; this is loosely related to tithing in that it is in some sort of relationship with what one has received from God; however, there is not the specific proportion and instances that you find in the Old Testament. However, the Old Testament required giving to the needy without thought of recompense, as see for example, Deuteronomy 15:9 »
4. With the dispersal of first the Seven and then the apostles in their ministries, increasing the responsibilities of the elders who were int he Jerusalem church increased.
• Antioch: a worthy example of church planting
° verses 19–20: how did it start? « – by witness of believers who had been scattered by persecution »
° verses 19–20: whom did it encompass? « – both Jew and Gentile »
° verses 20–21: what marked its spiritual power? « – the witnessing of new believers accompanied by evident hand of the Lord »
° verse 22: what showed its influence? « – news of it reached back as far as Jerusalem from its believers »
° what marked its progress?
… verse 23: « – God’s grace resting upon them (visible) »
… verse 24: « – the large number of converts »
… verse 26: « – the Seminary – Bible School of Paul & Barnabas »
° verses 29–30: what manifest its spiritual growth? « – their uniting together for the support of other believers who were in need »
° Acts 13:1–3: your comments? « – this was a church given to prayer and sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit to missions »
"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint" (Isaiah 40:30, Isaiah 40:31 NIV.
An eagle knows when the storm is approaching long before it breaks. It will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, it is soaring above it. The eagle doesn't escape the storm, it simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rides on the winds that bring the storm.
Isaiah compares people to eagles. He says, in the words of God, that we are blessed with that gift from God that enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm. Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weight us down, it is the way we handle them.
The medical staff at the hospital were puzzled why a patient was not improving. The nurses were giving the proper medication. Yet, there was no improvement. The following day the nurse gave the medication and hid. Thinking the nurse had left, the patient spit it out. Too many Christians act similar when hearing the word of God. They retain it for a short time, then spit it out. As the result, there is no improvement in their Christian life.
A friend once showed an artist a costly handkerchief on which a blot of ink had been made. "Nothing can be done with it now, it is absolutely worthless." The artist made no reply, but carried it away with him. After a time he sent it back, to the great surprise of his friend, who could scarcely recognize it. In a most skillful and artistic way he had made a fine design in India ink, using the blot as a basis, making the handkerchief more valuable than ever. A blotted life is not necessarily a useless life. Jesus can make a life beautiful though it has been marred by sin.
Alexander I of Russia told Mr. Venning that when he began to read the Bible, he understood but little; what little he understood he marked; next time he had to mark more-beauties having escaped his observation at first reading; and by laying aside his own prejudices and reasonings, he had come to love the Bible.
Travelers, who have ascended very high mountains, tell us that they were able to determine their altitude by the productions of nature around them. Fruits and flowers at the base; higher up, those of the temperate variety; and still higher, those of the frigid zones. The fruit you bear will reveal your relation to Christ.
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died (Romans 7:9).
Let us illustrate how it is that sin revises. You have seen a carpenter take a straight-edge, as it is called, to see whether boards are straight. He takes a board, and looks at it, and says, "I guess that is straight"; but when he applies the straight-edge to it, he finds that it is full of bends. He could not see the inequalities till he laid the straight-edge along the board; but then he saw them plainly.
Now, God's word is a straightedge; and if a man lays it on his course of conduct, it shows him that what he thought was right is wrong.
There was once a horse that ran away in the morning and did not return till the evening. When the master upbraided him the horse replied, "But here am I returned safe and sound. You have your horse." "True," answered the master, "but my field is unplowed." If a man turns to God in old age, God has the man, but He has been defrauded of the man's work. And the man himself has been defrauded worst of all.
Peter Writes to Pilgrims — 1 Peter 2:1–3 – Feeding on the Word « Leader information shown in this fashion » « My translation of 1 Peter is to convey the flavour of the Greek rather than for English fluency and literacy. »
A. Review
1. Outline, thus far:
a. 1:1–2 — Peter’s greeting
b. 1:3-5 – Praise and thanksgiving to God for salvation
c. 1:6-9 – The Testing of Faith
d. 1:10-12 – the Prophecy of Salvation
e. 1:13–16 – A Transformed Mind
f. 1:17-21 — the ransom price paid for us …
i. 1:17: An incentive to change our conduct
ii. 1:18–19: Is the price of new life
iii. 1:20–21: Has the purpose of our trusting in God
2. Last week, 1:22-25, three subjects
a. Really cleansed! verse 22: Having cleansed your souls by attentively listening to the truth resulting in brotherly love, without hypocrisy, from the heart you shall love one another intently.
i. In this verse, what is the evidence given that we are truly cleansed, truly saved? « – intense, pure, brotherly love »
ii. What is the test of such love, 1 John 3:17 « – practical acts to those having a need »
b. The Eternal Seed, verse 23: having been regenerated, not of perishable but of imperishable seed, through the living and abiding Word of God.
