OVERVIEW OF CHRISTIAN GROWTH

By Dennis Schmidt 8/2011

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This paper discusses the growth process a Christian should go through on his way to the fullness with God. All scriptures are from the King James' version Bible.

INDUCTIVE COMMENTS:

THEME: PERFECTION - GOING ON TO THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST: Christian graduate

Ephesians 4:13  Jesus is the perfect man. The fulness of Christ is the entire Godhead within us.

PURPOSE: To be used by God in a spiritual warfare against the devil with his evil and help bring about the return of Jesus for the saints.

SPIRITUAL WARFARE: The Christian should be used by God in the fight against the devil

Romans 7:23  Warfare of keeping body under control.

2 Corinthians 10:4

Ephesians 6:11-12  The devil, demons, & evil

2 Timothy 2:4  Dedicated to willingly follow Jesus commands.

PERFECTION - GOING ON TO THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST: Christian graduate

Ephesians 3:19

Ephesians 4:13  Jesus is the perfect man. The fulness of Christ is the entire Godhead within us.

Christ in us: Our life & Jesus life inter-mixed; we do what He did.

Romans 12:5  Every Christain in Christ.

Galatians 2:20  I live yet not I, but Christ lives in me.

Colossians 1:27  God's glory through Christ in us.

2 Peter 1:3-4  His nature

KEY VERSE:

Ephesians 4:13  Jesus is the perfect man. The fulness of Christ is the entire Godhead within us.

WHO: God mainly by Bible authors John, Peter, and Paul

TO WHOM: Elected Christians

WHAT:

BORN AGAIN: This is the first experience: Salvation/Born Again relationship into Jesus. A person must receive Jesus to be Born-Again & grow.

John 1:12  The Christian receives (not accepts) Jesus. Jesus is acceptable. God makes the offer to those He saves, we receive Him.

John 3:16   God's love brings us a relationship.

John 3:36   A Born-Again relationship start with faith.

2 Corinthians 5:17  A Born-again person starts a new life centered on God.

BIBLE READING: The word of God (Bible) is spiritual food which a person requires, just like food, not to get sick & eventually die.

1 Corinthians 3:2   Milk is for new Christians to learn God's basics.

1 Peter 1:23   The word of God is alive to help Christians to grow.

1 Peter 2:2  New Christians desire Bible study.

PRAYING: Prayer is a communications with God. He talks & we Talk.

John 16:24  A right attitude of thanks & faith in His will.

LOVE OTHERS: The way that they will know we are Christians.

John 13:35   Sign of a Christian

John 15:13   Self giving love is greatest kind.

Romans 13:8  Love is powerful

FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS: The church gives love, support, & comfort among many other necessary items in the Christian walk.

Matthew 18:20  Fellowship with a few also.

Acts 2:42

Hebrews 10:25  Attend church

WHY:

PRAYING IN SPIRIT FOR OWN EDIFICATION: Praying with our tongues and the Holy Spirits words produces a perfect pray to the Father.

1 Corinthians 14:2-4  Edifies self

1 Corinthians 14:13-15  Speaks to God

MINISTRY GIFTS: The power of the Baptism of Holy Spirit to do the super-natural miracles and be directed by God for his ministries (Acts 16:6, 9; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28-31)

Mark 16:17-18  This is a norm for the H.S. baptized

FINDING YOUR OWN MINISTRY: God has a ministry for each Christian.

Ephesians 2:10  God has works for us to do, not man's efforts.

WAY:

FAITH: There are over 7000 promises in scripture for those with faith and those who meet God's conditions. The Christian is to study God's word to find the conditions and promises. When one prays in faith he appropriates the promise in the faith dimension. When God manifests the promise is up to God. The person should not pray again for the same item. He should thank God that he has the promise. He believes it to already have occurred.

Hebrews 11:6  Key words

Mark 11:24   God gives the Christian his desires (Psalms 21:2).

Romans 10:17  Read His word, hear from God, and attend church.

