Upon birth, parents anticipate their child’s growth, emphasizing its significance in life. Various factors contribute to a newborn’s physical development. Initially, the child undergoes cleansing before receiving nourishment for growth. Similarly, salvation cleanses us from sin through Jesus’ precious blood. Following purification, spiritual growth occurs through the sincere milk of the Word, necessitating a strong desire for development.
Through spiritual growth, we can cultivate a profound understanding of God and His ways, similar to how a child develops a connection with its mother as it matures.
Spiritual growth is crucial for distinguishing between meaningful and meaningless traditions. Any tradition founded on idolatrous practices, neglecting to exalt Jesus, or inconsistent with biblical principles must be rejected, and a sincere Christian should avoid it. In contrast, traditions consistent with biblical standards can be accepted and incorporated into one’s faith practice.
To exercise your dominion in Christ, you must first experience spiritual growth. Without a deep understanding of God’s Word and a personal connection with God, you will be susceptible to the faith-doubting influences of the world.
In the realm of spiritual growth, you can start to understand the substantial connection between faith and work; for faith without work is essentially dead.
Does the lack of tangible results from prayer indicate a deficiency in faith? If faith is present and active, why do daily challenges continue to pose a significant burden? While faith in God is vital, human initiative also has its role. Merely praying for financial prosperity without making an effort is insufficient, as God blesses the work of one’s hands. When God starts to grant financial blessings, it is crucial to adopt a forward-thinking approach by saving and investing. If daily expenses surpass daily income, debt will persist. Prudence dictates living within one’s financial means. Many individuals face difficulties in transcending poverty due to overspending. It is crucial to acknowledge that people have different capacities, and life progresses through various stages.
A further reason why some believers’ prayers go unanswered is that they do not demonstrate sufficient faith, often because they have their own backup plans in place. You cannot assert that you trust God when you have an alternative plan ready in case your prayer is not answered. It is your faith that will make your prayer effective, not vice versa. To have faith in God is to trust Him completely. If He does not help us, no one else can truly assist.
Moreover, when certain believers have genuinely exercised sufficient faith and yet encounter difficulties, it is probable that an enemy has interfered. Consequently, they must reprimand the enemy to desist. When such believers adhere to God’s Word concerning tithing and giving but continue to grapple with financial challenges, Isaiah 50:10 exhorts them to persist in their faith, as God will assuredly intervene in their lives: “Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.”
Just as growth is a necessity in the physical realm, it is also a vital component in the spiritual realm. In 2 Peter 3:18, the final instruction of Peter to all believers is to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
Peter’s words, however, reveal a significant correlation between growth and knowledge, in that divine knowledge is a direct result of spiritual growth.
You cannot assert a profound understanding of God until you have attained full maturity in grace. The more you mature in grace, the deeper your understanding of God and His ways, much like a child gradually learns to recognize its mother’s voice and distinguish her by her scent.
To access the deeper dimensions of God, you must be willing to undergo spiritual growth. This growth involves maturing from being nourished by the sincere milk of the Word to partaking in the Bread of Life. The School of Heaven’s system of promotion is based on spiritual growth, allowing believers to advance from elementary to tertiary levels. Failing to grow spiritually will confine you to the elementary level, thereby limiting your potential for advancement into the tertiary level.
