WISDOM FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH (2)

“But, speaking the truth in love, may GROW UP in all things INTO HIM who is the HEAD – CHRIST” – Ephesians 4:15

We need to dig deeper into God’s WISDOM for SPIRITUAL GROWTH: “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a PERFECT MAN, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 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, but, speaking the truth in love, may GROW UP in all things into Him who is the head – Christ” (Eph.4:13-15). Growing up is a process, not instantaneous. God desires every Believer to grow up “to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” – reaching maturity or becoming a full grown adult spiritually.

The Wisdom of Scriptures presents a striking similarity between spiritual and physical development. It speaks of at least three phases in spiritual development which correspond to three stages in the physical, namely: Babyhood, childhood, and manhood or adulthood. Each of these phases is characterised by specific indicators, the understanding of which can help us to discern our spiritual state and assess our spiritual development. First, we must locate where we are spiritually, and then grow into a higher stage in the process of Christlikeness: ^“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2Cor.3:18).

Let’s glean from the thoughts of Kenneth E. Hagin in the book – Growing Up Spiritually.

Babyhood: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1Pet.2:2). No one is born a full grown human naturally and physically. They are born babies, and then they grow up. Similarly no one is born a full grown Christian. We are born as spiritual babes, and then grow up. We don't expect too much out of babies because they can't do too much for themselves. Others do most things for them. That’s why new believers must be followed up, prayed with, and nurtured. Older folks are responsible for babies. There’s much they can't do for themselves. About all they do is eat! And about all they eat is milk. Spiritually, if newborn babes get the sincere milk of the Word, they will grow thereby!

Babyhood is noted for Innocence. A baby is a new creation without a past: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2Cor.5:17). A new convert is simple, full of faith, ready and willing to learn. An innocent, teachable spirit is one quality we should never outgrow. Babies are also ignorant of many things, including what could harm them. Likewise, we need to be as careful about what we “eat” spiritually as we are about what we eat physically. The third characteristic of babies is irritability. Babies are easily distracted, hurt, and spoiled, and want to remain so; hence the need for proper weaning, to “get off the bottle”! (Psa.131:2).

Children are curious and unsteady. We are cautioned “to no longer be children” (v.14) – to grow up spiritually. Children are full of curiosity, dreamy, impressionable and spasmodic, always poking their noses in other people’s business. The Bibles teaches that we learn to be quiet and focused (1The.4:11). Not children! Also, children are generally noisy; they have not learned the value of silence: Yet “too much talk leads to sin” (Pro.10:19, NLT). A talkative often commits three sins: evil speaking about the faults and failures of others; vain speaking about self; and foolish or filthy speaking (Eph.5:4).

Adulthood has three main qualities: Esteeming earthly things lightly and prioritising spiritual things (Heb.11: 24-26; Mt.6:33); deadness to censure or praise (1Cor.4: 3-4; 13:5); and, like Joseph, ability to recognise God at work (Gen.45: 5-7). When we see God at work in all things, we can always rejoice (Rom.8:28; Phi.4:4)! Am I really growing up spiritually?