Monday, October 22, 2007
1 Timothy 4 A Disciple’s Disciplines
1 Timothy 4 A Disciple’s Disciplines
6 If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness, 8 for, the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. 10 In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe.
The gymnasium is an important place if you want to develop and grow muscle. Many athletes sweat through “pumping iron,” or weightlifting, in order to grow physically.
Is your number one goal to know God and grow spiritually? How do you do that? How do you pump iron in the spiritual gymnasium? How do we learn to love, know, and follow God?
This is an important issue for every believer. Spiritual maturity is not an optional extra for believers. It is not a frill that we can choose to the “spiritual muscle men” if we are to be authentic followers of Jesus.
Neil T. Anderson, in Breaking Through to Spiritual Maturity (13), says,
Mature believers, fit for ministry to each other and the world, are the end result of God’s design for the church. Maturity is the reason God grouped us in local churches and provided spiritual leaders to teach us, guide us and discipline us. If we do not pursue maturity, we are not cooperating with God’s design for us.
A Christian view of spiritual maturity
In this cultural milieu how do Christians view spiritual maturity? What is “spiritual maturity” from a Christian viewpoint?
• People are created spiritual. We are created in the image of God, who is Spirit. Therefore, humanity includes a spirit (Genesis 1:26). We have been made in the image of God and therefore to be human is to be a spiritual being. People are designed to know God through our design with spiritual capacity (John 17:3, Jeremiah 9:23, Hosea 6:6).
• People are naturally spiritually dead. Sin has separated people from relationship to God. The mind of the unbeliever is blinded (2 Corinthians 4:4) and you are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1). This death is spiritual separation from God, not the lack of being a “spiritual” being. Thus, to be “spiritual” is not necessarily good. The most secular of people are deeply “spiritual” though they may not even believe in or agree that there is such a thing.
• The Person and Work of Jesus make spiritual life a reality for those who trust him. (Ephesians 2:8,9) God took the initiative in relationship to reconcile us to himself. When we are born again we become spiritually alive.
• Spiritual birth should result in spiritual growth. (2 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 5:11-14; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Peter 2:2; Ephesians 4: 12-16; Colossians 1:28). Just as in physical life birth results in growth so it is true in spiritual life.
This brings us to pumping iron or growing spiritually, the responsibility for every believer in Jesus. Spiritual maturity is the process by which the human spirit is given form or character. Both the unbeliever and believer are formed spiritually. That is, both have a spirit that has been developed in the experiences of life. This spirit then drives the outward life. Thus all of us have the problem and potential of spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity has, is, and will take place in our lives whether we want it to or not.
For the believer, spiritual maturity has to do with the human spirit being reformed or renovated into the image of Christ. This is primarily an inner process but that inner process will impact and affect all of life.
• “Spiritual maturity is a process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.” (Robert Mulholland)
• “(S)piritual maturity for the Christian basically refers to the Spirit-driven process of forming the inner world of the human self in such a way that it becomes like the inner being of Christ himself’. (Dallas Willard)
Spiritual development is rooted in and a result of God’s grace.
1 Timothy 4:1-5 deal with those who would add works to God’s grace. The emphasis is always on the grace of God for salvation. Ephesians 2:8, 9.
God initiates the process of spiritual maturity; our response to his grace is obedience. A reversal of this priority inevitably leads to a religion of self-effort. The obedience of spiritual disciplines is the result of grace-based relationship: these disciplines serve in turn to enhance our fellowship with the Father and to position us for further spiritual growth.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:11-14)
An understanding of grace is the starting point for all spiritual progress.
Spiritual development is a process 6 If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. See that word nourished. It carries the idea of development and growth.
Discipleship is primarily a process and not an event. Although significant and identifiable spiritual events do occur in our lives, at the heart of maturity is a relationship with God, which is a life-long journey.
Conversion is the beginning and not the end of spiritual growth. Christians have not arrived at a destination but are on a journey. We need to be challenged, encouraged, loved and cared for through that journey and equipped for life-long habits of development in this process of discipleship. Maturity cannot be microwaved.
A brand-new believer is spiritual and is a new person in Christ. Spirituality is living in dependence on the Spirit of God, and even a new believer – one who has yet to learn there are two testaments in the Bible – can do that. Spirituality is a matter of humility before God and faith in Christ. But there is more to our walk with God than this.
