Seek spiritual growth – Part 2

Nothing pleases God more than seeing His children grow spiritually. Such a growth should cover all aspects of our lives. This includes: (1) grace – the grace that teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world (Titus 2:11,12); (2) love by our devotion to Him and the way we relate with other people; (3) faith to appropriate God’s promises with renewed confidence that cannot be terrified; (4) hope by patiently waiting upon the Lord for the fulfilment of His unfailing promises; (5) knowledge of God’s promises with which to solve every problem that surfaces; (6) holiness – our understanding of it as a doctrine and manifestation of it in our character, as we relate with others in our family, school or workplace; (7) self-denial, which prevents us from using abusive words on others; (8) giving even in times of recession or scarcity; (9) service as we continually look for opportunity to serve others or add value to their lives; (10) tenderness, which makes us compassionate and considerate; (11) courage to withstand discouragement and pressure; (12) endurance as it is he who endures to the end that shall be saved; (13) humility – a virtue that makes us appreciate the grace of God in all our achievements; (14) patience in adverse situations and with all men; (15) obedience that is always prompt and wholehearted to God’s word; (16) witnessing to people around us; (17) prayer – fervent and unrelenting intercession; (18) praise of the Lord as grateful people; and (19) faithfulness as loyal servants. Spiritual growth makes us succeed in life and ministry; and the grace of God is available for anyone that desires and prays for spiritual growth.

Individuals who grow from bad to worse are treading on slippery ground. They degenerate by becoming less righteous each passing day; they increasingly descend into more evil and sin, carnality and worldliness, injustice and unrighteousness, bribery and corruption, cheating and lying, extortion and stealing, hatred and pride, and backsliding and bondage. As they grow from bad to worse like Pharaoh, Ahab, Absalom, etc., their hearts are hardened. Thus, they become adamant, obstinate, hardened, headstrong, wilful, unrepentant and perpetually sinful. Such people grow wings; they grow in evil and will end in damnation. But God wants every believer to have positive, powerful, practical, purposeful and perpetual growth.

To grow spiritually, we must study and accept the totality of God’s word. “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” The word “grow” is suffixed with ‘ing’ – three letters that end the word ‘growing’. This means that spiritual growth is ongoing.

Believers who are growing are abiding, not absconding; believing, not backsliding; conquering, not compromising; doing, not delaying; enduring, not endorsing evil; following, not forsaking; giving, not withholding; holy, not hypocritical; increasing, not decreasing; judging, not justifying evil; keeping, not kicking at the word of God; loving, not lusting; ministering, not minimising; nurturing, not neglecting; obeying, not obscuring the truth; planting, not playing; quickening, not quenching; responding, not resisting; serving, not scattering; teaching, not tearing; undertaking, not undermining; vitalising, not vandalising; working, not weakening; expanding, not expiring; yearning, not yielding up the ghost; and zooming, not zigzagging. God’s power and promises will effect spiritual growth in our lives, as we remain unwavering in commitment and prayer for more grace to grow and bear fruit in Him.

Further Reading (King James Version): 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 1:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24; 2 Peter 3:18; 1:3-8; Ephesians 4:13-16; Exodus 9:34,35; 1 Kings 16:25,26,30,31; Psalm 78:12-17; Matthew 12:43-45; 23:15,33; 2 Timothy 3:13; 2 Peter 2:20; 1 Peter 2:1,2,5,9; Ephesians 4:12,15; 2 Corinthians 7:1.