Growing Spiritually:
Many followers of Jesus continue to learn, serve,
worship, witness and become ambassadors for Him in this world. They have a
great passion and desire for a deeper and more personal intimate relationship
with Jesus. They want to have a greater understanding of God's Word and how to
apply it to their lives. They desire to connect with their Lord and
Savior on a daily basis. And are willing to submit to Him for wisdom, perspective,
direction, discernment and correction. They welcome being led by the Holy
Spirit and are willing to look at their lives to evaluate their spiritual
condition.
A follower of Jesus can start with adding spiritual disciplines in order to keep growing in their knowledge, faith, trust and wisdom concerning the things of God. We should take comfort in that spiritual growth is a lifelong process. It is God’s desire that we become more like Jesus.
The scripture says:
Ephesians 4:22-24 New International Version
22 You were taught,
with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old
self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to
be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to
put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and
holiness.
1 John 2:6 New Life Version
6 The one who says
he belongs to Christ should live the same kind of life Christ lived.
Jesus said this:
26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Acts 1:8 New International Version
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Romans 8:26 New International Version
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
Galatians 5:22-23 New International Version
22 But the fruit of
the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against
such things there is no law.
We
can learn so much from God’s Word:
16 All Scripture is
God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and
training in righteousness, 17 so that the
servant of God[a] may
be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
John 15:6-8 New International Version
I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you,
you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If
you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers;
such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If
you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will
be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you
bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Living a life devotion requires that we spend
time with God, thinking about what God wants, and then living life for God’s
purpose. That way when others observe the way we live, they will know we are
set apart to God through our identity in Christ and the way we love God and
others. Not only should we listen to the Word but also do what it says.
James 1:22-25 New International Version
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
As an example, God’s Word tells us about the importance of love in every relationship and especially how we can love God.
34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
John 14:15 New International Version
15 “If you love me, keep my commands.
21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
John 14:23 New International Version
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
Can you see the benefit to this kind of Love?
2. We need to include spiritual
disciplines in our daily activity to help us continually live our
lives devoted to God, and in turn to help us grow spiritually.
Spiritual disciplines, are spiritual exercises that one engages in habitually which bring
us closer to God and helps us become more
like Jesus in character and behavior.
Here are some examples of Spiritual discipline:
A. Prayer – Spending quiet time with God, making our
requests known and
spending moments just listening so we can
grasp the Holy Spirit’s inspiration, teaching and guidance that help us act in
accordance with God’s will.
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
Be joyful always; pray continually; give
thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
B. Meditation – A time where we contemplate the
meaning of God's Word
When we need a positive change our perspective, we can meditate on some good things:
Philippians 4:8 NIV
Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything
is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
C. Fasting - usually accompanied with prayer, in which one abstains
from food, drink, sleep or sex in order to focus on spiritual growth.
So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.
Joel 2:12 NIV
"Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning."
3. Actively pursue a relationship with God to understand
what He is calling us to do:
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
If my people, who are called by my name,
will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and
turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive
their sin and will heal their land.
Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Acts 13:1-3 NIV
In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
Acts 13:1-3 implies that church leaders were seeking God's direction for their ministry through prayer and fasting. In this instance, people fasted and prayed in order to determine God's will.
The Bible also talks about renewing our
minds as a way to understand God’s will.
Romans 12:2 NIV
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve
what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Here are some other spiritual activities that
can help train us to become more devoted to God through regular practice:
1. Praise
and Worship: (Living a life of worship, not just on Sunday)
2. Our
giving/tithe: (Trusting God with our finances)
3. Corporate
Worship: (Regularly attending church to help edify (build up)
the
Body of Christ)
4. Hospitality: (Being
Christ-like toward others)
5. Teaching/Evangelism: (Sharing
the Gospel and train others to do the same)
6. Stewardship: (Using
our resources, time, gifts and talents to benefit His
Kingdom)
7. Bible
Study: (maintaining a connection to the truth of God’s Word for
inspiration and daily living)
Through our daily spiritual disciplines, we can
move toward living a life that is Holy and pleasing to God.
Let strive to make sure everything we do is placed
before God as an offering.
1 Corinthians 10:31 New International Version
31 So whether you eat
or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Romans 12:1 NIV
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of
God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices holy and
pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.
Our devotion and obedience to God is part of our
gratitude and offering back to Him for the new life and future He has provided
us. Together we can inspire and encourage one another to grow deeper
in our relationship with Jesus which in turn can help develop that
Christ-likeness in each of us. With the help of the Holy Spirit and
inspired by the Word of God, we can enhance the mission of the local church to
help play a more significant role in our community. The local Church, has a
very important role to play in God’s plan to bring hope and salvation to the
world.
The Church is more than a building, and we are
more than church goers.
We can be Christ’s Ambassadors.
We can be Salt and Light.
We can “enhance” the flavor of Christ.
Our good works can shine for all to see and bring glory to
God.
We can reflect that light of truth that shines in the
darkness.
We can counter worldly thinking by being a voice
for God’s truth.
We can be God’s hands and feet called to go out
and make disciples, sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ!
Questions to think about when it comes to your
life and spiritual growth:
Do you have a plan to grow spiritually this
year?
What is getting in the way of you seeking a daily relationship and conversation with God?
What is God telling you to do that you might be avoiding?
Name some things you believe can help you on your spiritual growth journey?
Name some benefits of spiritual growth?
In what areas has God gifted you that you can use to edify/build up the body of Christ?
