1 Cor. 3:6-7 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
- God makes things grow but first we need to plant (do something) and water (care) it.
- If you want result you need to act
Biblical examples
Abraham
- Blessings (Result) – Obedience (Action based on faith)
Peter
- Large number of fish (Result) – Obedience (Action based on faith)
Widow of Zarephat
- Daily provision (Result) – Obedience (Action based on faith)
Nehemiah
- Wall of
Therefore Faith + Action = Result
Growth in the Church (growth in all aspect)
Acts 9:31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and
- peace – strengthening – encouragement – growth
- growth is the will of God
- when God’s people is growing, God’s kingdom is growing also
- growth in God’s kingdom is the result of healthy church
- when God’s kingdom is growing, church will be blessed abundantly
Three Areas God will use for Growth
1. Growth within ourselves
- personal relationship with God (respect and honor)
- personal growth is the will of God, just allow Him
- ACTION: Matt. 22:37-38 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. (NIV)
- Rom 13:12-14 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (NIV)
- 2Peter 1:5-9 5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. (NIV)
2. Growth within the family of believers
- it is the will of God to make us grow in all aspects – spiritually, economically, emotionally, mentally, and physically
- Acts 9:31 31Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and
- It says that growth is just a result if we have peace
- NEED for growth: peace within
- HOW: a) right relationship with one another
- Matt. 22:39 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.’
- This is what we need to plant - Phil. 2:1-4 1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (NIV)
- HOW: b) Prosperity of believers
- Source: Phil. 4:19 19And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. (NIV) (God is rich)
- Purpose: 2 Cor. 9:11 11You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
- ACTION 1) Be generous – 2 Cor. 9:11
- Biblical example 2 Cor. 8:1-3 1And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability.
- ACTION 2) Give your whole tithes and offering faithfully
- Mal. 3:8-10 8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me.
"But you ask, 'How do we rob you?'
"In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—the whole nation of you—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.
- ACTION 3) Give importance to the house of God
- Haggai 1:5-10 5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it." 7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD. 9 "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. 10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops.
- God will prosper the works of your hand if you do it for God’s glory
- When you prosper, remember God
- Deuteronomy 8:17-18 17 You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." 18 But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.
3. Growth through the family of believers through evangelism
- We need to go outside, seek and save the lost, bring them inside, train them also to seek and save the lost
- Luke 19:10 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
- NEED: support and involvement, money (resources), manpower, moment (time), machine (tools and equipment)
- Matt. 6:33 – But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Food, clothing, shelter, all our needs)
- If your desire is to do the will of God to expand His kingdom, He will prosper you and make you an instrument for this expansion.
- You are a channel, not a storage
Conclusion
If you want growth for the church, for your family, and for yourself, do your part – PLANT and WATER for God’s purpose, then God will do His part – GROWTH.
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