i. The seed giving rise to the new birth is distinguished by its being I____________ « mperishable » , so that the life it produces is E________________ « ternal or everlasting »
ii. The means by which it is disseminated is « – God’s word »
c. Eternal Word, verses 24–25: 24 For, as it is written, ‘All flesh is as grass and all its glory as the blossom of grass; the grass is dried up and the blossom falls off; 25 But what the Lord says, His word, endures forever.’ And this word is what was preached as gospel unto you.
i. What are some characteristics we learned of the Word? « – it is enduring, heavenly or spiritual, truthful and tells the Gospel of Christ, the message of salvation »
B. The Disrobing 1 Peter 2:1
1. Therefore, laying aside all malice, and all guile and hypocrisies, and bursts of envy, and all slanders
2. Same picture used in Colossians 3:8–9 ‘But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices’ (NAS) and Ephesians 4:22 ‘that, in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit’ (NAS), 31; where the term ‘laying aside’ or ‘putting aside’ has reference to changing one’s clothing, and here it is used spiritually. This figure may have originated with the priest who would put on the holy garments while worshipping and serving, then replacing them with his normal ones (e.g., Lev 6:10-11, Ezek 44:17-19, Zec 3:3-5). How our worship and service to differ from theirs?
a. John 4:23-24 ‘But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshippers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.’ (NAS)? « – it is to be spiritual rather than formal or physical »
b. Romans 14:5–6 ‘One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.’ (NAS)? « –unrelated to dates, times and places
» 3. What does this imply about our spiritual garments? « – we are to be dressed in them in all times and places, not just in when we are in a religious service or a church meeting or program »
4. Let us list the garments to be discarded and compare them to 1 Peter 1:22, Having cleansed yourselves your by attentively listening to the truth unto brotherly love, without hypocrisy, from the pure heart you shall love one another intently
a. M________ « alice; eagerness to hurt another person, vs. love »
b. G__________ « uile or deceit; vs. the listening to the truth »
c. H___________ « ypocrisy; pretending to be what you are not; vs. the ‘unhypocritical’ or unfeigned love; cf Isaiah 29:13) »
d. E_________ « nvying or coveting; vs. love from a pure heart, the love which 1 Corinthians 13:4, 5 says ‘is not jealous … does not seek its own’ (NAS) »
e. S__________ « lander or speaking (running) down someone, attributing evil or darkening their virtue; vs. intense love which ‘does not act unbecomingly’ (1 Cor 13:5)»
5. What do you see in common in all these discards?
a. They have to do with … « our attitude towards others »
b. They affect our … « relationship with others »
C. The Nourishing 1 Peter 2:2–3
1. 2 As babies, just now born, thirst intently for the guileless spiritual milk, so that by it you should be caused to grow up in your salvation 3 since you have tasted that the Lord is good.
2. ‘As newborn babes’
a. 1 Peter 1:3, 14, 23: in what sense is this the case? « – in the new birth which makes us spiritually to be children of God »
b. Luke 18:15-17: what does such a term imply? « – innocence or lack of guile; the ready trust of children in parent and God »
c. How does the context in 1 Peter differ from that in …
i. … Hebrews 5:12 ‘For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.’ (NAS)? « – spiritual immaturity is in view in Hebrews but not here; milk is needed throughout life (compare Isaiah 55:1) »
ii. … 1 Corinthians 3:1–3 ‘And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?’ (NAS)? « – in Corinth there was unspiritual behaviour but not here; here, babes is not a rebuke »
3. ‘Thirst intently’
a. This is a command
i. Is it necessary to command a baby to be hungry? « – No! »
ii. What is the character of a baby’s hunger? « – it is one of its few concerns, is repeated, and only shortly satisfied
» b. What does this say our attitude to God’s word should be? – « an intense and ever recurring desire for it »
4. ‘Guileless, spiritual milk’
a. What part of our life does the word ‘guileless’ suggest that this ‘milk’ will strengthen? « – our avoidance of deceit, our adherence to the truth »
b. Why should this be so? « – because God’s word is true: Psalm 119:160 ‘The sum of Thy word is truth, And every one of Thy righteous ordinances is everlasting.’ (NAS) – from last week »
c. The word ‘spiritual’ (logikos) is the same as that found in Romans 12:1 ‘… which is your spiritual (reasonable) service’; what part of our spiritual life should this ‘milk’ transform? « – our minds (1 Peter 1:13), the way we think »
d. Together, these mean that we should feed on Holy Spirit led logic as opposed to human, philosophic reasoning; the means of salvation, the Word, together with the Agent of salvation, the Holy Spirit, will bring nourishing growth
5. ‘Grow up in your salvation’
a. Read Ephesians 4:13–16: what is the purpose of this feeding upon God’s word? « – that the believer should come to a full spiritual maturity, to follow the example of the Head of the church, so as to become an effective member of the body of Christ which is the church »
b. What aspect of salvation is here in view? « – sanctification, we are being saved by the work of the indwelling Holy Spirit (see 2 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Peter 1:2) »
6. ‘Tasted that the Lord is good’
a. This is a quotation from Psalm 34:8 « (Alex LXX 33:8) » ; why is it so apt in this context? « – it fits in with the thought of food, of a baby being satisfied by its milk »
b. How does this instruct us as to following the command in Psalm 34:8 ‘O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!’ (NAS)? « – we get to know God and how good He is, so that we can trust and take refuge in Him, by the reading and applying of His word, His commands, His promises, His revelation »
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.
