Victorious Vinedresser
Spiritual growth is a process that involves suffering, which is meant to increase our spiritual capacity, leading to added responsibility and trust.
Miles J. Stanford delves into the spiritual growth of believers, emphasizing the mystery and process of maturity. He highlights the importance of discerning between a foretaste of a deeper life and the fullness that the Lord leads us into. Stanford discusses the eagerness of spiritual youth and the need to count the cost, surrendering self-confidence to rely on God's strength. He also explains that suffering, though perceived as loss by Satan, is intended by God to increase our spiritual capacity, leading to greater responsibility, trust, and fruitful sharing.
Text
"No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who are exercised by it" (Hebrews 12:11).
Vision: The Word gives us the true picture of growth. Verification: The Spirit gives us a taste thereof. Vindication: The Lord Jesus, later, gives us maturity.
"A great mystery surrounds the spiritual growth of the hungry-hearted believer. The Spirit gives a foretaste of a deeper life before the believer is led into the fulness of it. Many believers mistake their foretaste for the fulness, not realizing that the Lord is just beginning to lead them
"The forwardness of nature is the failure of our youth--our spiritual youth, as well as our natural youth; eagerness to run in God's path, but not apprehending what the path is, or what it requires to walk in it. On the other hand, when the cost is counted, and our weakness known, the energy begotten of self-confidence being gone, we need a stimulating call on God's part, to get out of the persistent occupation with our weakness now, as with our strength before." -F.W.G.
"Suffering is not meant by God to be loss and deprivation. Satan says that it is. God means suffering to result in increased spiritual capacity, which is the basis of added responsibility, trust, and fruitful sharing. The branch of the vine may bleed from the drastic pruning and feel stripped of much glory; but more and better fruit is the vinedresser's vindication."
"As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly" (1 Corinthians 15:49).
Sermon Outline
- I. The Vision of Spiritual Growth
- A. The Word gives us the true picture of growth
- B. The Spirit gives us a taste thereof
- C. The Lord Jesus gives us maturity
- II. The Mystery of Spiritual Growth
- A. The Spirit gives a foretaste of a deeper life
- B. Believers often mistake their foretaste for the fulness
- III. The Failure of Spiritual Youth
- A. Eagerness to run in God's path without understanding
- B. The need for a stimulating call from God
- IV. The Purpose of Suffering
- A. Suffering is meant to increase spiritual capacity
- B. Suffering leads to added responsibility and trust
Key Quotes
“Suffering is not meant by God to be loss and deprivation. Satan says that it is. God means suffering to result in increased spiritual capacity, which is the basis of added responsibility, trust, and fruitful sharing.” — Miles J. Stanford
“The branch of the vine may bleed from the drastic pruning and feel stripped of much glory; but more and better fruit is the vinedresser's vindication.” — Miles J. Stanford
“As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- We should not view suffering as loss and deprivation, but rather as an opportunity for spiritual growth and increased capacity.
- We must be careful not to mistake our foretaste of spiritual growth for the fulness, and instead, trust in the Lord's leading and guidance.
- As we experience suffering, we should focus on the purpose of God, which is to increase our spiritual capacity and lead us to maturity.