Tag Archives: Grow

Growth (Part 2) – What Happens When Sinfulness Begins to Grow?

04 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

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Throughout history, there have been various diseases and outbreaks that have caused widespread illness and even panic.  From the Bubonic Plague which began in Europe between 1346 to 1353, to the Spanish Flu epidemic which took place in 1918, to even the most recent outbreak of Legionnaire’s disease in NYC. There have been historical accounts of diseases that have spread and killed many throughout human history. Even so, there is a common term that is associated with multiple illnesses and that is the term called ‘cancer.’ 

Whether it be breast cancer, colon cancer, or prostate cancer, the impact of cancer upon one’s body can be fatal if not treated.  However, one such fact about cancer is that it is formed from an individual cancer cell. According to the American Cancer Society, it is said that cancer occurs when a cell or cells begin to grow out of control. This in turn means that once a cell is cancerous, it spreads and begins to corrupt other healthy cells. Once this occurs it then means a weakening of the immune system which results in serious illness and or death. However, to eliminate the cancerous cells and their damage, treatments (whether chemically induced or naturally ingested) are prescribed to produce a remission of the cancer in question.

Spiritually speaking, sin exhibits the same characteristics as a cancer cell. If untreated or the remedy who is Jesus Christ is not introduced, then our sinfulness begins to cause our lives to spiral out of control.  In the book of James chapter 1, the writer who is James mentions the impact that sin can have on those who allow it to rule in their lives. Verses 14-15 state the following:

(NLT) “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”

It important to note that the context of this part of the chapter was written in order to explain the aspects of testing and temptation.  In verses 12-13, James tells us that we should not assert blame towards God for allowing us endure or experience temptation or testing.  He wants every reader to understand that it isn’t God who tempts humanity, rather temptation comes from the evil desires that are within us.

James makes it clear that all of us will be and we are tempted to sin or commit evil acts. The sin that is already within us from birth is what creates the temptation or the desire to go against the Will of God. James says that it is our desires which entice us and drag us away. Once we have the urge or the temptation is presented, then the possibility of being lured away becomes a reality.

However, notice what verse 15 says:

(NLT) “These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.”

It is the sinful desires within all of us that can give birth to sinful behavior. Basically, he uses the word ‘birth’ to denote that there is a process that takes place concerning sin. Some translations of this scripture such as the King James Version, use the term ‘conceive.’ Basically, to conceive is to produce which then means to give life to something. Much of the temptations within us start within our heart and in our mind. The mind and heart are the most powerful parts of our being, especially that of the mind.

Proverbs 23:7 says that what a man thinks in his heart, he is.  This means that what we think of ourselves or allow to penetrate into our heart and mind is what we become or do. If you allow the enemy who is satan to flood your heart and mind with sinful lusts, then eventually you will act upon it.  The conception of sin is in a single thought.  The key is that when the thought is left open for further ponderance then your actions will follow suit to what your mind focuses on.

James continues by saying that when sin is allowed to grow it gives birth to death.  The keyword as with the theme of this post and a previous post is ‘grow.’ What happens when sin begins to grow?  James gives us the prognosis which is ‘death.’ Once again, this doesn’t just mean a physical death but also spiritually.  The consequences of a life that is ruled by sin is one that begins to erode in all senses.

Our global society has become a testament to the depravity and morbidity that comes when sin is embraced. Various countries around the world have been thrown into confusion because of entire populations that have forsaken the laws and ways of God. A blatant refusal to accept Jesus Christ as Lord & Savior has taken root within the hearts of many, and as a result death both physically and spiritually has reigned over many nations.

The fact is that when we decide that we want be a god unto ourselves or that we want others to be our god, then we are handed over to our own lusts and evil desires.  It is also important to note that sin grows not only within our own lives, but it affects the lives of others.  Entire families and human populations have been affected by the wickedness that exists in leadership capacities. World governments have produced chaos, oppression, and disdain among their citizenry. That is because, like a cancer cell, sin starts with one person and spreads to others.

However, there is great news and that is Jesus Christ is the remedy. How do we escape the harsh reality of what sin can do to us?  Here are a couple of considerations:

1. Our mind must be renewed and transformed daily – For those of you who are not in Christ, your mind is given to depravity because you are in sin. However, when you accept Jesus Christ, He is the one who renews your mind. Romans 12:2 says that we must be transformed by the renewing of our mind.  Why does the Apostle Paul focus on the mind?  Simply because the mind is where sin is conceived.  This means that if our mind is not renewed by Jesus Christ, then we will operate out of our sin.  Even for those of us who are in Christ, we must be renewed daily through God’s Word, in His Presence and in constant prayer. Without renewal, then our mind will revert to carnality.

2. We must yield our lives unto the control of the Holy Spirit – This falls in line with being filled with the Holy Spirit.  When you and I have accepted Christ and we are in a relationship with Him, we have access to the power of the Holy Spirit.  This means, that when we seek God for the in-filling of the Holy Spirit that our lives become controlled by the Holy Spirit as long as we are obedient.  We gain the fruits of the Spirit because we are spending time in God’s presence.  1 Corinthians 2:14 says that the person without the Spirit cannot accept the things of the Spirit because it seems like foolishness.  In order to avoid the growth of sin, we must yield our lives over to the Holy Spirit to renew us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness.

