M.W.F Series:
" God's Magnificent Goal."
Ephesians 4:13:
"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"
> Monday:
(The Growing Process)
> Friday
"The Pathway of Growth"
James 1:2-3 NIV
2] 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.
The Lord has given us three pathway cause us to grow to full maturity in Christ:
(Circumstances)
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28- 29
For those God foreknew he also predestined TO BE CONFORMED TO THE LIKENESS OF HIS SON, that he might be the first born among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified"
James 1:2-4 NIV
2] 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.
> The Lord uses the circumstances and problems of life that we face as molding instruments.
We can not avoid this, it will come.
> Sometimes it comes unexpectedly.
Maybe some of us here are in the midst of an overwhelming problem.
As we express faith in the midst of these trials, the Holy Spirit works a change in our lives
1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV
3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,
5] who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
(Ministries)
> God has placed ministries in the Body of Christ with special gifts to mature us.
Ephesians 4:11-13 NIV
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.
These men are the vessels of God to minister to us:
* The Word of God - our nourishment for growth
* 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
* The Holy Spirit - the life-force that produces the growth
John 6:63 NIV
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you---they are full of the Spirit and life.
(The Body of Christ)
"But we are meant to hold firmly to the truth in love, and to grow up in every way into Christ, the head. For it is from the head that the whole body, as a harmonious structure knit together by the joints with which it is provided, grows by the proper functioning of individual parts to its full maturity in love"
Ephesians 4:15-16 NIV
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.
Each individual member of the Church, which is Christ's Body (Ephesians 1:22-23), is important to the other, bringing strength and encouragement through their mutual expressions of love.
Ephesians 1:22-23 NIV
22] And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church,
23] which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
