Spiritual growth by Pastor Gbenga Aluko

 

Text: Heb. 5:11-6:1, 2 Pet.3:17-18, Ekph. 4:14-15

This topic will be discussed with the following sub-headings:

Background

What spiritual growth is not

What is Spiritual growth

Pointers to lack of growth

Growing Spiritually: the aid/catalyst/enablers

 

Background

The book of Hebrews although has unknown/unspecified author is an organized sermon to the Jewish Christian community who was under Roman control but the book majorly warns against turning away from Christ, underscores the Superiority of Christ and the great and sacrificial death of Christ as a sacrifice for all sin.

 

A study of pretext of our main text Hebrew 5, Chapter 3 talks about the clear fact of Jesus’ supremacy over Moses Heb.3:2-4. Chapter 4 talks about the promises rest for God’s people Heb.4:1-2, the chapter ends by emphasizing Christ our High priest 4:14-15. This lesson continues in chapter 5 till verse 10 where the gear is switched to spiritual growth. May God help us to grow spiritually in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

 

What spiritual growth is not

1.It is not about age: Physical growth is cascaded and expected to be in sync with age but this is not always the same with spiritual growth. Heb. 5:12, a lot of people are growing old but not growing up.

2.It is not about achievements: accomplishments/achievements are desirable, applaud able and impressive but they are not necessarily shows/sign/dictates of a matured person. Not all big things are God’s things, not all that glitters are gold, Jesus our saviour was born in a manger, the commended offering by Jesus was just a widow’s mite. Mark 12:41-44, Luke 20:45-21:4

3.not about physical appearance: while it is wonderful to pass the eye test it is imperative/better to pass the Spirit/maturity test. God is more concerned with why we do things/our heart/intentions/motive for doing things than what is done.1 Sam16:6

4.Not Spiritual gifts/talents: it’s only the fruits of the Spirit that is really and practically useful on and for the vessel through whom it is operating, gifts of the spirit as useful and profound as they are, they are for the edification of the saints and a sign of an extension of God’s grace not a sign/show of maturity of the vessel.

 

 

What is Spiritual growth

Spiritual growth is the process of spiritual development and improvements towards the onerous goal of spiritual maturity, the bridge between spiritual infancy and maturity.Col.1:28-29. Also it is the gradual but consistent conformity to the Image, Person, Ideas and Values of Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour.2 Cor.3:8, Heb.12:2.

 

Pointers to lack of growth

1.Consistent backsliding:2 Cor. 5:17, to live in Christ some things must be sincerely gone for Christ sake and only living things grow someone who is still dead in His/her sin cannot grow.

2. Strife, dissensions and division: This are clearly a case of demonic attack Mark 3:25 all the case of belonging to Paul or Apollos won’t take us anywhere we are all of God 1 Cor.3:6   or a symptom of childishness especially of spiritual things.

3.Clear and consistent show of worldliness. We are in the world not of the world there must be some clear demarcations John 17:14.

4.Irresponsibility for or to anything/anyone: one clear definition of childishness is not responsible for: feeding, clothing, housing, any payment of bills is clearly not their concern even injuries done to them they only bear the pains. Ministers are not to hate anyone but when you see someone with such tendency just classify them” people who have refused to grow spiritually”

5.Arrival mentality: people who are not yielding to any teaching/correction/instruction, they know more than everybody. Phil.3:13, Apostle Paul asserting that he does not count himself to have arrived.

 

Growing Spiritually: the aid/catalyst/enablers

 

1.It starts from the heart with a determination/decision &desire to grow 1 Pt 2:2

2.Correct Nutrition: balanced diet/dosage of God’s word, anointed books/films/songs inspired by God and delivered by His trusted hands.Matt.4:4

3. Prayer and fasting: Prayer raises one’s spiritual level, alertness in the spirit, it gives access to the deep things of God, it gives stamina to engage the devil and His cohorts.Matt.17:21

4. Infilling and refilling of and by the Spirit.

5.Quality and consistent quiet time

6.Godly associations with people who are growing.

 

God wants us to grow just as it is the prayer of every farmer for His crops, parent to children little wonder Jesus cursed the tree because it didn’t bring out what was expected of it at that time. Mark 11:14.