Growth in Your New Faith A Brief but Practical Guide to Christian Growth and Maturity

Author: Michael Gott

Life results in growth. Spiritual life results in spiritual growth—or it should, for it is what God fully intends. Be sure of this—God plans for every new Christian to grow to spiritual maturity. Listen to the Lord speak through Peter,

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ . . .     II Peter 3:18

That is, all of us are to mature and grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord Jesus Christ—the Savior. It is God’s plan; it is as normal as growing up physically after birth. We are to mature!

Spiritual growth is not just our obligation but our privilege. It is necessary and exciting, for each day we can progress in our spiritual life. Every day Jesus can become far more wonderful, we can know Him better and follow Him more faithfully. I Peter 2:2 tells us if you have tasted the Lord’s goodness and kindness, cry out for more as a baby cries out for milk and grows strong—so grow in the Lord.

Let me show you what the Bible says about spiritual growth:

• Follow after righteousness.
  Read I Timothy 6:11.
• Be totally transformed.
  Read Romans 12:2.
• Grow toward practical holiness.
  Read II Corinthians 7:1.
• Always press toward the mark.
  Read Philippians 3:14.
• Be built up in faith.
  Read Colossians 2:7.

All these things God plans, so it should be your goal to grow in these ways. Determine in your heart, “I want to mature.”

Now the question becomes “How?” First, let me tell you it’s not some clever secret. There is not some mystical trick to be revealed by only a few experts. No! Spiritual growth comes through understanding and practicing the principles that are laid out in the word of God. God Himself tells us how!

I want to introduce you to some of the principles and to guide you through several sections I have written to help you.

THE GUIDE TO OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

The guide we can trust is God’s word. Paul refers to the Bible as the word of life (Philippians 2:8). Peter said the word of God will last forever (I Peter 1:25). Jesus said the word of God will outlast the stars! It is living and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). By the word “living” it means God’s word is forever fresh; it never gets old or stale. You will find it out for yourself if you read it daily. Every time you pick the Bible up and read it, expect God to speak to you. Read it with humility and expectancy. God speaks!

God’s word is food for growth, and it actually says that. For example, God’s word is compared to milk, meat, honey, bread — it is nourishment.

Life demands food, and the word of God is the food God provided for us to take in and grow as a result. Feed on God’s word and grow!

THE PURPOSE OF OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

The major goal for the Christian life is to give God glory! That is, because of you people exalt God and praise Him. As we grow and mature, the more of God’s glory people will see through us. We are to reflect and radiate God’s glory. The Bible says it very simply,

. . . you must do everything for the glory of God, even your eating and drinking.     I Corinthians 10:31

Consider David’s statement in Psalm 16:5 and 8. He explains,

The Lord himself is my inheritance, my prize . . . my highest joy . . . I am always thinking of the Lord . . .    Psalm 16:5,8

Let me say it in another way. It is wonderful to know God; I could not be happier, for I have found great joy in God. Now in all of life my attention is focused on Him. It’s for His praise and glory that I live. My life has no other purpose.

God responds to this kind of praise, and He gives us joy—the fullness of joy in return. That is the consequence.

Here before us is to be our life pattern: We love Him, we praise Him, and we are lost in gratitude to Him. Therefore we live in the fullness of joy. Others see us enjoying Him, and they want to know and love Him too!

THE KEY OF OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

What is the best way to identify a mature Christian? One simple answer: obedience. This is, I believe, the most important. A Scottish Christian said, “The evidence of knowing God is obeying God.” So understanding can wait—obedience cannot. We do not have to understand all about God, but we do have to obey all we know about Him.

In the Christian life love is the root, obedience is the fruit.

Always remember that faith and obedience are together. The person who obeys God has real faith in God, and the person who has real faith in God obeys God. There cannot be love for God that does not express itself in obedience. Our Lord and Savior Jesus asks,

But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?    Luke 6:46

You grow spiritually while you obey—remember that always. Every time you obey what God says, in that moment you grow and mature. It is to be glad and gracious obedience. Obedience proves Christ-likeness. Let me emphasize, willing obedience will produce spiritual growth—you grow to be like Christ while you obey.

THE POWER FOR OUR GROWTH

We are to live differently—to love like Jesus, to walk in the light, and to be very wise. The fact is, however, that we simply cannot do it in our own power, strength, and energy. So, what is our resource—the power of the Holy Spirit. We must operate in His power.

. . . be filled with the Spirit.    Ephesians 5:18

The Bible literally says, “keep on being constantly filled.” It is thrilling and joyful to be filled with the Spirit.

Now, mark it down—every Christian possesses the Holy Spirit (look at I Corinthians 6:19 and Romans 8:9). So, the Holy Spirit lives within you now. Clearly understand you have been baptized with the Holy Spirit—it happened the moment you became a believer in Christ. Stop and look at I Corinthians 12:13. Notice what it says, all of us have been baptized into one body by one Spirit, the Holy Spirit. We do not have to ask to be baptized with the Spirit, but we are commanded to be continually letting the Spirit of God fill us. It is—let me emphasize—continuous action. Jesus compared this to a fountain flowing constantly. Let it flow! (John 4:14)

THE INCENTIVE TO OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

No one grows and matures as a Christian without loving the Lord. Jesus said,

You will love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.    Matthew 22:37-38

Now, what is this real love for God like? How do we understand it?

It all includes selfless sacrifice. That includes taking up your cross and following Christ as Lord. That involves a willingness to give up a self-centered life for His glory. But His will is a daily thing so Paul said, “I die daily . . .” So it’s self-sacrificial love. And it’s also sacrificial obedience. But also, it involves loving others. Jesus added,

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.    Matthew 22:40

Peter learned from Jesus, and he said we are to love one another with “a pure heart fervently” (I Peter 1:22). The original word “fervent” comes from the word “stretch.” We are, in Christian love, to stretch out as far as possible to help others.