The new believer is spiritual but cannot be spiritually mature. As time goes on, if we do not fuel our faith with an increasing understanding of Christ, it will weaken – and we will not mature…Spirituality and maturity are distinct from each other, yet they are interdependent. To be spiritual is to be dependent on the Holy Spirit This dependence should characterize our normal, everyday relationship with him. The fruit of this relationship is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, and self-control. Maturity comes in time, out of spiritual life that is nourished by an increasing knowledge of Christ through experiences with him. Its fruit is intimacy with Christ, Christ like character, perseverance, and power.
Spiritual development has a Precise God ordained method
6 If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
See the words nourished by the words of the faith, and of the good teaching? You need the word of God to grow. No two ways about it, this is a must!
God has provided a pathway for the journey toward the renovation of the heart. Spiritual maturity in Christ is therefore not a mysterious, irrational process. The God ordained order of the soul must be discovered, respected, and cooperated with, if God-intended results for spiritual growth are to be attained. This is not to imply that spiritual maturity is a simplistic formula for the reason that our relationship to God is not a formula. “I will never be able to reduce life with God to a formula for the same reason I cannot reduce my marriage to a formula. It is a living growing relationship with another free being, very different from me and yet sharing much in common.” (Yancey, Philip, Reaching for the Invisible God. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000, 183-184) However, God directs a method provides the means of grace in our lives.
Spiritual development must be Purposeful
7 But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness,
See those words train yourself in godliness? You have to do something about it. You would be aware that for some 6 months I have had numbness in my left leg after each service. My doctor told me a month ago that I had pinched a nerve in my back. I needed to strengthen my stomach muscles by doing 20 sit ups. Each morning, and each evening. I have to determine to do this. And it works! On Tuesdays Wednesdays and sometimes even Thursdays! At least the evening ones work. Sometimes! (at this stage someone piped up in the congregation “and for as long as you live!” ) It’s a matter of determining to do it, and then doing it. Isn’t it? Maybe?
The Christian does not grow automatically or easily. There is no “floating” into maturity. Growth takes place within spiritual battle, trial, suffering and conflict. The enemies of the world, the flesh, and the devil assault the believer (1 John 2:15-17). To suffer unjustly is to follow the steps in the steps of Jesus. Willing perseverance and joyful contentment through spiritual warfare, interpersonal conflict, and personal suffering are an integral part of being formed in the image of Christ. Suffering is a common experience that God uses in spiritual pilgrimage to perfect his work in us (Hebrews 5:8,9; James 1:2-4; Ephesians 6:8-10; 1 Peter 2:19ff).
Gordon MacDonald discovered “there are no shortcuts, no gimmicks, no easy ways to cultivate an intimacy with God and attain the resulting passion that should carry one through life’s journey.” (Restoring Your Spiritual Passion. Nashville, TN: Oliver-Nelson, 1986, 11)
You are thinking, I don’t need any structure or rigorous habits to make my heart grow. I’m a play-it-by-ear type. I go with the spiritual flow. I’m going to let go and let God do whatever he wants to do, and I’ll just see what happens.” This typical American attitude, at best, is naïve; at worst, it is self-deceived. We just cannot grow without structure, no sense of intentionally about our spiritual life, any more than we can lower our body fat or develop good muscle tone or increase our net worth by just sitting back and waiting for whatever happens. (Hybels, Bill. Too Busy Not to Pray: Slowing down to be with God, Downers Grove. IL: InterVarsity Press, 1998, 44)
Intentional decisions and commitments must be made to the methods of grace and then we must live in faithfulness to these. We can and should plan to grow in an organized, practical, measurable, and accountable way. The authentic Christian is called to passionate and deliberate involvement in this process. In this process our entire dependence is on the work of the Holy Spirit. While spiritual maturity is simultaneously a profound manifestation of God’s gracious action through his Word and Spirit, it is also something we are responsible for before God and set about achieving in a sensible, systematic manner.
Spiritual Development Is Personal7 But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness, .. See that word Yourself?
The individual is responsible for spiritual development
Discipleship is not a passive result of what someone else does to you or for you. We develop most when we are actively involved. Opportunities for such involvement will be created and encouraged for you as you proceed through this course. However, each individual has the opportunity to choose or reject participation in experiences conducive to growth and development. Passivity is one of the greatest dangers and difficulties to spiritual growth.
Most of us would like to be in physical shape. For me, that is mostly a dream that bears no resemblance to reality. The reason that there is such a great gap between my dream and reality is quite simple – I am not willing to invest the many hours of dedication, commitment and sacrifice that is required in order to achieve that measure of physical prowess.
