Discovering spiritual growth (1)

2 Peter 3:18- “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”

The word “and” in the verse above is explanatory and not a conjunction. This is opposed to the way it is often used. Explanatory in the sense that He tells us what the grace he is talking about would mean so that many don’t run on and say Peter is saying grow in the grace of business or whatever. The grace spoken about here is THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST.

Hence, we see that growing in grace is to grow in the knowledge of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

After a man is saved, spiritual growth becomes a necessity and what is expected of the believer. A believer does not just grow automatically. Unlike age, which is automatic, the believer’s growth has to be deliberate.

Spiritual growth is a deliberate act, and it has nothing to do with the length of time or experience. A believer who just got saved and is highly committed to his pursuit of growing spiritually has a very strong tendency to grow much more than someone who has been a believer for 20 years but isn’t committed to growing in knowledge. Therefore, the length of time the believer is saved has nothing to do with how much the person would have grown spiritually except they made the time count.

Spiritual growth can only be gotten from the church; the church is a school where we come to grow spiritually. This is the sole essence of the local church and that is what is defined as excellence in ministry on the part of the pastor. It also reflects how well his flock is growing spiritually.

Ephesians 4: 11-13
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Ministry gifts are given to the end that the one who has believed matures – thus, his equipping and stability will be traceable to the local church.

Daily Bible Reading Plan:
2 Chronicles 7 – 9

TEACHING OF THE DAY
Remain faithful