Aspects of Spiritual Growth

1
Aspects of Spiritual Growth

• Part Two

2

• The Pain and Joy
• of Spiritual Growth

3
The Pain of Spiritual Growth

• What child has not experienced pain while growing
  up?
• A baby tries to walk but falls down and skins his
  knees. Does the parent say, I dont want my
  babys knees skinned, so Im not going to teach
  him to walk? Of course not!
• Children get their share of bumps and bruises
  while learning to swing, roller skate, ride a
  bicycle, etc., but its all part of growing up!

4
The Pain of Spiritual Growth

• Spiritual growth also involves a certain amount
  of pain.
• We must exercise our spiritual senses.

5
Hebrews 512-14

• But solid food belongs to those who are of full
  age, that is, those who by reason of use have
  their senses exercised to discern both good and
  evil.

6
The Pain of Spiritual Growth

• Spiritual growth also involves a certain amount
  of pain.
• We must exercise our spiritual senses.
• Spiritual exercise (godliness) is profitable.

7
1 Timothy 48

• For bodily exercise profits a little, but
  godliness is profitable for all things, having
  promise of the life that now is and of that which
  is to come.

8
The Pain of Spiritual Growth

• Spiritual growth also involves a certain amount
  of pain.
• We must exercise our spiritual senses.
• Spiritual exercise (godliness) is profitable.
• Spiritual exercise is strenuous.

9
1 Corinthians 924-25

• Do you not know that those who run in a race all
  run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a
  way that you may obtain it. And everyone who
  competes for the prize is temperate in all
  things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable
  crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

10
1 Corinthians 926-27

• Therefore I run thus not with uncertainty. Thus
  I fight not as one who beats the air. But I
  discipline my body and bring it into subjection,
  lest, when I have preached to others, I myself
  should become disqualified.

11
The Pain of Spiritual Growth

• Spiritual growth also involves a certain amount
  of pain.
• We must exercise our spiritual senses.
• Spiritual exercise (godliness) is profitable.
• Spiritual exercise is strenuous.
• Christians are often called upon to make
  difficult, painful decisions.

12
Matthew 1034-37

• Do not think that I came to bring peace on
  earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.
  For I have come to 'set a man against his father,
  a daughter against her mother, and a
  daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law' and
  'a man's enemies will be those of his own
  household.' He who loves father or mother more
  than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son
  or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

13
Mark 1028-30

• Then Peter began to say to Him, See, we have
  left all and followed You. So Jesus answered and
  said, Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one
  who has left house or brothers or sisters or
  father or mother or wife or children or lands,
  for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not
  receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses
  and brothers and sisters and mothers and children
  and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to
  come, eternal life.

14
The Pain of Spiritual Growth

• Spiritual growth also involves a certain amount
  of pain.
• We must exercise our spiritual senses.
• Spiritual exercise (godliness) is profitable.
• Spiritual exercise is strenuous.
• Christians are often called upon to make
  difficult, painful decisions.
• Someone has said, No pain, no gain.

15
The Joy of Spiritual Growth

• There will be joy in a parent whose children have
  grown up and succeeded in life.
• It is exciting to see them learn new things and
  develop new skills.
• Children also experience joy as they grow in
  knowledge, understanding and ability.
• Likewise, spiritual growth is joyous!
• Consider the words of John.

16
3 John 4

• I have no greater joy than to hear that my
  children walk in truth.

17
The Joy of Spiritual Growth

• There will be joy in a parent whose children have
  grown up and succeeded in life.
• It is exciting to see them learn new things and
  develop new skills.
• Children also experience joy as they grow in
  knowledge, understanding and ability.
• Likewise, spiritual growth is joyous!
• Consider the words of John.
• We are to be joyful in our own growth.

18
Colossians 19-11

• For this reason we also, since the day we heard
  it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that
  you may be filled with the knowledge of His will
  in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that
  you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully
  pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work
  and increasing in the knowledge of God
  strengthened with all might, according to His
  glorious power, for all patience and
  longsuffering with joy.

19
The Joy of Spiritual Growth

• There will be joy in a parent whose children have
  grown up and succeeded in life.
• It is exciting to see them learn new things and
  develop new skills.
• Children also experience joy as they grow in
  knowledge, understanding and ability.
• Likewise, spiritual growth is joyous!
• Consider the words of John the apostle.
• We are to be joyful in our own growth.
• We are even to be joyful in tribulation.

20
Romans 51-4

• Therefore, having been justified by faith, we
  have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
  Christ, through whom also we have access by faith
  into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in
  hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but
  we also glory in tribulations, knowing that
  tribulation produces perseverance and
  perseverance, character and character, hope.

21
James 12-4

• My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into
  various trials, knowing that the testing of your
  faith produces patience. But let patience have
  its perfect work, that you may be perfect and
  complete, lacking nothing.

22

• There is only one alternative to spiritual
  growth.
• but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord
  Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 318)