JOY IN SPIRITUAL GROWTH

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Prayer:  Our Heavenly Father, we come before You this day with humble hearts and open minds.  We wish to continue to grow spiritually, and we know that this growth will come only through the Holy Spirt.  Open our eyes and our minds to Your Word, the Bible.  Make us conscious of Your thoughts, O Jesus, and fix them in our minds in a way that translates into the actions in our lives.  We know that these actions will draw unbelievers to You and to eternal life.  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity (2 Peter 3:18). Amen.

Main Scripture: Read Philippians 4:8-23.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice (Philippians 4:8-9).

Associated Scriptures:

Show me your ways, O Lord , teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long (Psalms 25:4-5).

I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws.  I hold fast to your statutes, O Lord ; do not let me be put to shame.  I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free (Psalms 119:30-32).

The wicked man earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.  The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death.  The Lord  detests men of perverse heart but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.  Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free (Proverbs 11:18-21).

The Lord  detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to him.  A greedy man brings trouble to his family, but he who hates bribes will live.  The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.  The Lord  is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous (Proverbs 15:26-29).

Correlative Quotes:

We are exhorted to get and keep a good name: Whatever things are true and honest (v. 8), a regard to truth in our words and engagements, and decency and becomingness in our behavior, suitable to our circumstances and condition of life. Whatever things are just and pure, agreeable to the rules of justice and righteousness in all our dealings with men, and without the impurity or mixture of sin. Whatever things are lovely and of good report, that is, amiable; that will render us beloved, and make us well spoken of, as well as well thought of, by others. If there is any virtue, if there is any praise, anything virtuous of any kind and worthy of commendation. We should not be ashamed to learn any good thing of bad men, or those who have not our advantages. Virtue has its praise and will have. We should walk in all the ways of virtue, and abide there; and then, whether our praise be of men or no, it will be of God.  In these things he proposes himself to them for an example (v. 9): Those things which you have learned, and received, and heard and seen in me, do. Paul's doctrine and life were of a piece. What they saw in him was the same thing as they heard from him. [1] – Matthew Henry

Spiritual instability leads to disappointment, doubt, discouragement, and ineffective witness. Unstable people are likely to be crushed by their trials. They are also susceptible to temptation.[2] – John MacArthur

That is, what you have witnessed in me, and what you have learned of me, and what you have heard about me, practice yourselves. Paul refers them to his uniform conduct-to all that they had seen, and known, and heard of him, as that which it was proper for them to imitate.[3] – Barnes Notes

Study:

Spiritual growth is all about action.  The action is obedience to God’s Word.  Joy is the result of this action.  There are eight words describing the pure, beneficial, edifying Christian ideals that are foundation for obedience.  These foundational elements are the basis upon which we grow spiritually (Philippians 4:8).

  1. Whatever is True: John 3:33 (NKJV) says, “He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.” Truth is an absolute. God’s truth is the only absolute Truth (Romans 3:4). The word truth expresses the reality of a thought, action, or statement.  This means that we should rest on and target reality; God’s reality.  Every word of God is Truth (Proverbs 30:5).  Truth has its fulfillment in Scripture (John 1:1-2).
  2. Whatever is Honest: Job 1:1 (NKJV), “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” Honesty, in this sense, means displaying honor or being upright. Honesty is a product of integrity.  When we are always honest, we demonstrate integrity.  Job is the quintessential picture of honesty and integrity.
  3. Whatever is Just: Just means right or righteous. We are to practice righteousness. In our righteousness toward others we are to be just in our actions, treating others as we wish to be treated.  Jesus set the example.  We must follow that example.  1 John 3:7-8 (NKJV), “He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning.”
  4. Whatever is Pure: Obedience continues to be the theme of this scripture. We are to keep our bodies undefiled by abstaining from sexual sins.  1 John 3:3 (NKJV): “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
  5. Whatever is Lovely: Lovely means pleasing, agreeable, and attractive. 1 Timothy 4:12-13 (NKJV) tells us: “be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.”
  6. Whatever is Good: God, refers to biblically sound. Ephesians 5:8-10 (NKJV), “Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.”

7 If There is Virtue: Moral excellence; goodness; righteousness.  2 Peter 1:5-7 (NKJV), “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.”

  1. If There is Praise: The thought here is if there is anything praiseworthy: Romans 15:11 (NKJV): “And again: "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!" Think on these things: Meditate on them with careful reflection, not casually or superficially but constantly.”
  2. Dwell on these Things: Paul means for us to practice righteous living: Obedience is the key that opens spiritual growth. Spiritual growth maintains our intimate relationship with God.

Reflect on these qualities that stem from God.

Give them weight in your decisions.

Allow them “to shape your conduct.”

Think on these things with a view to doing them.

Live a righteous life.

We are to be just in our dealing with all others. 

How can we achieve these things: Verses 9-23.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

He supplies our needs and provides for us while here on earth.

But God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Jesus Christ.

He gives security: eternal security.

Summary Statement:

God’s expectations for us are high.  They will all require difficult changes in our lives as we try to grow spiritually.  The most important aspect of spiritual growth is obedience.  Remember that the God of peace, love and grace expects us to live righteously.  It won’t be easy.  But remember that God will be with us, He will always be there for us.

Growing spiritually involves, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, application, and repetition.  Each of these is important in the process but application is the most important.  However, application only comes through repetition.  Psalm 119:11 explains: “Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.”

Paul is a wonderful example for us to follow.  His doctrine and his life were one and the same.  Paul’s talk and his actions were an exact reflection of each other.  With Paul’s life as a guide, God’s spirit giving us directions, living in fellowship with the Holy Spirit while practicing obedience. With the Trinity on our side, we are an unbeatable team.

Lessons within the Lesson:

When we think about spiritual growth and all of God’s expectations, how is it possible that we will ever get it all done?

Which of these eight statements do you feel is your greatest strength?

Which of these phrases do you need to work on in your life?

Which of these statements do you feel is most important and why?

If your best friend or spouse were to pick your greatest strength, what would it be?

[1] Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume VI (Acts to Revelation), Public Domain, Ibid., P. 1067-8.

[2] John MacArthur, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Fair Use 2020 – Section 107, copywrite law, Ibid.

[3] Barnes' Notes, Fair Use 2020 – Section 107, copywrite law, Ibid.