A BALANCED GROWTH: Grow like Christ!

Luke 2:51-52

 God wants us to grow like Christ in everything (Eph.4:14-15)

Ephesians 4:14-15

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.

 Many Christians today grow older but never grow up

Two important personal question: What is it that is required for growing like Christ? What is the result if we do?

Luke 2:51-52

(51) Then he went to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. (52) And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Growing like Christ involves two Aspects:

1. The REQUIREMENT 2. The RESULT

GROWING LIKE CHRIST:

1) The Requirement: OBEDIENCE! (v.51) Then he went to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

OBEDIENCE/Obey:
Submission to the will, guidance, or control of another To act or behave in conformity with or in duty to

CHRIST-LIKENESS
The result of making Christ-like choices and depending on the Holy Spirit to help you fulfill those choices.

Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what Gods will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will.

John 14:23-24
Jesus replied, if anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My father will love him, and we will come to him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

1 John 5:3
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.

GROWING LIKE CHRIST: 2) The Result of Obedience: BALANCE GROWTH (v.52)

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

GROWTH/Grow: To develop To mature

Luke 1:80
And the child grew and become strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Luke 2:40
And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Key Aspects of a Balanced Growth: 1) MENTAL 2) PHYSICAL 3) SPIRITUAL 4) SOCIAL

Key Aspects of a Balanced Growth:

And Jesus grew in wisdom (MENTAL) and stature, and in favor with God and men.

1) WISDOM Intellectual, Psychological and Reasoning.

Proverbs 2:6-12
(6) For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. (7) He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those walk is blameless, (8) for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. (9) Then you will understand what is right and just and fair- every good path.

Cont
(10) For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. (11) Discretion will protect you and understanding will guard you. (12) Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, and men whose words are perverse.

Proverbs 3:13-15
(13) Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, (14) for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. (15) She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

James 1:5 If anyone of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Key Aspects of a Balanced Growth:

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature (PHYSICAL), and in favor with God and men.

2) PHYSICAL a. Natural, Bodily make-up, Build, Figure, Form

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.

Romans 6:12-13
Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.

Key Aspects of a Balanced Growth:

And Jesus grew in wisdom and (PHYSICAL), and in favor with God and men.

2) PHYSICAL b. Habits, Character, Worth/Value, Quality, Excellence

Daniel 6:1-6
It pleased Darius to appoint 120 satraps to rule throughout the kingdom, with three administrators over them, one of them was Daniel. The satraps were made accountable to them so that the king might not suffer loss. Now Daniel distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom

Cont
At this, the administrators and the satraps tried to find grounds for charges against Daniel in his conduct of government affairs, but they were unable to do so. They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent.

Cont
Finally these men said, we will never find any basis for charges against this man Daniel unless it has something to do with the law of his God. So the administrators and the satraps went as a group to the king and said: O King Darius, live forever!

2 Corinthians 8:7
But as you excel in everything- in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in love for us- see that you also excel in the grace of giving.

Key Aspects of a Balanced Growth:

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God (SPIRITUAL) and men.

3) SPIRITUAL Supernatural, Godly

FAVOR: Being regarded Being approved

Proverbs 3:4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Colossians l:10
And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.

Genesis 6:8-9 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.

Leviticus 26:9,11,12
I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and be you God, and you will be my people.

Key Aspects of a Balanced Growth:

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men (SOCIAL). 4) SOCIAL Companionable, Conducive (to pleasant relationship), Friendly, Gracious, Hospitable, Entertaining.

Acts 2:46-47
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts, They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Luke 2:51-52 (SUMMARY)

Then he went to Nazareth with them and (1. The REQUIREMENT) obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus (2. The RESULT) grew in wisdom (A. Mental) and stature (B. Physical), and in favor with God (C. Spiritual) and men (D. Social).

CHALLENGE: OBEDIENCE is the key to Christian Growth! We must grow like Christ! Live a Balanced life like Jesus!