HOW TO GROW SPIRITUALLY

HOW TO GROW HOW TO GROW SPIRITUALLYSPIRITUALLY

FANNING THE FLAME YOU FANNING THE FLAME YOU GOT WHEN YOU WERE SAVEDGOT WHEN YOU WERE SAVED

STARTING THE JOURNEYSTARTING THE JOURNEY

Every child has to be conceivedEvery child has to be conceived– When the sperm enters an ovum a When the sperm enters an ovum a

process is started that in time will process is started that in time will result in a mature man or woman of result in a mature man or woman of worthworth

– The only way this is accomplished is The only way this is accomplished is for the mother and father to nurture for the mother and father to nurture the child i.e. to feed his body soul and the child i.e. to feed his body soul and spirit after he/she is bornspirit after he/she is born

NurturanceNurturance

In the womb the child receives his In the womb the child receives his bodily needs from the mother through bodily needs from the mother through the placenta and the umbilical cord. the placenta and the umbilical cord. This is a passive processThis is a passive process

This continues until he comes into the This continues until he comes into the world. It then become necessary for the world. It then become necessary for the child to continue to get his needs met child to continue to get his needs met though his mother, but this is an active though his mother, but this is an active process.process.


You are all familiar with the You are all familiar with the changes that take place in the changes that take place in the physical nourishment of the child physical nourishment of the child as he/she matures.as he/she matures.

What most people do not know is What most people do not know is that a child begins its emotional that a child begins its emotional nourishment in the womb. nourishment in the womb.


Talking to the child in the womb Talking to the child in the womb with loving words will begin the with loving words will begin the process of bondingprocess of bonding

After birth the child has to have After birth the child has to have love if it is to thrivelove if it is to thrive

This will be true for the rest of their This will be true for the rest of their liveslives


In the same way the child has to have In the same way the child has to have intellectual nurturanceintellectual nurturance

They have to be taught to crawl, walk They have to be taught to crawl, walk and run as well as to talk and amass and run as well as to talk and amass knowledge so as to be able to deal with knowledge so as to be able to deal with the vicissitudes of lifethe vicissitudes of life

They learn at home, at school and in the They learn at home, at school and in the community they live incommunity they live in

They do not stop learning until deathThey do not stop learning until death


The Christian life begins with God’s The Christian life begins with God’s loving the individual before he or loving the individual before he or she is born againshe is born again

This is called prevenient graceThis is called prevenient grace When they are born again they will When they are born again they will

experience the width, depth, experience the width, depth, height, and length of God’s love.height, and length of God’s love.

SalvationSalvation

One cannot be born again and grow One cannot be born again and grow without making Jesus the Lord and without making Jesus the Lord and Master of their livesMaster of their lives

If they know him and have not grown If they know him and have not grown they should rededicate their lives and they should rededicate their lives and resolve to grow in their faith resolve to grow in their faith

It is a simple act, all one has to do is to It is a simple act, all one has to do is to confess with their lips that Jesus is Lord confess with their lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in their hearts that he was and believe in their hearts that he was resurrected from the dead and they will resurrected from the dead and they will be saved. Romans 10:9,10be saved. Romans 10:9,10

Spiritual GrowthSpiritual Growth

Just as a newborn child is incorporated Just as a newborn child is incorporated into the family the newborn Christian is into the family the newborn Christian is incorporated into the family of Godincorporated into the family of God

They seek other members of the family They seek other members of the family (the church)(the church)

And just as the family of a child And just as the family of a child cooperates in the nurturance of the cooperates in the nurturance of the newborn, so the church family should newborn, so the church family should nurture the new Christiannurture the new Christian


Sadly in this day an age it rarely Sadly in this day an age it rarely happenshappens

Only 5% of born again Christians Only 5% of born again Christians have ever been discipledhave ever been discipled

All need to be!!!!All need to be!!!!


What should the church do? They What should the church do? They should do exactly as the family should do exactly as the family does for the newborn. They should does for the newborn. They should feed them and teach them.feed them and teach them.