Therefore, we show we love God by how we love others. John said,

. . . let us stop saying we love people; let us really love them and show it by our action    I John 3:18

THE HINDRANCE TO OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

In time all new Christians stumble along the path. We all sin, in attitude or action, after becoming a Christian. Becoming a Christian does not make us perfect or instantly mature.

Sin stops the progress of spiritual growth. It brings guilt, remorse, and alienation from God. Sinful acts make us dirty before God. These acts destroy our joy. We must be renewed and return to a growing, loving relationship.

A disobedient child still belongs to his father. He is not thrown out of the family, but he does need to get things right. How is it done?—Admitting the mistake and asking for forgiveness. Read I John 1:8-9 to see this clearly taught. The worst thing is to excuse ourselves and cover up our mistakes (read Proverbs 28:13 and Luke 12:2-3).

David, the great Old Testament king, sinned, and he confessed,

I admit my shameful deed—it haunts me day and night. It is against you and you alone I sinned and did this terrible thing    Psalm 51:3-4

Confess sin and claim forgiveness. Confession means, “I agree with God—what I did was wrong.” Break with it completely and ask God to make you clean and to restore you.

Please study the verse in the little Old Testament book of Micah. Read chapter 7 and verse 8. Remember these Bible words, “the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” Notice, all means all! Now, go back to growing in Christ.

THE LANGUAGE OF OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

Because we are aware that self dependence is a danger in living the Christian life, we are aware of the need of a real and active prayer life. Prayer then is the language of spiritual growth.

Always there will be a need to prayerfully approach every life challenge. Jesus told us to stand against temptation through prayer. So constant prayer is essential. No one grows in faith who does not pray often and fervently. Jesus said in Luke 21:36, “always . . . pray” and Paul reverses the words, we should “pray always” (Ephesians 6:18). Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath. Everyone who does not pray constantly struggles (Romans 12:12).

Consider these verses: Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2, and Thessalonians 5:17. All this truth in these verses means “be God conscious.” At every waking moment we are in an attitude of praising God, asking, and praying for others.

Praying is also compared in the Bible to “watching” (see I Peter 4:7). What it means is, we are to be alert. Remember to be specific in prayer. We pray from the heart to God’s heart. So that, we pray directly to God “in Jesus’ name” (John 14:13-14; read His words) That means we come to God “in the merits of Jesus.” End your prayers saying something like this—“All that I have asked, I have asked for the glory of Jesus, and I have asked with His will in mind.” Jesus said, ask in His name. Never pray until you have eliminated selfishness and never pray without confessing any sin in your life. Humble yourself and sense the presence of the Holy Spirit helping you to pray. As you pray, you will find your life being melted and molded into the very likeness of Jesus Christ. Prayer is wonderful!

THE CONFIDENCE IN OUR SPIRITUAL GROWTH

We are to have humility and confidence at the same time. Paul talked about faith, hope, and love (see I Corinthians 13:13). Spiritual growth includes all three, but let me emphasize the word “hope.” It means Christ-centered confidence. Remember that it is “confidence in Christ.” Our hope is to be in God only (read Psalm 43:5). God gives us hope as a gift (II Thessalonians 2:16). It also means God gives us confidence, assurance, and security for now and forever. We can also grow in hope and confidence by reading the Bible and all its promises (read Romans 15:4). Trust what God says in His word.

This confidence we have in Christ is confirmed by God’s Spirit (read Romans 15:13). Hope and confidence give us the courage to reject disheartenment from the devil. Satan often lies to us to break our spirits. Confidence in God helps us overcome. A great passage is II Thessalonians 2:16-17. Please read it and think of how it applies to you.

A very important thing to understand—for all Christians, hope and confidence is based in the resurrection of Jesus. Yes, we look at the cross and believe, but now think of the victory of the resurrection! (read I Peter 1:3—notice the words “the living hope by the resurrection of Jesus”) As long as Jesus lives, which is forever, we have hope and confidence (Psalm 71:14 and Psalm 146:5). This hope brings into our lives both praise and joy. By hope we conquer the fear of dying and death (read Colossians 1:5). We always know we have a future.

Nothing should ever take away our confidence or steal from our hearts hope (read Hebrews 6:17-18). Jesus is coming for us, and His return is called “the blessed hope.” It is hope crowned! (read Titus 2:18)

A FINAL WORD ON SPIRITUAL GROWTH

This is a very brief but, I pray, beginning guide for young Christians related to Christian maturity and spiritual growth. I suggest that you read it again and make sure you read every verse referred to in each section. Always apply it to yourself.

Now notice—it is not wrong or disrespectful of the Bible to mark verses in your personal Bible. It is a great discipline, so do it! Do what you need to do to come to a personal understanding and knowledge of the spiritual principles set down in the Bible. That leads you to maturity.

I pray spiritual growth and maturity will be yours! Determine in your heart to grow. Unlock the riches of God in Jesus Christ and, step by step—grow! These are only the most basic principles to Christian growth, but they can produce tremendous results in your life.

All of this was written to reveal clearly to you your true purpose on the earth after you have trusted Christ with your life and for all eternity. Now, commit yourself completely to live for the glory of God and to honor your Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Allow yourself to grow to maturity just as He designed. Say in your heart, “Lord, I want to be Christ-like; let me please grow to Christian maturity.”

As Hebrews says,

...go on to maturity.    Hebrews 6:1

Top of Page