Aspects of Spiritual Growth

1. Aspects of Spiritual Growth Part One

2. Changes and Challenges of Spiritual Growth

3. A Christian Must Grow • There are many terms in the NT that describe the Christian. • He is a disciple, a branch, a sheep, a lively stone, a soldier and a saint. • Each of these terms 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 he is expected to grow to spiritual maturity.

4. Spiritual Growth • The primary means of spiritual growth is the word of God.

6. 1 Peter 2:1-3 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.

7. Spiritual Growth • The primary means of spiritual growth is the word of God. • There are at least four aspects of both physical and spiritual growth. Change Challenge Pain Joy

8. Changes of Spiritual Growth • Our children change daily, though gradually, right before our eyes. • Their physical appearance changes. • Their eating habits change. • Their moods change. • They develop new abilities. • Our hearts are touched by children whose growth is stunted because this is not natural. • We expect our children to grow and we realize growth involves change.

9. Changes of Spiritual Growth • 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.

10. Romans 6:17-18 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.

11. Changes of Spiritual Growth • 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 an increase in one’s knowledge and understanding.

12. Hebrews 5:12-14 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.

13. Changes of Spiritual Growth • 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 an increase in one’s knowledge and understanding. • Spiritual growth brings about an increase in faith and love.

14. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 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.

15. Changes of Spiritual Growth • 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 an increase in one’s knowledge and understanding. • Spiritual growth brings about an increase in faith and love. • Spiritual growth brings about a change in one’s attitudes and actions.

16. Galatians 5:22-26 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.

17. Ephesians 4:1-3 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.

18. Philippians 2:1-4 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.

19. Ephesians 4:22-24 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.

20. Ephesians 4:25-28 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.

21. Ephesians 4:29-32 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.

22. Challenges of Spiritual Growth • 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 challenges peculiar to their ages. • 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.

23. Challenges of Spiritual Growth • Spiritual growth also involves challenges. • The five-talent man not only had greater responsibility, he also had a greater challenge than both the one- and two-talent men.

24. Matthew 25:14-17 “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.

25. Matthew 25:18-20 “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.'

26. Matthew 25:21 “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.'

27. Matthew 25:22-23 “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.'

28. Matthew 25:24-25 “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.'

29. Matthew 25:26-27 “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.

30. Matthew 25:28-30 “‘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.’”

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

32. Luke 12:42-44 And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has.

33. Luke 12:45-46 “But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

34. Luke 12:47-48 “And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”

35. What About You? • Are the changes you are experiencing indicative of spiritual growth? • Are you rising to the challenges that accompany spiritual growth?