Growing in spiritual life is very important because it allows Christ to express himself through us. It also lets us bring greater glory to God and because of that, we get to experience more of him in our everyday lives. I recently finished a study on spiritual growth by Pastor Tony Evans, and thought i’d share it and some of my interpretations of it because of how great it was. It was a 15 part breakdown of the essentials of spiritual growth.
1. Conversion:
1. Conversion:
This is the foundation of spiritual growth and it is the process that God puts in you everything needed from him. Because of Christ, everything in us is new and gives us the ability and knowledge to serve God.
2. Identity:
Your identity in Christ is the key to your spiritual growth. Because you place your faith in Him, you became new and locked in your spot for eternity.
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God,who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20
I remember when I was in highschool and I had a small press conference to announce which college I would be attending for the following year. I was so proud of myself and felt so accomplished because to me this was one of the most important decisions I have made at this point in my life. When I chose Kent State, that is who I identified myself with. Even though I was still in high school, every single football and basketball game I played my senior year, I wore socks with a Kent State logo on them. Even though I was playing for my high school team, I wanted to let everyone know I was apart of something bigger. The same way God called us to be in the world, but not of the world is a great example of solidifying your identity in Christ. We live physically in the world, but are called to live spiritually and mentally in God’s kingdom. God has placed hope in us that can only be achieved when we come to Christ.
3. Sin:
The blockage of our spiritual growth. This is the choice we make to go away from God's word. In today’s society, it can be hard to not see sin as a sin because of the standards that have been set. Best way to understand it is, Gods truth or the world's truth. There is no in between, it is what God believes is right or what the world has deemed as truth. Understanding and operating away from sin will help take your spiritual growth to another level.
When you operate in God’s word, you understand the difference on what is sin and what is righteous. While I was in college, I learned quickly that I was apart of a team. Learning that my actions, along with others actions greatly affected what happened. Many times we had 6 a.m. conditioning workouts or practices because of things we did outside of the team goal. Sin is the same way, regardless if it is sin we cause on ourselves or others sin that has been passed onto us, it is outside of God’s will.
3. Sin:
The blockage of our spiritual growth. This is the choice we make to go away from God's word. In today’s society, it can be hard to not see sin as a sin because of the standards that have been set. Best way to understand it is, Gods truth or the world's truth. There is no in between, it is what God believes is right or what the world has deemed as truth. Understanding and operating away from sin will help take your spiritual growth to another level.
When you operate in God’s word, you understand the difference on what is sin and what is righteous. While I was in college, I learned quickly that I was apart of a team. Learning that my actions, along with others actions greatly affected what happened. Many times we had 6 a.m. conditioning workouts or practices because of things we did outside of the team goal. Sin is the same way, regardless if it is sin we cause on ourselves or others sin that has been passed onto us, it is outside of God’s will.
4. Grace:
Grace is God’s favor in which we cannot earn, but it is given. We are not deserving of it, we can’t do anything to work for it, but it is still given to us by God. That is why it is important to grow in grace, because you learn that your actions should be the efforts of receiving something you can’t earn on your own. All my life, I did things to give myself the best possible chance to be successful in basketball. I would go to trainers, extra workouts at home, changing teams and coaches to give myself better opportunities and even go to college elite camps. All great efforts to be able to grow physically and mentally in the game of basketball. Spiritual life isn't like that. Because we can’t earn or repay back what God has given us, we are called to praise his name to show how great he is.
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. - 2 Peter 3:18
As you continue to grow in your spiritual walk, I hope that you gather the information but also connect it to your living reality as well. It is important in spiritual growth to be connected to Jesus Christ and make him your focus and your walk will be transformed. I went over four of the fifteen total in this blog, and I hope you continue to join for the rest as well.
As you continue to grow in your spiritual walk, I hope that you gather the information but also connect it to your living reality as well. It is important in spiritual growth to be connected to Jesus Christ and make him your focus and your walk will be transformed. I went over four of the fifteen total in this blog, and I hope you continue to join for the rest as well.
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