Growth

Growth is an imperative and, in fact, a natural progression. Surely we expect our children to grow in body and mind as time goes by.

Children, barring any major health issues, will grow in weight, height, shape, and intellect. This is what we expect as parents. As people, growth is a normal expectation. As we mature, we expect adults to grow into job positions and leadership roles.

Growth becomes more and more the responsibility of the individual as we advance in age, but there remains a level of responsibility on the more knowledgeable and mature.

Remember all those pop quizzes and tests in school? Well, those were nothing more than a tangible measure of growth in learning. Teachers teach, lecture, and demonstrate, over time giving to the growth in their students. In turn, there are expectations of growth through learning.

The Reverend Billy Graham spoke in a crusade in the 60’s about his son Franklin. He said his son’s first word was “dada” as with many children, the first words are speaking of their mother or father.

Of course as his son grew, that changed from dada to daddy and then to dad. As Billy Graham was speaking to the crowd, he related the “dada” with being a newly saved Christian, he then continued by saying “some of you have been saved for 20 years or more and are still saying dada!”

Maturing is expected, if we plant “onion sets” we expect to have mature onions to harvest later in the year. One of the most natural thoughts of mankind is the expectation and hope of growth of the young!

Our natural progression in life is to mature and grow in knowledge, understanding, and wisdom—our very survival depends on it! The entire civilization of human beings has the expectation of growth and maturity. It is a deep-seated understanding of every living thing.

As Children of God, should not our creator have an expectation of our growth? Of course He should! We have a duty to grow in learning, knowledge, and wisdom, and to in turn be fruitful in His kingdom.

I could write volumes as to why people do not grow in their Christian walk. Honestly, I blame the lack of proper teaching and encouragement first, and secondly, the slothfulness of man’s nature, especially in today’s society.

The Scripture gives us a dire warning in the parable of the fig tree (Mark 11) when Jesus goes to the fig tree and, being hungry, he sees a fig tree bearing leaves.

As He came to the tree, Jesus saw that the tree was barren of fruit and he cursed the tree and said, “Let no man eat of your branches from this day forward.”

The Bible tells us that the time of figs was not yet, so then why did Christ curse the tree? This happening, as others, was an example to man.

Does the Scripture not tell us to be ready in season and out? We were given the Great Commission, to go and teach and make disciples of the world! The Word of God is food for the soul and when the soul is fed with the Word, then growth happens, and with growth comes the bearing of fruit.

The parable of the sower speaks of seeds that fall in shallow soil and are burned up by the sun, while others fall on fertile soil and mature into bearing plants.

The parable of the wheat teaches that some seeds are producing wheat plants and some tares (weeds), and at the harvest the wheat is separated from the tares and burned.

1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

You cannot expect to just sit in the pew and mature! I have been in churches where there were some folks who claimed to have been saved at a young age but were immature in Christ with no knowledge of the Word.

I have also seen some who have read the Bible but have no understanding of the Word! Growing in our Christian walk is obedience; it’s not an option.

If we are not growing in knowledge of the Word of God, gaining wisdom through studying the Word of God, and maturing in our spiritual faith through reading and prayer, then we are disobedient children!

Somewhere along the way over the past six or seven decades, a great misconception was placed in the hearts and minds of the congregations of our churches.

That somehow attendance is enough when it doesn’t even come close! Salvation and our Christian walk is a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

There is not “corporate relationship”, only a personal one! Yes, we gather for corporate worship, to hear the word preached, and for a time of learning (hopefully). Sadly, many times our gathering in the congregation is not even corporate worship.

Folks come for many reasons, but worship is often not one of them. I have attended several churches over the years and the sad truth is possibly as few as 15% of the attendees might be in the mindset of worship and the rest are there as a sense of duty or to hear a message, and many are there only for some sort of social gathering.

There is a social element to our gathering and that’s fellowship, but fellowship should not be the main reason we gather! Oh, sure, the 15% will increase at times like Easter services and Christmas services or possibly to hear a special speaker, but honestly, how terribly sad that is!

Why does there need to be a special event occurring before we can, as a majority, corporately worship? We should attend for learning and for worship as a portion of the body of our Lord Jesus!

Allow me to cover a heart of worship for a moment. I realize there are times (often) we are not there in our hearts and minds to worship, but that can be changed.

If you find yourself preparing for church but you feel no desire to worship then STOP right there and pray and keep praying until you feel in your heart the desire to worship! Kick the world to the curb, so to speak, and concentrate on the Love of God and the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus.

Pray and keep praying, and you’ll get there if you are earnestly seeking the Lord’s presence. Folks, this is growth!

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Seek first! Our focus must be on God and the Kingdom. If this is true of us, then we will grow in our walk with our Lord Jesus and mature in knowledge and wisdom.

Our Christian life does not end with our salvation. If we are truly saved, then we are absolutely responsible to grow and serve! As in the parable of the vine, we have the obligation to produce fruit for the Kingdom of God. If we do not, we will be separated from the vine and cast off.

I could continue, and get into a deep theological lesson on this subject as to how that separation from the vine occurs and what that means to those who received salvation but did not produce, but my intent here is a teaching, and not a book.

In closing, I will say this—if you believe you have been saved but have no desire to serve the Lord, then PRAY and keep praying until you do feel that call to serve. If it does not come, then question your salvation experience and seek out learned people in the Word!

May the Lord Bless you and keep you, and may you grow in your walk unhindered. Amen

Kenneth Kellar
A Man Called by God to Teach and Disciple