Principles of Spiritual Growth

Romans 15:5-6 “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

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Principles of Spiritual Growth

Ps. Danny

13th November 2011

Perhaps you remember your mother or father telling you, when you were young, to drink your Complain, Horlicks or porridge. Or perhaps you tell your kids that now. Parents are naturally concerned about the physical growth and development of their children and they try and ensure that their kids receive all the necessary nutrition needed to aid growth.
Our Heavenly Father is also concerned about our growth – especially our spiritual growth. We please our Lord Jesus when we make efforts to grow in our relationship with Him. We grow because we love Him and not in order to earn His gifts. And He will help us in our quest to grow in His likeness.
Spiritual growth is important. It is intentional and never accidental. Paul tells us how to grow spiritually in Ephesians 3 and 4.
Paul says the first step in spiritual growth, is coming to a deeper understanding and knowledge of our Creator God. Here are some things that we must know about God and us.

God wants to have a relationship with us. Ephesians 3:16 – 17. When Adam sinned, he pulled away and tried to hide from God. But God, in the full knowledge of what had happened, came as usual to talk with Adam. The Bible is God’s way of telling you that He is looking for and searching for you.
God loves us so much. Ephesians 3:17
He wants us to live a full and fulfilled life. John 10:10
God’s power is not limited in your life – God is able. Ephesians 3:20
God wants to work in your life and use you. Ephesians 3:16.

And then Paul pauses at Ephesians 4:1. He says, ‘in light of what you have heard above, now do this.’ And he goes on to outline them. We must make efforts to grow spiritually. We must ask ourselves what we are going to do to grow today. We must decide to do a few things (but do them well) and then action them.
Paul’s recommended list of things to do to grow, from Ephesians 4.

We need to stay on our track - stay on the path that God has planned for us. We all have individual assignments from God and we should not try to be like someone else. We need to receive our assignment from God directly.
We need to start taking steps. We need to create an action plan and then act on it. Growth comes from continuously walking with God.
We need to be intentional. Nothing comes by accident.
We need to be humble (Ephesians 4:2). There is no retirement in God’s plan, no pause or holiday. We can’t afford to get stuck in our spiritual walk, we need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and keep on walking.
We need to be disciplined. Continuous obedience brings discipline. God wants wholesome growth in all areas of our lives. When we are full of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, we will grow.
With all this growing, we need to serve one another. Just as a lake, which has no outlet for water to flow out, gets stagnant and starts stinking, similarly if there is no outlet for service, we may grow, but we will surely stink. Don’t be stagnant, constantly grow.
Be unique. We need to be who God called us to be.
We need to keep our focus on Christ. Ephesians 4:15-16.