Blueprint for Spiritual Growth

Foundational Truths

God really LOVES people

God EXPECTS things FROM His people.

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1 Thessalonians 5:23 AMP

And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

1 Peter 2:2 AMP

Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation,

1 Corinthians 3:1 AMP

HOWEVER, BRETHREN, I could not talk to you as to spiritual [men], but as to nonspiritual [men of the flesh, in whom the carnal nature predominates], as to mere infants [in the new life] in Christ [unable to talk yet!]

1 Corinthians

Hebrews 5:14 AMP

But solid food is for full-grown men, for those whose senses and mental faculties are trained by practice to discriminate and distinguish between what is morally good and noble and what is evil and contrary either to divine or human law.

Three major areas

What we THINK

What we SAY

What we DO

The importance of the word of God in our Spiritual Growth.

REVEALS importance of Spiritual Growth

REQUIRES diligent effort

REFLECTS immaturity is not an option.

James 1:2–4 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Stages of Spiritual Growth

Babyhood

Childhood

Adulthood

John 6:26–27 NKJV

Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

Hindrances to Spiritual Growth

CARNAL living

PERSISTENCE in sin

Lack of KNOWLEDGE and understanding

INSTABILITY

Growth is a PROCESS.

Immaturity is a DIRECT result of lack of attention.

Spiritual things are not understood with the NATURAL mind.

1 Corinthians 2:9 NKJV

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

1 Cor

1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Three Dimensions

BODY

SOUL

SPIRIT

2 Corinthians 4:16 AMP

Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.

2 Corinthians 4:16