Dr. Bonar once said that he could tell when a Christian was growing. In proportion to his growth in grace he would elevate His Master, talk less of what he himself was doing, and become smaller in his own esteem, until, like the morning star, he faded away before the rising sun.
Oh to be saved from myself, dear Lord,
Oh, to be lost in Thee,
Oh, that it may be no more I,
But Christ that lives in me.
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. — 1 Peter 2:2.
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen. — 2 Peter 3:18.
God has made us for growth. Every day (and this is true at sixty as well as at sixteen) this is His word to us. God wants you to be a better person than you were a year ago; He wants to improve you. The Bible causes us to grow as no other book in the world can. Perhaps one day you will be reading in First Peter and you will notice the verse that speaks of a meek and quiet spirit being in the sight of God of great price. You will suddenly see your talkativeness and desire to impress people a very poor thing. You will prayerfully plant a few seeds of quietness and meekness in the garden of your soul. You will grow just a little bit. — Elizabeth Strachan.
Thus on Thy Holy Word,
we’d live and feed and grow;
Go on to know the Lord,
and practice what we know.
“We proclaim him [Jesus Christ], admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect [mature, complete] in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me” (Colossians 1: 28-29, NIV).
The following poem was written by John Newton, who lived quite a colorful life as a slave trader before his conversion to Jesus Christ.
I asked the Lord that I might grow
In faith and love and every grace,
Might more of his salvation know,
And seek more earnestly his face.
‘Twas he who taught me thus to pray,
And he, I trust, has answered prayer,
But it has been in such a way,
As almost drove me to despair,
I thought that in some favored hour,
At once he’d answer my request,
And by his love’s constraining power,
Subdue my soul and give me rest.
Instead of that he made me feel
The hidden evils of my heart,
And bade the angry powers of hell
Assault my soul in every part.
Nay, more that that –
With his own hand he seemed
Intent to aggravate my woe,
Blasted my gourds and laid me low.
Lord, “Why is this?” I trembling cried.
“Wilt thou pursue this worm to death?”
“This is the way,” the Lord replied,
“I answer prayer for grace and faith.”
“These inward trials I employ
From sin and self to set you free,
And take away your earthly joy
That you might find your all in me.”
Suggested prayer: “Dear God, thank you that one of your goals for my life is that I grow in faith, and love and every grace … might more of your salvation know, and seek more earnestly your face. Please help me to do this. Gratefully in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
A WILD BOAR stood under a tree and rubbed his tusks against the
trunk. A Fox passing by asked him why he thus sharpened his tusks
when there was no danger threatening from either huntsman or hound.
He replied, "I do it advisedly; for it would never do to have to
sharpen my weapons just at the time I ought to be using them."
For this reason, Christians should also rub their spiritual tusks
(i.e. praying, Bible reading, going to church, seeking God, etc.) so
that their spiritual armor will be sharpened and ready to use at any
given notice. Indeed, Satan likes to attack Christians when they are
at their weakest.
A HORSE SOLDIER took the utmost pains with his charger. As long as
the war lasted, he looked upon him as his fellow-helper in all
emergencies and fed him carefully with hay and corn. But when the war
was over, he only allowed him chaff to eat and made him carry heavy
loads of wood, subjecting him to much slavish drudgery and
ill-treatment. War was again proclaimed, however, and when the
trumpet summoned him to his standard, the Soldier put on his charger
its military trappings, and mounted, being clad in his heavy coat of
mail. The Horse fell down straightway under the weight, no longer
equal to the burden, and said to his master, "You must now go to the
war on foot, for you have transformed me from a Horse into a Donkey;
and how can you expect that I can again turn in a moment from a Donkey
to a Horse?'
If Christians become lazy in their spiritual discipline (by refusing
to pray, going to church, seeking God, etc.), don't be surprised if
they should become spiritual donkeys during the time of spiritual
battle!
”As scientists look back at all the discoveries made in the 1990’s, the so-called Decade of the Brain, one finding stands out as the most startling and, for many scientists, the most difficult to accept: people are not necessarily born with all the brain cells they will ever have.” These words are a quote from Sandra Blakeslee, from a 1/4/00 preview article of a The New York Times piece entitled “Discovery Yields Shock About the Brain.” [Copyright 2000 The New York Times Company]
Commentary:
Well, shut my mouth! Neither are they born with all of many things they will ever have. Take sin, for example. And we have no idea the precise change that takes place when a sinner is born again. If scientists have difficulty accepting an unexplained increase in brain cells, no wonder so few of them seem to be believers.
