BUILDING A STRUCTURE FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
"Whom shall he teach Knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon.... "
Bible Reading:
MARK 4:26-29; EPHESIANS 2:19-22; 1PETER 2:2; EPHESIANS 4:14-16
Growth is the number one evidence of life. Hence, all living things grow. By way of definition, growth is "the Process of Renewal, Progress and increase from one Stage of Development to another." When a man gives his life to Christ Jesus, he receives the Life of the Lord God Almighty Himself in exchange. In his letter to the Church in Galatia, Apostle Paul declares thus: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me..." (Gal. 2:20a). The Life we received from God at Conversion or the New Birth is supposed to grow and mature. Failure to grow inevitably leads to death. In view of this, it's very important we understand the Growth Structures put in place for us and commit to going through the necessary Processes.
There are Five Stages that characterize the Structure for the Spiritual Growth of a Christian believer:
1. The New Birth Stage: This is the point where Salvation/Conversion takes place.
2. The Membership Stage: This is that point where the young Christian believer joins a Church Family or Local Assembly and signs the Church Covenant Membership Form. This happens mostly after passing through the Encounter Retreat.
3. The Consolidation Stage: This is that point where the Christian believer is assimilated into the Church Family (Acts 2:42, 46) and he or she joins a Small Group in Church and begins to serve.
4. The Discipleship/Ministry Stage: This is that point where the Christian believer takes responsibility for others, (2Tim. 2:2) begins to serve in a Higher Capacity and also makes himself accountable to his or her leader.
5. Sonship Stage: This is that point where the Christian believer has come to Maturity in Character and Competence and can be sent out to take territories for the Kingdom (Isa. 9:6a). God can trust him or her with nations and with True Riches.
The Holy Bible declares: "Therefore let us move beyond the Elementary Teachings about Christ and be taken forward to Maturity..." (Heb. 6:1 NIV). The Stages and Processes mentioned above are designed to take you from one Level of Maturity to the other. God's Word is the Major Tool God uses to mature us. The Word is categorized into Milk, Meat, and Strong Meat needed by different categories of believers depending on their own Level of Maturity. The other Major Tool God uses is His Ministry Gifts (Eph. 4:11-15). If we submit to the Growth Structures provided for us, we would definitely grow to Maturity and Sonship.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, we honour You today. Dear Lord, Your Word says, 'Let Perseverance finish its Work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything'(Jam. 1:4 NIV). Please grant us the Grace to persevere and go through the Processes that You have put before us that will lead to our Growth and Full Maturity in Christ in Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.