We may have a dream of spirituality maturity, as well we should. That may be a dream that lacks reality if we are unwilling to invest the many hours of dedication, commitment and sacrifice that is required in order to achieve such spiritual growth.
This is not to say that spiritual growth is a simple matter of the will and pulling up one’s spiritual bootstraps. Again this is a human solution that leads to frustration and pride.
This cooperation with God’s grace and human responsibility is seen in Philippians 2:12-13 which states, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
We would much rather pray, ‘Lord, make me godly,’ and expect him to ‘Pour’ some godliness into our souls in some mysterious way. God does in fact work in a mysterious way to make us godly, but he does not do this apart from the fulfillment of our own personal responsibility….We are dependent on God for his divine enablement, but we are responsible; we are not passive in this process. (Jerry Bridges, Pursuit of Godliness, 42, 55)
Spiritual Development Is ProgressiveIndividual Christians are at different stages in the development process
The Bible identifies three stages of growth on the road to maturity. Paul refers to the new-born/little child stage (1 Thessalonians 2:7), the childhood stage (1 Thessalonians 2:11), and the brother/peer stage (1 Thessalonians 2:14). The Apostle John identifies the same three stages a bit differently. He talks about children, young men, and fathers (1 John 2:12-14).
Each person is an individual created in God’s image and for whom he has a special plan. Each Christian is at a unique stage of commitment, faith development, and has a unique life message and ministry design. At the same time, there are common qualities, commitments, and skills that distinguish the disciple of the Lord Jesus that should be true of all Christians.
Spiritual Development Is Passionate10 In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe.
See those words labour and strive? You gotta be passionate about this! Or its not going to happen!
The goal of spiritual development is the image of Christ
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son” (Romans 8:29). The image of Christ is the ultimate reality of human wholeness. The Christian is to develop his character and live his priorities. Christ-likeness is the goal and the measure of spiritual development.
Ephesians 4: 12-16: “grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
Colossians 1:28: “present everyone perfect in Christ.”
Galatians 4:19 “…until Christ is formed in you”
Christian spiritual maturity is focused entirely on Jesus. Its goal is an obedience or conformity to Christ that arises out of an inner transformation. This inner transformation will change the whole life to be in the image of Jesus.
The objective of Christian spiritual maturity to help a person move from wherever he or she might be to where he or she grows into the full stature of Christ. One of the greatest gifts God has given us is the infinite opportunity for spiritual growth. But however much we have matured, there is always more beyond. It is in this that we find the adventure of living. There will always be new, unexplored dimensions of his person beckoning to us. The possibilities go off the chart.
All of life is to be subject to the Lordship of Christ. Therefore, we have a responsibility for development as complete people – the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of our lives. This also calls for integration of all of life in the process of our discipleship.
Spiritual Development Is People oriented10 In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe.
Spiritual development is enhanced by relationship with others
The body of Christ is designed so that we need one another to help us in the pilgrimage of obedience as developing disciples. The Holy Spirit is at work in the Body of Christ and thus the Body is the expression of his life. Christians are not only to be part of this Body but also to learn the responsibilities of living within such a community. Discipleship is a relational process.
The individual Christian cannot mature in isolation from the Body. This is shown in Ephesians 4:11-16 which states, It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
A dear friend used to in any marriage it takes 3 to make 2 one. He would speak of a triangle of relationship where the Lord is at the top, and the husband and wife are at the base corners of the triangle. As the two move towards the top, the distance between them grows smaller. As the distance towards the Lord grows smaller, so the distance between one another grows smaller. There is also very much a significant factor that the closer we grow towards one another, forebearing one another in love, forgiving one another, so the more we grow in our Christian maturity.
Spiritual Development Is not Preoccupied10 In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe.
Spiritual development will result in service to God and others
There can be no wholeness in the image of Christ that does not reflect in relationship to others (Romans 12:5). Every Christian is called to and gifted for ministry. As all member do their individual work the body of Christ grows to maturity. Tangible demonstration of love for others through acts of service is a vital link in the spiritual maturity process. Gratitude for the finished and continuing work of Christ in our behalf compels us to cooperate with his commitment to reproduce another spiritual generation. To be a servant is not merely a method of ministry or style of leadership, but who we are in Christ (Matthew 20:25-28, Philippians 2:3-9,13).
And there are benefits!8 for, the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
How many times have you felt “if only so and so had concentrated on growing as a Christian, he wouldn’t have mucked up his.. marriage.. job, … family… kids… relationships… testimony, … health…!
