Spiritual growth

Spiritual Growth 5
Spiritual growth is the development of the believer in Christ. It
is not an option even though it is determined by the believer’s
attitude towards God’s Word.
The Word is the KEY to spiritual growth. By the Word, what we
mean here is the finished work of Christ. A promissory note in
the Law, Prophecy in the Prophets and the Fulfilment found
ONLY in the Epistles. When we feed on this, we feed on Christ!
Grace is the foundation, building bricks, colour paintings,
window frames of the Christian Faith. It’s not for salvation
only and then efforts and self-help concludes all others! We
ought to have seen this before now.
Peter’s instruction for growth goes thus:
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and
for ever. Amen.
Having instructed earlier in his first letter that they desire the
sincere milk of the word to grow (1 Peter 2: 2), here he is
more explicit. Grace is the Word.
Paul's closing remarks to the elders at Ephesus is equally
instructive.
Acts 20: 32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to
the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to
give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
This was what he taught them for 3 1/2 years- The Word of
His Grace, His finished work. He had earlier called it “The
entire counsel of God"- Acts 20:27.
However in growing in Grace, we must take advantage of
grace in its fullness.
Grace bestowed gifts in men and as men and through men to
bring us to maturity.
Many folks, mostly those named within church clichés as
“word men" fall into the error of seeing Christian growth as
competition. Because it’s a knowledge issue, they pursue to
know "more than others"! It seems academic to some, hence
this error.
This error is despising the role of pastors and ministers over
our lives. You can’t claim growth while being unruly, unstable,
rebellious and unaccountable anywhere and to nobody! Let us
see the scriptures.
Acts 20: 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers,
to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his
own blood.
Elders are to be responsible for feeding (taking oversight of
our lives) us. These aren't itinerant teachers. They are found in
the local church.
Ephesians 4: 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro,
and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of
men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to
deceive;
The word "perfecting" in verse 12 means to mature. Ministry
Gifts are the gifts of grace to us and for us to grow up in
Christ.
Colossians 1: 27 To whom God would make known what is the
riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is
Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every
man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in
Christ Jesus:
Very Apt! Paul says we (ministry gifts) are the ones to present
EVERY MAN mature in Christ Jesus! No further interpretation is
needed.
This forms the basis of the instructions to the Thessalonian
church.
1 Thessalonians 5: 12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know
them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord,
and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's
sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
We are to KNOW AND RECOGNIZE our Spiritual leaders if we
are to grow up spiritually.
Besides, we are to esteem them highly. Regard them. Their
work is to admonish us. Admonish means to nurture us.
Hebrews 13: 17 Obey your spiritual leaders and submit to them
[continually recognizing their authority over you], for they are
constantly keeping watch over your souls and guarding your
spiritual welfare, as men who will have to render an account
[of their trust]. [Do your part to] let them do this with gladness
and not with sighing and groaning, for that would not be
profitable to you [either]. (Amplified bible)
Succinctly put: To grow up spiritually we MUST obey and
continually recognize the ministry gifts over our lives. This
refers to those who are to GIVE ACCOUNT for/ of our lives.
They aren't on Facebook. These aren't from the books
(Christian) we buy. Neither the CDs/ mp3 formats we have nor
the Television broadcast, which all have their places in our
lives too. This refers to actual men, to whom we are
accountable.
Hence all of us must find sound and good local assemblies
where we can effectively receive spiritual maturity.
To claim there's none is foolhardy, Deceit and Mischief.
God is wiser than us. His wisdom is the local Church. This isn't
an association of friends and buddies. It is an assembly of
saints under the watch of a man sent from God- The Pastor.
And under him ministers who watch over us. This is grace in
action- God’s gifts to me!
I admonish that we receive God’s gifts to us. When we do this
we receive from His grace. We grow in Grace and are
established. We stop acting like sheep without shepherd.
Some claim Jesus is their pastor. It’s a comedian's stunt.
Good for laugh festivals. They are foolish. Jesus in NO ONE’S
Pastor. He gives Pastors. When you are under one of those,
you are under Him. Most times it’s only an excuse to be
unaccountable. No one is watching you, correcting you. You
are unstable and unruly. No growth.
Agreed? I receive those whom God has placed over my life to
watch over me and mature me in Christ!