GROWING IN CHRIST
Spiritual Indicators
It is my hope that we have established the importance of growing in Christ. As we introduced this series we noted the importance of spiritual growth and how that growth results in a closer relationship with Christ. Last week we noted the importance of a proper attitude – specifically the heart and the need to care and love. But how can we now if we are growing as we ought to? The best way to determine if we are what we ought to be is to look at what we are doing. There is a saying that rings so true in life, “We do what we want to do.” It is our actions that determine the true degree to which we care about something. That is why a proper attitude is so important in growth. Your doctor can tell you what to do to improve your health all day long, but if you don’t care and are not willing to make the necessary sacrifices chances are you are not going to change.
Christians are told to examine ourselves (2 Cor. 13:5). We need to look at our lives and see if it is in harmony with God’s word. We need to have some way to determine if we are really growing as we ought to. So today I want to notice some things we can examine about our lives that can help us determine if we are growing in Him. I call these “spiritual indicators”. An indicator is something that gives you an idea of where you are or where you need to go. We of course are speaking of things that give us a pulse of where we are spiritually. These are things that we can look at that as a rule give a pretty good indication of the priority Jesus is within our lives.
I. What is Your Attitude Toward His Will?
a. While this deals with attitude (last week), we are considering it in a different direction. Are we willing to do whatever the Lord tells us to do?
b.
Matthew 28:19-20 - Jesus instructed His apostles to
go and make disciples of all nations. He mentioned two things they needed to do
– 1) baptize them [a reference to the plan of salvation] and 2) “teaching them
to observe all things I have commanded you.”
This does not mean that we have to be perfect or well on our way to become a
disciple. This is dealing with a disposition – we will do whatever we are
commanded to do. As you study, are you willing to “observe all things
commanded”?
c. Far too many today try are willing to obey God when it goes along with what they want to do or when it is convenient. When they don’t like the instructions, they try to explain them away. To illustrate this: The story is told of a farmer who gave his son specific instructions concerning a number of tasks to be taken care of while he was away. When he came back he found most of what he had said done as specified, but there was a well that was in a different place. The father asks, “Why did you not obey me?” The son answered I did obey you? He then explained how he thought the well was better where he placed it. His father’s response was, “You did NOT obey me. The only reasons you did the other things I told you was because you agreed with me. If you didn’t like them you would have changed them also.” His son did NOT obey him.
d.
The only obedience God will accept is complete
obedience at all times.
It is the attitude we find in Paul on the road to Damascus – “Lord, what do you
want me to do?” (Acts 9:6)
e. Are you willing to obey the commands of the Lord at all times and completely? You honest answer is a pretty good spiritual indicator of how you are growing in Him.
II. How Well Do You Know God’s Word?
a. Knowledge is the key to growth in anything. Why is experience rewarded in the business world? Because you have learned and know what you are doing. Knowledge helps with raising a family, advancing in your education, and even your physical growth is dependent on increased knowledge in how to take care of yourself, etc.
b. This is equally true spiritually. And a good way to determine if you are growing in Christ is through the knowledge you have achieved.
c.
Paul rebuked his Hebrew audience because they had
not grown in knowledge as they ought to (Heb. 5:12-14.
Jesus rebuked His disciples because they did not “get it” as He taught them –
Matthew 15:16-17.
d. The remarkable thing about God’s word is that your studies are never exhausted. God created this book so that the first time you read it you can understand what He wants you to do and you can get the basic accounts of events. The next time you read it, it all starts coming together. And the more you read it and study it, the better you understand its details and the more skilled you become with it.
e. In time, as you mature in the faith you will be able to take “the meat of the word of God” and digest it and be strengthened by it. What is the meat of the word?
i. You will be able “to give a defense to everyone who asks” -1 Peter 3:15
ii. You will be able to “rightly divide the word of truth” – 2 Timothy 2:15
iii. You can take a current issue that is not specifically mentioned in scripture and by applying principles that are taught you can reach a conclusion
iv. You can answer the gainsayer – Titus 1:9
f. The question is - how is your knowledge now? Have you grown in your understanding of His word? How much have your grown?
III. How Often Do You Pray?
a.
As you study the main Biblical characters you will
find a recurring theme in their communication with God. Simply stated, they
prayed! Daniel prayed. David prayed. Paul prayed. Abraham prayed. Etc.
AND Jesus prayed – as you study the scriptures you find Jesus continually
praying – in the morning, evening, before important decisions, after a busy day,
and sometimes all night.
