03-06-2008, 02:49 AM
L E S S O N 11
“He Must Increase” – The Process
In our last lesson we said that the increase of Christ begins with the personal
revelation of Christ. This is what Jesus was talking about when He said the
Kingdom of God is like a seed planted in good soil that increases and brings
forth fruit. So don't worry! If you're a disciple of Jesus, if you're a Christian, if you
know that Jesus is Lord, then you have the revelation of Christ. Maybe you only
have the revelation of Christ as your Savior, it may be a very small revelation of
Him, but it is a beginning.
Remember, the increasing of Christ is not a once-and -for-all event in the life of a
Christian. It is a process in which Jesus is continually increased. Jesus described
this process in Matthew 7:14: “..narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which
leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
In this passage of scripture Jesus presents us with a narrow gate, and a narrow way.
Now, think about the difference between a gate and a path. It only takes a moment
to enter into the gate, but walking the path takes place over a period of time. It only
takes one or two steps to pass through the gate but it takes many steps to walk the
path.
In John 10:9, Jesus says that He is “the Door” (or “the Gate”). And in John 14:6,
Jesus says that He is “the Way” (or “the Path”). Stop thinking about Christianity
in terms of things, and begin thinking in terms of a Person, because everything is
pointing to Jesus!
So, in Matthew 7:14, Who is the Narrow Gate? Christ. And Who is the Narrow
Path? Christ. The narrow gate represents the revelation of Christ – the beginning of
the journey. Now many people are content to just stay right there, but Jesus says
the way to life is a gate and a path. The gate – trusting in Jesus for salvation – is
not the end of the journey. It's the beginning of the journey! Because beyond that
gate there is a narrow path.
As soon as a new disciple enters the gate, the revelation of Christ is planted in their
heart. As the disciple walks the path, that seed, the revelation of Christ, begins to
grow. This process is called discipleship, or, spiritual growth.
Here's a quote from one of my writings: “Spiritual growth is not more knowledge
or increase of years. It is simply more of Jesus and less of me. He increases as I decrease! This is what it means to be a disciple.”
T. Austin Sparks describes it like this: “The hallmark of true spiritual development
and maturity is this: that we have grown so much less, and the Lord Jesus has
grown so much more. Real spiritual growth is just this – I decrease, He increases.
It is the Lord Jesus becoming more. You can test spiritual growth by that.”
Now the question arises: what lies at the end of this narrow path? What is the goal
of discipleship? When we enter the gate and walk the path, what are we moving
towards?
In our next lesson we'll discuss “The Goal of Increase.”
QUIZ
Lesson 11 – “He Must Increase” – The Process
1. In Matthew 7:14, Jesus describes discipleship as
a) a church and a preacher
b) a Gate and a Path
c) a doctrine and a belief
2. If the Gate represents the Revelation of Christ (the beginning of the journey), then the Path
represents
a) church attendance
b) spiritual growth
c) turning over a new leaf
3. According to Jesus, in order to find Life, one must first enter the Gate. The next step is to
a) rest and relax
b) walk the Path
c) shut Gate behind you
4. Spiritual growth is not more knowledge of increase of years. It is simply
a) more of religion and less of me
b) more of the new me and less of the old me
c) more of Jesus and less of me
5. Jesus said the Gate and the Path are narrow and difficult, and few people find it. Why do you
suppose this is?
a) churches focus more on salvation than discipleship
b) we’ve made Jesus too complicated
c) people confuse religion with relationship
d) all the above
“He Must Increase” – The Process
In our last lesson we said that the increase of Christ begins with the personal
revelation of Christ. This is what Jesus was talking about when He said the
Kingdom of God is like a seed planted in good soil that increases and brings
forth fruit. So don't worry! If you're a disciple of Jesus, if you're a Christian, if you
know that Jesus is Lord, then you have the revelation of Christ. Maybe you only
have the revelation of Christ as your Savior, it may be a very small revelation of
Him, but it is a beginning.
Remember, the increasing of Christ is not a once-and -for-all event in the life of a
Christian. It is a process in which Jesus is continually increased. Jesus described
this process in Matthew 7:14: “..narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which
leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
In this passage of scripture Jesus presents us with a narrow gate, and a narrow way.
Now, think about the difference between a gate and a path. It only takes a moment
to enter into the gate, but walking the path takes place over a period of time. It only
takes one or two steps to pass through the gate but it takes many steps to walk the
path.
In John 10:9, Jesus says that He is “the Door” (or “the Gate”). And in John 14:6,
Jesus says that He is “the Way” (or “the Path”). Stop thinking about Christianity
in terms of things, and begin thinking in terms of a Person, because everything is
pointing to Jesus!
So, in Matthew 7:14, Who is the Narrow Gate? Christ. And Who is the Narrow
Path? Christ. The narrow gate represents the revelation of Christ – the beginning of
the journey. Now many people are content to just stay right there, but Jesus says
the way to life is a gate and a path. The gate – trusting in Jesus for salvation – is
not the end of the journey. It's the beginning of the journey! Because beyond that
gate there is a narrow path.
As soon as a new disciple enters the gate, the revelation of Christ is planted in their
heart. As the disciple walks the path, that seed, the revelation of Christ, begins to
grow. This process is called discipleship, or, spiritual growth.
Here's a quote from one of my writings: “Spiritual growth is not more knowledge
or increase of years. It is simply more of Jesus and less of me. He increases as I decrease! This is what it means to be a disciple.”
T. Austin Sparks describes it like this: “The hallmark of true spiritual development
and maturity is this: that we have grown so much less, and the Lord Jesus has
grown so much more. Real spiritual growth is just this – I decrease, He increases.
It is the Lord Jesus becoming more. You can test spiritual growth by that.”
Now the question arises: what lies at the end of this narrow path? What is the goal
of discipleship? When we enter the gate and walk the path, what are we moving
towards?
In our next lesson we'll discuss “The Goal of Increase.”
QUIZ
Lesson 11 – “He Must Increase” – The Process
1. In Matthew 7:14, Jesus describes discipleship as
a) a church and a preacher
b) a Gate and a Path
c) a doctrine and a belief
2. If the Gate represents the Revelation of Christ (the beginning of the journey), then the Path
represents
a) church attendance
b) spiritual growth
c) turning over a new leaf
3. According to Jesus, in order to find Life, one must first enter the Gate. The next step is to
a) rest and relax
b) walk the Path
c) shut Gate behind you
4. Spiritual growth is not more knowledge of increase of years. It is simply
a) more of religion and less of me
b) more of the new me and less of the old me
c) more of Jesus and less of me
5. Jesus said the Gate and the Path are narrow and difficult, and few people find it. Why do you
suppose this is?
a) churches focus more on salvation than discipleship
b) we’ve made Jesus too complicated
c) people confuse religion with relationship
d) all the above
