rick warren, purpose driven life: section 28

It Takes TimeSection 28 pages 217-223

Tuesday 9 November 2010

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:Ecclesiastes 3:1

...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.Philippians 1:6


There are no short cuts to maturity


Adulthood takes timeFruit growth and ripening takes time - ripening too quickly causes a loss of flavourFruit of the Spirit takes time to developDeveloping Christlike character cannot be rushed


Adulthood takes timeFruit growth and ripening takes time - ripening too quickly causes a loss of flavourFruit of the Spirit takes time to developDeveloping Christlike character cannot be rushed

Spiritual growth takes time - we

worry about how fast, God is

concerned about how strong we grow

- He is never in a hurry


WWII the Allies had a process for liberating islands in the South Pacific.1. Soften up - shelling from off shore ships - pre conversion often God allows problems to soften us up2. Small group of marines establish a beachhead - the initial stage of surrendering your life to Christ3. Long process of liberating the whole island - the campaign of God to take over your whole life - this includes struggles and battles - the outcome is certain - Php 1:6


Ephesians 4:13...until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.We have looked at:Believing - through worshipBelonging - through fellowshipBecoming - through discipleshipCol 3:10...put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.


We want speed - God wants strength and stability - we look for instant answers, one powerful experience - Real maturity never comes from one experience - growth is gradual

...so we are transfigured much like the Messiah,

our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we

become like him.


Why does it take so long?


God could instantly transform us - he doesn’t though. Jesus spent years with his 12 disciples, the PL was taken little by little - Dt. 7:22 The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.Why so slow?


We are slow learners

We [might] have to learn a lesson many times before we get itThe Israelites learned this by quickly forgetting what God had taught them and going back to old habits.


We have a lot to unlearnYou cannot imagine all your problems [past] can be fixed in an hour - they took years to develop.You have to take off the old and put on the new.Col 3:7-10, Eph 4:22-25You have a new mature at conversion - the habits, patterns etc. are old - and need to go


We are afraid to humbly face the truth about ourselves

Truth sets us free - but makes us miserable first - are you scared of what you might discover if you are honest about your character defects?Only in God shining his light on us do we find grace in our time of need - but you need to be humble enough to face, and allow, it.


Growth is often painful and scary

Growth = change = scary [fear, loss, pain, letting goIt does not have to be the way you are - let go and let God do something.


Habits take time to developCharacter = sum total of your habits - Are you habitually kind, patient, honest...?A husband who is faithful most of the time is an adulterer!Adults require practice - there are no instant ones1 Tim 4: 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.


Don’t get in a hurry


Believe God is working in your life even when you don’t feel it

Spiritual growth can be tedious - small steps and only gradual improvement. In nature there are seasons of growth and seasons of dormancy and stabilising - gradual change is most often God’s way in us.


Keep a notebook or journal of lessons learnedNot a diary - a record of what you have learned, insights and lessons about all aspects of your life - often you learn more by writing down and reflecting on thingsHeb 2: 1 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.


Be patient with God and yourselfGod works to a different timetable - 80 years preparation for Moses.Mushrooms grow overnight - trees take many yearsJames 1:4So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.


Don’t get discouraged

Habakkuk 2:2-3 And then God answered: "Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run.This vision-message is a witness pointing to what's coming.It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn't lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It's on its way. It will come right on time.


A delay is not a denial from GodRemember you have come a long way - and there is a long way to go - but God is not finished.


Point to ponder:

There are no shortcuts to maturity


Verse to remember:

Php 1:6...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.


Question to consider:

In what area of my spiritual growth do I need to be more patient and persistent?
