How to Grow Spiritually

Babies are immature physically and mentally, but we expect them to develop. If they don't, there is a problem.

Spiritual growth is a similar concept but is far more important.

Growth is development or improvement toward a goal called "maturity" (or, in the Bible, "perfection"). When one is "born again" as a child of God, he is spiritually immature. A congregation matures as individual members mature.

Many Scriptures describe the need to grow and mature spiritually:

Ephesians 4:14,15 - Be no longer children, but grow up in Christ.

2 Peter 3:18 - but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 - The Thessalonians grew exceedingly in faith.

Philippians 1:9 - Paul prayed for their love to abound more and more.

Many problems result when members fail to grow: some go back to the world, others cause strife because of ignorance or become stumbling blocks because of irregular attendance, worldliness, or indifference.

Just as a baby needs to do certain things to grow physically, so Christians need certain kinds of activities to grow spiritually.

I. A DESIRE TO GROW

A. We Will Never Grow Unless We Want to Grow

In the physical realm, children WANT to grow.

Parents and kids become so excited when kids learn something new - the first step, first word, draw picture, etc. Everyone wants them to develop new abilities.

Likewise, in spiritual matters, Christians must WANT to grow.

1 Peter 2:2 - Desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.

Some seem to like being spiritual babies. They don't want to grow. It's easy to be a baby - no responsibility. Others feed you, clothe you, and change your diaper. In the church, you don't have to teach, rebuke sin, or do work.

But being a baby is not the goal of life. We are born babies so we can grow up and be productive and useful. Likewise, we are born again, so we can become mature Christians, actively serving the Lord.

One of the conditions for becoming a child of God is REPENTANCE. One must determine to turn from sin and GO TO WORK in God's vineyard. Then one must bring forth the FRUITS of repentance. This will lead us to grow and improve in God's work. Otherwise, we have not accomplished our purpose for becoming children of God.

1 Peter 2:21 - Jesus set an example for us, and we should follow in His steps. We should ask ourselves, "Don't I want to grow up to be spiritually strong like Jesus?"

B. We Must Maintain This Desire to Grow.

Some members, who once wanted to grow, may lose that desire. They may start off on fire for the Lord, but lose their zeal. They develop a spirit of indifference or negligence.

The Scriptures teach that growth is always needed.

Philippians 3:12-14 - Even Paul, as mature as he was, did not consider himself to have achieved perfection (maturity) such that he could cease striving to improve. He forgot past achievements (and failures) and pressed on to greater accomplishments.

1 Corinthians 10:12 –

Reasons why some Christians do not grow is that they do not see the NEED for growing. They have no desire to work and serve to the full extent of their ability

II. NOURISHMENT

A. We Need Spiritual Food from God's Word.

A child cannot grow physically without proper food.

Good parents are concerned about proper nutrition. They want children to eat what is good, not bad for them. We are touched by pictures of children starving due to poverty. Even adults know we need food, and don't like to go long without it. We want it every day, regularly, several times a day.

Likewise spiritually we cannot grow without feeding on God's Word.

1 Peter 2:2 - As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.

2 Peter 3:18 - Grow in the grace and KNOWLEDGE of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Matthew 4:4 - Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Eph. 4:15; Matt. 5:6

B. To Get This Nourishment, We Must Study the Bible and Attend Church Meetings.

Scriptures show the need for regular nourishment.

Hebrews 5:11-14 - Christians were rebuked for not growing as they should have, because they had not studied. Time and again members fall away or are spiritual midgets because they do not eat properly.

Acts 17:11 - Bereans were able to determine whether truth was taught because they searched the Scriptures DAILY. We need REGULAR nourishment.

Psalm 1:1,2 - Meditate on God's word day and night. Children and adults need physical food regularly, and get very upset without it. But are we content to go for days at a time without feeding on God's word? [119:47,48,95-99; Josh 1:8]

Take this test to check your spiritual nourishment.

How much time did you spend this week watching TV?

How much time watching sports or entertainment, or reading the paper, magazines, etc.?

How many hours did you spend studying your Bible?

How many services of the church did you attend? How many did you miss that you could have attended?

Christians need regular nourishment from God's word to grow.

III. EXERCISE AND PRACTICE

A. Exercise and Practice Are Essential to Physical Development.

Athletes & musicians know they must exercise and practice to improve.

Developing skills requires continual repetition: playing a song, throwing pitches, shooting baskets.

Athletes run, lift weights, and practice hour after hour in order to grow strong and develop endurance.

Children practice skills over and over to learn them.

Children learning to walk try again and again. They are proud to learn a new word, "Practice makes perfect" - or at least it promotes improvement.

B. Exercise and Practice Are Essential to Spiritual Growth.

Scriptures:

Hebrews 5:14 - Those who are of full age, by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Growth requires exercise as well as nourishment.

1 Timothy 4:7 - Exercise yourself toward godliness.

Like children, athletes, and musicians, we must work again and again at applying Bible principles to become effective in the Lord's work.

Applications:

To learn to TEACH, we must do it repeatedly: teach your children, home studies, Bible classes, preach sermons, again and again.

To understand the BIBLE, study it again and again, talk to others, drill yourself, memorize. Get in and dig.

To learn to PRAY, do it over and over.

IV. TIME AND PATIENCE

By definition, growth requires TIME. It is progress and development as time passes. Several important lessons follow:

A. Don't Expect to Reach Your Goal Overnight.

Children do not become full-grown instantaneously.

Likewise spiritually, do not expect maturity overnight. James 1:4 - To become perfect and mature (entire), lacking nothing, we must have patience.

B. Don't Become Discouraged by Mistakes and Rebukes.

Children make many mistakes and must often be told they are wrong.

How often does a child fall while learning to walk? They fall again and again, gathering bumps and bruises. They spill their milk, don't hold their spoon properly, fall off their bikes.

If kids are going to become mature, they have to keep going in spite of mistakes and rebukes. And someday they will look back on their own childish mistakes and just smile.

Likewise, new converts will make many mistakes and must often be told they are wrong. Some of the greatest Bible characters committed terrible errors and had to be rebuked.

* Moses made excuses when God called him to lead Israel out of bondage.

* David committed adultery with Bathsheba and was rebuked by Nathan.

* Peter denied Jesus three times.

* Thomas doubted Jesus' resurrection.

* All the apostles forsook Jesus when He was arrested and crucified.

Matthew 16:21-23 - Shortly after he had confessed Jesus and been highly praised (v15-18), Peter contradicted Jesus and was severely rebuked.

Yet all of these are remembered as some of God's greatest servants.

Proverbs 29:1 - A person is destroyed, not simply because he errs, but because he becomes stubborn when he is rebuked and will not repent. What is needed is repentance and patience to learn to do right.

CONCLUSION.

It is no shame to be a baby, if you were born a few months ago. But if a person has been a child of God for several years and has not grown, he has a problem.

Everyone needs to grow as a Christian, and everyone can grow, if he/she simply applies the Bible principles of growth.