The process of nurturing the The process of nurturing the newborn Christian is called newborn Christian is called discipleshipdiscipleship

It will cause them to growIt will cause them to grow

DiscipleshipDiscipleship

The Bible tells us that we should The Bible tells us that we should teach our children God’s laws. teach our children God’s laws. Deuteronomy 6:7-9Deuteronomy 6:7-9

These laws and other scriptures These laws and other scriptures are guides to right living and we are guides to right living and we are told to study the scriptures are told to study the scriptures that we might know how to live that we might know how to live rightlyrightly


When a Christian is born again they When a Christian is born again they receive the Holy Spiritreceive the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit’s presence in their life The Holy Spirit’s presence in their life makes them a new personmakes them a new person– They have a happy moodThey have a happy mood– They perceive truths that that they have not They perceive truths that that they have not

perceived beforeperceived before– They feel clean inside and outThey feel clean inside and out– And their behavior is changed, often And their behavior is changed, often

dramatically dramatically


They may receive supernatural gifts They may receive supernatural gifts although they may not be manifest although they may not be manifest immediatelyimmediately

Above all they receive the power to Above all they receive the power to change their lives, and to do great change their lives, and to do great things for Godthings for God

Even so they have to be taught what a Even so they have to be taught what a Christian life is about and how to live itChristian life is about and how to live it

They also need to know God’s truthThey also need to know God’s truth


What is DiscipleshipWhat is Discipleship– Jesus made it plain that it is training Jesus made it plain that it is training

in spiritualityin spirituality– For those of us who adhere to the For those of us who adhere to the

Lord's meaning, we can expand that Lord's meaning, we can expand that concept and say it is the provision of concept and say it is the provision of training that corrects, molds or training that corrects, molds or perfects the mental faculties or moral perfects the mental faculties or moral character character

True DiscipleshipTrue Discipleship

True discipleship will begin when a True discipleship will begin when a person person absolutely surrendersabsolutely surrenders to God to God

Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me and Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and wife and children, his brothers and sisters---yes even his own life—he sisters---yes even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.cannot be my disciple.

Carrying Your CrossCarrying Your Cross

This statement is for most people This statement is for most people difficult to interpretdifficult to interpret

Carrying a cross has had different Carrying a cross has had different meanings to many peoplemeanings to many people

For me it means being obedient to For me it means being obedient to Christ’s commandments Christ’s commandments Philippians 2:8Philippians 2:8

Christ’s CommandmentsChrist’s Commandments

Love God with all of your beingLove God with all of your being Love your neighborLove your neighbor Love yourselfLove yourself Love one another as Christ has loved Love one another as Christ has loved

youyou Do love by feeing the hungry giving Do love by feeing the hungry giving

water to the thirsty, clothing the naked, water to the thirsty, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and prisoners and visiting the sick and prisoners and taking strangers into your hometaking strangers into your home

Absolute SurrenderAbsolute Surrender

When this happens the person will really When this happens the person will really come to know God andcome to know God and– They will have great energy for God Daniel They will have great energy for God Daniel

11:3211:32– They will think great thoughts about God They will think great thoughts about God

Daniel 5:18-21Daniel 5:18-21– They will have great boldness for God They will have great boldness for God

Daniel 3:16-18Daniel 3:16-18– They will have great contentment in God They will have great contentment in God

Daniel 3:16-18Daniel 3:16-18

Baptism in the Holy SpiritBaptism in the Holy Spirit

If we absolutely surrender we will If we absolutely surrender we will most often be baptized in the Holy most often be baptized in the Holy SpiritSpirit

This can occur at the time of our This can occur at the time of our regeneration or laterregeneration or later

One gets a gift or gifts with the One gets a gift or gifts with the infilling that has taken placeinfilling that has taken place

All of the fruits of the Spirit are All of the fruits of the Spirit are enhanced with this eventenhanced with this event

Baptism in the Holy SpiritBaptism in the Holy Spirit

Everyone needs the SpiritEveryone needs the Spirit You cannot get it from someone You cannot get it from someone

who does not have itwho does not have it It is availableIt is available In the Bible it was received from In the Bible it was received from

the elders by the laying on of the elders by the laying on of hands and anointing with oilhands and anointing with oil

It is available todayIt is available today


The Holy Spirit will motivate a The Holy Spirit will motivate a person to know more about their person to know more about their faithfaith

Only if they are motivated will their Only if they are motivated will their faith grow!!faith grow!!

