The Growth of Faith13 [Eph 4 : 13-16] / Ephphatha Church Discipleship Training (Basic Course)

 

NewZealand / West Side          Moru

 

The Growth of Faith13

[Eph 4 : 13-16]

 

/ Ephphatha Church 

Discipleship Training

(Basic Course) 

 

 

/ By Pastor Priscilla 

 

 

Strictly speaking,

the one who has received

Jesus is called a 'new

  believer.'

 

 

 

Even though,

he's received the

Lord with faith

 

 

 

and in his heart,

and confessed

with his mouth,

 

 

 

"Jesus is Lord,"

it is not yet possible

to call him a person

born again by faith.

 

 

 

The one who believes

in the Lord and

gradually grows in faith

 

 

 

and has 'new birth'

in the Holy Spirit is truly

called 'Born-again'

in the Lord.

 

 

 

'Born-again' means that

a person, who did not

know faith, is born again

as a believer in faith in Jesus.

 

 

 

If a newborn baby

could not grow up

normally, how worried

would the parents be?

 

 

 

Likewise, if you become

a Christian who is born again

and saved, you must

definitely grow up spiritually.

 

 

 

Now, in this chapter,

we are going to find out

what is necessary

for the growth of faith

with three sections.

 

 

 

Let's look at the

scriptures as below.

 

 

 

"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.

 

 

 

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 men

in their deceitful scheming.

 

 

 

Instead, speaking

the truth in love,

 

 

 

we will in all things

grow up into him

who is the Head,

that is, Christ."

(Eph : 13-16)

             

 

 

1. If so, what are the

first things we must do

for our religious life?

 

 

 

1) We must follow Jesus.

 

 

 

Our lives depend on

whom we like and follow.

 

 

 

Those who believe

in and receive Jesus

as their Savior, follow Jesus,

 

 

 

and start to live a life

of faith from the day

of their resolutions.

 

 

 

We serve and follow

Jesus without a doubt

 because he is our Master.

 

 

 

It is also because

he is the one who guides us

into the path of salvation

and holds the master

key of our lives.

 (John 12 : 2)

 

 

 

Once someone

receives the Lord,

he will need to have time

of fellowship in order to

follow the Lord,

 

 

 

devote himself

to knowing Him,

and lead a life of faith.

 

 

 

This is because his objects

of interest and standards

of value has changed

remarkably as he gets

to know Jesus. 

(Phil 3 : 7-8)

 

 

 

2) We must crave

pure spiritual milk

  

 

 

"Because while we live

by the Word, it gradually

grows us to salvation

 

 

 

and gradually grows

into the knowledge

of Jesus Christ."

 (Eph  4 : 13-16)

 

 

 

"Like newborn babies,

crave pure spiritual milk,

so that by it you may

grow up in your

salvation."

(1 Peter 2 : 2)

 

 

(1) We must know that

faith comes from

 the Word of God. 

 

 

 

If we hear God's Word,

and get to know His heart,

our faith will be

gradually matured. 

(Rom 10 : 17)

 

 

 

(2) We must pray continually.

Prayer is like breathing

so it will become a window

of communication through

the Spirit with the Lord

 

 

 

and it will provide

constant fellowship

and communication.

(1 Thess 5 : 17)

 

 

 

(3) We must become

the ones who continue

to meet together

in the temple courts.

 

 

 

Like members

of the early church,

the closer the day

of the Lord becomes,

 

 

 

the more Lord-centered

gathering should be.

(Heb 10 : 25)

 

 

 

At this time, we need

to meet together

in the church

 

 

 

and unite each

one of us with

Christ-centered hearts

 

 

 

We meet together

in the name of Christ

in the church

 

 

 

and we need to have

fellowship with each other

while breaking bread

 

 

and eating together

with glad and sincere

hearts, (Koinonia).

(Acts 2 : 46)

 

 

Therefore, we must

realize that anyone

who hears, practice,

 

 

 

and follows

the Word of Jesus

of Nazareth, who we

believe in, is guided

 

 

 

to grow a life of faith

without being shaken

by any temptations,

 

 

as if building a

house on a rock.

