Are You Growing?

Bro Vive Supramaniam

We are coming to the end of the year. 30 days more to go to finish the year. How many of you made new year resolutions? Only 2 person made new year resolutions. I made resolutions too. I made my 2012 and moved it to 2013. 

The year is coming to an end you will be planning your 2014 resolution. So I hope you make something good. 

The picture I show you now is the American bald eagle's egg. That's the size. When the eagle lays it's egg, it goes through a process. I remember when I was in school the question they ask is whether buaya beranak or bertelur. I thought buaya so big must be beranak. When I told my grandma, I got a smack. I'll never forget that so now I know buaya bertelur. 

The eagle's egg takes more than 30 days to incubate. The eaglet will use its beak to poke through the shell without assistance from the mama or papa. The eaglet will then grow in the nest. 

The eagle builds it's nests with sharp twigs and stones. Then it uses feathers to soften the nest. They will feed the eaglets until it is ready for them to leave the nest. But being so comfortable they are reluctant to leave the nest. 

That's when the papa and mama eagle remove the soft cushion and stop feeding them. That's when they are ready to leave the nest and even so they keep an eye on their eaglets.  

The eagle's had the potential in the egg to become a mighty bird. One of the most majestic bird. But if the eaglet choose not to come out of the egg, the egg would become rotten and it would have missed its potential. 

It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.  - C.S. Lewis. 

In human life there is a process of growing up. We are a toddler first, then a teenager and then become an adult. We go through a process. When we talk about growth we look at IQ and EQ. Our Intelligent Quotient and our Emotional Quotient. 

But what about spiritual growth? We have SQ. Not Singapore airline. Our Spiritual Quotient. Have you grown in the Lord since the beginning of this year? We want to grow in our career, our knowledge, our experience but what about our growth spiritually? 

My title today is "Are you growing?"  Let's look at the book of Hebrews. Hebrews is the only brand of coffee for Christians (laughs). 

Hebrews 5:11-14

11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

In our context today we call the writer the Hebrew writer as the style of writing is unlike Paul. 

What is the Hebrew writer talking about growing up? Mark the word spiritually dull or some translations spiritually slow. He was addressing seasoned Christians, not new Christians. Then he said they are like babies. Need to be taught again. He said they are like babies. He didn't say they are babies. And that they did not know what is right where else those who are mature knows between what is right and wrong. 

We have a lot of babies in church. Can you associate yourself? We still need pastor to can he your diapers. Are we growing up in the Lord. 

The day we are born again we are supposed to grow in the Lord. We are not supposed to stay as babies. Not supposed to be at the elementary level. Do you know when we grow the church also grow? Because the congregation involves all of us. 

I want to read to you a statistics that came out of this book that Rev Jeremiah recommended. It stated that there are many failing church attendance and they are changing churches into mosque. That's 2012 figures. 

When Christians fail to grow the church will also not grow. This same problem that happened in Europe happens in America and it may happen to us here. When we choose not to grow in the things of God. 

The issue the Hebrew writer is addressing shows a frustration when he addressed this. He pulled his handbrake on the theological teaching on the high priest of Jesus to state this and it's relevant today. We are in the same state of comfort. 

To understand about the high priest of Jesus is not a complicated doctrine for the Jews. It's not about mental capacity as the Jews are smart people. The word are actually "you have become". It's a process of change. You have chose to become. It's a choice. That's what the Hebrew writer was saying. 

The word dull or slow come from the Greek word "Nothros", that means "hard to push". Everything cannot. The Hebrew Christians have become spiritually dull, spiritually slow, hard to push, contented or happy at status quo. Remember he is addressing Christians. You have become hard to push. You have become spiritually dull. 

Spiritual growth is a matter a choice. Even accepting Jesus is a choice. Nobody put a gun to your head. Christian growth is also a spiritual choice. The Jewish Christians have hardened their heart in growing spiritually. 

God provided the school and the helper, the Holy Spirit but we decide whether or not to learn. It's a matter of choice. Whether we want to come to church early. It's a matter of choice. How we spend our money is a matter of choice. 

God has given us the privilege to choose. I pray you will choose to grow spiritually. 

Ephesians 4:13

until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:15

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

2 Peter 3:18

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Colossians 2:6-7

6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

If you stop and ask yourself why you are not so devoted as the early Christians, your own heart will tell you that it is neither through ignorance nor inability, but purely because you never thoroughly intended it - William Law

Spiritual is a process like how physical growth is.  

Hebrews 5:12

In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers,...

It involves time

It involved persistent

It involves discipline

But it produces results and you will progress forward. God will expand your ministry. He honours your desire to grow. Don't stay where you are. 

1. Spiritual growth leads to expansion. 

A. It brings personal development I'm your walk with God. 

Psalms 1:2-3

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

B. It brings development to the Kingdom of God. 

2 Corinthians 10:15-16

Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, 16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man’s territory.

When your faith grows your boundary expands. Live up to the call of being the called out ones. 

2. Spiritual growth fuels discernment. 

Hebrews 5:14

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Discernment is the ability to see and respond to what's right and wrong, good or bad, pleasing to God or not. 

Matthew 24:4-5

Jesus answered:“Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ, ’ and will deceive many.

Other reference: Acts 20:29-32, 2Peter 3:17-18, Ephesians 4:14-15

I like how the Hebrew writer ends. 

Hebrews 6:1-3

Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so.

The Hebrew writer include himself when the encourage us to move forward in spiritual maturity. "Let us" and "we will do so". 

The word "we will do so" in Greek is Phero is "to carry or to bear"

Let us be carried along to mature teaching. 

Spiritual growth is not accomplished by personal effort alone. 

Spiritual growth is achieved under the active power of the Holy Spirit. 

"Being carried along" through the active participation of the Holy Spirit is a continuous process. 

Church I want to encourage you to consider growing in the Lord. To take bold steps to grow in the Lord. Even some kind of studies. I am promoting ICI. Bro Allan will be happy to register you. 

Don't say you cannot study. Don't say you have poor memory. We have students from different age groups passing with high marks. Don't stay where you are but progress forward. Church, we need to progress.