Three Biblical Paths To Christian Growth
When I first became a Christian. I desired growth, and I always wondered how some people are always in church whenever the door of the church is opened, and I was told, it is the level of their spiritual growth. But the more I grow in the Lord, the more I understand how Spiritual growth works. The paths to Christian growth is what this article is all about.
2 Peter 3:14-18
“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
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.”
2 Peter 3:14-18 KJV
How to Deal with Lust
God desires that every Christian should grow and mature in the things of God, and He says we need to grow in Grace. God has given us answer to our spiritual growth. Growth is very important, but often neglected in Christian fellowship, and it seems to me that many Christians are just okay with their spiritual life, there is no desire for growth. It is one things to want to grow and failed than not to attempt to grow at all.
Christian growth brings fruits, joy, and fulfillment in the Christian walk and service. It makes you a strong Christian that will be unshakeable when the storms and trials hit your way. This is one of the reasons why we should desire growth in our Christian walk. Lack of growth should frustrate an individual.
Wrong Notion about Growth
Age does not determine the level of your spiritual growth. Everybody must strive for this growth or else you will not grow. And when there is no evidence of growth in you, you in danger to so many things.
When you are not growing as Christian, you can be easily toss to and fro.
False teachers, False doctrines, and False churches are out there to get you into their captivity, and if you are not strongly spiritually, you will not be able to discern the spirit of truth and from the errors.
1 John 4:6 KJV
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Example: Paul writing to the Galatian Christians about their shakable faith.
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:”
Galatians 1:6 KJV
I propose to you that you should strive to grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus in order for you to enjoy what the Lord has in store for you.
I have few things that you should do to help you grow in your Christian Faith.
1. The Word of God
God’s word will make you wise to discern between right and wrong.
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
2 Timothy 3:15-16 KJV
Paul said to Timothy, the word of God is profitable.
Example: People will ask if that is money when giving them tracts. Our world has turn upside down against the word of God. And you know what it all begins in the house of God. Christians in the church do not show any value to this Holy Bible.
Christians don’t talk about it anymore, you put under your pillow instead of putting it in your heart.
How many of you have read Bible through from cover to cover?
That is why when Muslim challenge you about this Book, many so called Christian will be speechless because you don’t have what it takes to stand against them.
Christian makes Christianity so so useless and unimportant by the way to treat the word of God even when we come to church.
Our attitude towards the word of God will determine our altitude in Christian life.
Some will not bring their Bible to church
Some will be sleeping while it is been preached.
Some will go out to receive calls
Some will be pressing phones
Some will be talking
Some will be reading newspaper
It is the same Book that was read to Hezekiah that he broke into tears.
Does the Word of God burn in your heart?
Chinese Heathen sent the Bible back to the missionary saying,”the word of God kicks me every time I read it”
The word of God is powerful tool at your disposal to help you in your Christian walk. And many today do not have time to study the word of God.
It is shameful that many Christian do not even want to read this book that will help them grow to be what God wants them.
Word of God will keep you away from sin, or sun will keep you away from the Word of God. And it is the purifier of lives.
The stronger we are in the Word of God, the mighty will become for the Lord. It is not difficult thing to do. Pick your Bible, and start from Genesis 1.
If you want to be deeply rooted in the faith and to grow, you need this Book, and do what it says.
2. Faithful Fellowship in your Local Church
“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 KJV
Your church is a blessing to you, and it sad that many Christians do not see that way. The purpose of the church is to help you experience victorious Christian life, and to help you navigate the paths to Christian growth successfully. Your church is to help you grow spiritually, and to enlighten your eyes to the truth of God’s Word. Churches are there to help believers grow, but if you don’t show up in a place where you can grow, you will miss the opportunity provided by God for you to grow.
In the church, we are to exhort one another. And also to build each other up in the faith. Bible says we are to stir up each other hearts up for the things of God.
I like what some people are doing when they don’t see other people in church. They go to their houses or call them.
Whenever the door of this church is opened, except for sickness or travel, God expects you and I to be here.
Every part of the body of Christ must grow. It is important to note this, people that are growing are the ones involved in this church. Your spiritual growth requires effort on your part to do what God wants you to do.
Simple Belief
Illustration
A ministers once asked his friend how many he got in his church, he said, one thousan people are in my church, and he said how many are active for the Lord. He replied 200 are active for the Lord, and others are active for the devil.
Christian, it is either we are active for Christ of active for devil.
Satan hates church, and he will do his possible best to keep you out of it, so that you will not grow spiritually.
“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
1 Timothy 3:15 KJV
3. Sharing Your Faith with Others.
Nothing grows a Christian more than his eagerness to share his faith with others.
It gives you boldness.
It helps you want to study more of the Bible so that you can give answers to others, and it I’ll help your faithful attendance to the house of God, and it will help you to be on the paths to Christian growth and maturity.
There will be hunger and passion for the word of God. I pray that God will give us boldness to be able to share our faith with others. If is very important.
Soul winning is the heartbeat of Jesus Christ, and to deny it, is to deny the payment for sin on the cross. And yes, Jehovah False witnesses do not believe in Hell fire, so is every Christian who does not go soul winning.
Conclusion:
A recent survey of Discipleship Journal readers ranked areas of greatest spiritual challenge to them:
Materialism
Pride
Self- centeredness
Laziness
Anger/Bitterness
Sexual lust
Envy
Lying
All these temptations that we face are result of our walking away from God, and neglecting our walk with God.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
James 4:7-8 KJV
Do you have passion for your spiritual growth just as you have for your physical growth?
Many people have desire for money, car, houses, and many earthly things than they do for the things of God. And this is one of the diseases that is killing Christians today. The moment you understand that these paths to Christian growth is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit, you will begin to walk more and more to please the Lord in every area of your life.
And every we do, is to the glory of Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