Luke 11:1 finds His disciples requesting His help in learning how to pray
(properly). He gave them what is often referred to as the Lord’s prayer.
Here is an interesting observation about Jesus – He was God and He knew it.
Even at the age of 12 He knew who He was (Luke 2:49). Yet even Jesus saw the
importance of prayer – spending time alone with His heavenly Father. NOW if
Jesus saw prayer as important what does that say about we who are mere mortals?
b. We cannot grow close to God if we don’t pray. And we will not adequately mature if prayer is not a part of our daily lives. A preacher once said, “Seven days without prayer makes one weak.” That is so true.
c.
We are expected to pray without ceasing – 1
Thessalonians 5:17. This does not mean that we are to be praying 24/7. It is
saying prayer is a regular part of our lives. What Paul is saying is ,
Don’t abandon prayer in your life.
This accords with a number of other passages such as Luke 18:1 where Jesus
taught men “always ought to pray and not lose heart”, Ephesians 6:18 – praying
always; Romans 12:12 – continuing steadfastly in prayer; Colossians 4:2 and 1
Peter 4:7 among others.
d. It is no secret that those we are closest to are the ones we communicate with the most. Is this true with God? How is your prayer life? Do you speak with God on a daily basis? How much time do you give Him?
IV. How Is Your Attendance?
a. The importance of the church is stressed in the New Testament. Recall that most of Paul’s epistles were written to churches instructing them. It is clear that the church needs to be an important part of our lives. We will deal more with this in another lesson.
b. Attendance when the church comes together is a good indication of two things – 1) How important the church is to YOU and 2)How important worshipping God as the church is to YOU.
c.
Let it be clearly understood, we are expected to
worship God as the church:
1) Ephesians 5:19 (singing) describes a command that can only be fulfilled when
we come together.
2) 1 Corinthians 11:17-33 (the Lord’s Supper) can only be fulfilled when we come
together as the church.
3) Praying, preaching and teaching are done as the church – 1 Corinthians 14:15,
Acts 20:7, etc.
d. How seriously do we take this command? Hebrews 10:24-25 literally says we are to exhort one another and to NOT abandon one another in assembling together.
e.
The degree to which you assemble is a pretty good
indicator of how you are growing in Him. Is your attitude, “Do I have to go to
church?” or is it “I am looking forward to assembling to worship God today”?
Like David who said, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house
of the Lord.’” (Psalm 122:1).
Let it be understood that this one of the few external indicators through which
others can see your commitment. It is also one of the easiest “indicators” to
disguise – you can attend for the wrong reasons and with the wrong attitude.
BUT deep down you KNOW what your desires are in this area – and this is where
your spiritual growth is determined.
V. How Much Do You Give?
a.
1 Corinthians 16:1-2 commands that on the first day
of the week (when we come together) we are to “lay something aside” –
authorization for a treasury in the church. It is something each and every one
of us is to do. The amount we are to give is another question.
2 Corinthians 8-9 elaborated upon the attitude that is expected as we give – as
we have purposed (indicating planned giving) and “not grudgingly or of
necessity, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Cor. 9:6-7).
When we consider that this collection is the ONLY authorized means of obtaining
the resources we need to do the Lord’s work it stresses the seriousness and
importance of our willingness to do this.
To the degree that we are willing or unwilling to give, determines the degree to
which the church can work.
b.
Unlike the Old Law where 10% was specifically
outlined (actually it was much more when consider everything), we are not given
a specific amount or percentage. Instead we are to give “as we have prospered”
which for some means much more than the suggested 10%, while for others it may
be much less.
Add to this there are many good works we can and should be doing and giving
above and beyond what we give to the Lord’s church (partly because the church is
not to be engaged in these activities) which God carefully takes note of.
c.
But here’s a fact, the amount we are willing to
give is a pretty good indication of the priority God is in our lives. Why?
Because we have a tendency to support those things we care for the most. Many
don’t give as they ought to because God is just not that important to them.
BUT, like attendance, this is an area that is open for abuse – some give to be
seen of men and others give expecting special privileges (like controlling
interest in the church). Whether or not you are giving as you ought to is
something you have to honestly answer – and again – this is where it becomes a
spiritual indicator. Are you giving God more now than when you first began?
These are some “spiritual indicators” of spiritual growth. As you look at your life, do you see improvement in these areas? Have they developed to the degree they ought to develop? If you find that you have not grown in these areas, please repent and resolve that from this day forward you are going to grow as you ought to.
Our relationship with God and Christ is in a very real way an investment. It is an investment in our eternity. The more we put into it, the more we will receive in return? How is your growth?