why we do not grow
Posted by: preacher30673 <preacher30673@...>
WHY WE Do not REACH OUR FULL POTENTIAL
JOSHUA 17: 14-15
Statistics declare that the average productivity of a Christian's spiritual life is less than three years. This is troubling and startling to me.
Billy Sunday used to say, "If we Christians were as weak physically as we are spiritually, we would all need crutches."
If you are not growing spiritually, you ought to be worried. Growth is the normal and natural result of life; and if there isn't growth, that life is in jeopardy.
Now, we are not surprised when we grow physically; we expect it. If, by chance, growth doesn't occur, we immediately know something is wrong and attempt to uncover the problem (Gloria and Johnny).
However, we often look upon Christians who have grown and are growing as extraordinary specimens of Christianity. I believe as Christians we have no right to call ourselves normal until spiritual growth becomes as natural as physical growth.
Just as there are enemies to physical growth, there are also enemies to spiritual growth. Our spiritual development is never unopposed. We do not simply drift into maturity. To grow we must swim upstream against the stubborn currents that try to hold us back.
You know your experience of salvation was real, and there has been some progress, but it is pitifully small, almost microscopic. What's the problem?
The Bible tells us to grow in grace.
This passage from Joshua throws some light on why we do not grow or why we do not reach our full potential.
The CHILDREN OF JOSEPH are an illustration for us today of some who failed to reach their potential. There are some who fail to maximize their lives, and I want us to see why they failed.
I. We fail to REACH OUR FULL POTENTIAL WHEN WE ONLY Apply PARTIAL CONQUEST.
There's a telling statement in verses 12, 13.
Now don' miss this point: although Israel had conquered the land, many of the Canaanites, the enemy, if you please still lived there.
See Joshua 16:10.
The children of Joseph, that is, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, complain to Joshua of the narrowness of their allotment, which was increased by the Canaanites still retaining so large a portion of it.
Before Israel entered the land, God specified in no uncertain terms that all the inhabitants of the land were to be driven out completely - not a single Canaanite was to be left. But again and again, with deliberate significance, we read that they did not drive them out. Now the land swarmed with both natives and newcomers. No wonder they complained of crowded conditions!
Suppose you meet me on the street and ask how I am. I answer by saying "Not so well. We need a larger house. There are only two of us, but we are crowded."
"I can help you," you say. "There's a twelve room house for sale real cheap. A family of seven has lived there but they are wanting to move."
Off I go and buy the house and move my wife and I into the twelve rooms.
A few days later you meet me again on the street and ask how I am. "Not so well," I answer. "We need a larger house."
"A larger house? But there are only two of you in that twelve room castle! How could you be crowded?" you reply.
"Well, the former owners seven of them, you know are still living there, and it is pretty crowded."
It would not require a genius to solve my problem. Move out the former owners.
What right do I have to complain about crowded conditions when I am not using the room I have?
And that was exactly the case with these two complaining tribes. The children of Joseph had plenty of room, but it was occupied by the enemy. The children of Joseph, that is, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, complain to Joshua of the smallest of their allotment, which was increased by the Canaanites still retaining so large a portion of it.
Are you living up to your capacity? Look around; have you allowed some Canaanites to remain in your life?
God told you to drive out every one, but there were two or three you were especially fond of, and so you've allowed them to hang around. Of course, you've given them strict orders to behave themselves and for the most part they've done so. Let me tell you, there can be no continuing growth as long as you tolerate the presence of a single Canaanite.
You're always going to be in trouble if you keep company with Canaanites.
Some of us have been keeping company with Canaanites, and we have no business keeping company with Canaanites. And, what do I mean by Canaanites? I mean, sins that are in our lives that we ought to be victorious over, but we're not victorious.
Do you know what God's plan for children of Joseph was complete victory. Did you know what God wants you to have? Complete victory.
It's interesting to note some of the reasons we keep the Canaanites around:
A. A spirit of compromise
God said that every inhabitant had to go. We reason that surely one or two won't make any difference. That's the way it begins. We know a thing is wrong but just a little bit will not be bad we reason.
Why drive them all out? They make good workers and are cheap labor. It could be very advantageous to keep a few of them around.
No matter how you say it, they were compromising the Word of God, and that is plain, unadulterated disobedience.
A hunter cornered a large bear and was ready to pull the trigger. Just then the bear spoke in a soft, soothing voice saying, "Isn't it better to talk than to shoot? Why don't we negotiate the matter? What is it you want?"
The hunter lowered his rifle and answered, "I want a fur coat."
"That's good," said the bear. "I think that's something we can talk about. All I want is something to eat; maybe we can reach a compromise." So they sat down to talk it over.
A little while later the bear walked away alone. The negotiations had been successful; the bear had a full stomach, and the hunter had a fur coat!
Don't negotiate with the world! You'll lose every time.
B. A spirit of complacency
Did you notice that when they allowed the Canaanites to stay, they put them to forced labor? That means they made slaves of them. Sure, they had been the enemy; but now they were slaves and under control.
