Predestined to Grow Up
Grow is to increase, to make progress, in Romans 8:29-32 the Bible says “for whom He
did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that
He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate,
them He also called; and whom He called them He also justified and whom He justified
them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who
can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,
how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things”?
God has set up the five fold ministries to grow up the church (Ephesians 4:11-16) “and
He gave some, apostles; and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors
and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ. That we hereafter be no more children, tossed to and fro, and
carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness
whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into
Him in all things which is the head, even Christ. For whom the whole body fitly joined
together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual
working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body to the edifying of
itself in love”.
One might say, how do we grow up? We grow up by the washing of the water of the
word (Ephesians 5:23-27) “for the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is
the head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore as the church is
subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands,
love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it. that He
might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. That He might
present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing,
but that it should be holy and without blemish”. Jesus is coming back for a glorious
church; Peter states in I Peter 2:1-5 “wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile,
and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings. As newborn babes, desire the
sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. If so be you have tasted that the
Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as to a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but
chosen of God, and precious. You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house,
an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ”.
We are to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We grow by praying in the Spirit, it builds us up (I Corinthians 14:2,4) “for he that
speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men, but to God; for no man understands
him; however in the spirit he speaks mysteries. He that speaks in an unknown tongue
edifies himself”; as well as Jude 20 “but you, beloved, building up yourselves on your
most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit”.
Paul says in I Corinthians 14:18 “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you
all”; he is a good example because he drew so near to God that He revealed great
mysteries to him, to give to us Gentiles.
Just like Jesus grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of
God was upon Him. Jesus walked the earth as a man anointed by the Holy Spirit and
we are told to “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5-
8) “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Who, being in the form of
God thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But made Himself of no reputation,
and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And
being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient to death,
even the death of the cross”.
We are told to study to show yourself approved. We to are told to ask for the Holy
Spirit (Luke 11:11-13) “if a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he
give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he
shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy
Spirit to them that ask Him”? Jesus says that every one that asks receives; and we are
told to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
One might say, I believe in Jesus and I am saved, and even though you are saved; I
call that being saved and stuck. To live the victorious life as described in the Bible, we
have a part to play (Romans 8:15-17) says we are supposed to “reign in life by Christ
Jesus”. Reign means rule. Jesus gave us the keys to the kingdom (Matthew 16:18-19)
“and I say also to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and
the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. and I will give to you the keys of the
kingdom of heaven, and what so ever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”.
Spiritual growth results from listening to and obeying God’s word. The people of Israel
had entered into a covenant with God, and Moses commanded them to hear, learn,
and follow his statutes. Christians also have entered into a covenant with God,
through Jesus Christ; and should be responsive to what God expects. Moses’ three
fold command to the Israelites is excellent advice for all of God’s followers. Listening is
absorbing and accepting information about God. Learning is understanding its
meaning and implications. Following is putting into action all we have learned and
understood. All three parts are essential to a growing relationship with God.
James says in James 1:22-25 “but be you doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is
like to a man beholding his natural face in a glass. For he beholds himself, and goes
his way, and immediately forgets what manner of man he was. But whoso looks into
the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a
doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed”. This sounds like what God
told Joshua “this book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall
meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is
written therein; for then you shall make your way prosperous and then you shall have
good success”.
A lot of Christians pick up their Bibles only a few times a week, but God told Joshua to
meditate therein day and night; that sounds like all the time.
Spiritual growth results from discipline. Winning a race requires purpose and
discipline. Paul uses this illustration to explain that the Christian life takes hard work,
self denial, and grueling preparation. As Christians, we are running toward our
heavenly reward. The essential disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and worship equips
us to run with vigor and stamina. Don’t merely observe from the grandstand; don’t just
turn out to jog a couple of laps each morning, train diligently; your spiritual progress
depends upon it.
When a baby is born naturally, they have to grow up to succeed in life; when we are
born again, we have to grow up spiritually as well. There is no difference if a person
25 years old, who still wets their pants, than a born again person who was still trapped
in fears, doubts and unbelief; wavering and not receiving what God has already
provided for him. An infant that does not develop and grow are disabled; and a born
again person who does not develop and grow in the grace of God is at a disadvantage
as well (Galatians 3:29-4-7), “and if you be Christ’s then are you Abraham’s seed and
heirs according to the promise. Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differs
nothing from a servant, thought he be lord of all. But is under tutors and governors
until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in
bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time was come,
God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law. To redeem them that
were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because you are
sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father.
Wherefore you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God
through Christ”.
We are told to imitate Jesus as dear children (Ephesians 5:1-8). The Bible tells us to
examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith (I Corinthians 13:5). Ask your self how
much like Christ are you? Many say that they cannot be like Jesus, but Jesus Himself
said “verily, verily, I say to you, he that believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do
also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go to My Father” (John 14:
12). The Bible tells us that we have the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16); verses 9-
10 says “but as it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into
the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him. But God
has revealed them to us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep
things of God”.
The key is that we have to believe we can do what the Bible says we can do. Like
James says the Bible is supposed to be our mirror, what we see in the Bible, we are to
adjust our live to. Let us act upon the word of God and see His promises fulfilled in our
loves. Don’t let the devil steal what God has already provided for you. Jesus says that
all things are possible to them that believes. The Bible tells us that we are complete in
Him (Ephesians 2:10 and Colossians 2:10).
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: July 31, 2009
Grow is to increase, to make progress, in Romans 8:29-32 the Bible says “for whom He
did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that
He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate,
them He also called; and whom He called them He also justified and whom He justified
them He also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who
can be against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,
how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things”?
