30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 17 1-2 Children and the kingdom of God 07 We must gain Christ
📖 Luke 17:1-2
15Jun2020 - *We must gain Christ* - _Luke 17:1-2_ - Bible reading: _Philippians 3:8-11_
_Luke 17:1-2 Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! (2) It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones._
The first lesson that we learn from children and the kingdom of God is that as we focus our attention on children, we will *internalise a culture of willing to be unnoticed, ignored and overlooked but be focussed on genuinely caring for the vulnerable*.
The second lesson that we learn from children and the kingdom of God is the *lesson of Trust*. The third lesson is to have a *hunger for God’s word*. The fourth lesson is the *lesson of Growth*.
We have already looked at two areas of growth that is needed for us. One is growing in grace and the other is growing in righteousness.
Today, we will consider three crucial areas of growth that are specified for us in God’s word. First, we must grow in our *faith in Jesus*.
_II Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,_
Without faith we cannot know God _Hebrews 11:6_. So how are we to be exercised and grow in our faith in Him? Faith in Christ is developed in us through trials. _I Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, (7) that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,_
No one likes to go through trials in life. In fact, we may even be asking God to take away the trials that He has permitted into our lives, not realising that the trial is necessary for the building up of our faith in Jesus. _James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (4) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing_ Faith in Jesus is the foundation on which other characteristics are added till we are made complete in Him.
When the Lord returns, it is our faith in Him that will bring Him praise, honour and glory. _Malachi 3:2-4 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderers' soap. (3) He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness. (4) "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem Will be pleasant to the LORD, As in the days of old, As in former years._ God is purifying the sons of Levi, the church.
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The second area of growth that we are considering today is that must *grow in loving one another*. We see this area of growth specified in the same verse of _II Thessalonians 1:3_ The beauty of the church is the growing love that we have for one another. Are you growing in your fellowship, caring, sharing, nurturing, fostering of one another in the body of Christ or have you become isolated for some reason? Get back into fellowship with God’s people.
The third area of growth that we are seeing today is to *Grow into the image of Jesus*. _Ephesians 4:15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— II Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, Colossians 1:10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;_
This growth into the image of Jesus is not just for us individually but it is for us both individually as well as, as the body of Jesus. _Ephesians 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;_ We are therefore feeding into each other’s growth in Christ.
We must have the passion that Paul had, the passion that *we must gain Christ*. _Philippians 3:8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ._
*Thought to ponder*
```Is gaining Christ, your singular passion in life or are you feeding several pursuits? Will you stop and choose Jesus?```