(Matt 7 : 24)

 

 

 

When an infant who

is only breast-fed grows up

and starts to walk,

 

 

 

he can't walk well

enough at first,

 

 

 

but through repeated

training, he can gradally

walk and finally run.

 

 

 

Likewise, it is not easy

for us to hear the Word

of the Lord

 

 

 

and put it into practice

at first because

we have familiar

 

 

 

and fixed habits

that are formed

 as we grow up.

 

 

 

However, if we

realize that is a process

of faith growth, even if

we make mistakes

and fall away,

 

 

 

we should not be

discouraged

and frustrated.

 

 

 

If we know tha

t Heavenly Father is

holding us behind us,

 

 

 

even if we fail and fall away

, we will be able to rise again

like a 'roly poly toy.'

 

 

 

And then we will

be able to follow

God's Word, put it

into practice, and

 lead a life of faith. 

    

 

 

2. Obstacles to the

 life of faith.

 

 

 

It seems that there

are obstacles in

everything in

the world.

 

 

 

And there are also

obstacles in the life of faith

so many people easily

fall away due to obstacles

 

 

 

and even give up their faith

while trying to follow Jesus.

 

 

 

Now, let's become

a victorious Christian

who realizes what

obstacles are in the life

of faith and overcomes them.

 

 

 

If so, let's summarize

what those obstacles

are in our faith that

 may come upon us.

 

 

 

(Ex : 1)

 

The parable of seeding)

(Luke 8 : 11-15)

 

 

 

1) Internal obstacles:

 Our own mind

 

 

 

(1) The seed sown along the path.

 

 

 

It means that faith is as shallow

as a roadside field so it is easy

to enter into physical tests

such as temptation

 

 

 

or lust or greed

and pleasure in the world.

 

 

 

When the

devil tempts believers,

some of them can't

overcome it and fail away,

 

 

 

and the devil easily

takes away the word

from their hearts

 

 

 

(2) The seed on the rock.

 

 

 

Even if the Gospel falls

in the field of hearts

of some believers,

 

 

 

it becomes hardened

like a rock so the seed

 cannot be settled down.

 

 

 

In addition,

because they have

no root, it is easy to get

frustrated or disappointed

 

 

 

and fail their faith

when there are various

problems in life,

such as illness, poverty,

or unemployment.

 

 

 

(3) The seed among thorns.

 

 

 

Other believers have

many concerns about life,

 

 

 

and even if the seed

of the Word falls

in their field of

the hearts,

 

 

 

it can not grow up

because they are full

of worries and sorrows.

 

 

 

(4) The seed on the good soil.

 

 

 

Since still other believers

have good soil in their

field of the hearts,

 

 

 

and when the gospel

of God falls in their hearts,

 

 

 

it will produce a crop

of faith by 30 times,

60 times, 100 times.

 

 

 

2) Internal obstacles

 

 

 

  : The relationship

with our fellow believers. 

 

 

 

(1) The devil tries to

deceive us with

false doctrines

through heresies,

 

 

 

using all kinds of means

and methods in order to

keep our hearts away

from truth and cleanliness. 

(2 Corin 11 : 3-4)

 

 

 

(2) Believers can

bring obstacles to faith.

 

 

 

The devil tries to

disturb saints with

each other.

 

 

 

(3) If we make any believer go astray in inter-Christian communion, we must realize that we can not avoid the wrath of God.

 (Matthew 18: 7)

 

 

 

1) We must watch

  our language.

 

 

 

We must refrain from

gossips, obscenities, lies,

and words that make trouble

in the relationship

with fellow believers

 

 

 

and make them

go astray.

(Prove 12 : 18)

 

 

 

2) We must not make

money problems or engage

in untrustworthy behaviors.

 

 

 

(It is wise not to trade

money between the saints.)

 

 

 

3) We must refrain

from destroying

 our partnership.

