1Pet.2v1-2: Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking. As newborn babies, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby.
You are welcome back to our discussion on spiritual growth and I trust you are being greatly encouraged and blessed by this series of teachings in Jesus name, amen. There are certain conditions to be met by anyone that is going to a worthwhile place in life. So if you know that you really want to grow up spiritually, then you must be willing to pay the price. And the beautiful thing about these requirements is that you can meet them if you are willing and ready to do so. My dear reader, your spiritual walk can be better than it is now if you are willing to pay the price. And so far in this series, I have shared five of these conditions with you. Today by his grace, we will be examining two other conditions for spiritual growth to take place. I believe you are ready for it, so without much ado, here we go!
THE CONDITIONS FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH:
1. PEOPLE. Yes, you need people in order to grow spiritually for there is no growth without people! You canโt grow in isolation but you can grow in a community of people. Some of these people will be good, bad, or even ugly in nature and character but notwithstanding, God will use these kinds of people to grow you. A good example to consider is Moses. God used his mother, sister (Miriam), brother (Aaron), Pharaohโs daughter, Jethro, etc. to develop and mature him. In the same vein, God will use different kinds of people to perfect your growth too (Matt.4v19; Acts 4v13). No people! No growth! No people; No progress! God will use all kinds of people to mold and shape your life. So you need to be ready for this if you want to grow up spiritually. You may be a Joseph in training; you just need to know that God will use your brothers, Ishmeelites, Potiphar and his wife, keeper of the prison, the chief butler and baker, etc. in developing you to maturity. So you need to be ready for this.
2. PATIENCE. This is another critical condition for growth to take place. So if you are in a hurry, you might not grow like you ought to. Hurry is the death of life. There is no growth without patience or perseverance. This is why it takes patience to grow. Growth does not occur in a day but over time (Lk.8v15). My dear reader, your spiritual growth will take time. Are you ready to pay the price of patience? All the significant things in life require patience. The date palm tree takes more than 12 years to bring forth fruits. The oil palm tree starts bearing fruits after thirty months of planting and continues to do for the next twenty to thirty years. You need to be patient if you will reap the rich dividends of spiritual growth. I pray for you today that nothing will move you away from your place of planting and establishment in Jesus name, amen. As you pay the price for spiritual growth, may you come to new levels and dimensions of glory in your walk with Jesus.
Other Scriptural References: (Pro.19v2; Lk.21v19; Jam.1v4; Eccle.7v8; Ps.92v12-14; Hos.14v5-7; 1Sam.3v1-19: 2v11; Exo.33v11: 24v13).
Prayer for Today: Heavenly Father, help me to stay faithful and true to the conditions for Spiritual Growth. Help me to reap the rich dividends of spiritual growth in Jesus name, amen.
CONFESSION: Lord, I am ready for the experience of Spiritual Growth. As I walk with you submitting and yielding myself to the conditions for spiritual growth, let my life be a true reflection of your grace, beauty, and glory. May I grow to be more like you every waking moment and blessed day in Jesus’ name, amen. Glory be to God, for my spiritual growth is changing my life and walk for the better.
Yemi Adeoti is a pastor, teacher, life coach and mentor & also a prolific writer.
Amen ๐ Amen ๐ Amen ๐๐ Amen ๐ Amen ๐ Amen ๐ Amen
This is highly impactive.
Well-done pastor!