A topic I’ve been asked to teach and write a book on is “Spiritual Growth and Discipleship.” Just what do we as a Christian need to know and do to grow spiritually? How do we pass this on to others who become believers? These are important questions I try to answer.
I equate spiritual birth and growth to physical birth and growth, as does Jesus (John 3). Both are the start of a new life. After birth comes growth. If there is no growth there is clearly something wrong, both with a baby and with a new Christian. Growing is a natural and necessary sign of life.
Growth comes from taking in nourishment – eating. Babies have a strong appetite for food, and believers should have a strong appetite for God’s Word. Babies also desire to communicate, at first by crying and then by using words. Healthy, growing believers desire to talk to God in prayer. Prayer is the way we communicate with God.
Before long a baby is old enough to learn to walk, one step at a time. If they never learn to walk we know something is very wrong. Christians, too, must learn to walk by the guidance and enabling of God’s Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16; Ephesians 5:18). The better one becomes at walking the less stumbling and falling will take place. Even mature believers will fall from time to time, but the stronger we become in our faith the better our walk will be.
Babies are clean when born, but soon become dirty and need to be cleaned over and over again. Christians, too, are free from sin at salvation but we sin when we think, say or do something we shouldn’t, or don’t do something we should. We need to learn how to cleanse ourselves (1 John 1:9). If we don’t, there may be discipline from God, the same as a parent will punish a disobedient child (Hebrews 12:4-11).
As a parent protects their children, God protects His children as well. Satan and his demons attack but God is greater (1 John 4:4). Parents also give their children gifts, and our heavenly Father gives us spiritual gifts which we use to minister to others. Parents and siblings provide friendship and support for children, and God provides fellowship for us through others in the church.
It is important for all of us to grow spiritually and to help other believers grow as well. That’s what this session and book is about. Living things grow.
1 Peter 2:1-3 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3 now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
How has your spiritual growth been? Are there ‘holes’ or weak areas where more growth is necessary? What must you do to mature in this area?
cto Rev. Dr. JERRY SCHMOYER
Christian Training Organization
Jerry@ChristianTrainingOrganization.org
(India Outreach, Spiritual Warfare, Family Ministries, Counseling, World View)
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