Who says the Bible isn't up to date? I can't count the number of people I've heard reason the same way. "Yeah, I know it's not altogether right but I can handle it. It's a problem, but I have learned to control it."
Have you ever heard someone say about his drinking, "Oh, I can take it or leave it?" What's so great about that? That's all anyone can do take it or leave it. There is no third alternative. But I have observed that those who say that usually choose to "Take it."
The truth is, the Israelites couldn't handle it. The Canaanites refused to be slaves. And if the Israelites couldn't do it, neither can we.
C. A spirit of cowardice
If it weren't so tragic, this would be funny. Look at chapter 17:16. Joshua had told the people that if they wanted more room, they should go up to the forest and clear the land.
Note their reply.
First, they said that the hill country wasn't big enough, but actually they were afraid of the armed Canaanites.
However, I thought the Canaanites had been put to forced labor. I thought they were slaves and under control. If so, then those are the strangest slaves I've ever heard of!
One of the big reasons we don't try to drive out the Canaanites (these pet sins and hidden habits) is that we are afraid we can't. So we avoid a direct confrontation.
It's much more comfortable living with the illusions that we can drive them out any time we please. You say you can quit that habit any time you want to...do why don't you, then? Is it possible that you are the real slave?
I. We will fail to REACH OUR FULL POTENTIAL WHEN WE ONLY apply PARTIAL CONQUEST.
II. We will fail to REACH OUR FULL POTENTIAL WHEN WE RATIONALLY assume Preferential CONsideration (14)
Surely they deserved special treatment. You couldn't expect someone as great as they were to live by the same rules as everyone else. It was the VIP treatment for them.
After all, didn't Jacob personally adopt and especially bless them? And hadn't they multiplied in a great way? And wasn't Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 13:8)? They were a special people who deserved special treatment.
Joshua, though a descendant himself of Joseph, remained perfectly impartial.
I am simply amazed at how many believers actually feel this way. They know the laws governing growth and spirituality - faithful Bible study and prayer, up to date confession of sin, and diligent obedience to the Word of God; however, they expect God's blessings without them.
Our passage reveals two factors that contribute to their attitude.
A. Haughtiness
The sons of Joseph boasted that they were a great people and had been singularly blessed by the Lord. This, they thought, should qualify them for preferential treatment. They were descendants of the man whom Pharaoh had made lord of Egypt.
Pride is a subtle termite that eats away the foundation of Christian growth. It can attack a church or an individual with equal deadliness.
A respected position in the church, widely acclaimed talent, past blessings, high honors any one of these can inflate us with the hot air of arrogance.
An ancient Indonesian fable tells of a turtle that could fly. He would hold on to a stick with his mouth as it was carried by geese. When the turtle heard the onlookers on the ground saying, "Aren't those geese brilliant!"
His pride was so hurt that he shouted, "It was my idea!" Of course he lost his grip. His pride became his downfall.
Unless we're humble, we're sure to stumble.
There's one thing that will keep us from living maximum lives, and it is paralyzing pride, pride where we think that we have arrived.
B. Laziness
I am convinced the main reason Christians are not more spiritual, more mature, more dedicated, is that they are too lazy!
The major problem with most Christians is laziness. It was so with the crowd in Joshua 17.
Joshua told them if they wanted more land they could have it if they were willing to work for it. Cut down the trees and drive out the Canaanites were the only stipulations. But that is exactly what they weren't willing to do. They didn't want to build or battle; they just wanted to beg.
Laziness begins with cobwebs, and ends with iron chains.
At this precise moment you are as spiritual as you really want to be. Oh, I know we moan and groan, wishing we were more spiritual; but wishing won't get it. It is useless to beg God for more growth if we are not willing to build and battle for it.
One day a father took his son to Spurgeon's College to study for the ministry under that prince of preachers. When Mr. Spurgeon told the father the course of instruction would require several years, the father said, "My son is an unusually bright young man! I'm certain you could arrange for him to finish much sooner."
Mr. Spurgeon replied, "Sir, God takes twenty years to grow an oak tree and only six months to grow a squash. Which do you want your son to be?"
There are no shortcuts to maturity. To reach it demands discipline and determination.
I. We will fail to REACH OUR FULL POTENTIAL WHEN WE ONLY apply PARTIAL CONQUEST.
II. We will fail to REACH OUR FULL POTENTIAL WHEN WE RATIONALLY assume Preferential CONsideration (14)
III. We will fail to REACH OUR FULL POTENTIAL WHEN WE FOOLISHLY avoid proper COmmitments (17,18).
Note Joshua's solution to their problem (17,18).
Clear out the forest and drive out the Canaanites. That was the simple solution to their growth problem.
Until this is done, no expansion could be expected. The land was theirs, but before they could possess it, certain things had to be done. So it is with us.
Although they avoided proper commitments, I trust we will not; so let's examine more closely the two tasks Joshua assigned to them. I call them proper commitments for growth. They are as necessary to our growth as they were to theirs.
A. Clear Out The Clutter ... Vs. 18a
Chop down the trees!
Nothing wrong with trees .... unless you want to build a house, grow corn, or lay a road where a tree is growing.
