Growing in Grace

Amazing Grace
Growing In Grace
Philippians 2:12-13

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God loves you just the way that you are and He loves you way too much to leave you that way!

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)

Q: How Do We Grow?

A: Dependent Discipline

“work out”: Not work for your salvation

• Work out the implications of your salvation

“your salvation”: Individual assignment – Unique

• Accept personal responsibility

“God works in you”: Energy

• We are dependent upon God’s Spirit at work within us

Illustration: A Farmer at Work

Can And Must Do:

• Plow
• Plant
• Fertilize
• Irrigate
• Cultivate
• Harvest

Cannot Do:

• Control weather
• Make grow

Grace doesn’t make my efforts Unnecessary; grace makes my efforts Effective

Foundational Disciplines Behind Spiritual Growth Practices

1. The Discipline of Commitment

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1)

“I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules.” (Psalm 119:106)

• Is it my intention to please God in all my actions?

2. The Discipline of Convictions

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
(Romans 12:2)

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1:8)

To grow in grace we must develop Bible-based convictions!

What we Believe determines how we Behave

• Am I intentionally allowing my beliefs and behavior to be shaped by the Bible or am I looking for only those parts of the Bible that might affirm my beliefs or behavior?

3. The Discipline of Choices

“For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.” (Romans 6:19)

“Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” (1 Timothy 4:7–8)

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,” (Titus 2:11–12)

Every day with the choices we make we are training ourselves in one direction or another!

“You are going to be what you are now becoming” Dawson Trotman

• Do I regularly evaluate my choices against the backdrop of what direction they are taking me in and training me for?

4. The Discipline of Watchfulness

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)

• Know your Enemies

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” (Ephesians 2:1–3)
o The World
o The Flesh
o The Devil
“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

• Know Yourself

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” (James 1:14)

“Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

• Am I watchful and prayerful; being aware of the reality of the world that we live in? Am I paying attention to my spiritual enemies and my own tendencies?

Making It Personal:

• Is it my intention to please God in all my actions?
• Am I intentionally allowing my beliefs and behavior to be shaped by the Bible or am I looking for only those parts of the Bible that might affirm my beliefs or behavior?
• Do I regularly evaluate my choices against the backdrop of what direction they are taking me in and training me for?
• Am I watchful and prayerful; being aware of the reality of the world that we live in? Am I paying attention to my spiritual enemies and my own tendencies?