They have a desire to glorify God They have a desire to glorify God so they hunger and thirst after so they hunger and thirst after righteousnessrighteousness


How do we do this?How do we do this? We begin with the greatest We begin with the greatest

Commandment. We love God!Commandment. We love God!– To do this we have to get to know himTo do this we have to get to know him– We can know him if we know Jesus. We can know him if we know Jesus.

He is the visible evidence of the He is the visible evidence of the invisible God invisible God

– We have to develop a Christology to We have to develop a Christology to truly know Godtruly know God


The Holy Spirit will Begin the The Holy Spirit will Begin the process of revealing all truth to us process of revealing all truth to us (John 16:13)(John 16:13)

The first step in our spiritual The first step in our spiritual growth is that we learn how to growth is that we learn how to communicate with God to enhance communicate with God to enhance our relationshipour relationship


We communicate with him and he We communicate with him and he with us in four ways and encounter with us in four ways and encounter him in eachhim in each– PrayerPrayer– Bible studyBible study– The Eucharist and The Eucharist and – WorshipWorship

These are the These are the MEANS OF GRACEMEANS OF GRACE

PrayerPrayer

The definition of prayer that I like The definition of prayer that I like best is that it is a conversation best is that it is a conversation between two people who love one between two people who love one anotheranother

It has two aspectsIt has two aspects– Speaking and Speaking and – ListeningListening

PrayerPrayer

I know of no one aspect of spiritual I know of no one aspect of spiritual Growth that is more important as prayer Growth that is more important as prayer and ONE THAT IS MORE NEGELCTEDand ONE THAT IS MORE NEGELCTED– The average Christian prays only one The average Christian prays only one

minute a dayminute a day– The average pastor prays only 3 minutes a The average pastor prays only 3 minutes a

day.day.– Turn to your spouse or a person next to you Turn to your spouse or a person next to you

and in one minute tell them all that has and in one minute tell them all that has gone on in your life today. I will time you. gone on in your life today. I will time you. --------- Now reverse your roles--------- Now reverse your roles

PrayerPrayer

I think you can see that you were I think you can see that you were unable to tell them much, and that it unable to tell them much, and that it barely enhanced your relationship barely enhanced your relationship

If you want to grow spiritually you will If you want to grow spiritually you will only do so if you pray muchonly do so if you pray much

John Wesley wanted his ministers to John Wesley wanted his ministers to pray and read the Bible four hours a pray and read the Bible four hours a day.day.

He said that everything happens with He said that everything happens with prayer and nothing without itprayer and nothing without it

PrayerPrayer

Who are we to pray for? The answer is:Who are we to pray for? The answer is:– Our spouse, children and extended familyOur spouse, children and extended family– Our friendsOur friends– Our churchOur church– Our pastorOur pastor– Our MissionariesOur Missionaries– Our communityOur community– Our presidentOur president– The CongressThe Congress

PrayerPrayer

More who and what to pray forMore who and what to pray for– The supreme courtThe supreme court– The peace of JerusalemThe peace of Jerusalem– For our soldiers, sailors, policemen and For our soldiers, sailors, policemen and

firemenfiremen– And for the lost especially those of our And for the lost especially those of our

friends who fall in that categoryfriends who fall in that category Finally for ourselves with prayers of Finally for ourselves with prayers of

confession, repentance and personal confession, repentance and personal requestsrequests

PrayerPrayer

When should we pray?When should we pray?– On all occasionsOn all occasions– UnceasinglyUnceasingly

