SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Text: Daniel 6:10, Luke 2:37-38, Acts 17:11, Eph 5:18-19

Spiritual growth is an act of advancement or development in the things of the spirit.  Spiritual growth is for a lifetime. In John 4: 24 the Bible says; “God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” Therefore you must desire to grow in the spirit so that you will be able to worship Him in spirit. You have to love the things of the spirit and desire to grow. You cannot remain a kindergarten Christian. God longs for your growth and development in all ways, most especially in the things of the spirit. The Bible says come up higher, that is: move up, grow, develop. Don’t be stagnant. Hence you need spiritual growth.

What are the things of the spirit that you have to develop in? They are: worship, praises, prayer, searching and meditating on the scriptures and witnessing to people every day, offering quality worship and praises and spending quality time with God in prayer and ending it with thanksgiving unto the Lord.

The Bible says in Eph 5:18-19; “But be filled with the spirit. Speaking to yourself in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and  making melody in your heart to the Lord.” The Bible further says that any man that meditates on the word of God day and night shall flourish and prosper in whatsoever he does; Psalm 1:2-3. As you do these daily you will be well established in the things of the spirit and they become your daily routine. As you tithe monetarily in the church  you must also try to tithe the twenty four hours given to you daily just to worship, praise, pray, study and meditate on the word and witness to people. May God help you grow.

Daniel knew what it is to spend quality time with God. Despite all odds he was still praying three times daily. When king Darius made a decree that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days except him shall be cast into the den of lions. Daniel 6:10 says; “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house, and his windows being open in chamber towards Jerusalem he kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he did aforetime.” Daniel damned the consequences and he was thrown into the den of lions. His God whom he served continually, saved him and kept him from being hurt by the lions. Because God was able to deliver Daniel due to his spiritual activities, king Darius said in Daniel 6:26; “I make a decree, that in every dominion of my kingdom, men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for He is the living God, and steadfast forever and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall be, even unto the end.”

Anna was another example of someone who has grown spiritually to the extent that daily she was always in the temple day and night praising, worshipping God with fasting and prayer and witnessing by talking about Jesus to everyone who had been waiting for the promised Messiah. Despite the fact that she was a widow, she dedicated herself to the things of the spirit and daily she was performing the chores and growing day by day. Hence the Bible says in Luke 2:37-38; “And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, who departed not from the temple, but served God with fasting and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spoke of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

Brethren, don’t remain a kindergarten Christian. God wants you to soar in the things of the spirit. Offer quality worship and praise daily, spend quality time in prayer, study and meditate upon the word, witness daily and end with thanksgiving always. By so doing you will develop and grow.

Advantages of Spiritual Growth

·         You will be empowered to run the Christian race successfully.

·         You will have desire and ability to handle kingdom assignment.

·         You will love to be in God’s presence always.

·         You will be more intimate with God.

·         You will be bold to proclaim Him anywhere.

·         You will enjoy the peace of the Lord in all circumstances

Prayer:

Father in heaven, as you enable me to grow and develop physically and in other areas, help me to love the things of the spirit and to grow and develop in them in Jesus’ name I pray. (Amen.)