ATTITUDES FOR GODLY DEVELOPMENT: “A DESIRE TO GROW”

• Aside from growing physically and intellectually, as believers in Christ, we can also grow .
• Ephesians 2:1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.
• Ephesians 2:4-5a 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life…
• John 3:5-7 5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’
• Through faith in Christ, we are born again spiritually and become spiritually .
• And just like anything newly born, believers also begin a growth process as spiritual babies towards spiritual .
• The overall goal is to grow in holiness and become more like .
• We can grow , through two indispensable spiritual disciplines: God’s Word & Prayer (Acts 2:42).

“It takes both the Word of God and prayer to make balanced Christians and to build a balanced church. This approach may not be popular, but it’s Biblical–and it works.” Warren Wiersbe

• John 7:37 “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.”
• Growing stronger in spiritual maturity means growing in the knowledge of God in Christ and in our relationship with Him.
• Colossians 2:6-7 6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. 7 Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

“The better we understand God’s Word, the better we’re able to pray; the more we pray, the more the Holy Spirit can teach us from the Word and help us obey it.” Warren Wiersbe

“Over a span of eight years, the Center for Bible Engagement (CBE) surveyed more than 100,000 people from around the world about their spiritual lives and consistently found that engaging the Bible four or more days a week has a profound impact on an individual’s life. In fact, for Christ-followers, regularly hearing from God through His Word is the single most powerful predictor of spiritual growth.” Our Daily Bread

• When we are in God’s presence through His Word and prayer, our spiritual growth is inevitable.

• God’s Word is alive and powerful (Hebrews 4:12, 2 Tim. 3:15-17).

When we read the Bible, we’re not just learning facts in a book; we’re getting to know Christ Himself. John MacArthur

An appetite is developed for the Word of God the more you feed on it. H.B. Charles

• 1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment.
• Psalm 63:1a O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you.

“The word ‘early’ has not only the sense of early in the morning, but that of eagerness, immediateness. He who truly longs for God longs for him now.” C.H. Spurgeon

• Psalm 1:1b My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.
• David sees God as a in his life.

A weary place and a weary heart make the presence of God more desirable. Charles H. Spurgeon

• Psalm 63:2-6 2 I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. 3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! 4 I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. 5 You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy. 6I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.

“Our misery is that we thirst so little for these sublime things, and so much for the mocking trifles of time and sense.” Charles H. Spurgeon

• Psalm 119:97 Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long.
• Psalm 119:103 How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.
• Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.
• 1 Chronicles 13:1-4 describes David’s desire to bring back the Ark of the Covenant, which represented God’s presence.
• 1 Chronicles 28:9-10 (Love NLT) 9 “And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the Lord sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 10 So take this seriously.

• Each person must also make practical to pursue God.
• John 15:4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
• Growing in Spiritual maturity requires that we have the right in place.
• We should do whatever it takes to our (intimacy with God) time in His Word and in prayer so we can grow in our knowledge of God.
• James 4:8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

Advice & call to action:

• • Make the Word and prayer a practice.
  • Find a place away from distractions.
  • Created a space to meet with God.
  • It’s not easy to make time to meet with God, but when we do, people will notice.
  • Our intimacy with God will be obvious and impactful to those near us.
  • Do you have the desire to grow?
  • Are you growing?
  • Never be satisfied
  • Never think you know it all.
  • Never think you have arrived; always keep growing, always keep searching, always keep moving forward.
  • Never think God loves you less
  • We don’t all have the same capacities to grow, but whatever capacity we do have, we should use it to the fullest.
  • Read books that will help your spiritual growth.
  • Attend church regularly.
  • Join a Community or Life Group
  • Be intentional: Be in God’s Word and pray

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty of my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You alone as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I desire to be Your child. I desire to live as Your child. In Your name. Amen.

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