How should we prayHow should we pray– In the Spirit, i.e. guided, directed and In the Spirit, i.e. guided, directed and

anointed by the Holy Spiritanointed by the Holy Spirit– We have to remember that prayer We have to remember that prayer

has many formshas many forms

Forms of PrayerForms of Prayer

Forms of prayerForms of prayer– Singing psalms and other Christian music Singing psalms and other Christian music

Ephesians 5:9Ephesians 5:9– Praise-Psalm 67:3Praise-Psalm 67:3– Thanksgiving Ephesians 5:20Thanksgiving Ephesians 5:20– Confession James 5:16Confession James 5:16– Repentance Psalm 51Repentance Psalm 51– Offering forgiveness John 20:23Offering forgiveness John 20:23– Making intercession 1 Timothy 2:1-6Making intercession 1 Timothy 2:1-6

Why Pray?Why Pray?

Why should we pray?Why should we pray?– To fellowship with God, to come to To fellowship with God, to come to

know him Mark 9:37, John 14:21, know him Mark 9:37, John 14:21, Ephesians 3:14-21Ephesians 3:14-21

– To obtain results Matthew 7:7-12, To obtain results Matthew 7:7-12, John 16:14John 16:14

– To glorify God John 14:13, Jeremiah To glorify God John 14:13, Jeremiah 33:333:3

How should we pray?How should we pray?

We should pray guided and We should pray guided and directed by the Holy Spiritdirected by the Holy Spirit

Praying in the Spirit is a gift of the Praying in the Spirit is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Why? Because he Holy Spirit. Why? Because he anoints itanoints it

Praying in the Spirit is not praying Praying in the Spirit is not praying in tongues. When we pray in in tongues. When we pray in tongues we pray with OUR spirit tongues we pray with OUR spirit

Praying in TonguesPraying in Tongues

Are “tongues” a legitimate way of Are “tongues” a legitimate way of prayingpraying

Yes! They have been present in Yes! They have been present in Christianity since PentecostChristianity since Pentecost– They may be a foreign languageThey may be a foreign language– Most of them are polysyllabic Most of them are polysyllabic

utterances without syntax or utterances without syntax or grammatical construction grammatical construction

Praying with the SpiritPraying with the Spirit

Is it demonic? No! but it can beIs it demonic? No! but it can be– The belief of dispensationalists that The belief of dispensationalists that

tongues went out after the apostolic tongues went out after the apostolic era was perpetrated by Calvin and era was perpetrated by Calvin and Barclay and is wrong. They have Barclay and is wrong. They have never ceased (1 Corinthians 13:8) and never ceased (1 Corinthians 13:8) and the gift is still being given todaythe gift is still being given today

– Unknown tongues are a legitimate Unknown tongues are a legitimate way to pray if you have the giftway to pray if you have the gift

Praying with ConfidencePraying with Confidence

These are the prerequisites for These are the prerequisites for praying with confidencepraying with confidence– Abiding in Christ John 15:7Abiding in Christ John 15:7– We are to boldly ask (James 4:2)We are to boldly ask (James 4:2)– We are to believe that he will answerWe are to believe that he will answer– We are to be prepared to receive an We are to be prepared to receive an

answeranswer

PrerequisitesPrerequisites

Personally we needPersonally we need– A right relationship with God 1 John 3:22A right relationship with God 1 John 3:22– A right relationship with our family 1 Peter A right relationship with our family 1 Peter

3:6,73:6,7– A right relationship with others Matthew A right relationship with others Matthew

5:23,245:23,24– A Right attitude toward our self James 4:3A Right attitude toward our self James 4:3– A right attitude toward sin Ps 66:18A right attitude toward sin Ps 66:18

Techniques of PrayerTechniques of Prayer

We should address our prayers We should address our prayers personallypersonally– FatherFather– SonSon– Holy SpiritHoly Spirit

I address my prayers to the Lord I address my prayers to the Lord Jesus since he is my intercessor Jesus since he is my intercessor with the Fatherwith the Father

TechniquesTechniques

We pray according to his will 1 We pray according to his will 1 John 5:14,15John 5:14,15

