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Show GROWING IN GRACE "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119: _KN) (& and you do right, God: Your decisions are right on "Y ou are right target." (The Message) I fl1(f)S "But grow in grace, and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be now 3: and for 18) ever. glory both Amen." (II Peter day to celebrate the anniversary of this pastor and this congregation. Just What a wonderful 1 think how good God has been to bring you this to be far. We are excited party to this remarkable day of commemoration. Another year has passed and we praise God for our "Growing in Grace. Your chosen theme is sufficiently rooted in both " the Old Testament Psalm 119: 103 as well as the New Testament II Peter 3: 18. These text were penned by two men very much alike. They like us had their weak moments but they both changed and as men after God's heart strengthening the brethren. Psalm 119, the longest chapter in 2 the Bible, has a series of eight line enlightened meditations based on each of the 22 letters of the Hebrew Of course, you know that while the book of Psalm deals with alphabet. every conceivable human emotion, it is Psalm 119 that has more to say about The Word of God than any other book or chapter in the entire Bible. Notice the words the Psalmist we hear singing: testimonies, unmistakable witness to God's will; law, man of teaching of Scripture; statutes, binding laws a in permanent record; word, divine revelation; commandments, orders a 3 given by the highest authority; precepts, detailed instructions given by God; ordinances, judgments made by God; promises, indicating the trustworthiness of God; judgment and understanding. We have so for. So the much to be thankful psalmist sums it up, "Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee." (Psalm 119: 11) Herein we have the complete authoritative word of God that we can trust and live by, that we become more Godly, that we grow in grace. Putting this text , with II Peter 3: 18, 4 we understand more. You do know that where there is light only . is there life. empty and void until God spoke and said, "Let there be The earth was light: and there was light. (Genesis 1: 3) Things grow where the light is shining. We can grow in grace. This original word "grow" signifies to increase, to become greater, to lengthen, to extend. It " suggests "on the way abounding. " "Grace" is meaning to free a familiar word gift of redemptive mercy and divine favor. Y ou cannot earn it and you do not 5 deserve it. It is with it we are freely bestowed and then "blessed and highly favored." If we would grow, we need the word o/God. For the word is a lamp unto our feet and a light for our path. We can see our way through the light of God's word. In Biblical times, travelers had no modem flashlights to see in the They carried a small oil lamp with a wick big enough to give off just enough light to take the next step without stumbling or falling. The word of God shines distance. not in our future but in 6 our present, for the here and now, so that step step we can grow and make this journey. So we must fill our by hearts with the milk and meat of the Word if we would know what to do next. by faith every wrong path. W e learn to walk and hate Jesus had told Peter, "When you are converted strengthen the brethren," "If you love me, feed my sheep." So Peter got started with that sermon at Pentecost when saved. Later, he picked up a pen and wrote this text: "But grow in grace, and the 3000 souls were knowledge of our Lord and Savior 7 Jesus Christ. To him be now and for The more we Christ and glory both Amen." ever. know about Jesus experience lives, the better we the glory. Him in can give our Him The Psalmist sang, "Y e shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." (1: 3 ) Not that the tree remains a tender saplings, not that having grown for a while it Wlas growth is checked and it remains a runt, but rather that through the 8 winds and the storms the tree gets greater and stronger day by day and year by year. It grows until it out its banner of leaves and hangs its crop of fruit. Every child of God ought to be greater and produces stronger today than yesterday. He ought to produce his crop of fruit love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. (Galatians 5: 22- 23) F or "The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like the cedar of Lebanon.) So, grow in the grace of the Lord 9 Jesus Christ. Grow in the knowledge of a personal Savior who gave His all. Grow by studying, meditating on God's word day by day. Grow by being diligent in attendance to church ordinances. Grow by constant prayer. Grow in faithful service. Jesus came as a little baby born Bethelhem stable. He grew to be 12 and baffle the lawyers and in a doctors. He grew to 30 and told John at His baptism, "Suffer it to be so." He grew to 33 and when His work was finished died on that old rugged cross. After three 10 days in a borrowed tomb, He rose with all power in His hands. "And when I think that His Son not Sent Him to I scarce can die, take it in the cross, burden gladly That My sparing, God, on He bled and died bearing, To take away my sin! soul, m My Savior God, to thee; Then sings my How great thou art, How great thou art!" 11 |
