BASICS: Lesson 3-4a - Spiritual Growth

Plant life begins at germination, but there will be no evidence at all of life from the surface vantage point.  The same is true with the Spiritual life.  Life begins at the moment that one Believes (i.e. is fully convinced) in Jesus Christ.  At first, there is a good chance that the person (who Believes) will bear no fruit at all.  However, we expect babies to act like babies and only hold them to certain standards once they reach some sort of age of accountability.  And we must not forget that this is totally subjective to each individual.  There is no set formula, in the Spiritual or physical world (or plant world), of how fast one will grow after birth.  Furthermore, there is no test to see if a person is a "geunine Believer" based on a certain amount of works he or she produces.  All Believers are susceptible to periods of sinfulness in which there will be no evidence of regeneration whatsoever.  This is what this study is for; namely, to warn and discourage that from happening.

All in all, the goal of the Church is not to plant seeds and walk away, but rather to help other Believers grow from spiritual infancy to maturity.  And this will never happen over night.  The cutting edge that separates Spiritual growth from physical growth is volition.  Spiritual growth is a choice, whereas physical is the byproduct of biological life.  The Believer can (and does) exercise his/her volition negatively or positively.  


BACK TO THE BASICS...


Passage to read: Psalm 27:1-14

In Psalm 27, David illustrates progression in spiritual growth through the seven circles of faith.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? (Psalm 27:1)

Circle 1: Salvation. The foundation for all spiritual growth is salvation (1 Corinthians 3:11). "The Lord" in Hebrew is Jehovah; "salvation" is from Yeshuah, the Hebrew word for "Jesus." A thousand years after David wrote this psalm, Joseph was told by the angel, "You shall call his name Jesus for it is He who will save His people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21). The person who has believed in Jesus Christ for salvation begins to see that faith, which lays basic assurance in the plan and the person of God, can conquer fear.

One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to meditate in His temple. (Psalm 27:4)

Circle 2: Study. After salvation, growth can only come from study. We have to be positive to the Word. Baqash, "seek," means "to diligently study." It is similar to the Greek spoudazo found in 2 Timothy 2:15, implying strong inner motivation. It is impossible to study so that we grow unless we have made a personal decision to be spiritually motivated. "To dwell in the house of the Lord" is analogous to living in the Word of God, learning to let the Word be the priority, more real and absolute than anything else in life. "The house of the Lord" in David' s time was the tabernacle—the place of teaching. The New Testament equivalent would be the local church, to be there every time the doors are open and the Word of God is taught.

For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. (Psalm 27:5)

Circle 3: Faith-Rest. David is saying that he knows that if he commits himself to live in the tabernacle of God, to meditate, to study, to be strong in his motivation for growth, then in the day of trouble, God will spread His tent over him and he will receive divine protection from whatever may threaten him. Every time we hear the Word taught, we choose whether to believe it or not. The only safe place in the Universe is the place of faith, where we rest in the power of the Word. In this secret place, we have an encapsulated environment that we carry with us. When we dedicate ourselves to living in the Word, then the Word of God will surround us wherever we go and we will have stability in life.

And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me; and I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. (Psalm 27:6) 

Circle 4: Spirituality. In Hebrews 13:15, we are exhorted to "continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name." The sacrifices of expressing joy which is gratitude to God, and of singing and praise, which declare the faithfulness of God, are expressions of the function of our priesthood in the filling of the Holy Spirit.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice, and be gracious to me and answer me. (Psalm 27:7)

Circle 5: Suffering. The Hebrew qara means "to call out loudly." Here it indicates intensive pressure which wrenches from the soul a cry for deliverance. Suffering is necessary for spiritual growth. When we meet suffering with effective prayer, the process of growth is accelerated.

When Thou didst say, "Seek My face," my heart said to Thee, "Thy face, O Lord, I shall seek." (Psalm 27:8)

Circle 6: Occupation with Christ. The most extended part of this psalm deals with the sixth circle of faith because it is the most essential to the attaining of spiritual maturity. It is persevering through our sufferings to the point of occupation with Jesus Christ. David was able to persevere because when God said, "Seek Me," David said, "I will." He was motivated to know the Word of God and to understand the will of God. It is impossible to reach spiritual maturity unless we become occupied with the person of Christ. Christianity is not a religion; it is a relationship. The purpose of all our study is to go from the written Word to the living Word, to seek from the page the person of Jesus Christ.

I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:13-14)

Circle 7: Waiting. David knew despair, discouragement, depression. He faced it all, but he came through it all because he knew that God would bring blessing if he persisted in spiritual advance. Qawah is the strongest Hebrew word for "faith." To advance from the cross to the crown, each of us must master the degrees of faith: amen, leaning faith; batach, wrestling faith; chasah, refuge faith; yachal, healing faith; and qawah waiting faith. Isaiah tells us that those who wait for the Lord will exchange their human strength for His divine strength. Not until we reach the waiting stage will we have that overwhelming strength of God, and not until we have that, will we have true courage in the spiritual realm.

There is no way in our own strength that we can either reach or imitate spiritual maturity. It is a gift from God, a gift that is given in increments and can be received only by faith. We have to follow God's plan, do it God's way—a principle, a promise, a doctrine at a time. To reach maturity, we have to pass through each of the seven circles of faith. It takes tremendous spiritual motivation. We have to be motivated to attain spiritual maturity more than anything on earth. If we have any other priority in life, we will not reach it.

God has so designed the system that we either do it His way or we don't do it at all. His way is centered on the Church. Apart from involvement in a local church and apart from the exercise of our spiritual gifts, we can't reach maturity.

[Click here for The Seven Steps of Spiritual Advance]