Nurturing Spiritual Growth

Being believers, it is important to nurture our spiritual man. It is so easy to keep our worldly (carnal) selves entertained and fill our thoughts with things of the world. We have no problem spending hours pampering our selves, shopping for how ever long it takes to find that "just perfect" item. We can spend immeasurable time in front of a screen, watching sports and other shows, playing games and getting our social media "fix". We can get obsessed with hobbies to our hearts content. And along with all of this, we can say we believe in Jesus, but is that all that is required? We can go to church on Sundays, that would help, but is that enough? Can you imagine if that is all that Jesus did while He was on this earth. Imagine what would have happened if He just went around and told people that He believed in the Father in Heaven and showed up to the tabernacle once a week, but never did anything about the work He was called to do. Things would be pretty grim for us. Thank you Jesus for your obedience in listening, doing, and suffering all that You did!

"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." Romans 8:13-14

The above passage makes me think a lot about my walk as a Christian. Am I being led by the Holy Spirit or am I being led by my own selfish desires? In Romans 7:22-23 it says " For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members." It is apparent that there is a spiritual battle going on. And in my brain, that means whatever I am feeding my mind, that is what I am equipping myself for. Am I going to live a spiritual life or a life fulfilling the flesh? I reflect back on my Christian walk. From when I was born again, up until now, I see a pretty unsteady path. The reason for this. I believe, is that I went from having the Holy Spirit guide me, to taking it upon myself to become that spiritual person I longed to be.

Spiritual Feeding

I recently read a sermon by Andrew Murray that started by bringing attention to what Paul wrote to believers in Galations 3:2-3 that says, "This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" When we first accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior by faith, we are filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38) Mr. Murray goes onto say, "When we speak of the quickening or the deepening or the strengthening of the spiritual life, we are thinking of something that is feeble and wrong and sinful. It is a great thing to take our place before God with the confession: Oh God, our spiritual life is not what it should be!" I can count several occasions where I have confessed this. It is so easy to get distracted, and if I am brutally honest, the reason this happens is because I am not making my spiritual life a priority. We are told in 1 Thessalonians 4:1&10, "that we are to abound more and more" and then "we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more." This is pertaining to our spiritual growth and progress! It just dawned on me after praying with my husband, that when we pray for the Holy Spirit to guide us and show us things, are we truly opening ourselves for Him to do so? Are we listening to and obeying what He is telling or showing us? Or, are we just moving along in our daily routines, not giving our prayer requests another thought, until it comes time to pray again. And, if there has been something revealed to us, are we casting those things aside because we are enjoying our worldly ways? The only way to battle this is to stay focused in what we as believers are called to do. If we don't nurture our spirit, letting the Holy Ghost fill us, we will continue to feel inadequate and even think of ourselves as failures in our spiritual walk. This spiritual growth cannot be done on our own accord. It is and must be the Holy Spirit continuing to fill and work in us, revealing Christ to us and refining us to be Christ-like. We cannot perfect the work that He has already started in us with our own abilities. It is the Holy Spirit that led us to come to the place of repentance and it was Him that showed us our need of accepting Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior!

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Cor. 2:14

We are told in Ephesians 1:17-19, That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power." Believers, God made a way for us to grow and be strengthened. We need to turn over to God what is already His and wait upon Him to reveal His truths through the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to be praying for His patience and love to work in us, but doing our part by being in His word, praying and waiting upon Him.

Devoting Ourselves to Him

We invest our time in anything that we find important. Are we investing our time wisely? Are we balanced with our time when it comes to the areas of spiritual things and worldly things? I need to be in more purposeful prayer. I need to be in God's word and pondering on it throughout my days and having conversations about it. I need to be on my knees in worship, giving glory to my King who suffered all for me. I should also be ending my day with Him, whether it's in prayer or reading His word. So yeah, I am going to have to let some of my worldly attractions go. Get a true feel for what it is to self- sacrifice. After-all, isn't it the world that will be passing away? In 1 John 2:17 "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever."

Lord, I pray for Your body of believers. I pray that You will strengthen us spiritually. Help us to abide in You. Let us grow in Your knowledge and grace. In Jesus' precious name, Amen.

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all." 2Cor.13:1