Patterns of Spiritual Growth
Patterns for Spiritual Growth.
Preached in June at Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town by Apostle Aje Pelser, based on notes by Apostle Andre Pelser
Zephaniah 3:1,2
“Woe to her that is filthy (H4784) rebellious and bitter, provoking God to anger, disobedient) and polluted (H1351) desecrated and defiled), to the oppressing city (H3238: Raging, suppressive and violent, as well as proud.) ! 2 She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.”
New Covenant Perspective
Whenever one reads “city” in the Old Testament, one can discern patterns for the Church. Mount Zion is the city of the living, the heavenly Jerusalem in Hebrews – the Church of the Firstborn registered in heaven.
Whenever there is a curse in the Old Covenant – Jesus took those curses onto Himself when He was crucified for the Law says “cursed is He who hang on a tree.”. Even the cursed thorns on Jesus’ brow – when man sinned in Genesis God cursed the earth and it brought forth thorns. Jesus took those thorns on Himself and redeemed our land from the curse.
All the promises in the Old Covenant belong to those who believe in Jesus name, for in Christ they are “yes” and “amen”.
2Co 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
2Co 1:21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,
2Co 1:22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
Aiming through the cross we realize how this seemingly negative scripture can turn into a positive way of life for the church.
The Hidden Meaning
Zephaniah means ‘Hidden of God’. A key to unlock the value of his prophecy is found in this verse:
Zep 2:3 Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the LORD's anger.
Can you hear Jesus in these words? Did He not emphasize meekness and humility? And when Zephaniah says “she drew not near to God” Jesus taught us how to draw near to God from the heart and abide with Him and He abides with us. In fact He said:
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Also we read in John 15:5 'I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
God has hidden many wonderful messages in Zephaniah’s prophecy. One of those hidden messages reveals a pattern for spiritual growth. The blessed Holy Spirit helps us to decode the divine messages because He is a Spirit of wisdom and knowledge.
Here we have definite patterns for anyone who wants to grow spiritually:
- Obey His voice
- Receive correction
- Trust in the Lord
- Draw near to God
If you ignore this pattern it will be to your detriment. This is why most people backslide. They do not follow the pattern for spiritual growth laid down in the word of God. They fall prey to the roaring lion that seeks those he may destroy, according to I Peter 5:8. Disobedience makes room for deception. To be deceived by a wolf in sheep’s clothing, you have to be blind! The devil is not a roaring lion, he parades as one, we have to see beyond the mask.
- 1. Obey His voice
Jesus had to learn obedience:
Hebrews 5:8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
And the next verse:
Heb 5:9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
Peter and John showed the strength of obedience to Jesus Christ in the face of opposition:
Act 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: 'We ought to obey God rather than men.
Act 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.
Act 5:31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.
Act 5:32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.'
- 2. Receive correction
Heb 12:5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: 'MY SON, DO NOT DESPISE THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD, NOR BE DISCOURAGED WHEN YOU ARE REBUKED BY HIM;
Heb 12:6 FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE CHASTENS, AND SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.'
Heb 12:7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
One needs to understand that correction is not rejection. God actually wants us to improve and not to miss the mark for our lives. Take correction as coaching for your life. Every champion in sport has to make adjustments in their training to alter their performance. Coaches can see objectively to assist sportsman to make those corrections – often very subtle correction that most people would overlook. That shows the care of the Coach!
- 3. Trust in the Lord
When we read that the victory that overcomes the world is our Faith in God (1 John 5:4) the word for faith means “belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith in the same” (Thayer’s Greek Definitions G 4102)
But once we realize that we can rely on God, His Spirit produces that same reliable character in our lives and we bear the fruit of faithfulness too.
- 4. Draw near to God
Isaiah 29:13 And the Lord said, because this people come near to me with their mouths, and give honour to me with their lips, but their heart is far from me, and their fear of me is false, a rule given them by the teaching of men;
Apostle Andre sings a song “Draw nigh to Me and I will draw nigh to you” echoing Jesus’ words – “draw near to Me and I will draw near to you.”
It is amazing that if we even just take a small step towards God in our hearts He meets us with even more willingness to overlook so many sins. Like a Large Magnet that pulls a small pin at high speeds to itself!
The Father of the prodigal son saw him afar off and met him half way, preparing a feast for the son that was lost and now found. If you turn back to God in your heart, even just by praying to Him he meets you half way and assists your change by the agency of His Holy Spirit. He prepares a feast for you and gives you a welcoming party in His Church! He also gives you a merry heart so that you can have a continual feast!
Enjoy developing these patterns with the Help of the Holy Spirit in the context of a loving and supportive Church that discerns the plans of God for this generation. The most important overall pattern that emerges is that of Christ in us the hope of glory. Pray to see Christ formed in people through the patterns of obedience, correction, trust and drawing near to God.
