"GROWING-UP INTO HIM"

Gospel Encounter 37

‘GROWING-UP INTO HIM’

Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

There is principle of life . . . the ‘higher kingdom realm draws the lower up into itself.

Col 1:16 For by him were all things created . . . all things were created by him, and for him:

God is the highest order or ‘kingdom’. All things pertaining to all kingdoms lower than His, will be drawn up into Himself.

Let us look at this pattern in creation:-

THE LOWEST KINGDOM = THE MINERAL KINGDOM . . . there is LIFE in the soil etc.

THE NEXT KINGDOM = THE VEGETABLE KINGDOM. The plant life will reach down into the soil and draw its life up into itself changing it into ‘plant life’. The result is that the plant can now grow some more because it has an increase of life.

THE NEXT KINGDOM = THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. The animal (say a ‘sheep’, as an example) will reach down and eat the plant life, albeit grass, and take it up into itself changing the expression of that life into ‘sheep life’.

THE NEXT KINGDOM = THE HUMAN KINGDOM. Man will take of the animal life that is produced. . . milk, fats, and meat (the animal itself) . . . and take that form of life and bring it up into itself and change its form into human life. Regarding the ‘meat’ aspect, the animal will lose its life in order to express a higher life — human.

THE HIGHEST KINGDOM = THE DIVINE KINGDOM (God’s Kingdom) or GOD HIMSELF. God Himself in the form of Jesus Christ, came to mankind and died for him so that He might take mankind up into Himself. In so doing, He changed ‘man-level’ of life into God-life.

Watch this principle in the words from Jesus:

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me

Song 1:4 Draw me, we will run after thee:

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The lower expression of life can do nothing of itself to become a part of the higher expression of life. The Love of God reaches down and draws us up into Himself changing us into GOD-LIFE here on the earth.

2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

Better translation = where the Spirit is Lord . . .

(18) But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

THE FAMILY OF GOD

We have seen this principle in creation; now let us look at the GROWTH pattern in the Family of God.

The beginning: A BABY — Gk. BREPHOS which means ‘first-breath’. In our bibles it is rendered babe, young child, infant. It is found in scriptures . . .

2 Tim 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

When a babe was born, one of the very first things that happened was a locket was placed around the neck of the babe. In this locket there were written scriptures. Therefore it is easy to see that from a babe, Timothy was ‘close’ to the scriptures.

1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

A BABE needs milk to grow thereby. A ‘baby Christian’ needs the milk of the word to build into its life a security or assurance. Summarizing . . . A BABE NEEDS ASSURANCE OF SALVATION.

The next expression of growth builds upon the former . . . as it were, swallowing it up and bringing it forth in a higher way.

The next expression of life is that of a TODDLER — Gk. NEPIOS which means ‘not speaking’. In our KJV it is rendered as child, little child, children. References . . .

1 Cor 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Toddlers in the natural realm, will walk (in a wobbly fashion) anywhere and believe anyone or anything. They are easy prey for cults and offbeat teachings. Everything is new to them and they don’t know any better having nothing in themselves to compare new things to. Careful feeding to strengthen these ones is imperative. These young ones in the natural need to be taught discernment . . . what is good and what is evil or bad. What they can touch and where the boundaries are because they can recognise the voices of their parents. A TODDLER NEEDS DISCERNMENT.

The next category si that of A CHILD — Gk. PAIDIA and it means one who is beastly, from a root word PAIO = to sting or hit. This refers to a child around the ages of 3 to 12 years of age. The scripture shows this as ‘little children’ as in . . .

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

(13) I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

LITTLE CHILDREN . . . or a CHILD needs to be taught discipline . . . to be obedient to Father’s voice and desire (will). They need to be shown what their heavenly Father desires . . . they need to be instructed in the ways of hearing His voice and getting revelation from God’s Word. .If they do not learn these basics, then they will move in rebellion and become unteachable — the result being that they do not grow. A CHILD NEEDS DISCIPLINE.

The next stage of growth is that of a teenager. The Gk. word is NEANISKOS and mean one fully of energy and is rendered young man or youth in the Word. It will be found in . . .

1 John 2:12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

(14) I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

These young adults . . . growing but not yet mature . . .have boundless energy to do the things that they like. In the spirit, they need to see victory in their lives as they learn to rely upon the word of the Lord, and see Him come through as they yield to Him. If this does not happen, then they will become frustrated which will produce failure and their energies will be channelled into other things . . . probably not spiritual. It is essential that each one receives AND moves in the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and the subsequent Gifts of the Spirit. This is their equipment for victory.

TEENAGERS NEED TO EXPERIENCE VICTORY.

The last category or height to attain unto is that of A FATHER. The Gk. word is PATER and means simply father. A ‘father’ is one who has reproduced the life that he has. In the spirit, we need to reproduce the life of Christ in others. Found in the word in . . .

1 Cor 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.

(15) For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

Paul was a ‘father’ without doubt! ‘Fathers’ need to produce . . . sow seed, nurture it and see the harvest in young lives. If mature ones do not reproduce, then they will become full of apathy!

A FATHER NEEDS TO REPRODUCE THE LIFE THAT HE HAS.

An interesting note on the word ‘schoolmaster’ in the KJV.

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The ‘law’ is an instruction as to what should be done and how it is to accomplished.

The word ‘schoolmaster’ is PAIDA GOGON. PAIDA as we have seen is CHILD: GOGON means conductor. Thus the word means ‘CHILD-CONDUCTOR’ rather like our ‘School-bus-drivers’ that take the children to the instructors. When ‘law’ is fulfilled in Christ, the instruction becomes a ‘promise’ whereby one does not ‘have to’ do it but ‘wants’ to do it.

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

It is necessary for young children to be under ‘law’ so that they become disciplined to Father’s voice . . . they will be ‘free’ to become ‘His Prisoner’.§