 

 

 

(Solomon in Proverbs

recommends us

that we avoid putting up

 

 

 

our properties as

collateral for your

neighbors

 

 

 

or guaranteering for 

your neighbors.)

 

 

 

4) We must not

  make factions.

 

 

 

Especially, we should

refrain from making dissension

and factions in a church. 

 

 

 

5) We should keep watch

to refrain from pursuing

appearances, luxury

and splendor.

 

 

 

Excessive lust for fame,

lust for monopoly,

 

 

 

or lust for display can

cause factions, so we need

to pay special attentio

n to prayer and 

 

 

 

'beat each one of our bodies

and make it our slaves'.

 

 

 

This is all from the evil desires

of the world and should

be forbidden.

 

 

 

6) In the life of faith,

quarrels between believers,

especially in the church,

should be prohibited. 

 

 

 

Beside that, we should

refrain from excessive

greed or zeal.

 

 

 

(Ex : 2)

 

 

 

'Zealots'

Barabbas, Judas who

sold Jesus, etc.)

 

 

 

1) We muat recognize

that the way to find

the ideas and methods

pursued by Zealots

was different from

that of Jesus.

 

 

 

 

Sometimes,

even in a life of faith,

strong personal zeal

can lead to false results

that are very different

from Jesus' ideas.

 

 

 

Therefore, it is necessary

to distinguish whethe

r the motive for believing

in the Lord is a good

one or an evil one.

 

 

 

(It is very important to

ask the Holy Spirit and

check our own hearts.)

 

 

 

2) Don't make vain

promises with self

 -centered decisions.

 

 

 

(Peter's zeal also moved Jesus,

however, plsase keep

in mind that Peter,

 

 

 

who had fled while

Jesus was arrested

and suffering, 

 

 

 

suffered the tragedy

of denying Jesus

three times before

the rooster crowed 

(Matt 26 : 41)

 

 

 

His disciples,

who lacked prayer

and spiritual training,

absolutely followed Jesus,

 

 

 

but the moment

they saw Jesus

 

 

 

suddenly arrested

and was about to be

taken to the crucifixion,

 

 

 

they hurriedly

abandoned Jesus

and ran away for fear

that they would be

caught and suffered. 

 

 

 

They were terrified,

fearing that difficulties

would also come upon them.

 

 

 

When we imagine what

happened that night,

nobody can blame them

for their lack of faith.

 

 

 

This is because it is not

unreasonable to think

that the images of the

disciples

 

 

 

and Peter who followed

Jesus were the field

of our faith today

 

 

 

and the reality of

our life of faith.

 

 

 

So, what kind of faith

should we live with

as a solution?  

 

 

 

1) We must do good deeds.

In other words, as Jesus taught,

we must have good hearts,

speak good words,

 

 

 

and become examples

of our lives in the

 eyes of others.

 

 

 

"In the same way,

let your light shine

before men, that

 

 

 

they may see your

good deeds and praise

your Father in heaven."

(Matt 5 : 16)

 

 

 

In a word, we must

become models, that is,

good examples of our

lives of faith.

 

 

 

In other words, it is most

important to practice

 

 

 

and evangelize the gospel

of the Lord to those around us

 

 

 

in a life that only Jesus is

revealed instead of showing

or boasting about our

good deeds.

 

 

 

3. How can the growth of faith

and obstacles be overcome?

 

 

 

 

1) We have to watch

and pray so that we will

not fall into temptation.

 (Matt 26 : 41)

 

 

 

The weaker the body is,

the more earnestly the

Lord's help is needed.

 

 

 

Therefore, David urges

believers to call upon God

with prayer and praise.

(Psalm 109 : 1-4)

 

 

 

2) We should live in the faith

and stand firm on the

foundation and not be

shaken by the hope

of the Gospel.

 

 

 

The apostle Paul

 urges us as below.

 

 

 

"Once you were

alienated from God

and were enemies

in your minds because

 of your evil behavior.

