The spiritual world is all around us because God is all around us, this is fundamental in Christianity. We are spiritual children living in a material world.
The Bible says that we are aliens here on earth and that our home is in heaven. So we are urged to grow in spiritual things, in gifts of the Spirit such as prophecy, visions, healings, tongues, kindness, faithfulness, love, self-control. And lots of other things, because we cannot have a lasting effect for the Gospel if we are not aware of and do not grow in the spiritual dimension.
When we become Christians we think that we have arrived, and if we have truly given our lives to Jesus we have arrived, but there is so much more to learn, so much more to grow into, because all the things that Jesus displayed and taught and show us in His life are ours too, all the blessings and gifts of heaven are ours in Christ. And if we are willing and brave, we will never stop learning this side of heaven.
We are growing into the image of Jesus and when we finally get to heaven and we see the Lord, the bible tells us that we will be like Him for we will see Him as He is. Obviously, not physically but spiritually, and like all living things we have to grow, or die, you never just exist.
So how do we grow? Of course, the Bible tells us firstly to crave that growth.
1Peter 2:2-3 says: “Like newborn babies crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good”.
You can’t stay as a baby, you have to grow, if you eat or drink it happens, in the material and in the spiritual.
Spiritual truths found in scripture, and Christian books will feed you, sermons feed you, prophetic words feed you.
2Peter 3:18 says: “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
It’s a command to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.
To grow in His grace is to accept His undying, unmerited forgiveness then give it away to others. We give ourselves for the sake of other people, just as Jesus did. “Have you truly accepted His forgiveness of you and because of it have you been able to forgive others who have wronged you?” Have you grown in grace and knowledge of Jesus?
It’s hard but it’s how we grow and all of us have some growing to do.
2Cor 10:15 “Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand.”
As your faith grows all sorts of spiritual ministries grow as well and the area of spiritual activity in a town or area grows as well.
You have to exercise your faith, practise it, test it, step out in faith and cause it to grow.
Reverend David Phillips CCBN