Part 1
There are many teachings focused on spiritual growth that are available. We have all probably heard at least one or two messages in a church service focused on this subject. Let’s say that there is only one key needed for spiritual growth. What do you think it would be?
Some people would say that this key might be the “born again” experience. I would agree that this is an essential element in Christianity. Jesus told Nicodemus that it would not be possible to “see the Kingdom of God” without first being “born again” (John 3:3). While this is our foundation, there is much more required from us for spiritual growth to occur. Many Christians have been following Christ for years that have never grown at all in their spirituality.
Other people would argue that the key to spiritual growth is the “baptism of the Holy Spirit”. I believe that this is an essential experience for any person desiring to walk in the supernatural power of God. Many Christians have been baptized in the Spirit but have not grown at all in a spiritual sense.
Prayer is an essential ingredient in our relationship with God. It will be part of our spiritual growth, but it is not the key we are seeking. Jesus told His disciples that hypocrites love to pray (Matthew 6:5). A spiritually immature person can pray and not grow spiritually. Prayer is essential, but it cannot grant us spiritual maturity.
I have heard many messages focused on faith. It is not possible to grow spiritually without growing in faith. Faith is an indicator to look for when trying to determine if a person is growing spiritually. It is a byproduct, but it is not the key to spiritual growth.
The number one key to spiritual growth is, in my opinion, is an absolute commitment to the Word of God. Most Christians do not even open their Bible outside of a church service. Spiritual growth will not occur in a Wordless vacuum! We will not grow in our spiritual walk if without a firm commitment to being controlled and guided by the Word of God!
Paul told his readers that they would have to renew their minds to “prove” the “good” and “acceptable” will of God (Romans 12:2). It is not possible to do this separate from the Word of God. Scripture is that key that unlocks everything else in our spiritual lives. We cannot become spiritually mature without it.
I have found over the years that the majority who come to meetings seeking prayer have minimal knowledge of Scripture. They have depended on their pastor or other ministers for their spiritual nourishment. We all believe that there is a God and that He answers prayer. How many of us will spend time daily meditating on His written Word as He commanded Joshua (Joshua 1:8)?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17
We should always go to Scripture before attempting to release faith for any blessing of God. Any belief not based on His Word will be faith that will fail to receive. It will not be pleasing to Him (Hebrews 11:6), and it will end up in frustration for the person “trying” to receive something from God.
I have heard many people say they are hoping that God will heal them. They have no confidence that God will answer their prayers. This confidence comes only from time spent in His Word. In a sense, they are like a person attempting to hang a picture without first putting the nail on the wall. Just as the image will not stay without something to hold its weight, so our faith will fail without us first attaching the Word to the proverbial wall.
Spiritual growth will require us to interact with God’s Word. We will have to develop personal knowledge of it, and this will not happen without spending time with Scripture every day. Daily meditation in the Word is the foundation for our spiritual growth and developing a relationship with our creator.
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:1
Peter was writing to people who had the same faith that he had. He used his faith to release the miracle-working power of God for the lame man at the gate beautiful (Acts 3). The sick received healing as his shadow passed over them while he walked by (Acts 5:15). Peter was a man who understood faith, saying that his reader’s faith was identical to his!
Every Christian has received the same “measure” of faith that Peter was walking in (Romans 12:3). Christians cry out to God for an impartation of faith. He already has given us all the faith we will ever need. It will not benefit us without first being exercised and developed. Once again, doing so will require us to spend time every day meditating on Scripture!
We will not grow in our spiritual walk without understanding these fundamental principles. Every Christian has enough faith to move a mountain (Mark 11:23). Few know that this is so. The first step in our growth journey will be to develop an understanding of what has been provided to us by God and how we can walk in it.
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