“This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.” — John 15:12
In a recent ministry trip God blessed me with especially hospitable and gracious hosts. While they were returning me to the airport, I noticed a small seat pillow sitting in the back seat of their automobile on which were embroidered the words, “All things grow with love.” Noting the loving spirit of my hosts, their eagerness to be a blessing to me and see to my needs, I realized that this proverb was more than incidental. It was their motto and very motivational. The more I thought it over, the more it gripped me. Truly, where love is all things grow.
Everything around us confirms this. To thrive, plants need a gardener’s loving attention and constant care. To be happy and healthy, ani mals need, not just feeding and watering but also petting and praise. To grow and develop properly, babies need, not only milk and cereal but also holding and doting love-talk. To grow old with grace, the elderly need the loving care of their devoted children, or, if they have none, kind caretakers. Why, even inanimate objects grow with love. To restore their stately beauty, old houses need the renovative labors of owners driven by a love for architectural and decorative splendor. All these familiar things grow for one reason: someone lavishes love upon them. And they are not alone. Consider these things that also grow with TLC, or tender love and care.
Things Grown With Love …
Children
To develop as healthy human beings, children need more than the physical necessities of life in this world, such as food, clothing, shelter, health care, and education. They need constant parental training, including intercession, instruction, counsel, and, when necessary, discipline. But even all these efforts may fail to produce desired results if one more vital ingredient is missing passionate parental love. If we don’t love our children with patient, selfless interest, who will? To have a delicious cake, you must put all the ingredients into the mix in proper proportion. If our kids are troubled, perhaps we need to see if we’re mixing in enough love. Are we consistently kind or curt, attentive or distracted, honest or proud? Do we listen, or lecture only? Do we praise their strengths or just criticize their weaknesses? Do we admit it when we fail them, or always blame them for failing us? Are we ready to commit our- selves to willingly serve our children’s eternal welfare daily? Nothing less than this is love.
Friendships
Sometimes we moan and fret because people don’t seem to want to be around us. At times this happens for spiritual reasons; the children of darkness naturally avoid the children of light. But there are other reasons we should consider. Are we being talkative, kind and gracious with other people, or are we withdrawn, silent, and apathetic? To build relationships, we must relate to others warmly: “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly” (Proverbs 18:24). Friendliness builds friendships; coldness creates callousness. If you want others to care for you, care for them first. Reach out to bless them in a timely and practical way. And be understanding and ready to forgive them if they fail to respond. Perhaps they haven’t yet learned the lesson you are just now learning.
Churches
If you want the Lord to add disciples to your local fellowship, consider this: love the people you already have. That is, give yourself to help and bless them in every way you can. Congregants, intercede for one another daily, for your them in every way you can. Congregants intercede for one another daily , for your leaders, your church body, and its outreaches. This will release the Holy Spirit to cultivate greater love, sweeter fellowship, and stronger unity in your ranks. Leaders, commit to becoming extraordinary givers. Pastors and teachers, study and prepare rich loaves of Word-bread for your people so their faith will be nourished and grow. Deacons, prayerfully seek God’s way to solve every problem your congregation faces and pursue it. Elders, teach and counsel patiently even the slowest, most hopeless member of the flock, remembering that even “the least of these my brethren” (Matthew 25:40, 45) are precious to Jesus and that His love through you may yet deliver them. Foster a family spirit. Be accessible, as parents are to their children. Share both spiritual and natural activities: pray and play, intercede and interact, mingle and minister, and work and walk together. Share portions of your food — Bible truths and fellowship meals. Share victories and defeats; rejoice at one another’s successes and comfort those who suffer setbacks. Refuse to hold any unkind attitude toward even the most “thorny” member of your church. Pray for them, and, whenever possible, conquer their offensiveness with non-resistance and kindness, and quickly mend any misunderstandings and rifts they create. If you’re not willing to do this, remember Jesus’ challenge to Peter: “Lovest thou Me?… Feed My sheep” (John 21:15,16, 17). Won’t you walk in love toward them for His sake?
Ministries
Would you like your ministry to grow? Do you want it to yield more blessing to the saints and glory to Christ? Then begin loving it. That is, don’t just be dutiful; be passionate about the thing Jesus has given you to do. Delight in your calling: “I delight to do thy will, 0 my God” (Ps. 40:8, emphasis added). Praise God for giving you your ministry assign- ment, whether it is large or small, noticed or unnoticed. Diligently practice your ministry gift that you may perfect it: “Neglect not the gift that is in thee … give thyself wholly… that thy profiting may appear to [the blessing of] all” (1 Timothy 4:14-15). Don’t be envious, wanting another minister’s work or gift; be enthusiastic, heartily building whatever “tabernacle” God has called you to build. Give yourself to that work daily with abandon: “Give thyself wholly” (v. 15, emphasis added). Lovingly build your house of ministry day by day prayer upon prayer, study upon study, message upon message, mission upon mission, blessing upon blessing — until God’s glory descends upon it and raises and enlarges it to fulfill His predestined plan.
