Sermon:
Intro: Living creatures grow – whether they be plants, animals or humans, growth is a normal part of existence. Jesus wants us to grow, to progress in our Christian life so we become spiritually mature and good examples. Unlike in the physical world, growth is inevitable as time goes by. In the spiritual world, the passing of time does not guarantee growth. God helping us, we must develop habits to spiritually grow in our Christian life.

Habit #1: Study the Bible (John 5:39; II Tim. 2:15). The Bible is the truth – the word of God. It is the only tangible thing on earth that closely resembles the nature character of God. It is living (Heb. 4:12), holy (II Tim. 3:15), perfect (Psa. 19:7), eternal (Matt. 24:35), light (Psa. 119:105), spirit (John 6:63) and sanctifier (John 17:17). God is bound with His word!
The will, precepts, promises, and warnings of God are written in the Bible. Don’t just read, but study it to be wise. Believe it to be strong. It is food for the inner man – soul/spirit. It will guide you all your life and will judge all men in the last day (John 12:48). A mature believer will always read, study and meditate the Bible.

Habit #2: Keep on Praying (Luke 18:1; I Thess. 5:17). Bible study gives us “LIGHT” while prayer gives “HEAT” in our spiritual life. As children of God, we can request by prayer the provision, grace, peace and mercy that we have as privileges.
In prayer we must: (a) have faith in God (Heb 11:6); (b) be free from iniquity (Psa. 66:18); (c) forgive others (Mark 11:25); (d) ask according to His will (I John 5:14); (e) in the power of the Spirit (Rom. 8:26); (f) through Jesus (John 14:14); and (g) for the Father’s glory (John 14:13).

Habit #3: Rely upon the Spirit (Rom. 8:9; I John 4:13). Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would come to comfort, guide and teach His disciples (John 16:13). At conversion, the Holy Spirit seals and indwells the believer (Eph. 1:13). The true Christian is also empowered by the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).
It is the job of the Spirit to ensure that the believer is brought to a close personal relationship with Jesus. The maturing Christian will depend more and more on God’s Spirit, and less on himself. The Holy Spirit reminds the Christian the things that Jesus has taught him (John 14:26) so that he can walk right before God.

Habit #4: Bear the Cross (Luke 9:23; Phil 3:10). To bear the cross means to practice self-denial – which is not punishing your body during Lent as Catholics do. We know that the hardest person to deny is SELF! To deny our self means to abstain from its fleshly lusts and deeds (I Pet. 2:11). Self-denial involves detachment from the world and contentment in Christ.
The cross symbolizes SUFFERING for Christ and DEATH to our old sinful nature. Believers are not immune from sufferings esp. for God and His righteousness. Look at Joseph, Job, Stephen, Paul, and our Lord Jesus! Patience in suffering makes us more like Jesus (I Pet. 3:14). There is joy even in suffering (Acts 5:41).

Habit #5: Live for God’s Glory (I Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17). The Christian life also means stewardship and accountability. We are not our own, we were bought with a price and we belong to God (I Cor. 6:19-20). We understand that God will judge us for the ways we use the time, talent, possessions, opportunities, and the very life He has loaned to us