Pray in the Spirit Jude 20Pray in the Spirit Jude 20 In faith James 1:5-7In faith James 1:5-7 With thanksgiving Colossians 4:2, With thanksgiving Colossians 4:2,

Philippians 4:6Philippians 4:6 In Jesus name John 14:13,14In Jesus name John 14:13,14

Listening to GodListening to God

I know of no form of prayer that is I know of no form of prayer that is more neglected than listening to more neglected than listening to himhim

Throughout our lives we have to Throughout our lives we have to listen to learn. It is not surprising listen to learn. It is not surprising then that we have to listen to him then that we have to listen to him to learn of himto learn of him

No one teaches you to listen to No one teaches you to listen to God or even tells you to do itGod or even tells you to do it


God speaks to me regularlyGod speaks to me regularly When I say that God told me something, When I say that God told me something,

people will want know how I know he people will want know how I know he spoke to me.spoke to me.

The answer is that he supernaturally The answer is that he supernaturally illuminatesilluminates– My thoughtsMy thoughts– His WordHis Word– The words of othersThe words of others– And he speaks to me through dreams and And he speaks to me through dreams and

visionsvisions


There is one other way we can There is one other way we can listen to Godlisten to God– It is through scripture meditation. It is through scripture meditation.

How does one do this?How does one do this?» Begin by memorizing a verseBegin by memorizing a verse» Quote the verse as a personal prayerQuote the verse as a personal prayer» Repeat the verseRepeat the verse» Ask God to give you new insights about Ask God to give you new insights about

the verse and bring it to mind when you the verse and bring it to mind when you are making decisions are making decisions

Growing Through Bible Growing Through Bible StudyStudy

Bible study is our second means of Bible study is our second means of Grace, and a growth facilitatorGrace, and a growth facilitator

In the Bible we encounter GodIn the Bible we encounter God God speaks to us through his wordGod speaks to us through his word It also reveals God’s and Christ’s It also reveals God’s and Christ’s

attributes to usattributes to us

Bible StudyBible Study

It instructs us for salvation through It instructs us for salvation through faith in Jesus Christfaith in Jesus Christ

It is also inspired by God and It is also inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in for correction and for training in righteousnessrighteousness2 Timothy 3:16,172 Timothy 3:16,17

Bible StudyBible Study

One should consistently read the One should consistently read the BibleBible

If one reads three chapters a day If one reads three chapters a day they can read through it in one they can read through it in one yearyear

In addition a person who has In addition a person who has questions concerning some aspect questions concerning some aspect of their faith can do topical studiesof their faith can do topical studies

Tools for Bible StudyTools for Bible Study

A study Bible and several translationsA study Bible and several translations A concordanceA concordance A topical BibleA topical Bible A Bible computer programA Bible computer program CommentariesCommentaries A bible dictionary and The Daily LightA bible dictionary and The Daily Light And any other tools that your might likeAnd any other tools that your might like

How to study the BibleHow to study the Bible

Make time to do itMake time to do it Study consistently. Don’t just read Study consistently. Don’t just read

devotionals!devotionals! Have a planHave a plan

– Pray that God will illuminate his word for Pray that God will illuminate his word for you as you readyou as you read

– For me the best plan has been to read three For me the best plan has been to read three chapters a daychapters a day

– And to do topical studies as I need to do And to do topical studies as I need to do them for my writing and teaching them for my writing and teaching

What does the Bible teach What does the Bible teach us?us?

It reveals God and his will for our It reveals God and his will for our liveslives

It also reveals his attributes as It also reveals his attributes as manifested in Jesus Christmanifested in Jesus Christ

The Work and person of the Holy The Work and person of the Holy SpiritSpirit

And gives us a futurology. We have And gives us a futurology. We have eternal lifeeternal life

WorshipWorship

Worship is the fourth means of Worship is the fourth means of GraceGrace

It means to regard with respect, It means to regard with respect, honor and devotion---to adorehonor and devotion---to adore

It can be done individually or in a It can be done individually or in a congregational settingcongregational setting

In the Bible the word in Hebrew In the Bible the word in Hebrew means to bow down, in Greek to means to bow down, in Greek to kiss towardkiss toward