Let’s do something about it today!
6 If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7 But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness, 8 for, the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. 10 In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe.
The gymnasium is an important place if you want to develop and grow muscle. Many athletes sweat through “pumping iron,” or weightlifting, in order to grow physically.
Is your number one goal to know God and grow spiritually? How do you do that? How do you pump iron in the spiritual gymnasium? How do we learn to love, know, and follow God?
This is an important issue for every believer. Spiritual maturity is not an optional extra for believers. It is not a frill that we can choose to the “spiritual muscle men” if we are to be authentic followers of Jesus.
Neil T. Anderson, in Breaking Through to Spiritual Maturity (13), says,
Mature believers, fit for ministry to each other and the world, are the end result of God’s design for the church. Maturity is the reason God grouped us in local churches and provided spiritual leaders to teach us, guide us and discipline us. If we do not pursue maturity, we are not cooperating with God’s design for us.
A Christian view of spiritual maturity
In this cultural milieu how do Christians view spiritual maturity? What is “spiritual maturity” from a Christian viewpoint?
• People are created spiritual. We are created in the image of God, who is Spirit. Therefore, humanity includes a spirit (Genesis 1:26). We have been made in the image of God and therefore to be human is to be a spiritual being. People are designed to know God through our design with spiritual capacity (John 17:3, Jeremiah 9:23, Hosea 6:6).
• People are naturally spiritually dead. Sin has separated people from relationship to God. The mind of the unbeliever is blinded (2 Corinthians 4:4) and you are spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1). This death is spiritual separation from God, not the lack of being a “spiritual” being. Thus, to be “spiritual” is not necessarily good. The most secular of people are deeply “spiritual” though they may not even believe in or agree that there is such a thing.
• The Person and Work of Jesus make spiritual life a reality for those who trust him. (Ephesians 2:8,9) God took the initiative in relationship to reconcile us to himself. When we are born again we become spiritually alive.
• Spiritual birth should result in spiritual growth. (2 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 5:11-14; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 Peter 2:2; Ephesians 4: 12-16; Colossians 1:28). Just as in physical life birth results in growth so it is true in spiritual life.
This brings us to pumping iron or growing spiritually, the responsibility for every believer in Jesus. Spiritual maturity is the process by which the human spirit is given form or character. Both the unbeliever and believer are formed spiritually. That is, both have a spirit that has been developed in the experiences of life. This spirit then drives the outward life. Thus all of us have the problem and potential of spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity has, is, and will take place in our lives whether we want it to or not.
For the believer, spiritual maturity has to do with the human spirit being reformed or renovated into the image of Christ. This is primarily an inner process but that inner process will impact and affect all of life.
• “Spiritual maturity is a process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.” (Robert Mulholland)
• “(S)piritual maturity for the Christian basically refers to the Spirit-driven process of forming the inner world of the human self in such a way that it becomes like the inner being of Christ himself’. (Dallas Willard)
Spiritual development is rooted in and a result of God’s grace.
1 Timothy 4:1-5 deal with those who would add works to God’s grace. The emphasis is always on the grace of God for salvation. Ephesians 2:8, 9.
God initiates the process of spiritual maturity; our response to his grace is obedience. A reversal of this priority inevitably leads to a religion of self-effort. The obedience of spiritual disciplines is the result of grace-based relationship: these disciplines serve in turn to enhance our fellowship with the Father and to position us for further spiritual growth.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. (Titus 2:11-14)
An understanding of grace is the starting point for all spiritual progress.
Spiritual development is a process 6 If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. See that word nourished. It carries the idea of development and growth.
Discipleship is primarily a process and not an event. Although significant and identifiable spiritual events do occur in our lives, at the heart of maturity is a relationship with God, which is a life-long journey.
Conversion is the beginning and not the end of spiritual growth. Christians have not arrived at a destination but are on a journey. We need to be challenged, encouraged, loved and cared for through that journey and equipped for life-long habits of development in this process of discipleship. Maturity cannot be microwaved.
A brand-new believer is spiritual and is a new person in Christ. Spirituality is living in dependence on the Spirit of God, and even a new believer – one who has yet to learn there are two testaments in the Bible – can do that. Spirituality is a matter of humility before God and faith in Christ. But there is more to our walk with God than this.