Our Personal Fellowship With Jesus
Sometimes we envy saints who walk very closely with Jesus, yet fail to see the reason they do so. It’s not because Jesus prefers them, nor because their human “stuff” is superior to ours. It’s because they’ve given themselves to Him in love. That is, they’ve consistently chosen Him above all other things and now have only one great desire remaining: to please Him. Knowing that He said, “If you love Me, keep My command- ments” (John 14:15), they prayerfully study His Word daily and meditate upon it. Aware that He loves obedience, they set their hearts to obey His Word and follow His guidance at every opportunity. Aware that He urged us to, “Watch ye… and pray always” (Luke 21:36), they have times of prayer and pray all the time. Conscious of His loving invitation, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28), they seek His face when people and problems drain them. Knowing that He promised, “I will come again” (John 14:3), they earnestly prepare them- selves for His appearing. Mindful that He seeks “true worshippers” (John 4:23), they worship Him privately every day; as cooing turtledoves, they softly thank Him, bless His name, and sing unto Him, and tell Him often that they love Him. So, by love, their personal fellowship with Him grows.
[Editorial addition]
The other side of this spiritual axiom is equally true: without love all things wither and die. Where there is no affectionate care, the divisive, diminishing, destructive force of callousness takes a heavy toll. Children become confused, angry, and frustrated — troubled adults in the making. Friendships cool, fade and cease. Churches become carnal, fragmented, and Spiritless, and cease radiating light and life to their communities. Ministries become weak and ineffective. Ministers become mere religious professionals, rather than passionate prophets. And our personal relationships with Jesus become meaning less — distant, dormant, past religious experiences rather than currently active wells of living water springing up with new life day by day.
Perhaps this is why the Bible emphasizes walking in love so heavily. The apostle Paul pleaded with the Ephesians to put away all bitterness, wrath, and malice and “be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another … and walk in love” (Ephesians 4:31-5:2, emphasis added). He taught the Colossians that “love … is the bond of perfectness” (Colossians 3:14), or the spiritual bonding agent without which perfect unity cannot exist. And He declared that love was the greatest” Christian virtue (I Corinthians 13:13) and that even if we have all knowledge, gifts, faith, and power, but lack a loving spirit, we are “noth ing” (vv. 1-3). The apostle John strongly agreed. He wrote, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God” (1 John 4:7); and again, “If we love one anoth- er, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected [fully developed, matured] in us” (v. 12). Most significantly, Jesus’ greatest commandment to Christians was that we lovingly care for each another: “This is My [personal and distinctive] commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12). These statements prove that Jesus and His apostles recognized that all things grow with love, and that without it neither individual Christians, churches, nor ministries can grow and mature.
Thus they set the ways of life and death before us. Whatever we love will live and grow. Whatever we refuse to love will wither and die. So, my friend, grow something! Love it.
“This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.” — John 15:12
In a recent ministry trip God blessed me with especially hospitable and gracious hosts. While they were returning me to the airport, I noticed a small seat pillow sitting in the back seat of their automobile on which were embroidered the words, “All things grow with love.” Noting the loving spirit of my hosts, their eagerness to be a blessing to me and see to my needs, I realized that this proverb was more than incidental. It was their motto and very motivational. The more I thought it over, the more it gripped me. Truly, where love is all things grow.
Everything around us confirms this. To thrive, plants need a gardener’s loving attention and constant care. To be happy and healthy, ani mals need, not just feeding and watering but also petting and praise. To grow and develop properly, babies need, not only milk and cereal but also holding and doting love-talk. To grow old with grace, the elderly need the loving care of their devoted children, or, if they have none, kind caretakers. Why, even inanimate objects grow with love. To restore their stately beauty, old houses need the renovative labors of owners driven by a love for architectural and decorative splendor. All these familiar things grow for one reason: someone lavishes love upon them. And they are not alone. Consider these things that also grow with TLC, or tender love and care.
Things Grown With Love …
Children
To develop as healthy human beings, children need more than the physical necessities of life in this world, such as food, clothing, shelter, health care, and education. They need constant parental training, including intercession, instruction, counsel, and, when necessary, discipline. But even all these efforts may fail to produce desired results if one more vital ingredient is missing passionate parental love. If we don’t love our children with patient, selfless interest, who will? To have a delicious cake, you must put all the ingredients into the mix in proper proportion. If our kids are troubled, perhaps we need to see if we’re mixing in enough love. Are we consistently kind or curt, attentive or distracted, honest or proud? Do we listen, or lecture only? Do we praise their strengths or just criticize their weaknesses? Do we admit it when we fail them, or always blame them for failing us? Are we ready to commit our- selves to willingly serve our children’s eternal welfare daily? Nothing less than this is love.