John 16:23-24   God

WHEREAS:

OWN HEALING: Healing on our bodies is in the atonement. Our faith in God's promise that He healed us will remove the sickness.

Matthew 8:16-17  Sickness comes from the Devil. Jesus suffered for our pains and sickness.

James 5:14-15   Faith in Jesus heals.

1 Peter 2:24  Jesus stripes heals

PRAYING IN SPIRIT FOR OWN EDIFICATION: Praying with our tongues and the Holy Spirits words produces a perfect pray to the Father.

1 Corinthians 14:2-4  Edifies self

1 Corinthians 14:13-15  Speaks to God

WHERE: Earth

WHEN: All Times

WHILE:

HOLY OF HOLIES: This is the third experience: A relationship with God the Father (1st: Salvation/born again into a relationship into Jesus & 2nd: Baptism into the Holy Spirit). The Holy of Holies experience includes being within the throne room of God and a very close relationship with the Father.

Hebrews 6:4-5  Things that occur there.

Hebrews 10:19-20  Knowing then entering the Holy of Holies by faith.

2 Peter 1:3-4  Divine

ONENESS: In the Holy of Holies one achieves a oneness with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God's oneness within His Triunity is similar to the oneness that God wants with the Christian who enters the Holy of Holies. The person is closer to God than ever before as they become one with God. God wants a similar type of oneness between Christians. He also want a similar oneness between wives and husbands which is the model of God's oneness.

Genesis 2:24  The two are one under God.

John 14:20  As Christ is in Father, we are in Him.

John 17:22-23   We are perfected in one with the Father & Jesus.

Romans 12:5  We are one with other Christians.

1 Corinthians 12:27  We are members of each other in the Church of Jesus.

Ephesians 5:30-32  The Christian is one with Christ as Church.

LIVING IN THE HEAVENLIES: The person's life emphasis is toward the spiritual not earthly. It is in a Godly reign.

John 3:12

1 Corinthians 15:48-49

Ephesians 1:3  God gives His people every blessing.

Ephesians 2:6  Our position

Philippians 3:20  Our life/talk

Hebrews 3:1  We are partakers of the heavenly & follow Jesus.

Hebrews 11:16  God prepares us His Heavenly

SONSHIP: The Father has adopted us to be sons of God. Adoption means to be placed as a son with all the legal rights, powers & authority of sonship. A Christian can be a son, but not be adopted. Adoption is for the mature son who proved worthy of the inheritance & responsibilities.

Romans 8:15-17

Galatians 4:5-7   Closer relations

Ephesians 1:5  It is God who does the work. If He calls, we respond.

WANT:

WATER BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF JESUS: In Jesus name, by faith, we figuratively experience what Jesus did. The christian died, was buried, & was raised to a newness of life from the old man being crucified.

Acts 2:38  Into Jesus

Acts 8:16  Baptized in Lord Jesus

Acts 19:5  Paul who learned from God baptized into Jesus.

Romans 6:3-6  Jesus died not the Father

Galatians 3:27  Do everything in Jesus name - Col 3:17.

Colossians 2:12   See also 1 Corinthians 1:12-13, 15.

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: This is the second major experience where a Christian has a relationship with the Godhead. The Baptism into the Holy Spirit is needed for God's power. The person has gifts for their own life and for others.

Luke 11:13  Like every experience with God, the Christian sees the experience in the word & asks in faith for it. When God gives it, is His timing. We believe we have it.

Acts 1:5   Jesus prophecy for the need of this experience so we have God's power in our life.

Acts 1:8  Power to heal & for God's direction.