The new believer is spiritual but cannot be spiritually mature. As time goes on, if we do not fuel our faith with an increasing understanding of Christ, it will weaken – and we will not mature…Spirituality and maturity are distinct from each other, yet they are interdependent. To be spiritual is to be dependent on the Holy Spirit This dependence should characterize our normal, everyday relationship with him. The fruit of this relationship is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, and self-control. Maturity comes in time, out of spiritual life that is nourished by an increasing knowledge of Christ through experiences with him. Its fruit is intimacy with Christ, Christ like character, perseverance, and power.
Spiritual development has a Precise God ordained method
6 If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.
See the words nourished by the words of the faith, and of the good teaching? You need the word of God to grow. No two ways about it, this is a must!
God has provided a pathway for the journey toward the renovation of the heart. Spiritual maturity in Christ is therefore not a mysterious, irrational process. The God ordained order of the soul must be discovered, respected, and cooperated with, if God-intended results for spiritual growth are to be attained. This is not to imply that spiritual maturity is a simplistic formula for the reason that our relationship to God is not a formula. “I will never be able to reduce life with God to a formula for the same reason I cannot reduce my marriage to a formula. It is a living growing relationship with another free being, very different from me and yet sharing much in common.” (Yancey, Philip, Reaching for the Invisible God. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2000, 183-184) However, God directs a method provides the means of grace in our lives.
Spiritual development must be Purposeful
7 But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness,
See those words train yourself in godliness? You have to do something about it. You would be aware that for some 6 months I have had numbness in my left leg after each service. My doctor told me a month ago that I had pinched a nerve in my back. I needed to strengthen my stomach muscles by doing 20 sit ups. Each morning, and each evening. I have to determine to do this. And it works! On Tuesdays Wednesdays and sometimes even Thursdays! At least the evening ones work. Sometimes! (at this stage someone piped up in the congregation “and for as long as you live!” ) It’s a matter of determining to do it, and then doing it. Isn’t it? Maybe?
The Christian does not grow automatically or easily. There is no “floating” into maturity. Growth takes place within spiritual battle, trial, suffering and conflict. The enemies of the world, the flesh, and the devil assault the believer (1 John 2:15-17). To suffer unjustly is to follow the steps in the steps of Jesus. Willing perseverance and joyful contentment through spiritual warfare, interpersonal conflict, and personal suffering are an integral part of being formed in the image of Christ. Suffering is a common experience that God uses in spiritual pilgrimage to perfect his work in us (Hebrews 5:8,9; James 1:2-4; Ephesians 6:8-10; 1 Peter 2:19ff).
Gordon MacDonald discovered “there are no shortcuts, no gimmicks, no easy ways to cultivate an intimacy with God and attain the resulting passion that should carry one through life’s journey.” (Restoring Your Spiritual Passion. Nashville, TN: Oliver-Nelson, 1986, 11)
You are thinking, I don’t need any structure or rigorous habits to make my heart grow. I’m a play-it-by-ear type. I go with the spiritual flow. I’m going to let go and let God do whatever he wants to do, and I’ll just see what happens.” This typical American attitude, at best, is naïve; at worst, it is self-deceived. We just cannot grow without structure, no sense of intentionally about our spiritual life, any more than we can lower our body fat or develop good muscle tone or increase our net worth by just sitting back and waiting for whatever happens. (Hybels, Bill. Too Busy Not to Pray: Slowing down to be with God, Downers Grove. IL: InterVarsity Press, 1998, 44)
Intentional decisions and commitments must be made to the methods of grace and then we must live in faithfulness to these. We can and should plan to grow in an organized, practical, measurable, and accountable way. The authentic Christian is called to passionate and deliberate involvement in this process. In this process our entire dependence is on the work of the Holy Spirit. While spiritual maturity is simultaneously a profound manifestation of God’s gracious action through his Word and Spirit, it is also something we are responsible for before God and set about achieving in a sensible, systematic manner.
Spiritual Development Is Personal7 But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness, .. See that word Yourself?
The individual is responsible for spiritual development
Discipleship is not a passive result of what someone else does to you or for you. We develop most when we are actively involved. Opportunities for such involvement will be created and encouraged for you as you proceed through this course. However, each individual has the opportunity to choose or reject participation in experiences conducive to growth and development. Passivity is one of the greatest dangers and difficulties to spiritual growth.
Most of us would like to be in physical shape. For me, that is mostly a dream that bears no resemblance to reality. The reason that there is such a great gap between my dream and reality is quite simple – I am not willing to invest the many hours of dedication, commitment and sacrifice that is required in order to achieve that measure of physical prowess.
We may have a dream of spirituality maturity, as well we should. That may be a dream that lacks reality if we are unwilling to invest the many hours of dedication, commitment and sacrifice that is required in order to achieve such spiritual growth.
