Growth

Growth /ɡrəʊθ/ — the act or process, or a manner of growing; development; gradual increase.

When there is growth, there is a positive change in maturation over a period of time. A tree grows naturally upward from a sapling into a blossoming giant over time. A human grows physically and intellectually into maturity over time. Beyond physical and intellectual growth, which is vital for the development of our human body, we can also learn to grow spiritually as well.

Ephesians 4:15–16 (NLT)

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

While it is important that we grow physically and intellectually, a lack of it would mean that there is stunted growth — a condition which primarily affects people who suffers from malnutrition during childhood. People who experienced regular starvation eventually become malnourished.

What is true for the physical is true for the spiritual. A lack of physical food would cause us to grow biologically at a slower rate or not at all, while a lack of spiritual food would cause us to grow in our relationship with God at a slower rate or even not at all.

Spiritual starvation is a dangerous condition. The Devil knows that if he can cut off the right food supply, he can put a stop to the growth in our walk with God. Just as we become physically tired when we do not consume a healthy amount of food, we become spiritually lethargic when we do not have our regular intake of the presence of God and the word of God. Soon, we become dry, jaded and getting back into the habit of reading the bible and doing our quiet time becomes harder and harder.

The devil is cunningly smart and he will throw at us a variety of ‘unhealthy and junk food’ — pleasures of this world, temptations, distractions and addictions. He knows that what comes fast and easy just as how fast food is quickly served, we will be easily satisfied. He knows that if our we are constantly consuming such ‘food’, we won’t have a hunger after the real spiritual food.

So how do we prevent spiritual starvation? How do we ensure that we are growing in our relationship with God?

Psalm 34:8 (NLT)
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

The good news is that God openly invites us to enjoy the spiritual food at His table. If you run and take refuge in His sanctuary, in His courts, you can feast on the spiritual food which He has provided for you. What joy it is to bask in the presence of our God!

Notice the keyword here–it is not ‘taste and see the Lord’ but ‘taste and see that the Lord is good’. The food that He is provided is good–it is good for our body, soul and spirit. Once we have experienced it once, we will come back for more.

The even better news is that God does not just invite us once to a single feast, but the door to His dwelling place is always open. God invites you to go to him whenever you are hungry and thirsty.

John 6:35 (NLT)
Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

However, with the invitation, it must be us who will take the step to turn up at the table of spiritual food. We must take the first step of drawing near.

James 4:8a (NLT)
Come close to God, and God will come close to you.

So now that you have been granted the gift of access and have tasted the spiritual food God has provided, what is next?

Once again, we can draw a parallel between the physical and spiritual, the natural and supernatural. We will need to translate this food intake into energy such as going about our daily routines and even exercising which cause us to expend the energy stored in our body. If not, we will risk being overweight which will cause our body to be unfit and unhealthy.

We need to translate the word of God, the fresh revelations which He has revealed to us into tangible actions, if not, we risk being spiritually sluggish and we simply become consumer and takers in the Kingdom of God. Just as spiritual starvation is an extreme condition, being spiritually overweight is an extreme condition in which we look into our own needs more than the needs of others around us. Remember that faith without works is dead.

James 2:14–17 (NLT)
What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well” — but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

John Bevere had this to say in his book, The Bait of Satan:

“Physical growth is a function of time. Intellectual growth is a function of learning. Spiritual growth is a function of obedience.”

Spiritual growth does not only happen when we consume (listen to) the word of God, but it happens when we also obey the word of God and obedience means that we do what God has called us to do.

Find out more about the amazing church I call home: Heart of God Church.