Sermon 1650B - How to Keep Growing…..(Wed pm 6/17/98)

HOW TO KEEP GROWING.....(WED PM 6/17/98)

This message answers the following question: Once I have begun to grow spiritually, how can I continue to grow? God’s natural creation types His spiritual creation. So in order for our spiritual Seed of Truth to send a root downward, it has to be planted in the right place, which is underground as it were, in the “Out-Pasture,” with the Crucified Christ (John, chapter ten). In order to bring forth fruit, our little “plant” has to ascend upward into the “In-Pasture” with the Resurrected Christ. Matthew, chapter thirteen, Mark, chapter four, and Luke, chapter eight show the progressive steps of overcoming that must occur in order for the Seed of Truth to grow to maturity and bear fruit in our lives. Seed that falls on wayside soil must overcome the hardness of the ground in order to take root downward. Seed that falls on stony ground must overcome the stones below ground. Seed that falls among thorns must overcome the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, the pleasures of this life, and lusts for other things. Seed that falls on good ground also must overcome inner lethargy in order to bring forth one-hundred-fold fruitfulness.