God’s Gifts (June 13th)
Ephesians 4:7 – 16
1.) Several weeks ago my nephew was confirmed in his Lutheran Church. This was a special day of professing his faith and joining the church after two years of preparation. My sister had gotten him some new shoes in anticipation of the special day. My mom was telling me that he had a growth spurt leading up to confirmation so the new shoes were too small. My mom said that he was complaining that his feet hurt. He was having a hard time walking and standing because of the pain. My sister was telling him to wear them for the one day, even though she knew they hurt.
I have a picture of the day in my mind. It was a great day for Josh, but his feet hurt. An interesting image and story. A moment in the life of the church that signifies spiritual growth and new beginnings in the church at a time when he was physically growing. His shoes were purchased before his growth really took off. So there was spiritual growth and physical growth and discomfort and change that needed to happen.
2.) God wants us to grow. God is growing our lives, and at times, when we go through growth spurts, we can experience pain and pinches.
Paul says in Ephesians 4:7, “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” Each of us is promised God’s grace to help us grow.
God’s grace, as Paul will mention, shows us that we need to grow up and grow into.
3.) Grow Up. Paul says in Ephesians 4:14, “We will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there bye every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.”
Paul is saying that we are not to be like babies. No, we are to grow up. We need to learn from our mistakes, from others, from information, from life.
One of the ways that God has designed us physically is to grow up. The baby sneakers remind us that we need to grow up and away from childish behaviors.
4.) God grows us in this area through our Goofs. This is how we grow up. We learn from our past. We make mistakes, we mess up, we make bad decisions, we have hurt people.
We all have goofs in our lives. God’s grace allows us to come before God and be forgiven in our relationship with God. God’s grace allows us to forgive others. This can be hard and it can be a process. If we have been hurt in some deep ways, God’s grace will need to be applied to our brokenness time and time again. God’s grace allows us to forgive ourselves. This might be the hardest thing for us in our growing up. We can be hard on ourselves and when we mess up we lay guilt and condemnation on our souls.
If we never learn from our goofs, if we never allow God’s grace to move us beyond where we are today, if we never make mistakes and realize our need for help then we will always stay in a dependent, baby like stage.
I have hurt people in the past when I get tired, stressed and simply not caring about people. People have hurt me and I have had to forgive them. When I realized that I have hurt God by my sin it allows me to forgive others.
We will have pain because we are wearing shoes that are too small. We need to grow up and let God’s grace and forgiveness grow us. God wants us to Grow Up.
5.) Grow Into. Paul says in verse 13 these words about the church, “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.”
Paul is saying that our goal is to become mature, attaining the fullness of Christ. One way of measuring our lives, to see if we are reaching our goal, is how Christ-like we live. That is what we are to grow into. That is the pattern that is before us.
This suit jacket is patterned to fit me. It is like an ideal pattern that we discover in scripture that helps us grow into that which Christ desires for our lives.
6.) God grows us by giving us grace for godly Goals. These are the targets in life. These are the ideas that we hold in our hearts. These are the tangible values that we are working towards. God will grow us as we stretch and attain and achieve in different areas.
A goal we might have is to be like Jesus Christ. Our goal might be to have a quiet time every day where we pray and read scripture. Our goal is to be in a worship service once a week. A goal is to be able to tithe, give 10%, of our income to the Lord. A goal is to volunteer in the life of the church serving the Lord.
I remember being challenged and hearing about tithing when I was in college. I decided to put that pattern on in my financial life of faith. It has served me well as I seek to live out my faith.
God’s grace helps us set the goals and the Spirit of the Lord gives us the power and resolve to complete the goal.
God wants us to Grow Into.
7.) When God grows in unexpected ways we have to make room in our souls for new growth, for healthy growth and for change. If we insist on doing things spiritually the same way we have always done them it is like insisting that we wear the new shoes someone bought for us even though they don’t fit anymore.
So, Paul is saying to the church you need to Grow Up and you need to Grow Into. What do you think God wants you to pay attention to? .
8.) What happens when a snake grows? It grows a new skin and the old one will eventually shed. This is a normal and natural process. How many of you have seen a snake skin? A snake will shed its skin several times a year.
There are several other animals that, as they grow, they molt, get new feathers, or their skin is replaced. That is how God designed the growth process.
When you are growing it involves new skin and new life. Paul brings his teaching to the church and to us so remind us to peel off the old layer and allow God to bring grace to our lives through growth.
This is true for individuals and as a church. We have to realize this and desire growth.
9.) Years ago I read a quote that said, “Change is inevitable, but growth is not.” So, we have to desire growth amidst the change that we experience. Let the Lord grow you this morning through His grace as I read Ephesians 4:29 – 5:4.
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.”
Closing Prayer