Friendships
Sometimes we moan and fret because people don’t seem to want to be around us. At times this happens for spiritual reasons; the children of darkness naturally avoid the children of light. But there are other reasons we should consider. Are we being talkative, kind and gracious with other people, or are we withdrawn, silent, and apathetic? To build relationships, we must relate to others warmly: “A man that hath friends must show himself friendly” (Proverbs 18:24). Friendliness builds friendships; coldness creates callousness. If you want others to care for you, care for them first. Reach out to bless them in a timely and practical way. And be understanding and ready to forgive them if they fail to respond. Perhaps they haven’t yet learned the lesson you are just now learning.
Churches
If you want the Lord to add disciples to your local fellowship, consider this: love the people you already have. That is, give yourself to help and bless them in every way you can. Congregants, intercede for one another daily, for your them in every way you can. Congregants intercede for one another daily , for your leaders, your church body, and its outreaches. This will release the Holy Spirit to cultivate greater love, sweeter fellowship, and stronger unity in your ranks. Leaders, commit to becoming extraordinary givers. Pastors and teachers, study and prepare rich loaves of Word-bread for your people so their faith will be nourished and grow. Deacons, prayerfully seek God’s way to solve every problem your congregation faces and pursue it. Elders, teach and counsel patiently even the slowest, most hopeless member of the flock, remembering that even “the least of these my brethren” (Matthew 25:40, 45) are precious to Jesus and that His love through you may yet deliver them. Foster a family spirit. Be accessible, as parents are to their children. Share both spiritual and natural activities: pray and play, intercede and interact, mingle and minister, and work and walk together. Share portions of your food — Bible truths and fellowship meals. Share victories and defeats; rejoice at one another’s successes and comfort those who suffer setbacks. Refuse to hold any unkind attitude toward even the most “thorny” member of your church. Pray for them, and, whenever possible, conquer their offensiveness with non-resistance and kindness, and quickly mend any misunderstandings and rifts they create. If you’re not willing to do this, remember Jesus’ challenge to Peter: “Lovest thou Me?… Feed My sheep” (John 21:15,16, 17). Won’t you walk in love toward them for His sake?
Ministries
Would you like your ministry to grow? Do you want it to yield more blessing to the saints and glory to Christ? Then begin loving it. That is, don’t just be dutiful; be passionate about the thing Jesus has given you to do. Delight in your calling: “I delight to do thy will, 0 my God” (Ps. 40:8, emphasis added). Praise God for giving you your ministry assign- ment, whether it is large or small, noticed or unnoticed. Diligently practice your ministry gift that you may perfect it: “Neglect not the gift that is in thee … give thyself wholly… that thy profiting may appear to [the blessing of] all” (1 Timothy 4:14-15). Don’t be envious, wanting another minister’s work or gift; be enthusiastic, heartily building whatever “tabernacle” God has called you to build. Give yourself to that work daily with abandon: “Give thyself wholly” (v. 15, emphasis added). Lovingly build your house of ministry day by day prayer upon prayer, study upon study, message upon message, mission upon mission, blessing upon blessing — until God’s glory descends upon it and raises and enlarges it to fulfill His predestined plan.
Our Personal Fellowship With Jesus
Sometimes we envy saints who walk very closely with Jesus, yet fail to see the reason they do so. It’s not because Jesus prefers them, nor because their human “stuff” is superior to ours. It’s because they’ve given themselves to Him in love. That is, they’ve consistently chosen Him above all other things and now have only one great desire remaining: to please Him. Knowing that He said, “If you love Me, keep My command- ments” (John 14:15), they prayerfully study His Word daily and meditate upon it. Aware that He loves obedience, they set their hearts to obey His Word and follow His guidance at every opportunity. Aware that He urged us to, “Watch ye… and pray always” (Luke 21:36), they have times of prayer and pray all the time. Conscious of His loving invitation, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28), they seek His face when people and problems drain them. Knowing that He promised, “I will come again” (John 14:3), they earnestly prepare them- selves for His appearing. Mindful that He seeks “true worshippers” (John 4:23), they worship Him privately every day; as cooing turtledoves, they softly thank Him, bless His name, and sing unto Him, and tell Him often that they love Him. So, by love, their personal fellowship with Him grows.
[Editorial addition]
The other side of this spiritual axiom is equally true: without love all things wither and die. Where there is no affectionate care, the divisive, diminishing, destructive force of callousness takes a heavy toll. Children become confused, angry, and frustrated — troubled adults in the making. Friendships cool, fade and cease. Churches become carnal, fragmented, and Spiritless, and cease radiating light and life to their communities. Ministries become weak and ineffective. Ministers become mere religious professionals, rather than passionate prophets. And our personal relationships with Jesus become meaning less — distant, dormant, past religious experiences rather than currently active wells of living water springing up with new life day by day.