The overall word to remember is that we must ‘surrender’ our lives unto God through Christ.  Naturally, we are all inclined to sin and be disobedient. However, it is by accepting Christ and giving our lives away to God every day that will remedy the growth of sin in our lives.  If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior, your life is being ruled by sin.  To be free from that sin, you must confess your sin unto Jesus Christ and accept His sacrifice. Then and only then will you be able to avoid the death that comes with living a life in unrepentance.

Growth (Part 1) – Are You Growing in Godliness?

04 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by in Bible, Christian, Christianity, Faith, God, Inspiration, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Life, Love, Spiritual

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When you look at life it can be characterized by various examples of growth. From the day that a new-born child enters into this Earth, to a tiny seed that is planted in fertile soil. There are many examples of living organisms that show forth what growth looks like. For example, if a baby is blessed to experience life outside of his/her mother’s womb they will hopefully grow to reach their first year of life. It is then that years pass and the infant becomes a toddler, and then of course a young child.  After surpassing the stage of a young child, then the teenage years begin which results in a brand new life experience.

After the teenage years, there are of course the years of adulthood. Once adulthood has been reached, then there is, of course, a transition into the middle-age period. Finally, if God has blessed you to live long enough, you will experience the Elderly stage of life.  As it relates to every living creature there is a time span that God allows for growth.  Each stage is different than the one before it, but there are stages of growth throughout this experience that we call ‘life.’ 

Spiritually speaking there is also the concept of growth.  It is often that you hear of the term, ‘spiritual growth’ in the context of growing in godliness. In order to see where your life stands before a Holy God, the aspect of growing in godliness will be examined. The fact is that all of us are growing in either godliness or in our sinfulness, however, there is a difference between the two but in this post, the elements of what growing in godliness looks like and how it is accomplished will be explored through scripture.

As it relates to growing in godliness, the book of 2 Peter Chapter 1 will give us a better view of what it means to grow closer to God and exhibit His characteristics. In the first part of this chapter, the Apostle Peter makes a declaration of what it means to grow in faith. Throughout this chapter, the Apostle Peter uses characteristics that can be gained when we grow in godliness.  In verses 3-4, Peter says the following:

(NLT) “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”

It is clear that Peter is talking to those who are in Christ because he uses the terms ‘we’ and ‘us.’ Basically what Peter says in verse 3 is that God has given us all that we need to live a godly life.  This means, the way that we ought to live and the principles for godliness are available to every person who chooses to follow God with their life. Notice that Peter says that we who are in Christ have received all that we need for living a godly life, based on our experience and knowledge of who God is.

In order to start the process of living and growing in godliness, it is important to know who God is both through His word and having knowledge of it and also experiencing God in an authentic relationship. To grow in godliness is to spend time with the one who exhibits godly characteristics. Think of it as spending time with your friends – when you are closely attached to those around you, you begin to exhibit similar characteristics. That is how it works in a relationship with God.  The more time you and I spend with Him, the more His traits begin to show forth in our life.

Peter goes on to mention the promises of God in verse 4:

(NLT) “And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”

Part of growing in godliness is not only receiving and understanding God’s promises but also responding in faith towards what God has promised.  The fact is that all of us who are in Christ, God has made certain promises to us. It is by trusting in God’s promises and allowing our faith to be shown in our actions and our words that we are able to please God.  Peter says that the promises of God enables us to share or portray the divinity of God while at the same time avoiding our sinful desires and the corruption of the world.

Peter continues in verses 5-7:

(NLT) “In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.”

In these two verses, the Apostle Peter instructs us to respond to God’s promises. Basically, he says that we are to build our faith by living in moral excellence or essentially to be in good standing with God based on how we live. Notice that he also lists a couple of the fruits of the Spirit.  According to Galatians chapter 5 verses 22-23 the fruits of the Spirit are listed by the Apostle Paul.

Two of the fruits of the Spirit that Peter mentions in the above scripture are self-control and patience.  The result of growing in godliness is exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit.  Peter not only gives us two of the fruits of the Spirit, but he encourages us to display these fruits along with other godly characteristics such love or brotherly affection. How does one exhibit the fruits of the Spirit and how do we display brotherly love towards everyone?

The way that you and I can truly grow in godliness is by allowing God to change our hearts through His Holy presence.  This goes back to the point of spending time with God. Prayer, worship and studying the Word of God are the key ways that we can grow in godliness.  As you begin to seek the presence of God, He begins to saturate you with His presence which then enables you to exhibit the fruits of the Spirit.

Finally verses 8-9 state the following:

(NLT) “The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins.”

Peter says that the more you grow in godliness by responding to God’s promises and exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit, then you will be productive in your knowledge of Jesus Christ.  The fact is, the more we experience God in His fullness, the more we begin to know Him.  Some have only an intellectual experience of God, but one cannot be productive if there is a limitation on actual experience. God wants us to know Him and the only way we can do that is if we experience Him in authenticity.

Peter gives a final warning in verse 9 when he warns against a failure of developing in godliness.  When you and I do not develop ourselves in godliness, then we begin to forget the reason as to why Jesus came to save us in the first place.  Jesus Christ bled, died on the cross and rose again so that we could perpetuate the image of God in the Earth and also be redeemed from our sins.

A failure to develop in godliness only means that we who are called to be separate from the world do not fully understand the privilege and honor we have to represent Jesus Christ. Do you know Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior?  If not, then you are unable to grow in godliness without Christ. You have an opportunity to be apart of the call of God unto His Holiness and righteous way of life. He wants to cleanse you of all unrighteousness and use you in His Kingdom. Accept this gift of salvation and begin to see your life change because the power of Jesus Christ.