Growth, January 10, 2021

By Rev. Michael Mwangi

Senior Pastor, Fedha Church KAG

Philippians 3:3-14

Last year (2019) we celebrated a milestone. 

• Ten years of progress and establishment. 
• Ten years of God's goodness, grace and faithfulness. 

Over those years God has established us. We have 3 pastors and other 2 in bible school, 3 services running, faithful committed membership, strong leadership, great media team, established children's church and a vibrant teen’s ministry not to mention a good sanctuary.

Does this mean we have achieved or attained? Should we sit and relax now? 

• God has given us 2021 and beyond to grow and expand his kingdom even as we say "your kingdom come your will be done here In Fedha as it is in heaven"
• This is why we are now focusing on the next 10years to grow and expand. 
• This is our 10-year vision of growth and expansion now that the Lord has established us over the last 10 years.
• Its is so easy to settle and relax but God is calling us to greater things reminding us we are not yet there. Let’s remember that God has much more than our mind can figure out or we can ever ask.

Ephesians 3:20- Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

For this reason, every believer or church must keep desiring growth and expansion to reach where God has called us

We need to know the following on growth

1. Only God can give growth but we participate by planting and watering

• Our own efforts and good planning alone can never yield substantial growth

1 Corinthians 3:6- [6] I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.

• If we really desire real growth, we must seek the one who gives the growth. This is a call to seek God more than ever before rather than a call to actions of growth.

2. Growth is intentional

• Growth requires our input and preparation
• Growth does not just happen, it is caused to happen. We must be prepared to plant(invest) and water(prayers) and allow God to grow it. That is why growth must be planned, purposed, and prayed.

3. Growth must be informed

Growth must have direction and purpose. It requires the guidance of the Holy Spirit to achieve God's purposes. We don't just grow for the sake of growth.

Luke 12:32- “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

• We want to grow because it is God's will to grow and advance his kingdom and that is his purpose and desire for us

• We achieve this through our 3 initiatives

evangelize, equip and engage.  All this require a place or facility (mega sanctuary)

4. Growth must have the right motive

We are growing for his glory to fulfil his purposes not to compete with others or build a name for ourselves. Why are you pursuing what you are pursuing

1 Corinthians 10:31- So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Grow the God way

5. True growth requires a true strategy. For a believer or church, growth and expansion must follow God's principle.

Matthew 6:33- [33] But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. we cannot afford to do it our own way.

The big question

• If God gives you the chance, where do you want to be in the next 5 or 10 years(Goal). what do you need to do for you to Get there(strategy or action plan)? 

3. Guiding  principle

1. Live as if you are dying today (ready)
2. Plan as if you will live forever
3. Do your best and leave the rest to God

Caution

• The moment you get satisfied by where you are you lose the desire to grow more. No matter how much you have attained, there is always a higher level
• The moment you stop growing, you start dying and decaying. You lose fruitfulness and productivity

2 Peter 1:8- For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What kills the desire to grow

1. Lack of vision

• If you are going nowhere, anywhere  is okay
• Without a vision or a goal, nothing pushes you or motivate you to move or act. There is nothing that tells you that you are missing in action or the mark

Philippians 3:12- Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Paul had a clear goal and that's what he was always pressing hard to reach

Do you have a goal?

2. False finish line

Achievements can be deceptive. Paul lists his great accomplishments which should make any modern believer feel he has attained but immediately nullifies them to continue pursuing Christ.

Philippians 3:7-8 - [7] But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. [8]What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my 

• Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ
• Sometimes we fill we have been in the church too long, participated or done what has to be done and there and we look back and feel we have attained. No wonder we no longer come to bible study, Keshas or revival meetings. We have developed a false finish line. When we allow these achievements fill our hearts, we are left without any need for Him. 
• We lose our appetite for more of Him and develop familiarity. Having been a minister for over 20 years and now with a large church and having taught the bible through, it is easy to think I have arrived. Our achievements are not a measure of our relationship with God. 
• We must guard against false finish line and press on to the end. No matter how far ahead of others we may be, we can’t afford to slow down or stop to take on selfies until we cross the finish line. We must keep our eyes on the finish line and not allow the beauty of stages or milestones to destruct us to stop and celebrate
• It would be easier to sit and celebrate 10 years success but we need to grow more than before. No matter what a good a place you find yourself or get to achieve, remember it is not the finish line.

3. Challenges and failures

• Challenges can take a toll on us and eat away our appetite for growth.

But Paul would say:

Philippians 3:12-13- [12] Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. [13]Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

• Forget the past; some people already have no expectations in 2021 because of what they went through in 2020 corona season or in the past.
• Forget the past and fix your eyes on the goal.

 Conclusion

• True growth requires we grow in our relationship with Christ so he can bring a real increase in our life. Growth is a call for a deeper walk with him. Instead of filling our lives with more material let's fill our lives with more of him and he will fill our lives with all we need.
• Christ must be all in all to us and we must seek Him with all of our hearts.
• If we find Him we have all we need in life
• Let's seek him with all of our hearts and like Moses desire his presence rather than his presents. 
• Let’s seek his face rather than his hand, his glory rather than his goodies.