Graduation

School is out and many are graduating and others that are not graduation are moving on to the next level.

I don’t know about you but I don’t like to be staying stuck in the same place...

Thank God I was never held back.... and had to repeat a level...

Teachers are required to do whatever it will take to help and teach anyone who is NOT meeting this goal...

You need to pass!!!

Scripture uses a number of images to emphasize that believers are meant to grow in their faith, understanding, holiness and commitment. It also provides advice on how this may be achieved.

Scripture uses a number of images to emphasise that believers are meant to grow in their faith, understanding, holiness and commitment. It also provides advice on how this may be achieved.

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Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God

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So come on, let’s leave the preschool finger painting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on “salvation by self-help” and turning in trust toward God

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God

Put the paint away...

So come on, let’s leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on “salvation by self-help” and turning in trust toward God

We look at progress different when we leave school and even the workplace and we tend to think different inside the church...

At work it’s ok to start somewhere but for most people we want to progress and move forward push towards a goal.

No one wants to be stuck behind a parked car

God desires the spiritual growth of his people

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Practice makes perfect, we need to put into action what we have learned through God’s word or God’s messenger

48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

, Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God v.7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.

Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God

For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.

This is a process… holiness is something learned and put into practice making it a lifestyle...

In the church we can sometimes get into a place of being ok and complacent and comfortable… be careful

We are called to be people of action…

Not just hearers of the Word but be doers of the word....Just do it!

Where is your progress? What do you see as a result?

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.().

How is fruit evaluated.... size and taste and production…What’s in your heart?

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

The New King James Version. (1982). (). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

What flavor or aroma are you giving? What can people see that are around you? Do you add to people or do you take away from people?

Are you sour in your speech or are you sweet and refreshing representing God?

Examples of spiritual growth In individuals

Samuel - And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and men.

In individuals

And the child Samuel grew in stature, and in favor both with the Lord and men.

John the baptist - So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

Paul - But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

Jesus- , And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. v.52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

As believers of a living God and representatives of His glory and kingdom we should be growing and producing...

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Have you seen the progress?

Can you see a difference? Like a building do you see the improvements and the difference

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Sand

Let’s look at the characteristics of sand

Comfortable soft and smooth - feels good

Conforms to your shape -

Yet it is unstable… and easy to get stuck in… anything heavy comes and your in trouble...

We need to be mature and increase in the knowledge of His word…

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

God doesn’t want you to be tossed and shaken in your faith and beliefs

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

But calls us to work...

17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

School is work and requires us to finish and progress and show ourselves faithful and learn and practice what we have been taught...

Are you forgiving?

Are you tithing?

Are you pursuing holiness?

Are you preparing to graduate?

Have you learned?

: Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

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