Hindrances to Spiritual Growth 1 Hindrances to Spiritual

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Hindrances to Spiritual Growth 1

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth 1

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth ØDullness of Hearing, Lk. 8: 10; Matt. 13: 15 •

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth ØDullness of Hearing, Lk. 8: 10; Matt. 13: 15 • Dull: Thick, fat, callous • Hearing: Give audience, attend to • Closed mind, Lk. 8: 5, 12 § Unbelief, Jno. 6: 60 -66 § Hard heart, Heb. 3: 7 -8 2

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth ØLack of endurance, Lk. 8: 13 • Joyful, but shallow

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth ØLack of endurance, Lk. 8: 13 • Joyful, but shallow faith • Emotional mind - Fails to count the cost of following Jesus, Lk. 14: 27 -33 • Endure to the end to be saved, Matt. 24: 13 (Heb. 12: 1) 3

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth ØPrevalence of lawlessness, Matt. 24: 12 • Grows & destroys,

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth ØPrevalence of lawlessness, Matt. 24: 12 • Grows & destroys, 2 Tim. 2: 16 -17; 3: 13 • Association with world affects growth, 1 Cor. 15: 33 -34 • Sin’s deception chokes out the word of God, Lk. 8: 14 (Mk. 4: 18 -19) • Wandering mind without focus • Escape temptation! 1 Cor. 10: 13 4

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth ØCommands/doctrines of men, Col. 2: 18 -23 • Growth comes

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth ØCommands/doctrines of men, Col. 2: 18 -23 • Growth comes from holding fast to Christ • When we submit to men’s doctrines we replace… § Christ (head) with man § Imperishable truth with perishable things § Kingdom of heaven with the world § Potent truth with impotent error § Nutrition with junk food (Gal. 1: 6 -9) § Valuable with counterfeit (Col. 2: 23) 5

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth ØSpiritual fatigue, Gal. 6: 9; 2 Ths. 3: 13 •

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth ØSpiritual fatigue, Gal. 6: 9; 2 Ths. 3: 13 • Lose heart: Faint, exhausted…despondent, unresponsive § Will reap in “due season” § Labor in Christ is not in vain, 1 Cor. 15: 58 • Continue to “do good”, Gal. 6: 9 -10 • Be patient & wait on the Lord, Jas. 5: 7 -9 6

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth ØForgetfulness • Past blessings, 2 Pet. 1: 9 • Present

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth ØForgetfulness • Past blessings, 2 Pet. 1: 9 • Present privileges & responsibilities, 2 Pet. 1: 3 -4; Heb. 13: 16 • Future reward, 2 Pet. 1: 10 -11 7

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth ØNeglect, 1 Pet. 2: 2 • Stop craving truth §

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth ØNeglect, 1 Pet. 2: 2 • Stop craving truth § Stop learning, assembling, praying, living • Abide in Christ, bear fruit, Jno. 15: 1 -6 • Honest, renewed heart holds fast to the word of God, Lk. 8: 15 § Apathy will cause many to be lost (Rom. 12: 11) 8

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth ØStumbling blocks laid by others, 18: 6 -10 Matt. •

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth ØStumbling blocks laid by others, 18: 6 -10 Matt. • Treatment of others can help or hinder someone’s growth (Gal. 6: 1 -2) § Words & deeds (Prov. 15: 1 -2, 28; 1 Cor. 9: 22; 8: 9 -13) • Regardless of others, we must remain faithful to Christ (Josh. 24: 15) 9

Spiritual Growth (Eph. 3: 14 -19) ØStrength in Christ when we live by faith

Spiritual Growth (Eph. 3: 14 -19) ØStrength in Christ when we live by faith ØSpiritual growth is not… • Miraculous, accidental or automatic ØResult of taking personal responsibility & refusing to be hindered (Eph. 6: 10) 10