Perhaps this is why the Bible emphasizes walking in love so heavily. The apostle Paul pleaded with the Ephesians to put away all bitterness, wrath, and malice and “be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another … and walk in love” (Ephesians 4:31-5:2, emphasis added). He taught the Colossians that “love … is the bond of perfectness” (Colossians 3:14), or the spiritual bonding agent without which perfect unity cannot exist. And He declared that love was the greatest” Christian virtue (I Corinthians 13:13) and that even if we have all knowledge, gifts, faith, and power, but lack a loving spirit, we are “noth ing” (vv. 1-3). The apostle John strongly agreed. He wrote, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God” (1 John 4:7); and again, “If we love one anoth- er, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected [fully developed, matured] in us” (v. 12). Most significantly, Jesus’ greatest commandment to Christians was that we lovingly care for each another: “This is My [personal and distinctive] commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you” (John 15:12). These statements prove that Jesus and His apostles recognized that all things grow with love, and that without it neither individual Christians, churches, nor ministries can grow and mature.
Thus they set the ways of life and death before us. Whatever we love will live and grow. Whatever we refuse to love will wither and die. So, my friend, grow something! Love it.
The Making of a Soldier
I did not expect to go to West Point. As a third alternate appointee in 1943, there were three other applicants ahead of me-- a principal appointee and two alternates-- and the principal had already qualified and been accepted. Furthermore, I had failed the physical exam on three separate counts: a heart murmur, red-green color blindness, and I had had the cartilage removed from my left knee. In any event, time had run out; the last day was over. Clearly, there was no possibility remaining. But at 10 o'clock on the night before the new class was to report in, I received a telephone call saying that the principal had broken his arm that morning, that the other two alternates had both failed the academic exams, and that if I could get to West Point by Noon the next day, they would give me a waiver on my physical. Isn't that an amazing miracle?
Due to the war, the four-year curriculum was accelerated to three years, but not at all abbreviated, which meant that, although I lived only one and a half hours away, I never got home once until after my plebe year, and then for a total of only five short visits before I graduated in 1946. It was tough and demanding, both academically and physically, and of the more than 1200 select cadets who entered with me, making our class by far the largest up to that time, only 875-- fewer than three out of every four-- graduated three years later. Incredible as it sounds to me, that was 55 years ago, making me the oldest graduate to be going on this wonderful trip to China; and the question that Wayne Richardson '83, the youngest among us, has asked me to address is: "During that time, what has West Point meant in your life? What difference has it made?" The answer to that is three-fold.
Because of West Point, during the course of my life I have come to know that, regardless of the circumstances, there is nothing that is impossible. Whatever might be my desire, my dream, my desperate need, it may or may not be granted, but anything is possible. Just my being at West Point was adequate proof of that, and there were a good many other times as a cadet that I was pushed beyond what I thought were my limits, and was required to do what to me seemed utterly impossible. I have come to know that in life, as in battle, the willingness to dive in and tackle the impossible, and the ability to hope in the face of hopelessness, often spell the difference between victory and defeat, between success and failure, between life and deadness.
Because of West Point, I also have come to know that, more than any other single quality, the real measure of a man lies in his integrity and honesty-- that is, in his honor. For if a man is not honorable; if he is not true to his word and true to himself; and if he cannot be trusted to stand for what is right and good and honest, against all that is wrong and evil and false, even at the cost of his life; then he is a liar, and a coward, and a hypocrite. He lacks character and is of little worth.
Finally, and most importantly, because of West Point, during the course of my life I have come to know that, in and of myself, I am not strong enough to undertake the impossible with abandonment and trust, and without fear, and so to win the day against impossible odds. I have come to know that, in and of myself, I am not strong enough, or brave enough, or unselfish enough, to stand against the onslaught of the enemy for what is right, at the cost of denigration, pain, and even of my very life. But I also have come to know Someone who is strong enough; who is omnipotent, ever-present, and ever true; and who alone deserves all honor; and with Him by my side, I am able to stand without fear.
Contributed by Stephen Elmer
(buzz@c4.net)
Sir Edmund Hillary is famous for being the first man to climb Mount Everest. But what you may not know is that his first attempt to do so was a terrible disaster. Two men in his party perished on the attempt and in fact, Sir Edmund only barely got down the mountain alive. Upon returning to England following the disastrous try, Hillary was asked to speak before the Royal Society in London. As he walked on stage, there behind him was placed a huge picture of the mountain. As he approached center stage, Hillary turned his back on the audience and faced Mount Everest directly. In a voice, steady and strong he said, “Mount Everest, I'm coming back and I'm going to conquer you because you can't get any bigger but I can.”
The New Testament is very clear that God's will for every believer is spiritual maturity. He wants us to grow up. The apostle Paul says, "We are not meant to remain as children ... but to grow up in every way into Christ the head" (Ephesians 4:14, Phillips). The goal of spiritual growth is to become like Jesus. This has been God's plan for us since the beginning. He created us to be like his Son.