PAPER OUTLINE:

I) BORN AGAIN:

II) BIBLE READING:

III) PRAYING:

IV) LOVE OTHERS:

V) FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS:

VI) WATER BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF JESUS:

VII) BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT:

VIII) BIBLE STUDY:

IX) FAITH:

X) OWN HEALING:

XI) PRAYING IN SPIRIT FOR OWN EDIFICATION:

XII) MINISTRY GIFTS:

XIII) FINDING YOUR OWN MINISTRY:

A) HOLY OF HOLIES:

XIV) ONENESS:

XV) LIVING IN THE HEAVENLIES:

XVI) SONSHIP:

XVII) DEEPER PRAYER:

XVIII) DEEPER BIBLE STUDY:

XIX) SPIRITUAL WARFARE:

XX) PERFECTION - GOING ON TO THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST:

I) BORN AGAIN: This is the first experience: Salvation/Born Again relationship into Jesus. A person must receive Jesus to be Born-Again & grow.

John 1:12  The Christian receives (not accepts) Jesus. Jesus is acceptable. God makes the offer to those He saves, we receive Him.

John 3:16   God's love brings us a relationship.

John 3:36   A Born-Again relationship start with faith.

2 Corinthians 5:17  A Born-again person starts a new life centered on God.

II) BIBLE READING: The word of God (Bible) is spiritual food which a person requires, just like food, not to get sick & eventually die.

1 Corinthians 3:2  Milk is for new Christians to learn God's basics.

1 Peter 1:23  The word of God is alive to help Christians to grow.

1 Peter 2:2   New Christians desire Bible study.

III) PRAYING: Prayer is a communications with God. He talks & we Talk.

John 16:24  A right attitude of thanks & faith in His will.

IV) LOVE OTHERS:

John 13:35  Sign of a Christian

John 15:13  Self giving love is greatest kind.

Romans 13:8   Love is powerful

V) FELLOWSHIP WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS: The church gives love, support, & comfort among many other necessary items in the Christian walk.

Matthew 18:20   Fellowship with a few also.

Acts 2:42 

Hebrews 10:25  Attend church

VI) WATER BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF JESUS: In Jesus name, by faith, we figuratively experience what Jesus did. The christian died, was buried, & was raised to a newness of life from the old man being crucified.

Acts 2:38  Into Jesus

Acts 8:16  Baptized in Lord Jesus

Acts 19:5  Paul who learned from God baptized into Jesus.

Romans 6:3-6  Jesus died not the Father

Galatians 3:27   Do everything in Jesus name - Col 3:17.

Colossians 2:12   See also 1 Corinthians 1:12-13, 15.

VII) BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: This is the second major experience where a Christian has a relationship with the Godhead. The Baptism into the Holy Spirit is needed for God's power. The person has gifts for their own life and for others.

Luke 11:13  Like every experience with God, the Christian sees the experience in the word & asks in faith for it. When God gives it, is His timing. We believe we have it.

Acts 1:5   Jesus prophecied for the need of this experience so we have God's power in our life.

Acts 1:8  Power to heal & for God's direction.

VIII) BIBLE STUDY: Deeper Bible study is needed to know God's will for oneself, to grow in the knowledge of Jesus, and for God's grace.

Psalms 119:11  The word of God saves us from problems.

Isaiah 55:11  God's produces our growth by His word in our hearts.

John 15:7  God will do this.

2 Timothy 2:15  Not just read, but study His word for His will in our life.

Hebrews 5:12-14  This is a growth step with responsibilities.

IX) FAITH: There are over 7000 promises in scripture for those with faith and those who meet God's conditions. The Christian is to study God's word to find the conditions and promises. When one prays in faith he appropriates the promise in the faith dimension. When God manifests the promise is up to God. The person should not pray again for the same item. He should thank God that he has the promise. He believes it to already have occurred.

Hebrews 11:6  Key words

Mark 11:24  God gives the Christian his desires (Psalms 21:2).

Romans 10:17  Read His word, hear from God, and attend church.

John 16:23-24  God

X) OWN HEALING: Healing on our bodies is in the atonement. Our faith in God's promise that He healed us will remove the sickness.

Matthew 8:16-17  Sickness

comes from the Devil. Jesus suffered for our pains and sickness.

James 5:14-15  Faith in Jesus heals.