WorshipWorship

It is, therefore, an action wordIt is, therefore, an action word It also has an emotional componentIt also has an emotional component The emotions we should experience are The emotions we should experience are

love and awelove and awe Love because we are responding to Love because we are responding to

Gods love freely offered by loving him in Gods love freely offered by loving him in returnreturn

And we stand in awe of him because of And we stand in awe of him because of his holinesshis holiness

WorshipWorship

Group worship is composed of Group worship is composed of singing, prayer, Bible reading, singing, prayer, Bible reading, expository teaching and the expository teaching and the EucharistEucharist

In each of these we can encounter In each of these we can encounter ChristChrist

When we encounter him we are When we encounter him we are refilled with the Holy Spiritrefilled with the Holy Spirit

SongSong

Ethnomusicologists say that people Ethnomusicologists say that people worship best in their musical idiomworship best in their musical idiom

An idiom is: a style or form of An idiom is: a style or form of artistic expression that is artistic expression that is characteristic of an individual, a characteristic of an individual, a period or movement, or a medium period or movement, or a medium or instrumentor instrument

SongSong

It is not surprising that our churches do It is not surprising that our churches do not have much life in their worshipnot have much life in their worship

The musical idiom is often of another eraThe musical idiom is often of another era Youth like rock and rapYouth like rock and rap Middle age persons like rock and Middle age persons like rock and

sentimental musicsentimental music Older persons like jazz and sentimental Older persons like jazz and sentimental

musicmusic Many people like country and gospel Many people like country and gospel

musicmusic

SongSong

What they get is usually not in their What they get is usually not in their idiom. Sometimes it is in 15idiom. Sometimes it is in 15thth and 16 and 16thth century French, German, Slavic or other century French, German, Slavic or other archaic formsarchaic forms

Most persons like contemporary Most persons like contemporary Christian praise and worship musicChristian praise and worship music

Hymn singing is a form of prayer Hymn singing is a form of prayer ministry ministry

SongSong

It contains praise, thanksgiving It contains praise, thanksgiving and descriptive worship that extols and descriptive worship that extols the virtues of Godthe virtues of God

ExamplesExamples– Oh for a thousand tongues to singOh for a thousand tongues to sing– How great thou artHow great thou art– Love divine all love excellingLove divine all love excelling

Praise is giving thanks for what Praise is giving thanks for what God has doneGod has done

SongSong

Church music should be theologically Church music should be theologically sound and should express what is on sound and should express what is on the hearts of the peoplethe hearts of the people

If your relationship with God is right If your relationship with God is right then worship will flow out of your then worship will flow out of your hearts. It should be an emotional hearts. It should be an emotional experience. A response to Gods mercy, experience. A response to Gods mercy, goodness and kindnessgoodness and kindness

SongSong

What kind of instruments are What kind of instruments are appropriate for accompanimentappropriate for accompaniment– Any kindAny kind– Organs, pianos, keyboards, guitars, Organs, pianos, keyboards, guitars,

drums, bongos, saxophones, drums, bongos, saxophones, clarinets, trumpets, harps, flutes, and clarinets, trumpets, harps, flutes, and base guitars. base guitars.

– In the third world I have seen sticks In the third world I have seen sticks used as instruments. That’s all they used as instruments. That’s all they had!had!

SongSong

If you want to growIf you want to grow you have to you have to make music in your heartmake music in your heart

Hymns and other Christian music Hymns and other Christian music along with prayer serve as a way along with prayer serve as a way of keeping our minds free of of keeping our minds free of thoughts that lead to sin thoughts that lead to sin Philippians 4:8Philippians 4:8

They can occlude lust, greed, They can occlude lust, greed, pride, envy, and angerpride, envy, and anger

Growth in the SpiritGrowth in the Spirit

Having told you how to access the Having told you how to access the grace of God let us now see what grace of God let us now see what the mechanisms are for growththe mechanisms are for growth

A prerequisite is that we are alive A prerequisite is that we are alive in Christ. One cannot grow unless in Christ. One cannot grow unless they have been born againthey have been born again


Therefore we have to formulate a Therefore we have to formulate a plan whereby we can growplan whereby we can grow

This means we desire a closer walk This means we desire a closer walk with himwith him

We want to encounter God as We want to encounter God as often as we canoften as we can– He made it plain in Jeremiah 29:11-19 He made it plain in Jeremiah 29:11-19

(cont.) (cont.)