This is not to say that spiritual growth is a simple matter of the will and pulling up one’s spiritual bootstraps. Again this is a human solution that leads to frustration and pride.
This cooperation with God’s grace and human responsibility is seen in Philippians 2:12-13 which states, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”
We would much rather pray, ‘Lord, make me godly,’ and expect him to ‘Pour’ some godliness into our souls in some mysterious way. God does in fact work in a mysterious way to make us godly, but he does not do this apart from the fulfillment of our own personal responsibility….We are dependent on God for his divine enablement, but we are responsible; we are not passive in this process. (Jerry Bridges, Pursuit of Godliness, 42, 55)
Spiritual Development Is ProgressiveIndividual Christians are at different stages in the development process
The Bible identifies three stages of growth on the road to maturity. Paul refers to the new-born/little child stage (1 Thessalonians 2:7), the childhood stage (1 Thessalonians 2:11), and the brother/peer stage (1 Thessalonians 2:14). The Apostle John identifies the same three stages a bit differently. He talks about children, young men, and fathers (1 John 2:12-14).
Each person is an individual created in God’s image and for whom he has a special plan. Each Christian is at a unique stage of commitment, faith development, and has a unique life message and ministry design. At the same time, there are common qualities, commitments, and skills that distinguish the disciple of the Lord Jesus that should be true of all Christians.
Spiritual Development Is Passionate10 In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe.
See those words labour and strive? You gotta be passionate about this! Or its not going to happen!
The goal of spiritual development is the image of Christ
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son” (Romans 8:29). The image of Christ is the ultimate reality of human wholeness. The Christian is to develop his character and live his priorities. Christ-likeness is the goal and the measure of spiritual development.
Ephesians 4: 12-16: “grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”
Colossians 1:28: “present everyone perfect in Christ.”
Galatians 4:19 “…until Christ is formed in you”
Christian spiritual maturity is focused entirely on Jesus. Its goal is an obedience or conformity to Christ that arises out of an inner transformation. This inner transformation will change the whole life to be in the image of Jesus.
The objective of Christian spiritual maturity to help a person move from wherever he or she might be to where he or she grows into the full stature of Christ. One of the greatest gifts God has given us is the infinite opportunity for spiritual growth. But however much we have matured, there is always more beyond. It is in this that we find the adventure of living. There will always be new, unexplored dimensions of his person beckoning to us. The possibilities go off the chart.
All of life is to be subject to the Lordship of Christ. Therefore, we have a responsibility for development as complete people – the physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of our lives. This also calls for integration of all of life in the process of our discipleship.
Spiritual Development Is People oriented10 In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe.
Spiritual development is enhanced by relationship with others
The body of Christ is designed so that we need one another to help us in the pilgrimage of obedience as developing disciples. The Holy Spirit is at work in the Body of Christ and thus the Body is the expression of his life. Christians are not only to be part of this Body but also to learn the responsibilities of living within such a community. Discipleship is a relational process.
The individual Christian cannot mature in isolation from the Body. This is shown in Ephesians 4:11-16 which states, It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
A dear friend used to in any marriage it takes 3 to make 2 one. He would speak of a triangle of relationship where the Lord is at the top, and the husband and wife are at the base corners of the triangle. As the two move towards the top, the distance between them grows smaller. As the distance towards the Lord grows smaller, so the distance between one another grows smaller. There is also very much a significant factor that the closer we grow towards one another, forebearing one another in love, forgiving one another, so the more we grow in our Christian maturity.
Spiritual Development Is not Preoccupied10 In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe.
Spiritual development will result in service to God and others
There can be no wholeness in the image of Christ that does not reflect in relationship to others (Romans 12:5). Every Christian is called to and gifted for ministry. As all member do their individual work the body of Christ grows to maturity. Tangible demonstration of love for others through acts of service is a vital link in the spiritual maturity process. Gratitude for the finished and continuing work of Christ in our behalf compels us to cooperate with his commitment to reproduce another spiritual generation. To be a servant is not merely a method of ministry or style of leadership, but who we are in Christ (Matthew 20:25-28, Philippians 2:3-9,13).
And there are benefits!8 for, the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
How many times have you felt “if only so and so had concentrated on growing as a Christian, he wouldn’t have mucked up his.. marriage.. job, … family… kids… relationships… testimony, … health…!
Let’s do something about it today!
# posted by Groseys messages @ 4:06 PM 