 

 

 

But now he has reconciled you

by Christ's physical body

through death to present

you holy in his sight,

 

 

 

without blemish

and free from accusation--

 

 

 

if you continue in your faith,

established and firm,

not moved from the hope

held out in the gospel.

 

 

 

This is the gospel that

you heard and that

has been proclaimed

to every creature

under heaven,

 

 

 

and of which I,

Paul, have become

a servant.

 

 

 

Now I rejoice in what

was suffered for you,

 

 

 

and I fill up in my flesh

what is still lacking in

regard to Christ's afflictions,

 

 

 

for the sake of his body,

which is the church.

 

 

 

I have become its

servant by the commission

God gave me to present

to you the word of God

in its fullness--"

(Colo 1 : 21-25)

 

 

 

In other words,

Jesus wanted you to

stand firm before Him

as holy, blameless.

 

 

 

And if you live in the faith

as you heard what

we preach, stand firm

on the foundation,

 

 

 

and don't shake from the hope

of the gospel that Jesus

preached, you will be

well-established like Jesus.

 

 

 

Paul said,

“I, Paul, have becone

a worker of this gospel."

 

 

 

Why did the apostle Paul

become a minister

of the gospel?

 

 

 

"Now I rejoice

in what was

suffered for you,

 

 

 

and I fill up in my flesh

what istill lacking in regard

to Christ's afflictions,

for the sake of his body,

which is the church.

 

 

 

I have become its servant

by the commission God

gave me to present to you

 

 

 

the word of God

in its fullness--"

(Coloss 1 : 24-25) 

 

 

 

"Therefore,

since we are surrounded

by such a great cloud

of witnesses,

 

 

 

let us throw off

everything that hinders

and the sin that so

easily entangles,

 

 

 

and let us run with

perseverance the race

  marked out for us.

 

 

 

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,

the author and perfecter

of our faith, who for the joy

set before him endured

the cross, scorning its shame,

 

 

 

and sat down at the

right hand of the

 throne of God.

 

 

 

Consider him who endured

such opposition from sinful men,

so that you will not grow

weary and lose heart."

(Heb 12 : 1-3)

 

 

 

"You need to persevere

so that when you have done

the will of God, you will

receive what he has

promised."

(Heb 10 : 36)

 

 

 

That is, God's inheritance

and security will be given

to those who endure well.    

 

 

 

4. Summary 

 

 

 

1) What should the

saved people do?

 

 

 

In order to fulfill

our entrusted mission,

 

 

 

we must diligently preach

the gospel of God's kingdom

and participate in God's

work of salvation.

 

 

 

We must preach the gospel

and grow the faith life

of the born-again children

of God in the church.

 

 

 

(1) Presbyterian Church

(Salvation)

 

(2) Baptist (Bible study)

 

(3) Full Gospel (Emphasis on Ministry)

 

 

 

However, each church

should learn and complement

each other's strengths

rather than biasing

and emphasizing

on one side.

 

 

 

In addition,

we must achieve a balance

between the word of God's

gospel and the practice

of our life of faith.

 

 

 

(Ex : 3)

 

 

 

God's gifts and the

fruit of the Spirit

 

 

 

2) What are the factors

for the growth of faith?

 

 

 

(1) The Bible study

(2) Prayer

 

 

 

(3) Practice (love, sacrifice,

the nine fruits of the

Holy Spirit, maturity...etc.)

 

 

 

3) What are the factors

that hinder the growth

of faith?

 

 

 

(1) Devil's interference (spiritual)

(2) Test (accompanied by hardships)

(3) Desire, greed, and pleasure

 

 

 

(4) Heresy doctrine

(Pork barreling)

 

 

 

(5) Religious pluralism

 (Believe in all gods)

(6) Discouragement,

giving up

 

 

 

4) What are some ways

to overcome and win

obstacles that hinder

the growth of faith?

 

 

 

 (1) Prayer and Word

 (2) Relying on Jesus

 (3) The importance

of patience.

 

 

 

2021/02/04

 

 

 

/ By Priscilla!