For I know the plans I have for you, For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me; when you seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart. seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-19Jeremiah 29:11-19

Seeking GodSeeking God

We have to seek God We have to seek God – In prayerIn prayer– In Bible studyIn Bible study– In the EucharistIn the Eucharist– And in worshipAnd in worship

If we do not encounter him it is If we do not encounter him it is because we have quenched or because we have quenched or grieved the Holy Spiritgrieved the Holy Spirit

Seeking GodSeeking God

To quench the Holy Spirit all you To quench the Holy Spirit all you have to do is to ignore your have to do is to ignore your relationship with him. If you do not relationship with him. If you do not pray read the Bible or worship the pray read the Bible or worship the Lord he will not be active in your Lord he will not be active in your lifelife

If you sin you will grieve the Holy If you sin you will grieve the Holy SpiritSpirit

Grieving the Holy SpiritGrieving the Holy Spirit

All of us sin daily. If you look at the list All of us sin daily. If you look at the list of the seven deadly sins you will realize of the seven deadly sins you will realize that you sin every day.that you sin every day.– PridePride– AngerAnger– LustLust– GluttonyGluttony– Envy Envy – Sloth andSloth and– GreedGreed

Grieving the Holy SpiritGrieving the Holy Spirit

To say that we do not sin makes us liars To say that we do not sin makes us liars 1 John 1:101 John 1:10– Pride is the mother of all sinPride is the mother of all sin

» Positive pridePositive pride» Negative prideNegative pride

– We get angryWe get angry– We are gluttonous We are gluttonous – We above all are greedyWe above all are greedy– We envy othersWe envy others– And are at times slothfulAnd are at times slothful– And greedyAnd greedy

DefinitionsDefinitions

PPrideride is excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes is excessive belief in one's own abilities, that interferes with the individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been with the individual's recognition of the grace of God. It has been called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as called the sin from which all others arise. Pride is also known as Vanity.Vanity.

EnvyEnvy is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation. is the desire for others' traits, status, abilities, or situation. GluttonyGluttony is an inordinate desire to consume more than that is an inordinate desire to consume more than that

which one requires.which one requires. LustLust is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body. is an inordinate craving for the pleasures of the body. AngerAnger is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts is manifested in the individual who spurns love and opts

instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath.instead for fury. It is also known as Wrath. GreedGreed is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the is the desire for material wealth or gain, ignoring the

realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness.realm of the spiritual. It is also called Avarice or Covetousness. SlothSloth is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work. is the avoidance of physical or spiritual work.

Quenching the holy Quenching the holy SpiritSpirit

The first reason we do not grow The first reason we do not grow spiritually is that we have spiritual spiritually is that we have spiritual slothsloth– We do not take the time to relate to We do not take the time to relate to

God intimatelyGod intimately» Intimacy has many definitions but Intimacy has many definitions but

spiritually it is a close personal spiritually it is a close personal relationship with someone where we relationship with someone where we reveal our innermost self to them and reveal our innermost self to them and they to usthey to us

IntimacyIntimacy

Intimacy is a oneness with GodIntimacy is a oneness with God– This comes about only if we first love him, This comes about only if we first love him,

and then confess repent and are forgivenand then confess repent and are forgiven– Repentance is absolutely necessary if we Repentance is absolutely necessary if we

are to have an intimate relationship with are to have an intimate relationship with himhim

– In the early church the people repented In the early church the people repented every day. They knew they sinned and took every day. They knew they sinned and took measures to rectify itmeasures to rectify it

