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The Processes of Growth

Explore the processes and phases of spiritual growth on a lifelong pilgrimage towards becoming more Christlike. Discover the different ways of envisioning this journey, including aspects of time, direction, chance, and sovereignty. This journey involves growing in knowledge of Christ, living a life that glorifies God, and maturing in faith. Understand the conditions and means of spiritual growth, including acknowledging God's reign, repentance, belief, and abiding in Christ. Explore the Way of Action, Wisdom, and Devotion, and embrace the disciplines of growth (means of grace) to experience a deeper connection with God. This text language is English.

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The Processes of Growth

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  1. Lifelong Pilgrimage The Processes of Growth The Journey of Spiritual Growth

  2. 4d Journey into Christian Spirituality • The Process (Journey) of the Spiritual Life • How do you envisage the journey? • Time? Seasonal? Cyclic? • Chance? Sovereignty? • Direction? Time: Ecclesiastes Soveriegnty:Job, Psalms Direction:Revelations

  3. A Life that Glorifies God Maturity Summary of Core Concepts Isa 43:7 The Character of Christ Growing Know- ledge of Him Growing in Christlikeness CONTEXT Word Means of Grace Prayer etc Growing Love of Him Walking in the Spirit (Gal 5:25) Discerning his Will (Eph 5:17) Abiding in Christ (John 15:5) Fellowship with God (Heb 11:6) God’s Part God’s Spirit fills our life Man’s Part Dying to Self Living By Faith Conditions of Spiritual Growth God’s Part God’s Spirit enters our life Man’s Part Acknowledge his Reign Repentance Belief Conditions of Spiritual Birth Col 2:6 As therefore you Received Christ Jesus as Lord, so live in him

  4. The Way of the Spirit THE WAY OF WISDOM SOUL THE WAY OF DEVOTION THE WAY of ACTION BODY

  5. 1. The Way of Action a. The Way of Love (1 John) Ma Theresa, The preaching friars, St Francis of Asissi (1182-1226), Walter Rauschenbusch (1861-1918), Toyohiko Kagawa (1888 - c1946) b. The Way of Doing Justice (Jer 23:29)  William Law (1886-1761), Liberation theologians, Dom Helder Camara 2. The Way of Wisdom (Proverbs) (knowledge) Augustine (354-430), John Calvin (1509-1564), William Temple (1881-1944) 3. The Way of Devotion (mysticism) The age of mysticism (11th-15th C), Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153), George Fox (1624-1691), Sundar Singh (1889-1933). Three Genres of Christian Spirituality

  6. Embodied Spirituality • True Spirituality is to become fully human • Spiritual disciplines show us how we can “offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship” (Rom 12:1). • His life for our life, his life infusing, flooding our lives moment by moment, so that his power becomes our constant healing. • In the context of consistent habits of right living, eating, sleeping, resting, relating, financial management, reality – what we know as holiness. • Yet even here, his life gives us a holiness.

  7. The Disciplines of Growth(The Means of Grace) For God has made no promises of mercy to the slothful and negligent. His mercy is only offered to our frail and imperfect, but best endeavours, to practise all manner of righteousness. William Law

  8. The Word: Knowing God’s thoughts Read Psalm Daily Read Gospel Daily Memorise word daily Weekly study of a chapter Disciplined Life of Work/ Ministry Fasting Prayer Rest then silence leading to knowing self The Sacrifice of Intercession Accountability Spiritual Mentor Local Cell Discipline of Celebration Liturgy Worship Disciplines of Rest Retreat (Every 10-12 weeks) Sabbath Rest How does your denomination define them? Disciplines of Growth (Evangelical Means of Grace) Christ is our life through:

  9. Progressions of Growth: Read 1 John 2:12-14Who are the three types of people? What are their characteristics?

  10. Four Seasons of GrowthGenerally we end up with four not three seasons

  11. Four seasons of growth in our lives and ministry…… • Security– We become members of a new happy family. We experience new ways of having fun and celebrating. • Commitment – Through committed relationships we become disciples or disciplined leaders in groups with authority to minister reconciliation, healing and deliverance. We bear fruit and start a second generation. • Quality – Through experience, testing, and trials, we become mature quality leaders, delegating ministries to others while mentoring and supervising a number of groups. A third generation is birthed. ( we now have grandchildren). • Calling – Apostolic and prophetic roles enable us to serve others in pioneering and establishing their ministries. Multiple families of great grandchildren are birthed….See pages 168-180 “Cry of the Urban Poor”

  12. A Typical Lifelong Pilgrimage • Phase 1: Disciplines of Word and Prayer • Phase 2: Entering into Empowerment: Experiencing signs and wonders • Phase 3: Disorientation: burnout, catastrophe, disillusionment, sickness, pain, failure, grief, marital strife etc. • Phase 4: Orientation: Integration of Gifting, success, completion • Phase 5: Return to God in the depth of your being (Silence) • These phases also run in parallel.

  13. Making a Timeline • Draw a line along top of page and mark yearly or 5 yearly or 10 yearly • Identify the four seasons of growth in your lives then various seasons of maturity (Bobby Clinton, Phases 1-6) • Identify family influences, divine encounters, foundational promises • Major boundary events or paradigm shifts • Areas of training or mentoring, discovery of gifts • Crises, catastrophes, pain, damage • Seasons of preparation and fruitfulness • Primary life’s work, types of leadership • Areas of character development

  14. Spiritual Vitality Check-up Hearing: Are you hearing from God in your prayer life? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Receiving Blessing: Are you aware that God is hearing you? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Sensitivity to the Spirit: In the last days has the Spirit prompted you to do something? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Intimacy: Are you aware of his presence? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Acceptance: Are you aware of his love? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Dependency: Are you relying on him for strength? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Perspective/Faith: Are you envisaging well his sovereignty over your future? (10) or confused?(0) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Power: Are you regularly experiencing God working through you in power? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Companionship: Are you in fellowship with your spouse and family and a core group, or if single with a small cluster of other believers. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Habits: Are you disciplined in habits of quiet time, silence, prayer, chastity etc. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Health and Fitness: Are you fit and have a regular fitness regime? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

  15. Blockage, Destroyers of Spirituality • Physical: Illness, Allergies? Adaptation or Healing • Emotional: Hurt? Damage? Violation? Catastrophe? Restoration • Volitional: Choices for Damage, Which Recurrent Sin? Addiction? Deliverance

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