A church can be alive and growing even though the number of members is not changing. If those in the church are growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus, submitting to His will for their lives, both individually and corporately, that is a church that is experiencing true growth. This is the most important growth of the body, “spiritual growth.”
When the transformation of salvation takes place, spiritual growth begins. The Holy Spirit indwells us (John 14:16-17). We are new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old nature is replaced with a new one (Romans 6-7). Spiritual growth is a life-long process that depends on our study and application of God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and our walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-26). As we seek spiritual growth, we should pray to God and ask for wisdom concerning the areas He desires us to grow in. We can ask God to increase our faith and knowledge of Him. God desires for us to grow spiritually, and He has given us all we need to experience spiritual growth. With the Holy Spirit’s help, we can overcome anything and steadily become more like our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you’re being watered and fed by God’s word, you should have continual spiritual growth in your life. It should be happening automatically. The anointed preaching of the pure word of God always produces growth. And the apostle Peter says that all who desire the pure milk of the word will grow.
Paul describes our spiritual growth as a work of the Holy Ghost. He says the Spirit is ever at work, changing us from glory to glory. He’s constantly renewing our minds, mortifying our flesh and bringing forth purity in our inner man. And he produces in us kindness, tenderness and forgiveness toward one another.
Paul further urges us, “Let a man examine himself…” (1 Corinthians 11:28). We’re to constantly ask ourselves, “Am I changing? Am I becoming more loving and tenderhearted? Am I treating my family and friends with Godly respect? Are my actions becoming more righteous? Or am I still more interested in doing my will instead of God’s?
Spirituality is:
- an on going endeavor to grow in our relationship with God
- a vision of life & way of living, not just belief in our mind
- involves choices & is action oriented
- gives direction to thinking & decision making
- Goal – to Grow with God !
Spiritual Characteristics:
- Lives life as a living sacrifice – not self centered (Romans 12:1-2).
- Lives a holy life – avoiding sin; being set apart from the world and being undefiled (1 Peter 1:13-16)
- Strives to live a way that pleases God, not man or self
Spiritual maturity is learning how to walk in obedience to God. It is making the choice to live by God’s viewpoint rather than your human viewpoint. Galatians 5:16 and 25 give the key, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature…Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”