25 Apr From Faith to Faith Strength to Strength and Glory to Glory #5

Faith To Faith Overview

In this powerful message from Pastor’s continuing series ‘From Faith to Faith, Strength to Strength, and Glory to Glory,’ we explore the progressive nature of Christian spiritual growth. Drawing wisdom from Charles Spurgeon’s teaching that ‘being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion—it’s a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ,’ this sermon emphasizes that spiritual maturity requires intentional change and preparation. The message distinguishes between the legal side of redemption (what Christ accomplished on the cross) and the practical side (what we must do to experience those blessings). Using analogies like inheriting wealth through probate court, the pastor explains that while everything belongs to us legally through Christ’s sacrifice, we must follow God’s practical steps to receive it. The sermon addresses the importance of receiving correction, assembling with fellow believers, and maintaining consistent praise even through valleys of weeping. This transformative teaching challenges believers to embrace change in their present to succeed in their future, emphasizing that God wants to prepare us for greater glory and responsibility in our next spiritual season.

Faith To Faith Outline

• 0:00 – Introduction: Progressive Christian Life: Opening thoughts on spiritual progression and Charles Spurgeon’s wisdom on daily Christian growth
• 3:30 – The Need for Present Change: Understanding that future success requires willingness to change in the present
• 6:15 – Pastoral Authority and Correction: Exploring the biblical role of pastors in teaching, correcting, and rebuking with love
• 10:45 – Legal vs Practical Redemption: Distinguishing between what Christ accomplished legally and our practical steps to receive it
• 16:20 – Faith to Faith Progression: Examining Romans 1:16-17 and how righteousness is revealed through faithful obedience
• 21:00 – Strength to Strength Assembly: The importance of gathering with believers for encouragement and continued growth
• 25:45 – Valley of Baca – Making Wells: How to transform trials and dry seasons into sources of blessing and strength

Scripture References

Romans 1:16-17, Romans 10:17, Psalm 84:4-7, John 14:15

Key Takeaways

• Christian growth is a progressive, daily process that requires intentional change and preparation for what God has planned.
• While everything belongs to us legally through Christ’s sacrifice, we must follow God’s practical steps to experience those blessings in our daily lives.
• Receiving correction and rebuke from spiritual authority, though difficult, leads to growth and increased blessing when accepted with humility.
• Regular assembly with other believers provides essential encouragement and accountability for continued spiritual development.
• Faith comes by hearing God’s word, but it must be followed by obedient action to move from faith to faith.
• Trials and difficult seasons can be transformed into wells of blessing when we maintain our strength in the Lord.
• God desires to prepare us for greater glory and responsibility, but we must be willing to change and grow to handle what He wants to give us.

Faith To Faith Notes

This compelling sermon from the ‘From Faith to Faith, Strength to Strength, and Glory to Glory’ series addresses the fundamental truth that spiritual growth is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of transformation. Pastor opens with Charles Spurgeon’s profound insight that Christianity extends far beyond the moment of salvation into a daily process of becoming more Christ-like. This perspective challenges the common misconception that conversion is the end rather than the beginning of spiritual development.The message emphasizes a crucial principle: future success requires present change. Using the practical analogy of becoming an engineer, the pastor illustrates that desire alone is insufficient—preparation, training, and qualification are essential. Similarly, God has plans for our spiritual advancement, but we must be willing to undergo the necessary changes and growth to handle what He wants to give us. This preparation isn’t arbitrary but purposeful, designed to ensure we can successfully steward the blessings and responsibilities of our next spiritual season.A particularly challenging aspect of the sermon addresses pastoral authority and the difficulty many believers have with correction and rebuke. The pastor explains that while people eagerly receive encouragement and affirmation, they often resist correction, not understanding that biblical pastoring includes teaching, correcting, and rebuking when necessary. This correction isn’t punitive but redemptive, designed to prevent future sorrow and promote spiritual health and growth.The sermon’s core teaching distinguishes between legal and practical redemption. Legally, through Christ’s finished work on the cross, everything belongs to believers—we are seated in heavenly places with Jesus and have access to all spiritual blessings. However, practically experiencing these blessings requires following God’s prescribed process. Using the analogy of inheritance through probate court, the pastor explains that while inheritance may be legally ours, we must complete certain requirements to actually receive it. Similarly, God’s blessings are legally ours through Christ, but accessing them requires obedience and spiritual maturity.The ‘faith to faith’ progression, drawn from Romans 1:16-17, represents the process of receiving God’s word and responding in obedience. This isn’t merely intellectual assent but spiritual life transformation. When God speaks through His word or through prophetic ministry, it requires a response of faith-filled action. The righteousness of God is revealed through this progressive obedience, as believers consistently choose to follow divine instruction rather than their own understanding.Moving from ‘strength to strength,’ as outlined in Psalm 84, emphasizes the vital importance of assembling with other believers. This gathering isn’t merely religious duty but strategic spiritual warfare. When believers come together, they provide mutual encouragement, accountability, and strength to continue in God’s ways. The psalm describes those who pass through the ‘valley of Baca’ (weeping) but make it a well—transforming seasons of difficulty into sources of blessing and refreshment.The sermon concludes with the beautiful promise that those who maintain their strength in the Lord and continue in His ways will ‘go from strength to strength’ and ultimately appear before God in Zion. This progression from faith to faith, strength to strength, and ultimately glory to glory represents the complete journey of spiritual maturation, where believers are progressively prepared for greater dimensions of God’s presence and purpose in their lives.

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