Sunday Worship Service

Deeper Life Campus Fellowship

KwaZulu-Natal Province

PREPARATION FOR SPIRITUAL

GROWTH
2 Peter 3:18

Introduction

Growth is a major prove of life. A seed is planted

with the expectation of growth. God expects
continuous growth in all His children. This is
possible when we allow the word of God in a
fertile soil of our heart through:

Quickening from deadness to sin Eph 2:1

Passion and desire for growth - 1 Peter 2:2.
Daily commitments to growing Hosea 6:3
Yieldedness and devotion to God Job 23:10;27:6

God wants us to live far about spiritual defeat,

overcoming daily and prepared for Christ coming
hence Apostle Peter admonishes but grow in grace,
and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ.

Points to Consider

DESIRE FOR GROWTH

DISEASES AFFECTING GROWTH
DYNAMICS OF GROWTH
DECISION OF THE GODLY

DESIRE FOR GROWTH

Revelation 3:1; Matthew 13:13-15; Proverbs 14:14; Revelation 3:14-19;
Psalms 42:1,2; 63:1-2.

The normal and natural desire of a real child of God is to

grow spiritually. The spiritually dead (in sin) cannot grow,
neither do they have a desire to grow. Some people glory
in being nominal, professing Christian without a desire to
grow more into Christ. To them, God says, thou has a
name that thou livest, and art dead (Rev 3:1). The
sinner and backslider in heart has no desire for spiritual
growth. Though self-satisfied, they are self-deceived.
Christs verdict concerning them is that they are
wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and
naked.
The desire for growth is an unquenchable thirst for all who
are spiritually alive. Their soul thirsteth for the living
God [daily], as the hart panteth after the water
brooks. They desire to have more of the nature of God,
life of Christ and the love of the Lord in their lives.

DISEASES AFFECTING GROWTH

Song of Solomon 2:15; Psalm 19:12; Hosea 7:8-10; 1 John 2:15-17;
1 Timothy 5:6.

Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil

the vines Just as there are diseases that hinder
growth in men physically, the same is also true in
the spiritual. Some of these spiritual diseases looks
so minute, negligible to the extend many feel it
doesnt matter. These include secret sin, pride,
worldliness, cares of this world (Mk 4:19), foolish
comparison, loose-talking, hidden allegiance to the
devil, laziness, prayerlessness, hypocrisy and selfdeception. These and many others entering in,
choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful
(Mk 4:19). Search your heart and get rid of these
little little foxes if you really want to grow and
be more life Christ.

DYNAMICS FOR GROWTH

1 Peter 2:1,2; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:4; Matthew 28:19;
Philippians 3:10-15; 1 Thessalonians 5:17.

Growth is not automatic. The environment must be conducive.

First, sinners and backsliders must repent and believe on the
Lord to experience His life and salvation, in order to walk in
the newness of life.
Growth therefore comes as we:

Realization of our current and true state.

Repentance, reconciliation with God and Restitution.
Readiness to submit to Gods word and ordinances.
Reading and Meditating on the word, daily and night (Joshua 1:8)
Regular, continuous prayer and devotional life
Resolve to separate completely from the world and its allurement
Rededication to seek CURRENT Christian experiences
Reaching out to others to testify about Christs saving power

Whatever spiritual heights we have attained, we must always be

desirous for more of the mind and characteristics of Christ.

DECISION OF THE GODLY

John 6:66-69; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 1 John 3:1-3; James 1:12.

Believers who desire to know and have more of

Christ must be willing to go the extra mile,
despite the rough and hard road of the Christian
life. Miracles are good, but there is something
beyond
miracles,
healing,
deliverance
and
prosperity. In the midst of difficulties and
perplexing situations in life, we must cling to the
Lord like Peter: ...Lord, to whom shall we go?
thou hast the words of eternal life.
Growth is not static. Our decision must be to keep
on following the Lord, abounding in His love, word,
work and grace, living a pure and holy life,
overcoming temptations and enduring till the end.