1 Peter 2:24  Jesus stripes heals

XI) PRAYING IN SPIRIT FOR OWN EDIFICATION: Praying with our tongues and the Holy Spirits words produces a perfect pray to the Father.

1 Corinthians 14:2-4   Edifies self

1 Corinthians 14:13-15  Speaks to God

XII) MINISTRY GIFTS: The power of the Baptism of Holy Spirit to do the super-natural miracles and be directed by God for his ministries (Acts 16:6, 9; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 28-31)

Mark 16:17-18  This is a norm for the H.S. baptized

XIII) FINDING YOUR OWN MINISTRY: God has a ministry for each Christian.

Ephesians 2:10  God has works for us to do, not man's efforts.

A) HOLY OF HOLIES: This is the third experience: A relationship with God the Father (1st: Salvation/born again into a relationship into Jesus & 2nd: Baptism into the Holy Spirit). The Holy of Holies experience includes being within the throne room of God and a very close relationship with the Father.

Hebrews 6:4-5  Things that occur there.

Hebrews 10:19-20  Knowing then entering the Holy of Holies by faith.

2 Peter 1:3-4  Divine

XIV) ONENESS: In the Holy of Holies one achieves a oneness with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God's oneness within His Triunity is similar to the oneness that God wants with the Christian who enters the Holy of Holies. The person is closer to God than ever before as they become one with God. God wants a similar type of oneness between Christians. He also want a similar oneness between wives and husbands which is the model of God's oneness.

Genesis 2:24  The two are one under God.

John 14:20  As Christ is in Father, we are in Him.

John 17:22-23  We are perfected in one with the Father & Jesus.

Romans 12:5  We are one with other Christians.

1 Corinthians 12:27  We are members of each other in the Church of Jesus.

Ephesians 5:30-32  The Christian is one with Christ as Church.

XV) LIVING IN THE HEAVENLIES: The person's life emphasis is toward the spiritual not earthly. It is in a Godly reign.

John 3:12

1 Corinthians 15:48-49

Ephesians 1:3  God gives His people every blessing.

Ephesians 2:6  Our position

Philippians 3:20  Our life/talk

Hebrews 3:1  We are partakers of the heavenly & follow Jesus.

Hebrews 11:16   God prepares us His Heavenly

XVI) SONSHIP: The Father has adopted us to be sons of God. Adoption means to be placed as a son with all the legal rights, powers & authority of sonship. A Christian can be a son, but not be adopted. Adoption is for the mature son who proved worthy of the inheritance & responsibilities.

Romans 8:15-17

Galatians 4:5-7  Closer relations

Ephesians 1:5  It is God who does the work. If He calls, we respond.

XVII) DEEPER PRAYER: This is praise, thanksgiving & intercession ministry

1 Samuel 12:23   Intercede for others.

Acts 1:14  One accord = centered on God's word his command.

Colossians 3:17  The power is in the name of Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18  This is the Christian's own tongue language.

James 4:3  God centered and His give you all

1 John 2:15  A Christ centered life & He will give you all (1 Cor 3:22).

XVIII) DEEPER BIBLE STUDY: In tuned/Knowing what to do before asked by God.

Colossians 3:16  The word changes the Christian into a mature (perfect) person

2 Timothy 3:16-17  Word->perfection

XIX) SPIRITUAL WARFARE:

Romans 7:23  Warfare of keeping body under control.

2 Corinthians 10:4  

Ephesians 6:11-12  The devil, demons, & evil

2 Timothy 2:4  Dedicated to willingly follow Jesus commands.

XX) PERFECTION - GOING ON TO THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST: Christian graduate

Ephesians 3:19

Ephesians 4:13  Jesus is the perfect man. The fulness of Christ is the entire Godhead within us.

Christ in us: Our life & Jesus life inter-mixed; we do what He did.

Romans 12:5   Every Christain in Christ.

Galatians 2:20   I live yet not I, but Christ lives in me.

Colossians 1:27  God's glory through Christ in us.

2 Peter 1:3-4  His nature

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