God has set up the five fold ministries to grow up the church (Ephesians 4:11-16) “and
He gave some, apostles; and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors
and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ. That we hereafter be no more children, tossed to and fro, and
carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness
whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into
Him in all things which is the head, even Christ. For whom the whole body fitly joined
together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual
working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body to the edifying of
itself in love”.
One might say, how do we grow up? We grow up by the washing of the water of the
word (Ephesians 5:23-27) “for the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is
the head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore as the church is
subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands,
love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it. that He
might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. That He might
present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing,
but that it should be holy and without blemish”. Jesus is coming back for a glorious
church; Peter states in I Peter 2:1-5 “wherefore laying aside all malice and all guile,
and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings. As newborn babes, desire the
sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. If so be you have tasted that the
Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as to a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but
chosen of God, and precious. You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house,
an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ”.
We are to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We grow by praying in the Spirit, it builds us up (I Corinthians 14:2,4) “for he that
speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to men, but to God; for no man understands
him; however in the spirit he speaks mysteries. He that speaks in an unknown tongue
edifies himself”; as well as Jude 20 “but you, beloved, building up yourselves on your
most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit”.
Paul says in I Corinthians 14:18 “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you
all”; he is a good example because he drew so near to God that He revealed great
mysteries to him, to give to us Gentiles.
Just like Jesus grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of
God was upon Him. Jesus walked the earth as a man anointed by the Holy Spirit and
we are told to “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5-
8) “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Who, being in the form of
God thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But made Himself of no reputation,
and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And
being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient to death,
even the death of the cross”.
We are told to study to show yourself approved. We to are told to ask for the Holy
Spirit (Luke 11:11-13) “if a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he
give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he
shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy
Spirit to them that ask Him”? Jesus says that every one that asks receives; and we are
told to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
One might say, I believe in Jesus and I am saved, and even though you are saved; I
call that being saved and stuck. To live the victorious life as described in the Bible, we
have a part to play (Romans 8:15-17) says we are supposed to “reign in life by Christ
Jesus”. Reign means rule. Jesus gave us the keys to the kingdom (Matthew 16:18-19)
“and I say also to you, that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and
the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. and I will give to you the keys of the
kingdom of heaven, and what so ever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”.
Spiritual growth results from listening to and obeying God’s word. The people of Israel
had entered into a covenant with God, and Moses commanded them to hear, learn,
and follow his statutes. Christians also have entered into a covenant with God,
through Jesus Christ; and should be responsive to what God expects. Moses’ three
fold command to the Israelites is excellent advice for all of God’s followers. Listening is
absorbing and accepting information about God. Learning is understanding its
meaning and implications. Following is putting into action all we have learned and
understood. All three parts are essential to a growing relationship with God.
James says in James 1:22-25 “but be you doers of the word, and not hearers only,
deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is
like to a man beholding his natural face in a glass. For he beholds himself, and goes
his way, and immediately forgets what manner of man he was. But whoso looks into
the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a
doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed”. This sounds like what God
told Joshua “this book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall
meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is
written therein; for then you shall make your way prosperous and then you shall have
good success”.
A lot of Christians pick up their Bibles only a few times a week, but God told Joshua to
meditate therein day and night; that sounds like all the time.
Spiritual growth results from discipline. Winning a race requires purpose and
discipline. Paul uses this illustration to explain that the Christian life takes hard work,
self denial, and grueling preparation. As Christians, we are running toward our
heavenly reward. The essential disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and worship equips
us to run with vigor and stamina. Don’t merely observe from the grandstand; don’t just
turn out to jog a couple of laps each morning, train diligently; your spiritual progress
depends upon it.
When a baby is born naturally, they have to grow up to succeed in life; when we are
born again, we have to grow up spiritually as well. There is no difference if a person
25 years old, who still wets their pants, than a born again person who was still trapped
in fears, doubts and unbelief; wavering and not receiving what God has already
provided for him. An infant that does not develop and grow are disabled; and a born
again person who does not develop and grow in the grace of God is at a disadvantage
as well (Galatians 3:29-4-7), “and if you be Christ’s then are you Abraham’s seed and
heirs according to the promise. Now I say, that the heir, as long as he is a child, differs
nothing from a servant, thought he be lord of all. But is under tutors and governors
until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in
bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time was come,
God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law. To redeem them that
were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because you are
sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba Father.
Wherefore you are no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God
through Christ”.
We are told to imitate Jesus as dear children (Ephesians 5:1-8). The Bible tells us to
examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith (I Corinthians 13:5). Ask your self how
much like Christ are you? Many say that they cannot be like Jesus, but Jesus Himself
said “verily, verily, I say to you, he that believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do
also; and greater works than these shall he do, because I go to My Father” (John 14:
12). The Bible tells us that we have the mind of Christ (I Corinthians 2:16); verses 9-
10 says “but as it is written, eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into
the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him. But God
has revealed them to us by His Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep
things of God”.
The key is that we have to believe we can do what the Bible says we can do. Like
James says the Bible is supposed to be our mirror, what we see in the Bible, we are to
adjust our live to. Let us act upon the word of God and see His promises fulfilled in our
loves. Don’t let the devil steal what God has already provided for you. Jesus says that
all things are possible to them that believes. The Bible tells us that we are complete in
Him (Ephesians 2:10 and Colossians 2:10).
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: July 31, 2009
