Participants:
Series Code: SCS
Program Code: SCS000008
|
00:33 Chapter 8: Growing Up Into Christ.
00:38 Hello and welcome to Steps to Christ in Song. 00:40 Today we're going to be looking the topic of Growing 00:42 up into Christ. When I think of that topic of 00:45 Growing Up Into Christ I always think of Clayton, 00:48 Clayton came to our church, young man, 00:50 19 years old, very strong and very talented, 00:55 blonde hair, blue eyes and big smile on his face. 00:58 I remember the first time I met him, he was sitting 01:01 in the congregation, came after church, 01:04 shook my hand and he said I'd like to be baptized. 01:07 And so we had a number of Bible studies and 01:10 eventually Clayton was baptized. 01:13 I could see from the moment I met him, 01:14 that his whole focus was on Jesus Christ. 01:18 He told me his story of how he grew up with epilepsy 01:23 and this was a problem for him and how his mother 01:26 and father had been killed in a motor bike accident, 01:30 and so he had gone from one foster home to the 01:33 next foster home, but in one school that he was at, 01:36 he meet this young man who was a very strong 01:39 Christian and because of this young man's influence 01:43 on his life, Clayton said that's what I want, 01:47 and by seeing the example of Christ in this other man, 01:53 he said you know this is really what's gonna give me 01:56 meaning to my life and so his whole focus was on Christ, 01:59 he would read his Bible, he would pray. 02:02 Clayton decided he would go to university and he would 02:05 study anything that would enable him to live a life 02:10 in service for Jesus Christ. He ended up studying 02:12 marketing and management. He got his degree 02:15 and he was working, but unfortunately a few years 02:19 after he qualified and he was working, he died of 02:23 epilepsy. It sounds like a very sad story, 02:27 but really if I think about it, his whole focus 02:30 was on Jesus and he knows that even though he died, 02:35 he knew, he wasn't afraid of death, he knew it could be 02:37 possible he could die of epilepsy, but he knew that 02:40 he would be resurrected by Jesus. His whole focus 02:43 was on him. And so that's our thought today, 02:46 we're gonna think about Growing up into Christ. 02:49 I'm gonna ask Melissa to lead us in a word of prayer. 02:54 Dear Father, you are the vine and we are the branches 03:00 and you know we must be connected to you 03:03 in order to grow and Lord, that's why we're here today. 03:08 We want to grow, in our relationship with you 03:12 and so we ask you to be with us and just be here 03:17 with us as we talk about growing closer to you, 03:20 in Jesus name Amen. Amen. 03:26 If you've committed yourself to Christ and are born 03:29 again, you might be asking, how can I grow up 03:32 to become a mature Christian. Well nature teaches 03:35 us lessons that can help us understand this process. 03:39 As a plant grows and bears fruit by receiving 03:41 air and sunshine and rain from God. 03:44 So, we grow and become more like Jesus, 03:47 by receiving from God those things that feed our new 03:50 spiritual nature. I don't completely understand it, 03:54 but it seems that the more I study the life and example 03:57 of Christ in the Bible, the more I want to be like him. 04:00 The Bible puts it this way. In Second Corinthians 3:18, 04:03 it says, but we all with unveiled face beholding 04:07 as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, 04:09 are being transformed into the same image from glory 04:12 to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 04:16 So, spending time, getting to know Jesus has a same 04:19 effect on us as the sunshine, the showers 04:22 and the soil have on a growing plant. 04:27 Sitting at the feet of Jesus, 04:33 Oh, what words I hear Him say! 04:40 Happy place! So near, so precious! 04:47 May I find it there each day; 04:54 Sitting at the feet of Jesus, I would look upon the past; 05:08 For His love has been so gracious, 05:15 He has won my heart at last. 05:22 Sitting at the feet of Jesus, 05:29 Where can mortal be more blest? 05:35 There I lay my sins and sorrows, 05:42 And, when weary, find sweet rest; 05:49 Sitting at the feet of Jesus, 05:56 There I love to reap and pray; 06:02 While I from His fullness gather 06:09 Grace and comfort every day. 06:16 Bless me, O my Savior, bless me, 06:24 As I'm waiting at Thy feet; 06:31 Oh, look down in love upon me, 06:37 Let me see Thy face so sweet; 06:44 Give me, Lord, the mind of Jesus, 06:51 Keep me holy as He is; 06:58 May I prove I've been with Jesus, 07:05 Who is all my righteousness. 07:16 David, I want to ask you a question about seeds 07:20 you know and compare that as Jesus does to the Christian 07:23 walk. If I took say some cherry seeds and I planted 07:25 them in different types of soil, are they gonna 07:27 produce the same kind of trees. And I'm talking really 07:31 about the Christian life, you know being planted in 07:35 different types of soil will produce different results. 