The Secret And Character Of True Spiritual Growth

by G. PRASHER, JR. | Category: Miracles And Miraculous Gifts | Nov 1952

It is sadly true that many have been turned aside to the false teachings and practices of "Pentecostalism" through the Laodicean attitude of some believers whose knowledge of God's Word is sound. There may be a clear grasp of the "healthful teaching", with very little expression of Holy Spirit power in Christian living and witness. Some very orthodox Christians are poor exponents of the glorious ideals set before us in the Word of God. Under the chill discouragement of spiritual apathy and formalism among those rightly taught in the ways of the Lord, some have become an easy prey to the appeal of the tongue and sign seekers. They are carried away by the infectious enthusiasm, the bright and energetic activity, and the strong fervour without which such movements would not long survive.

This presents a formidable challenge to those who are "rooted and grounded" in the truth. Mere head-knowledge and formal obedience to the Lord's commands are insufficient without warm heart-communion. Yet falsely stirred enthusiasm on a wrong doctrinal basis can be thoroughly outmatched by the genuine joy of the Lord and true power in the Holy Spirit. By what means does the Word of God direct us to attain such strong, spiritual health, such fulness of spiritual growth? There is no single means to that end. As the roots of the tree draw a large variety of nutriment from the soil, so the believer will find in God's Word a wide range of instruction which is vital to balanced, spiritual development. A few examples of such fundamental factors in the believer's growth may helpfully reinforce this important truth:

1.A right attitude of heart towards God.

The believer who makes progress in Divine things will be of an earnest and humble spirit (Isaiah 57.15; Matthew 7.7; James 4.8).He will recognize that the flesh profiteth nothing; that only the energy of the Holy Spirit who indwells him, and the guidance of God's Word, can bring results of abiding value in his spiritual life.

Whatever spiritual progress may have been enjoyed, he will realize that the full knowledge of Christ is a limitless experience; this life is but the brief prelude to an eternity of fuller revelation of that infinite One. Therefore the more he grows in grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, the humbler he will become, echoing the spirit of Philippians 3.12, and the prayer of Philippians 1. 9-11.

2."Faith, hope and love."

These three mainsprings of Christian experience are marked out in 1 Corinthians 13.18. "The greatest of 'these is love," adds Paul. True love may be tested by the standard described in 1 Corinthians 13.Note the close comparison between the characteristics of divine love and those described in Galatians 5.22-8 as the "fruit of the Spirit". The spiritually maturing Christian will be careful to see that such fruit is abounding in his life.

3.Heart-felt reverence for God's Word.

The believer is begotten again of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God. Only through fuller understanding of and obedience to that Word can he grow spiritually. The test of his love for the Lord is his obedience to God's commands in the Scriptures (1 John 2.3-5).

4.Realization that he by himself cannot fulfil God's will.

While much divine instruction must be obeyed by the believer personally, there is also a large proportion of truth for our time which can only be carried out in fellowship with others who ~e similarly exercised. The spiritually mature disciple will be as careful to obey God's Word in these things, as in those touching his personal life.

Those are but four illustrations; they could be multiplied many times. Our present object is to emphasize that God's Word does not lead the believer to expect that by a sudden crisis in his spiritual life he will be automatically raised to a higher plane of Christian experience; The essential conditions for spiritual growth must be present if life4ong progress is to be maintained. He must rather be continually vigilant to ensure that those conditions are safeguarded.

In contrast to the foregoing presentation of fundamental factor in the believer's spiritual growth. the miracle seekers erroneously hold out to him that he must strive incessantly to experience a certain pattern of spiritual crisis which they describe as "the baptism of the Spirit". In their view this is an all-important factor towards making spiritual progress, but such a conception is quite contrary to the mind of God.

G. PRASHER, JR. | Nov 1952
Miracles And Miraculous Gifts