Spiritual Growth Part 1

Not Serving the Flesh

You have decided to give your life to the Lord, (praise God) but now what? What are the next steps to continue to grow? The last thing you want is to become stagnant in your faith and not bear fruit. But what does it mean to “bear fruit?” First off, In the Bible, the word “fruit” describes a person’s outward actions. Those outward actions result from the condition of the heart. Do you have a heart for God or a heart for worldly things? Galatians 5:22-23 (WEBUS) says that “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self control. When you have a heart for God, you will want to apply all of these in your life. God also calls us to serve one another through love. Love your neighbor as you love yourself! Leviticus 19:18 Now that you live for the Lord you should not want to live for the flesh. 

Although we have freedom in Christ, Galatians 5:13 says “Only, do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love, be servants to one another. What I think this means, and I am no professional, I didn’t go to Bible school or anything like that. I’m just someone sitting in bed typing as The Spirit leads me. What I believe this means is that you can’t do things that go against God and be like “Oh, I’ll do XYZ, it’s okay, God will forgive me!” At that point, you’re serving the flesh, not God. Stay away from things that YOU desire. Things that aren’t aligned with God. What I love is that Galatians 5:19-21 says specifically what the deeds of the flesh are, which are contrary to God. They are adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. 

A Lifelong Process

As Christians, we are called to seek spiritual maturity and grow in our faith continually. Spiritual growth is a journey of developing a deeper and more intimate relationship with God. It involves the transformation of the inner being, aligning our thoughts, desires, and actions with God’s will. This growth is not an instantaneous event but a gradual and lifelong process. It is rooted in our relationship with God, guided by His Word, and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

The Foundation of Spiritual Growth

At the core of spiritual growth lies a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Just as a plant needs a solid root system to grow and flourish, our spiritual growth is firmly established upon our faith in Christ as our Lord and Savior. In John 15:5, Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me, you can do nothing.” This passage highlights the necessity of abiding in Christ to bear spiritual fruit.

Our spiritual foundation is also built upon the Word of God. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, it is written, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Regularly immersing ourselves in God’s Word helps us understand His character, His will, and His plan for our lives, guiding us in our spiritual growth journey. That’s what I love about the Old Testament. We get to read and understand who God is and how loving and patient He is with us.

Elements of Spiritual Growth

Prayer and Communion with God

Prayer is the channel through which we communicate with God. It is not merely a one-sided monologue but a dialogue with our heavenly Father. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication (or petition, depending on the version you read) with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” As we pray and commune with God regularly, our hearts align with His, and we experience peace, contentment, and a deepening of our relationship with Him. God also wants us to have a relationship with Him. Talk WITH Him everyday about anything and everything. Even though God knows exactly what you’ll be talking about or asking for, He still wants you to come to Him. Even though it is okay to ask God for things, but you want to also have a conversation with Him. At this point I’m probably beating a dead horse, but you get what I’m saying! 

Worship and Praise

Worship and praise are vital aspects of our spiritual growth. Engaging in heartfelt worship and praise draws us closer to God, lifting our spirits and acknowledging His greatness. Psalm 100:4-5 urges us to “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Expressing our gratitude and adoration to God helps us grow in humility and recognition of His sovereignty. It took me a while to get into worship music because, I’m not gonna lie, a lot of the stuff out there is mediocre. I hate to say it, but I said it! I usually will listen to gospel, Christian rap/hip hop, Christian metal, (Yes they have that and it’s actually really good) and SOME Christian alternative stuff you’ll hear on K-Love. Where I’m going with this is, as I am continuing to grow in my walk with Christ, I find myself not caring about secular music as much anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll bump some 90s and early 2000s pop and hip hop, but anything that comes out today, I’m not a fun of and I have no interest in listening to it. Once you continue to get deeper in your faith, you’ll begin to change and start wanting to please God.

Community and Fellowship

God designed us for community and fellowship. Engaging in a supportive and loving Christian community fosters spiritual growth as we learn from one another, share our experiences, and support each other’s faith journey. In Hebrews 10:24-25, we are encouraged to “consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Through fellowship, we can receive encouragement and accountability in our pursuit of spiritual maturity. I struggle with this because I am such an introvert! I love to be at home and not around people! I know that is something I HAVE to change. Getting involved in your church is very important because you meet people who are on the same journey as you are and you can hold each other accountable and Keep each other on track and in check, if I’m being honest. There are so many groups that you can join within the church, such as small groups, if your church does that and Bible study groups as well. 

Outro!

Thank you for reading part 1 of Spiritual Growth. I hoped this helps you gain a better understanding of how to start living your life for God! Enjoy this meme I have for you! Remember, have a heart for God, not the flesh!