07:38 Well, for me growing up I always grew up a Christian 07:42 and I knew about Christ, but I didn't really 07:45 have a personal relationship with him and I just saw 07:50 him as someone out there who created the world, 07:52 who is up there someone, but who didn't really 07:54 care about me. And then when I came here to Fountain view, 07:58 my, the influences around me changed and I started 08:02 realizing his love for me through the influence of my 08:05 friends, like how much happiness they had and 08:07 how kind they were and so yeah it doesn't really 08:12 matter where you grow up or necessarily that 08:16 your parents are Christians or whatever, 08:18 but can grow up you know it's all inside you, 08:20 like what your relationship with Christ is. 08:22 So, instead of him being a distant God, 08:24 now he was closer to you. 08:25 Yeah, he was really lot more real to me because 08:28 I realized that he actually loved me and I wanted 08:31 to have a relationship with him, because you know 08:35 if you don't think someone loves you or you don't 08:38 think they care about you, it doesn't really matter, 08:40 you don't care about having relationship with them. 08:42 Right, once you've realized their true love for you, 08:45 be like wow, I was like. I realized that he really 08:48 loved me and that's what I wanted in a relationship 08:52 with him. I detected in what you said though that there 08:54 was an influence from friends that encouraged 08:56 that close walk with Jesus. 08:59 Yeah, it was really after I came here with some friends 09:02 and some staff members who just to how loving 09:05 they were to me all the time, it didn't matter if I 09:07 was hard to get along with that day or whenever 09:10 you know, they were just always loving and kind 09:12 and encouraging me to you know read my Bible, 09:15 so I could you know get closer to God. 09:19 Would you've called yourself a lukewarm Christian, 09:21 before you wanted to draw close to him? 09:26 Well, I thought I was a Christian because my parents 09:29 were and because I knew about God and believed 09:32 that there was a God out there. But, 09:34 I don't think that I was a really a Christian because 09:38 I didn't have a relationship with God and 09:40 I didn't care about you know God or anything of that 09:43 sort so. I don't think I would really call myself 09:48 a Christian back then. Right and but now you feel 09:50 like you're closer to him, does the Bible mean more 09:54 to you, do you read devotional books that help you 09:56 in your walk now. Oh! Yeah definitely, 09:58 see when I first came here, I didn't read the Bible really 10:01 at all or anything in the mornings but now, 10:04 I just really enjoy reading the Bible, 10:06 especially the gospels because they just show Jesus 10:09 as this clear picture to me and instead of you know; 10:13 instead of only you know praying to God whatever, 10:16 we can also read his word to us, that's what he 10:18 send it to us, that we can learn more about him. 10:21 And now that you're a Christian all your problems 10:23 have gone away. And you're living a perfect life 10:26 without any problems, no difficulties. No, 10:29 not really, I still fall to temptations and I still 10:34 make mistakes, but the difference now is that instead 10:37 of not caring about the mistakes I make. 10:39 I really want to be more Christ and want him 10:42 to help me overcome those difficulties, those failures 10:46 and to always you know be growing closer to him. Amen. 10:54 There is a real benefit in having a personal relationship 10:58 with the God of the universe. Just think of it not only 11:02 do we have the promise to live eternally, 11:05 but we can also live lives of peaceful rest right now, 11:10 because he has the ability to meet our everyday needs. 11:15 Jesus says in Matthew chapter 11 verse 28, 11:20 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, 11:25 and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you 11:29 and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, 11:33 and you will find rest for your souls. 11:38 This peace that God has promised as result of trusting 11:42 in a power outside of ourselves for our salvation. 11:46 But, there is a strong temptation for many to focus 11:49 their attention on themselves instead of on the savior. 11:54 This distraction leads them to separate from Christ and 11:58 in the darkness that follows many lose the assurance 12:02 of salvation. It says in Isaiah chapter 26 verse 3, 12:10 You will keep him in perfect peace, 12:13 whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. 12:19 God will keep you in perfect peace when you fix 12:23 your thoughts on him and not on yourself. 12:38 O soul are you weary and troubled? 12:47 No light in the darkness you see? 12:54 There's light for a look at the Savior, 13:03 And life more abundant and free: 13:12 Turn your eyes upon Jesus, 13:20 Look full in His wonderful face; 13:29 And the things of earth will grow strangely dim 13:37 In the light of His glory and grace. 