Joshua 17:13
Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.
Israel made several mistakes that many Christians and churches make that keep them from growing. Just like there is nothing wrong with a Christian growing, there is also nothing wrong with a church growing. In fact, if God expects the Christian to grow, don't you think He expects His church to grow? The problem with Christian growth or church growth is the individual or the church are doing things or have mentalities that keep or hinder them from growth. Let me reveal several mentalities that will keep you as a Christian from growing or that will keep a church from growth.
First, knowing you are strong will stop your growth. Israel stopped conquering because they were waxen strong. They knew they were strong, but instead of continuing to conquer Canaan as God commanded, they simply put the Canaanites to tribute. Too many look down at how far they have come rather than looking up at how much farther they need to go. As a church or a believer, you will always have much more to go than what you have gone. Never look at your strength and compare it to others, for that will always stop your growth.
Second, relying on your past will stop your growth. Israel often looked at what God did through them instead of looking at what God could do through them, and that is what kept them from going forward. You have spiritually died if the only thing you can talk about God working miraculously through you is in your past. It is wonderful that God has worked through you in the past, but the past is not an excuse not to do something for God in the present. What you do today is of greater importance to your future than what God did through you in the past. The past should simply be a catalyst to challenge you to do more by faith today.
Third, letting up the next day after a great victory has destroyed growth. The battle of Ai was a classic example of Israel not going all in as they faced the next battle. Many have fallen after the great victory because they let up. You must be as engaged the day after a great victory as you was the day before the great victory. Letting up has stopped the momentum of many churches and believers. There is no time to let up in the Christian life. You must give your all every day if you want to see continued victories until the day you die.
Fourth, being satisfied with what you have done has destroyed the growth of churches and believers. The two-and-a-half tribes that settled on the other side of Jordan hurt the next generation from doing more because they stopped. Many churches have stopped growing because they got comfortable with what God did through them in the past, and they stayed instead of continuing to do more by faith. Never be satisfied with what you have done. Always attempt more by faith. There is always more to attempt by faith; therefore, there is no excuse to be satisfied with what you have.
Fifth, going in your own power has destroyed the growth of many churches and believers. At the end of the day, it always takes God’s power to do His work. When you feel you can do it without begging for God’s power is when you have stopped the growth that God will give you by faith. Never get to the point where you don't beg for God’s power. God’s power will always be needed for everything you do for God.
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