therefore, laying aside all malice, all guile, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn...

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all guile, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. (1 Peter 2:1-3)

ASPECTS OF SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF SPIRITUAL GROWTHGROWTH

There are many terms in the NT which describe the Christian. He is a disciple, a branch, a sheep, a lively stone, a soldier and a saint. Each of these reflects some quality or trait that should characterize the Christian. From the standpoint of the new birth, a Christian is a child of God. At first, he is a babe in Christ.


But each Christian is expected to grow to spiritual maturity. The means of spiritual growth is the word of God.

As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby. (1 Peter 2:2)


But each Christian is expected to grow to spiritual maturity. The means of spiritual growth is the word of God. But there are several aspects of both physical and spiritual growth. There will be:

Changes Challenges Pain Joy

THERE WILL BE CHANGESTHERE WILL BE CHANGES

Our children change daily, though gradually, right before our eyes.

Their physical appearance changes. Their eating habits change. Their moods change. Their abilities change.

Our hearts are touched by children whose growth is stunted, for this is not natural.We expect our children to grow and we realize that this involves change.

THERE WILL BE THERE WILL BE CHANGESCHANGES

As a Christian grows spiritually, he or she also goes through certain changes.

The new birth brings about a change in relationship – from servant of sin to servant of righteousness.

Spiritual growth brings about a change in one’s knowledge and understanding.

Spiritual growth brings about a change in faith and love.

Spiritual growth brings about a change in one’s attitudes and actions.

CHANGES IN A CHILD OF GOD

A change in relationship – from servant of sin to servant of righteousness

But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. (Rom. 6:17-18)


A change in relationship – from servant of sin to servant of righteousnessA change in knowledge and understanding

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. 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. (Heb. 5:12-14)


A change in relationship – from servant of sin to servant of righteousnessA change in knowledge and understandingA change in faith and love

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other. (2 Thess. 1:3)


A change in relationship – from servant of sin to servant of righteousnessA change in knowledge and understandingA change in faith and loveA change in attitudes

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Gal. 5:22-26) I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph. 4:1-3)

Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Phil. 2:1-4)


A change in relationship – from servant of sin to servant of righteousnessA change in knowledge and understandingA change in faith and loveA change in attitudesA change in actions

That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph. 4:22-24)

Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. (Eph. 4:25-32)

THERE WILL BE THERE WILL BE CHALLENGESCHALLENGES

Children face many challenges at various stages of life as they grow to physical maturity.

Four- and five-year-olds, preteens and teenagers all have their peculiar challenges.But, in spite of these challenges, we still encourage physical growth.We simply try to help them rise to the challenges we know they will face.


Spiritual growth also involves challenges.The five-talent man (Matt. 25) not only had greater responsibility, he also had a greater challenge than both the one- and two-talent men.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents

besides them.' “His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' “He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.' “His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.' “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground.'

'Look, there you have what is yours.' “But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'” (Matt. 25:14-30)


Spiritual growth also involves challenges.The five-talent man (Matt. 25) not only had greater responsibility, he also had a greater challenge than both the one- and two-talent men.Growth doesn’t mean life gets easier; it means the challenges get bigger.The more we know and understand about His word, the more God expects of us in return.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. (James 4:17)

What child has not experienced pain while growing up?

A baby tries to walk but falls down and skins his knees. Does the parent say, “I don’t want my baby’s knees skinned, so I’m not going to teach him to walk”? Of course not!Children get their share of bumps and bruises while learning to swing, roller skate, ride a bicycle, etc., but it’s all part of growing up!

THERE WILL BE PAINTHERE WILL BE PAIN

Spiritual growth also involves a certain amount of pain.

We must exercise our spiritual senses. 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. (Heb. 5:12-14)



We must exercise our spiritual senses. Spiritual exercise [godliness] is “profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” (1 Tim. 4:8)Spiritual exercise is strenuous.


Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (1 Cor. 9:24-27)


We must exercise our spiritual senses. (Heb. 5:14)Spiritual exercise [godliness] is “profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” (1 Tim. 4:8)Spiritual exercise is strenuous. Christians are often called upon to make difficult, painful decisions.


“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to 'set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law'; and 'a man's enemies will be those of his own household.' He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matt. 10:34-37)

Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.” So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life.” (Mark 10:28-30)


We must exercise our spiritual senses. (Heb. 5:14)Spiritual exercise [godliness] is “profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.” (1 Tim. 4:8)Spiritual exercise is strenuous. Christians are often called upon to make difficult, painful decisions. Someone has said, “No pain, no gain.”


There will be joy in a parent whose children have grown up and become successful in life.

It is exciting to see them learn new things and develop new skills.Children also experience joy as they grow in knowledge, understanding and ability.

Likewise, spiritual growth is joyous!Consider the words of John the apostle.

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (3 John 4)

THERE WILL BE JOYTHERE WILL BE JOY

There will be joy in a parent whose children have grown up and become successful in life.

It is exciting to see them learn new things and develop new skills.Children also experience joy as they grow in knowledge, understanding and ability.

Likewise, spiritual growth is joyous!Consider the words of John the apostle. We are to be joyful in our own growth.


For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy. (Col. 1:9-11)

There will be joy in a parent whose children have grown up and become successful in life.It is exciting to see them learn new things and develop new skills.Children also experience joy as they grow in knowledge, understanding and ability.Likewise, spiritual growth is joyous!Consider the words of John the apostle. We are to be joyful in our own growth. We are even to be joyful in tribulation.


Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. (Rom. 5:1-4)

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)

There is only one alternative to spiritual growth.

Let us “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)

therefore, laying aside all malice, all guile, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn...

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