13:49 Through death into life everlasting 13:57 He passed, and we follow Him there; 14:05 Over us sin no more hath dominion 14:14 For more than conquerors we are! 14:23 Turn you eyes upon Jesus, 14:31 Look full in His wonderful face; 14:39 And the things of earth will grow strangely dim 14:48 In the light of His glory and grace. 15:00 His word shall not fail you He promised; 15:09 Believe Him and all will be well. 15:17 Then go to a world that is dying, 15:25 His perfect salvation to tell! 15:34 Turn you eyes upon Jesus, 15:42 Look full in His wonderful face; 15:51 And the things of earth will grow strangely dim 15:59 In the light of His glory and grace. 16:16 You know I really like that song, and it reminds me of 16:19 something I was reading the other day in the book, 16:21 Steps to Christ, it says, as the flower turns to the sun, 16:26 that the bright beams may aid in perfecting its 16:28 beauty and symmetry, so should we turn to the Son 16:32 Righteousness, that heaven's light may shine upon us, 16:35 that our character may be developed into the likeness 16:38 of Christ. So, turning our eyes upon Jesus, 16:41 keeping your eyes fixed on him. You know David 16:45 was talking about how he learned that experience 16:49 being in an atmosphere where he had support, 16:52 could you relate to what David said? 16:55 I can, you know it's almost the same story I grew 16:59 in a Adventist home as well and I just, my relationship 17:06 with Christ wasn't real until I came here to Fountain view. 17:08 You know I knew that he was there, 17:10 I knew I loved him and I knew that I needed to have a 17:14 relationship with him, but it wasn't most important 17:17 to my life. It was like on the back burner and. 17:22 Did you feel the assurance that you were saved? 17:26 No, no, I always wondered like if I was really saved or 17:31 not, I thought I probably was because my parents 17:34 were Adventists and I knew I wanted to go to heaven, 17:37 I really did, and I though that that was enough, 17:40 maybe just wanting go to heaven would you know 17:43 help me get there or something but I didn't totally 17:47 understand that until I came here. 17:49 What produced that change for you? 17:52 Well, I think it was a lot different things like friends 17:56 and staff members and they encouraged me to read 17:59 the Bible and the book Steps to Christ and I read 18:03 through both of those this year. 18:05 And that's been a real blessing to me. 18:06 So you read through the Bible, the entire Bible 18:08 and the book, Steps to Christ. I saw your copy 18:11 it's all underlined, yeah so it made a big impact 18:14 on you. Yeah, it really did. 18:17 Douglas, when we walk with Christ sometimes we have 18:21 things that hold us back in our relationship feelings 18:25 that we're not adequate or not good enough. 18:28 Can you relate to those kind of feelings. 18:31 Yeah, from a very young age, I had been diagnosed 18:35 with ADHD and it made my life a big struggle, 18:37 my parents worked with me and it was hard for them. 18:41 But, when I went to school I became labeled the 18:44 class dummy. I was, I was always told that 18:47 I wouldn't amount to anything. 18:48 That's been hard. It was and I would just, 18:53 I was always told I would be a failure in life. 18:58 And so what made you; was there any turning point 19:03 for you when you kind of had some hope you know 19:05 maybe God was looking over you or maybe he just 19:07 abandoned you, maybe he just created you as a reject 19:10 or something, you know, what was it that made 19:12 you have some hope? Well, when I was about 15, 19:15 I was in a car accident on my way home from a friend's 19:19 house. And my mother happened to see the car 19:22 in time and swerved and it, had that not happened 19:26 the car would have most likely hit my door directly 19:29 head on and I probably would not be here today 19:31 and that gave me a lot of hope knowing that God 19:33 really did care for me. So, he protected you? 19:35 Yeah he protected me in that. 19:36 You had that assurance, that confidence that he was 19:39 with you. Yeah, yeah and your walk with Christ now. 19:45 It's still a big struggle for me, it's not easy 19:49 but I realized that with his hope, 19:51 I can do anything and that's what keeps me going 19:55 from day to day. Praise the Lord. Thanks Douglas. 20:01 As you focus your attention on Jesus, 20:04 you receive peace because you realize that God not only 20:06 cares about you, but he also takes care of you. 20:10 God wants to become a big part of your life. 20:13 In fact he wants to come so close to you that the two 20:16 of you become one, similar to a marriage. 20:19 He realizes that unless he can come into your heart 20:21 and give you some serious help, your case will be 20:25 hopeless and you'll be lost. But, Jesus says in Revelation 20:29 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. 