Good morning brothers and sisters in Christ! I pray God’s richest blessings on you today.
I would like to encourage you today on the topic of GROWING UP SPIRITUALLY. Hebrews 5:12 says,
- 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.
One of the things the Lord has called Randy and I to do is to train believers who are unskilled in the Word of Righteousness and help bring them to maturity.
Hebrews 3:13 says to,
- Exhort one another daily, while it is called today.
I believe exhortation is so powerful ~ it can change the course of a person’s life. That’s why I felt led of The Lord to send out these Daily Words of Encouragement! This Scripture isn’t just a Bible verse to me ~ it’s a command from The Lord. But, we all have our part to play (I encourage you to re-read yesterday’s word on the Body of Christ).
GROWING UP SPIRITUALLY is a process that takes time. Just like a person starts as a baby in the natural realm, and grows into adulthood, the same is true spiritually. Every born-again believer begins his or her walk as a spiritual baby, but must mature.
Maturing in the kingdom of God requires you to eat from God’s Word daily ~ it’s your spiritual food. The Word of God will show you the correct way to live this Christian life. 1 Peter 2:2 says,
- …as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby…
A spiritual man is a person who has allowed his life to be ruled and governed by the Word of God. He knows who he is in Christ (see my daily word called, “Who you are in Christ”), and has developed an intimate relationship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
When a person is in the childhood stage of spiritual development, he or she demonstrates unsteadiness, curiosity, a tendency to be concerned about the affairs of other people and talkativeness. It is important that we grow out of these things in order to come into spiritual maturity.
As you GROW UP SPIRITUALLY, you will be able to do what God has called you to do.
As a spiritually mature believer, you will see these three primary characteristics in your life:
- You will esteem earthly things lightly
- You will be deaf to criticism and praise
- You will be able to understand when God is at work
It’s imperative that we receive knowledge from God’s Word in order to GROW UP SPIRITUALLY. We need to feed on the Word of God in regards to who Jesus is; who we are IN HIM; what Jesus did for us in his death, burial and ascension, and our standing before the throne of God.
The most important trait of a born-again believer is that he or she walk in love, because God is love! Walking in the love of God eradicates spiritual immaturity. So, let’s allow the love of God to determine our behavior.
Meditate on the Word of God every day. This will provide nourishment for your spirit. Remember, it’s not only knowledge by itself that will GROW YOU UP SPIRITUALLY, it’s your acting on that knowledge that helps you grow.
By renewing your mind to the Word of God, you will no longer be conformed to this world. Renewing your mind means to change the way YOU think and start to begin like GOD thinks. Apply the Word of God where your mindsets are concerned. Ephesians 4:23-24 says,
- …and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, in that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Remember, God’s love has been poured out into your hearts by the Holy Spirit when you became born-again. This is what Romans 5:5 says.
God’s love is a supernatural love and goes behond your emotions. God’s agape love is unconditional and loves no matter what the circumstances are or how someone treats you. Also, when you walk in the love of God you fulfill every law and commandment in the Bible (see Romans 13:10).
Love is the most powerful force on the earth (I exhort you to read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
Growing up into Him,
Lisa Gordon
Gordon Ministries