The big question, then, is how. How does spiritual growth happen? How do we become mature in Christ? Churches are filled with people who have attended for decades but show little development in discipleship. What's the problem?
One of the biggest barriers to growth is the misconception that all you need is Bible study to grow. Many of our churches have been built on this myth. I call them "classroom churches." Classroom churches tend to be left-brain oriented and cognitive-focused. They stress the teaching of Bible content and doctrine but they give little, if any, emphasis to believers' emotional, experiential and relational development.
The truth is that it takes a variety of experiences with God to produce true spiritual maturity. In addition to Bible study, it takes worship experiences, ministry experiences, fellowship experiences and evangelism experiences. In other words, spiritual growth occurs by participating in all five purposes of the church. Mature Christians do more than study the Christian life -- they experience it.
Genuine spiritual maturity includes having a heart that worships and praises God, building and enjoying loving relationships, using your gifts and talents in service to others, and sharing your faith with lost people. Any strategy to move people to maturity must include experiencing all of God's five purposes for us: worship, fellowship, discipleship, service and evangelism.
To Christians who fool themselves by thinking all they need to do to grow is attend Bible studies, James warns, "Do not deceive yourselves by just listening to his word; instead put it into practice!" (James 1:22 TEV).
What people need is a practical program for putting truth into practice! The respected Bible teacher Gene Getz says, "Bible study by itself will not produce spirituality. In fact, it will produce carnality if it isn't applied and practiced." Bible knowledge without ministry and missions tends to produce Christians with judgmental attitudes and spiritual pride.
If Christianity was simply a philosophy, then our primary activity might be studying. But Christianity is a relationship (John 14:20-21) and it is a life (John 10:10). Jesus didn't say, "I have come that you might study." The words that are used most often to describe the Christian life are love, give and serve. Yet the schedule of most churches indicates they believe the sole duty of a Christian is to study!
Honestly, the last thing some believers need is another Bible study to attend. They already know far more than they're putting into practice. What they need are ministry and evangelism experiences where they can apply what they already know, relational experiences (like a small group) where they can be held accountable for what they know, and meaningful worship experiences where they can express appreciation to God for what they know!
The Dead Sea is dead because it takes in water but doesn't give any out. When any Christian's schedule consists completely of receiving biblical input but has no planned outflow of ministry or evangelism, his spiritual growth will be limited. Study without service leads to stagnation.
Of course, we must "continue in the Word" to be Christ's disciples. All I'm saying is that it is a mistake to assume that study alone will produce maturity. It won't. It is only one component of the maturity process. People need experiences, in addition to study, in order to grow. That is why you need a balanced strategy for developing disciples.
At Saddleback Valley Community Church, we have seen amazing results by using a balanced strategy that involves people in worship, fellowship, discipleship, service and evangelism at the same time. In the fall of 1999, we designed a six-week balanced spiritual growth emphasis called "40 Days of Purpose," and the results were breathtaking: In just 40 days, 564 people accepted Christ, 1,065 new believers were baptized, 1,628 new members joined our church, 2,701 more signed up to be involved in a lay ministry, and 5,465 were trained in personal evangelism and world missions!
This spiritual growth emphasis was so effective that we did another one the next fall, in 2000, using the same pattern. The results were again incredible. We moved more than 2,000 people into new small groups in a single week and, without any formal emphasis on giving, more than $10,000,000 was committed for a children's building.
A HARE one day ridiculed the short feet and slow pace of the
Tortoise, who replied, laughing: "Though you be swift as the wind, I
will beat you in a race." The Hare, believing her assertion to be
simply impossible, assented to the proposal; and they agreed that the
Fox should choose the course and fix the goal. On the day appointed
for the race the two started together. The Tortoise never for a
moment stopped, but went on with a slow but steady pace straight to
the end of the course. The Hare, lying down by the wayside, fell fast
asleep. At last waking up, and moving as fast as he could, he saw the
Tortoise had reached the goal, and was comfortably dozing after her
fatigue.
Better to grow steadily in the faith than to become spiritually
self-reliant, self-confident, and arrogant. Slow but steady wins the
race.
A HORSE SOLDIER took the utmost pains with his charger. As long as
the war lasted, he looked upon him as his fellow-helper in all
emergencies and fed him carefully with hay and corn. But when the war
was over, he only allowed him chaff to eat and made him carry heavy
loads of wood, subjecting him to much slavish drudgery and
ill-treatment. War was again proclaimed, however, and when the
trumpet summoned him to his standard, the Soldier put on his charger
its military trappings, and mounted, being clad in his heavy coat of
mail. The Horse fell down straightway under the weight, no longer
equal to the burden, and said to his master, "You must now go to the
war on foot, for you have transformed me from a Horse into a Donkey;
and how can you expect that I can again turn in a moment from a Donkey
to a Horse?'
If Christians become lazy in their spiritual discipline (by refusing
to pray, going to church, seeking God, etc.), don't be surprised if
they should become spiritual donkeys during the time of spiritual
battle!
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