Are you growing deep? In this message, Pastor Jamie shares how to grow deep in the Lord.
VFC’s strategy for your spiritual growth is to be centered on the cross.
There are four sections on a cross: Growing Deep, Growing Up, Reaching Out, Reaching In. The goal is for all four of these to be working in equal amounts, where you stay the center at the heart of Jesus.
Growing Deep – developing intimacy with God.
Colossians 2:7 “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
The strength of your roots determines your ability to bend in the storm.
Intimacy is when you say to someone “into me see.”
James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”
Growing Deep requires:
- Time.
2 Corinthians 3:18 “So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”
Intimacy is incremental—it takes time. - Time alone.
Luke 5:15-16 “The news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
Jesus wants to be your one and only, not one of many. - Talking.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.” NLT – Never stop praying.
You will never wear out your welcome with God. - Thinking.
Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
What you think about you bring about. You become what you behold. - Trust.
Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”
Confidence in someone leads you to commitment to that person. You might be freaking out in your head, but you can trust God with your heart. - Truth.
Psalm 145:18 “The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth.”
God already knows everything about us. What He wants is not informational, but relational.
Are you growing deep?