20:33 If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, 20:37 I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with me, 20:40 will you consider letting him in? 20:47 The Savior is waiting to enter your heart 20:57 Why don't you let Him come in? 21:05 There's nothing in this world to keep you apart 21:14 What is your answer to Him? Time after time 21:27 He has waited before And now He is waiting again 21:41 To see if you're willing To open the door 21:51 Oh, how He wants to come in. 23:11 If you'll take one step Toward the Savior, 23:17 my friend, You'll find His arms are open wide. 23:28 Receive Him, and all of your darkness will end 23:38 Within your heart He'll abide. Time after time 23:51 He has waited before And now He is waiting again 24:04 To see if you're willing To open the door 24:14 Oh, how He wants to come in. 24:27 You know the song the savior is waiting. 24:29 It just shows us how much Jesus is longing for us 24:32 to let him come into our hearts, 24:33 so that he can changer our sinful stony heart into 24:37 a Christ like heart of flesh you know. 24:41 That again connects with the story of Mary and Martha 24:44 sitting at Jesus feet. You had talked to me about 24:48 that one day, how do you see that story? 24:52 Well, in the story Martha was caught up doing all these 24:55 different things like she was so distracted from the real, 24:59 from spending time with Jesus like Mary was 25:01 and it wasn't; she wasn't doing bad things but 25:04 they are just things I think that were distracting her 25:05 from the real goal and Mary was there sitting, 25:09 spending time in Jesus and getting something that will 25:11 never be taken away from her. 25:12 What kind of distractions do you find that distract 25:16 you from the real goal? Well, I think for a lot of us 25:20 we don't necessarily get extracted by bad things, 25:21 there's little things like spending time too much time 25:26 with friends when you can be spending time with God 25:28 or even like simple things like cleaning your room 25:30 when you know you haven't spent time with God 25:32 for the day or something and, yeah I think that's what 25:34 those these little like seemingly insignificant 25:37 distractions in our lives to keep us from spending 25:42 time with God and because he know that's very important 25:44 And God doesn't want us just sit and do nothing, 25:46 but when we're doing things to keep mindful that 25:49 he is with us through out the time. 25:52 One of the biggest distractions I think is just 25:54 focusing on self, our own problems, 25:56 our own weaknesses like Douglas was saying that 26:00 you know for himself he felt you know rejected by 26:04 the people. And so you know for me I can very 26:10 much relate to Douglas' story. 26:11 Because I had a problem with dyslexia, 26:14 I couldn't read properly and so when I got out of school 26:16 I felt like ooh! You now I'm never going back their again. 26:21 But, that was not God's plan for me and as I read 26:23 the Bible every day I realized that God had a plan 26:27 for my life and so I kept text before me like Psalms 16 26:33 verse 8 were it says I will set the Lord always before 26:36 me and because he has at my right hand I will 26:39 not be moved. And so he lead me and he lead me 26:42 to university. And I said well if you've lead me there 26:45 then you must get me through and the Lord gave 26:48 me grades that were you know in the 4.0 region, 26:52 you know most of my grades were As in university 26:56 and I was able to finish that way and, 26:58 so God has a plan for our lives and if we set the Lord 27:02 always before us. Then we will grow in him which ever 27:05 way he is leading us. Then we can be confident 27:08 that we're doing the right thing. 27:13 Let's close together with a word of prayer and ask 27:15 God to be always before us. So, that he'll give us 27:19 to desire to set him before us so that we will not 27:21 be moved, lets pray. Heavenly Father, 27:25 I thank you Lord that you have a desire for us 27:30 to be with you, eternally in heaven. 27:33 But, right now we look around the trees and we 27:36 realize they don't worry. The birds are not fretting 27:40 and we should be at peace with you and your plan 27:42 for your lives and we pray Father that you will bless us 27:47 to have a heart for you, to set you always 27:49 before us, so that we will be not moved from 27:52 the purpose that you have for us and that we will 27:55 always be growing up into Jesus your Son. 27:59 We pray in Jesus name Amen, Amen. 28:05 Steps to Christ in Song is a 13 part series 28:08 from Fountain View Productions 28:10 designed to be an easy non- threatening way to share 28:13 the good news about Jesus Christ 28:15 with friends, relatives, and co-workers. 28:17 Order your copies now by calling 28:22 1-877-490-4141 or visit us online at 28:26 www.fountainviewproductions.com. 28:30 Steps to Christ in Song is also available at your local 28:34 ABC Christian Bookstore. |
Revised 2014-12-17