Title: Growing Faith (Colossians 02:1-7)
Content The Word is like a living organism. So I think a little faith is like a "mustard seed". Even if it is a small faith as small as a “mustard seed,” you should know that because of the new spirit in that faith, it will sprout and grow into a tree where birds can nest. Because there is life, the mustard seed bursts into buds, grows a trunk, and eventually becomes a large tree, where birds come to make nests in its branches and bear abundant fruit. Likewise, the living faith must grow. The growth is taught in three stages in the text, and we will look at the stages of faith according to the stages.
First, it is a stage of rooted faith.
This means that, as the first step in the life of faith, we must first repent and have the assurance that our sins are forgiven. The first words of Jesus' sermon are, "Repent and apologize is the first step to faith. Just as the root of a tree called faith must be rooted right away and planted by a stream, faith must first take root through thorough repentance and experience of forgiveness. It must descend deeply, without which it becomes like a tree without roots, and its faith becomes weak like a house built on sand.
Repentance and forgiveness are the most precious experiences to come into the arms of Christ and have true hope and peace through faith. When the apostle Paul experienced God's grace and love, he said, "I give thanks for the indescribable gift" (2 Corinthians 9:15). Grace is unknown except to those who have received it. Experiential faith is like the root, and the joy and emotion of apology is the first step a believer should take.
Second, it is the stage of standing firm in faith.
It must sprout from the root of faith, grow strong with the stem, and stand firm. No matter how strong the rain and wind and no matter how scorching the sun shines, you must stand firm and not shake or fall. A rooted believer is not always a child, but now he has grown up to be a young man and a grown man. Now you have to do your own thing. It is impossible to live forever relying on others for help. A child's work must be abandoned. In order to do that, we must have faith that stands firm on ourselves, and this is what we call self-reliant faith. To do so, it must be energized by the word 'word', as the preposition 'as taught' implies. Faith does not come naturally, but when we pray, attend worship, learn the Word, and put into practice what we learn, that faith grows remarkably.
Therefore, we must not neglect learning the Word. Faith without the foundation of the Word is easily shaken and stumbling. The apostle Paul warns us in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm and do not be shaken.”
Christians must personify their faith through prayer, praise and service. In the past, there was terrible persecution against Christianity, but even at that time, they did not give up and they praised the Lord with joy and shared the Lord's peace with each other. I say. The life of faith is not a burden, but a joy. Faith does not depend on our understanding, but it is thrilling because we stand firmly on faith as we have been taught. As the song says, "Blow, you southeast wind, blow, you north wind, the thorns make the lilies more fragrant." The stronger the faith, the stronger the fragrance of Christ.
We must stand firm in the faith and grow steadily.
Third, it is the stage of overflowing faith.
When the tree of faith grows, it bears many fruits and we have the joy of abundant fruit. Rather than living alone with a Christian personality with abundant grace, you and I should gather together and share good things together as a community to glorify God.
We must realize that the highest level of faith is a life of duty, not a claim of rights. Luke 15 tells the parable of the prodigal son. In this parable, which begins with "A man has two sons," the second son asked for a share of the property to return to him out of desire to leave his father's arms and live a life of his own accord. Finally, after receiving the distribution of property from my father, I went out to a foreign land with a very relaxed mind. The second son claimed only rights.
It soon brought him bankruptcy. The second son, who could not endure being poor in a foreign land, eventually returned to his father's house. But now he fell down on his knees to be used as one of the class, not as a son. No longer a person of rights, but a person of duty, there is joy, reward, and gratitude. This gratitude will produce greater gratitude and will bring greater joy. Our failure is due to our unbelief in leaving God at any time. As long as you obey what God tells you to do before God, you will have an abundant life.
It is a faith that bears abundant fruit and shares, and the life I used to worry about now becomes a big vessel for thinking and worrying about my neighbors. Hebrews 10:24 says, “Look after one another, encouraging love and good deeds.”
Abundant faith opens the eyes to growing in faith that can go from me and my neighbors to the whole world. The Lord said to give freely. Christianity consists in giving physically. In Luke 6:38, Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you; afterward, it will be given to you, pressed down, shaken and overflowing.”
Living for others, this is the secret to living an abundant life. In 1 Thessalonians 3:12, he exhorts us, “Let your love for one another and for all men increase and abound.” I hope you experience the power of God working in you as you share the love, faith, and wealth that are within you.
Just as a tree grows and bears fruit, so our faith also grows, so let's have a mature faith that bears the fruit of the Holy Spirit abundantly. I hope that every day of your life will grow into a victorious life in Christ Jesus.