PROCESSES -
INTRODUCTION
- There are three processes covering Christian growth: Sanctification, Transformation, and Perfection. (caterpillar - cocoon - butterfly)
- Sanctification - the state of being separated to God, to make holy, to separate the believer from evil things and ways (actions) - five senses - words, actions, habits, objects.
- The Holy Spirit is the agent in Sanctification.
- Romans 15:16
- II Thess. 2:13
- I Peter 1:2
- I Cor. 6:11
- Personal agents of Sanctification - 'for the work of the ministry,' Ephesians 4:12b:
- Ministers - pastors/teachers, evangelists
- Motive gifts - ruler/organizer, giver, server
- Design - Peter
- Tree being dealt with - Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
- Everything judged by Right/Wrong, Good/Evil, True/False.
- Lifestyle - according to the body - physically what can be seen, heard, done, spoken:
- Love according to the Law - love in word and deed.
- Attitude learning: obedience to the Word.
- Flesh dealt with - rebellious actions, words, attitudes (as seen in word and deed). Gal. 5:19,20,21
- Lust of the Flesh - anger of the mind.
- Lust of the Eyes - hunger of emotion.
- Pride of Life - fear of the will.
- Growth stages covered: Baby, Child, Early Teenager.
- Transformation - To transfigure, literally metamorphose, to change into another form, that of Christ's image - cocoon stage.
- II Cor. 3:18 - 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 Lord Jesus is the agent of Transformation.
- *Homework - find 4 scriptures to verify.
- Personal agents of Transformation - 'for the edifying of the body of Christ:' Ephesians 4:12c:
- Minister - prophet
- Motive gifts - exhorter, mercy
- Design - John
- Tree being dealt with: removal from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and engrafting into the Tree of Life.
- Everything judged by Life or Death.
- Lifestyle - attitudes of the soul:
- Love according to grace.
- Col. 3:12,13 - Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; Forbearing one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
- Attitude learning: submission - attitudes submitted to Jesus as Lord.
- Flesh dealt with - crookedness (especially manifested in attitudes) - flesh and spirit.
- Manifested as - put off/put on:
- Lust of the Flesh - arrogance/grace.
- Lust of the Eyes - vanity/truth.
- Pride of Life - pride/mercy.
- Gifts used - Romans 12 - put off/put on:
- Prophecy - no love/compassion.
- Server - selfishness/kindness.
- Teacher - slothfulness/humility.
- Exhorter - apathy/meekness.
- Giver - manipulation/longsuffering.
- Ruler/Organizer - resentment/forbearance.
- Mercy - indifference/forgiveness.
- Growth stage covered: Teenager.
- Perfection - to be complete, to be friendly to God - butterfly stage.
- II Chron. 16:9 - The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.
- God the Father is the agent of Perfection.
- *Homework - find 4 scriptures to verify.
- Personal agents of Perfection - 'For the perfecting of the saints,' Eph.4:12a:
- Minister - apostle
- Motive gifts - prophecy, teacher
- Design - Paul
- Tree being dealt with: Tree of Life.
- Everything judged by "love" of the brethren - "user-friendly" to God and man.
- Lifestyle - according to the heart:
- Love according to faith alone - boldness in day of judgment - no fear - perfect love casts out fear.
- Attitude learning: love, graciousness - what love really is.
- Flesh death with - the sin that so easily besets us. Hebrews 12:12
- Lust of the Flesh - glory/esteem versus Paul - love God and all mankind.
- Lust of the Eyes - life/adoration versus John - give favor away.
- Pride of Life - worship and serve/idols versus Peter - being full of valor (might, power).
- Growth stage covered: Fatherhood.
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BACK TO: Perfecting of the Saints; Growth Processes; EFI; THE EDIFIER
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, Ephesians 4:12
© 1992, Jacqueline L. Davis
WWW © 1999, EFI
Created: 7/9/99
Updated: 5/28/2011