IntimacyIntimacy

To repent we have to have a Godly To repent we have to have a Godly sorrow and an intent to amend our wayssorrow and an intent to amend our ways

Godly sorrow is to realize what we did to Godly sorrow is to realize what we did to Jesus on the CrossJesus on the Cross– It was our sin that put him there and he It was our sin that put him there and he

took our punishmenttook our punishment– His stripes are the source of our healingHis stripes are the source of our healing– His death made it possible for us to have His death made it possible for us to have

eternal lifeeternal life

IntimacyIntimacy

Our confession and repentance Our confession and repentance brings us back into the right brings us back into the right relationship with God and we are relationship with God and we are again empowered to do his willagain empowered to do his will

Also the fruits of the Spirit will be Also the fruits of the Spirit will be manifest in us again and the joy of manifest in us again and the joy of our salvation will returnour salvation will return

More Ways to GrowMore Ways to Grow

I have not mentioned the power of I have not mentioned the power of personal witness to bring us closer to personal witness to bring us closer to GodGod

I know of no one thing that helps us to I know of no one thing that helps us to encounter God more powerfully than encounter God more powerfully than the personal witness of others who have the personal witness of others who have experienced his graceexperienced his grace

It also is a powerful tool for evangelismIt also is a powerful tool for evangelism

More Ways to GrowMore Ways to Grow

Another way is to have a mature Another way is to have a mature Christian teacher who can facilitate Christian teacher who can facilitate our growth by passing on our growth by passing on knowledge and wisdom that he or knowledge and wisdom that he or she has accumulatedshe has accumulated

Then too there are conferences Then too there are conferences where there is great teaching that where there is great teaching that would not be accessible to us would not be accessible to us otherwiseotherwise

Personal ResponsibilityPersonal Responsibility

To grow inTo grow in our faith we need to be our faith we need to be personally responsiblepersonally responsible

God will not force himself on us nor will God will not force himself on us nor will he cram knowledge down our throats. he cram knowledge down our throats. He appeals to usHe appeals to us

He also will not force his will in our lives. He also will not force his will in our lives. We humans do not tolerate the We humans do not tolerate the imposition of another will above our imposition of another will above our own. We only respond to an appeal to own. We only respond to an appeal to our willour will

ServiceService

You remember I said that we have to do You remember I said that we have to do love to be obedientlove to be obedient

This means that we have toThis means that we have to– Feed the hungryFeed the hungry– Give water to the thirstyGive water to the thirsty– Clothe the nakedClothe the naked– Visit the sick and prisonersVisit the sick and prisoners– Take strangers in our homes andTake strangers in our homes and– Go to the ends of the earth to witness for Go to the ends of the earth to witness for

him and make new discipleshim and make new disciples

SummarySummary

To grow in our faith we need to To grow in our faith we need to obey Jesus commandmentsobey Jesus commandments

We are to seek first the kingdom of We are to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all God and his righteousness and all other things will be given to us.other things will be given to us.

We seek the kingdom by obeying We seek the kingdom by obeying his commandmentshis commandments

Jesus’ CommandmentsJesus’ Commandments

Love god with all our beingLove god with all our being Love our neighbor as ourselvesLove our neighbor as ourselves Love one another as he has loved usLove one another as he has loved us Love ourselvesLove ourselves Do love by feeding the hungry, giving Do love by feeding the hungry, giving

water to the thirsty, clothing the naked, water to the thirsty, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and prisoners, and visiting the sick and prisoners, and taking strangers in our homestaking strangers in our homes

And making disciples by being his And making disciples by being his witness to the ends of the earthwitness to the ends of the earth

Obeying His Obeying His CommandmentsCommandments

I is not enough to live a nice, sweet I is not enough to live a nice, sweet kind life. All that witnesses to is a kind life. All that witnesses to is a nice sweet, kind lifenice sweet, kind life

We need to obey the biblical We need to obey the biblical injunction, “let the redeemed of injunction, “let the redeemed of the Lord say so!” the Lord say so!”

Go forth and do it!Go forth and do it!

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HOW TO GROW SPIRITUALLY