One of the serious question you should ask yourself as this year is coming to a end is: How much have I grown spiritually this year. If God look down from heaven to ex-ray your life, would He be happy at your current state or would He be disappointed that you have remained the same?

 

It is abnormal for believers to feed their bodies three times, think about what to wear almost all the time but don't see any need for them to cater for their spiritual growth. While it is good to cater for these things, God is more interested in our spiritual maturity. Let us see what Peter admonished in 1 Peter 3:4 (AMP).

 

"but let it be [the inner beauty of] the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, [one that is calm and self-controlled, not overanxious, but serene and spiritually mature] which is very precious in the sight of God."

 

As much as it is good to look nice and flamboyant externally, the Bible says spiritual maturity is much precious in the sight of God. At salvation, you were a babe and God expects you to do everything possible that would make sure you grow spiritually, that is the very desire of God for us. In Ephesians 4:14-15. The Bible says:

 

¹⁴ that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, ¹⁵ but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ

 

Hebrews 5:12 also said something similar to growing spiritually. The Bible says:

 

¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food

 

God isn't always happy when He search out for fruits in us and He can't find any. When Jesus got to the fig tree, and He didn't find any fruit on it, He was really disappointed. This is a testament to the fact that when we aren't growing, it does not bring any satisfaction to God. This is why we are examining this subject matter and to also prepare us to taking our spiritual growth serious as we approach the new year. If there is anything you want to make as your new year resolution, it should be about the fact that you want to grow up in the things of the Spirit. Your desire should be that of growing into a mature Christian that knows his or her right from her left.

 

 

Inertial to Spiritual Growth

The starting point to growing spiritually is breaking all the inertial to spiritual growth. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, Inertial is defined as "lack of movement or activity especially when movement or activity is wanted or needed. It is also a feeling of not having the energy or the desire that is needed to move, change et cetera."

 

1. Spiritual Complacency: The reason you aren't growing spiritually right now is because you think you are alright spiritually. That state of mind is called spiritual complacency. You think you have gotten to your spiritual zenith and therefore, you plateau. You do not see any reason for you to grow anymore. This is the first inertial that you must break. Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:12 (AMP) that "Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christ-like] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own."

 

When we get to a state where we don't feel like we should study the Bible anymore just because "we think" that we know what is in the Scripture, that is a dangerous spot to be in. When we get to a state where we fill we don't need to pray or observe fasting or have an intimate relationship with God because we think "we are fine", that is a dangerous spot to be in as well. We need to get ourselves out of this state before it is too late. They are simply signs of complacency and they aren't good for our spiritual growth.

 

2. A Darkened Understanding: A darkened understanding is an unfruitful understanding. Understanding is meant to bring about fruitfulness and growth. But when it is not doing so, such understanding can be said to be darkened. Many people claim they are born again, but their understanding are yet to comply. They are yet to bring their old mind to align with their new life in Christ. This is why Romans 12:2 admonished that we should renew our mind daily.

 

See what Ephesians 4:18 says "having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;" Many people receive the word of God but their minds are not being renewed to the word of God that they receive and so, they are not growing.

 

3. Lack of interest for Spiritual Growth: Many people don't have the interest to want to grow spiritually. Those ones just want to remain in the family and remain a babe forever. They want to continue to feed on milk instead of feeding on bones, and that is why they have remained where they are. Hebrews 5:12 says "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food." The word "ought" there talks about something that should have been done, but because of one thing or the other, maybe lack of interest so to say, you didn't do it.

 

 

Partnering With The Holy Spirit Towards Spiritual Growth

 

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Galatians 5:16

 

Apostle Paul said in the above Scripture to walk in the Spirit so as not to fulfill the lust of the flesh. This means that the only condition to not fulfilling the lust of the flesh is through walking in the Spirit. The flesh and the Spirit are two separate realms. The realm of the flesh is sensual, the realm of the Spirit is spiritual. For example, the word of God dwells in the realm of the Spirit and is made manifest in the flesh. God said "Let there be light" and light immediately showed up. This is why the Jesus said "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of God" because the word of God is spiritual and it is the word of God that we feed on that makes us grow spiritually, and that word dwells in the realm of the Spirit. This is why apostle Paul wrote that we should walk in the Spirit.

 

Listen to Podcast: Overcoming The Inertia To Spiritual Growth

 

Each time you are active in the realm of the Spirit, the realm of the flesh is suspended and each time you are active in the realm of the flesh, the realm of the Spirit is put on hold. So, when you notice that in your life, you are gradually giving in to pride, arrogance, anger and other things associated with them, the first thing you should examine is which of the realm that you are really active in. If you aren't growing spiritually, ask yourself which realm you have been operating. A man or a woman may have switched realms unknowingly. Each time your eyes dictate the pace, your flesh sets the rules, then it means you are in-active in the realm of the Spirit.

 

Believers are not meant to be flesh ruled, but Spirit ruled. There is such a thing as the life of the Spirit. The life of the Spirit is a kind of life that is completely Holy Spirit driven and controlled. This life is made operational by a law known as THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS. Romans 8:2 tells us "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." This law becomes operational in us when we receive Christ as our personal Lord and Savior.

 

 

What The Law of The Spirit of Life In Christ Jesus Does

 

1. The law sets in Motion our Spiritual Growth.

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. ⁷ Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. ⁸ So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. ⁹ But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. ¹⁰ And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Romans 8:6-10

 

2. The Operation of the Law puts to death the operation of the flesh. In order to grow spiritually, the flesh must be dead completely.

 

For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Romans 8:13

 

How To Grow Spiritually

 

1. Be Deliberate About It: If there is anything you must do to grow spiritually, it is embedded in you being deliberate about it. Hebrews 5:13-14 says . For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. The latter part of that Scripture talks about being deliberate. It says those who by reason of use have their senses exercised. And so, as they exercise it regularly, it results into their growing up.

 

Another Bible passage that is closely linked to that is in Joshua 1:8c. It says: "that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it." That talks about being deliberate, isn't it? So, as you observe to do, spiritual growth is usually the outcome. So, spiritual growth isn't done in isolation, you must be part and parcel of the process. As a matter of fact, you must set the process in motion.

 

2. Develop A Meditative Lifestyle: Colossians 3:16 tells us "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." The only avenue through which the word of God can dwell in us richly is through meditation. A meditative lifestyle brings about progress. Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:15, he says: "Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all." That shows us that a meditative lifestyle leads to a life of physical and spiritual progress.

 

 

Things You Need To Grow Spiritually

a.) Quiet Time: A quiet time is a dedicated time each day that one is set aside to have a proper and uninterrupted fellowship with God. Most of the times, what you do during a quiet time is studying the word of God, praying and allowing the Holy Spirit to speak to you. We saw Jesus did this in countless occasions in the Bible. In Matthew 26:36, "Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there." Also, in Mark 1:35, the Bible says: "Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed."

 

If this exercise is not important, Jesus wouldn't have been involved in it. So, quiet time remains one of the avenues through which we can grow spiritually. Out of your 24 hours that you have daily, how much of it can you dedicate to God to have a regular meeting with Him? This you must consider and make a priority as you approach the new year.

 

b.) Word of God: Jesus Himself told us in the Scriptures that Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. If we are ever going to grow spiritually, we must never joke with the word of God because that is our spiritual balanced diet. In Acts 20:32, the Bible says "So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." Notice there was no other thing the brethren could have been commended to that would bring about their building up other than the word of God.

 

We must take with all seriousness our spiritual growth as we approach the new year and I pray that God will Help us in Jesus' name!

 

Amen.

Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Obayomi Abiola Benjamin!

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