The 'Secret' of Spiritual Growth

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>The 'Secret' of Spiritual Growth</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id356.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Keeping In Touch With Home"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Church Ministry</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:stan@stanbaker.org"><U>stan@stanbaker.org</U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>"The `Secret' of Spiritual Growth" </B></div> <div> <B>Berean Bible Church, February 2, 2003am</B> </div> <bR> <div>      The TV channel TLC has a show called "A Makeover Story." In one day, people go from what they normally are to something entirely different. That evening, all their friends and family gather to see the change. But it is an outer change. Does it last longer than a day? What is that same person like one week afterward? God wants to perform a spiritual makeover in our lives. It is an internal, lasting change that he wants to perform in us.</div> <div>      What is the secret of people who are successful at becoming all they can be, healthy, wealthy, fulfilled, happy? In the spiritual life, they may seem pious, holy, and "with it" as far as their life with God is concerned.</div> <div>      The Colossians were being told that there was more to the Christian faith that they had not been told about, it was secret, hidden knowledge. They were told that faith in Christ alone was simplistic, and for babies. And they were being told that there is a "secret" path, "special" rules, "secret" people to know, for only a select, special few.</div> <div>      Paul challenged them: the "secret" of spiritual growth is that there is no secret. What we need to know for the spiritual life has been revealed to us in the Word of God. Note the context of Colossians; see <A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Col+2:2-4" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U>Colossians 2:2-4</U></A> - the mystery has been revealed. You already have the knowledge and resources for a spiritual makeover at your disposal through your relationship with Jesus Christ.</div> <bR> <div> <B>I. </B><A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Col+2:6-10" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U><B>Colossians 2:6-10</B></U></A><B>: The Christian life is begun, continued, and completed in Christ.</B></div> <div>      Don't just <I>start</I> with Christ, <I>continue</I> with Christ (vs. 6). Many people are on a "spiritual journey" with or without Christ. But Christianity is a relationship first, a journey second. The spiritual journey is in the context of a relationship with Christ. There is no spiritual <U>life</U> or journey apart from Christ. Because of our relationship with Christ, we are rooted like a strong tree; continually being built up and strengthened (not weakened); and able to  give thanks, not taking for granted what Christ has done for us (vs. 7). We have been given fullness and have been made complete in Christ (vss. 8-10). Keep pressing on in Christ.</div> <bR> <div> <B>II. </B><A HREF="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passage=Col+3:1-4" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.biblegateway.com/bible?passag"><U><B>Colossians 3:1-4</B></U></A><B>: Progress in the Christian life only comes by valuing what Christ values.</B></div> <div>      Understand what is true about Christians (vss. 1-3) - we are spiritually alive in Christ. That is, we are risen with Christ, and Christ is the source of our spiritual life. Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Thus, we must <U>seek</U> and <U>set our minds</U> on what is above (heavenly, godly matters; vss. 1-2). Verse one begins with "if this is true for you." If you are believer in Jesus Christ, you are spiritually alive in Christ; but the question challenges you to evaluate the implications of this truth for your lifestyle.</div> <div>      If you have been away from home for any length of time, you have probably checked in "back home." Maybe you emailed family and friends, checked the local news on the internet, or followed hometown sports teams. For us, heaven is our home, and our values are to be shaped by our heavenly existence. Our life in heaven with Christ is a present, unseen reality (hidden, vs. 3), and it will be revealed soon (vs. 4). But our life in Christ in heaven is supposed to the controlling value of our lives. Our core values, whatever they are, drive the decisions we make. Our values must be shaped by our relationship with Christ. Adopting Christ's values results in a changed lifestyle (vss. 5ff.)</div> <div>      Growth does <U>not</U> happen through sheer discipline, through keeping your own set of rules (or someone else's), through giving up and hoping it all works out, or through finding the "secret." It starts by valuing what Jesus Christ values. Christians live by the culture, the values of heaven, even though we live on planet earth. That which God values, we must value as well. God values truth instead of deception, generosity instead of greed, dependence on God instead of  self-reliance, humility instead of  pride, service instead of self-seeking, holiness instead of  sinfulness, time spent doing the will of God instead of time spent pleasing ourselves; submission to Christ instead of assertions of independence.</div> <div>      We learn a different culture by being immersed in it. We thus need to be exposed to the person and values of God through his Word, prayer and reflection, and community. It is no secret; if you want your life to change, it starts with a change in your values.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2003, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>