These trees had to be removed .... if trees are cluttering the land you can't say there's not enough room.
They needed to clear out the harmless things that cluttered their life!
Have you done that?
Clear out the clutter!
The trees symbolize the many harmless things, even good things, that fill the agenda of our daily lives.
I am certain that when we have talked about the necessity of a daily time of prayer and Bible study someone has said, "Oh, that would be great, but I'm just too busy. I don't have room for another thing in my day."
The truth is, we all have the same amount of time, twenty four hours to the day and seven days to the week.
I find that people usually manage to make time for what they think is really important. And if you don't have time to do everything God intends you to do, it simply means that you are misusing some of your time.
You will never find time for God; you will have to make time. This means some trees will have to be cut down.
In Matthew 13, Jesus described this situation in the parable of the sower. It is really a parable of the soil, for the soil is the main subject of the story; The part that concerns us tells about the seed that fell into thorny ground: "And some fell among the thorns, and the thorns sprung up and choked them " (Matthew 13:7). Jesus explains the meaning in verse 22. "He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful."
Our lives so often become so cluttered with the cares of this world, that the Word of God is strangled before it has a chance to grow.
Perhaps late night television will have to be eliminated so you can rise earlier in order to have time to pray and read the Word. That is only an example of what I mean.
If you really want to know, God will show you the trees you need to clear away.
A high school science teacher wanted to demonstrate a concept to his students. He takes a large- mouth jar and places several large rocks in it. He then asks the class, "Is it full?
Unanimously, the class reply, "Yes!"
The teacher then takes a bucket of gravel and pours it into the jar. The small rocks settle into the spaces between the big rocks.
He then asks the class, "Is it full?"
This time there are some students holding back, but most reply, "Yes!"
The teacher then produces a large can of sand and proceeds to pour it into the jar. The sand fills up the spaces between the gravel.
For the third time, the teacher asks, "Is it full?
Now most of the students are wary of answering, but again, many reply, "Yes!"
Then the teacher brings out a pitcher of water and pours it into the jar. The water saturates the sand. At this point the teacher asks the class, "What is the point of this demonstration?"
One bright young student raises his hand and then responds, "No matter how full one's schedule is in life, he can always squeeze in more things!"
"No," replies the teacher, "The point is that unless you first place the big rocks into the jar, you are never going to get them in."
The big rocks are the most important things in your life. If you fill your life with small things, as demonstrated by the gravel, the sand, and the water, you will never have the time for the important things.
So, what are the "Big Rocks" in your life? If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are truly important.
Pay attention to the things in life that are critical to your spiritual growth first. Take care of the rocks first – things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just pebbles and sand.
B. Clean Out the Corruption
Vs. 18b "... drive out the Canaanites."
We must clean out the harmful things that corrupt our lives.
After the trees come the Canaanites. Cut down the trees; then you will be able to drive out the enemy.
It would seem more reasonable to drive out the Canaanites first. After all do you think they're going to lounge around watching us chop down those trees?
But no, Joshua had the order correct. Cut down the trees; then you will be able to drive out the enemy.
The Canaanites—the Canaanites that we favor, and the Canaanites that we fear— are to be driven out of our lives. And, you say, "But, hasn't Joshua gotten it backwards? Don't you think that first of all we ought to drive out the Canaanites, and then clean up the woods?"
That's not the way Joshua told it. As a matter of fact, folks, before you get ready to do a battle, you'd better clear off a spot to fight from. There might be a Canaanite in those trees.
It'll be a great day in your life when we learn that worship comes before warfare. You know, it's far more important for you to get the things out of your life that clutter your life so that you can just spend some time with God, learning what God wants you to know, storing up, getting yourself strong, getting yourself fortified, establishing a beachhead, and then, and only then, can you go out and drive out the Canaanites, the Canaanites that corrupt our lives.
You will never have the power to drive out the habits and hangover sins in your life until you give priority to a daily time of fellowship - and communion with God. Once you have accomplished this, the divine strength you receive will enable you to drive out the enemy.
Remember, we saw that although Israel entered the land ready to fight, the first thing God had the nation do was worship. That's the divine order: worship before warfare.
Mark 3:14 - And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach
You will never know or have the power to drive out the habits of sin in your life until you give priority to a daily time of fellowship and communion with God. Worship comes before warfare.
There you have the two types of things that keep us from being all we ought to be: the things that clutter our lives and the things that corrupt our lives.
Conclusion
The principle of growth lives within every believer; just as with our physical development. However, we must cooperate with the laws of spiritual health if that growth is to be realized in our lives.
Don't you want to grow to be a maximum Christian? Don't you want to live to your full potential? Wouldn't you like to be all that you could be?
Well, friend, don't be like the children of Joseph, children who fail to possess their possessions.
Be careful of
applying PARTIAL CONQUEST
Assuming Preferential CONsideration
Avoiding Proper COmmitments
IN HIS ETERNAL GRIP,
Pastor Jimmy Chapman
Victory Baptist Church
706-678-1855
--
To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: pastormail-unsubscribe@welovegod.org