Spiritual Growth

Background Scripture: Hebrews 5:1-14; Hebrews 6:1-20
Lesson Scripture: Hebrews 5:12-14; Hebrews 6:9-12

Introduction

“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” (Eph. 4:13). True Christianity is distinguished by the aspirations to know God more fully and become more like Jesus Christ. When a person is born again, he is given a new heart and spirit. He is not yet perfect, or mature, and has many things to learn about God and his ways. God intends to shape our lives as a potter does a lump of clay. How we will yield to his gentle yet powerful hands will determine what kind of vessel we become. He purposes each believer to the cause of the kingdom and to glorify Himself, but before He can effectively work through a man, He must first work in him.

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work” (2 Tim. 2:20-21).

Key Verse

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it (Luke 13:19).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

The writer of the book of Hebrews is uncertain, but regardless of who wrote it, this passage identifies a need for spiritual growth. To further understand the privileges found in Christ necessitates spiritual maturity. The Lord desires to impart yet greater blessings along with added responsibilities but is not able to do so to those who seem to be content to remain in spiritual infancy. A gentle rebuke comes to them who have been long enough in the Christian way but display little evidence that they are ready for the deeper truths of God. The reproof to the Galatians would also be appropriate for those who neglect to diligently apply themselves: “Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?” (Gal. 5:7).

The Hebrew Christians are called beloved, and by this word of tender endearment they are invited to higher ground. With a fatherly love they are reprimanded while at the same time reminded of God’s faithfulness. There were admirable qualities that were present in them even though they were spiritually immature. They were faithfully reaching out to the needs among them and lovingly helping one another to God’s glory. As they were diligent in the work of God, so they should also be diligent in cooperating with God and his work in them. Careful attendance to faithfulness and diligence will enhance all that Christ has to offer in this life and the one to come. Do not stop with God until He stops with you.

Practical Truths for Today

It has been said that the best testimony for the Christian faith is the life of a Christian. On the other hand, the most tragic witness against it can also be the life of a so-called Christian who is not faithful and sincere. The spiritual life of the church is the sum total of the spirituality of its members. Are some considering the Scriptures’ clear exhortations to consecration and sanctification as mere suggestions? “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Rom. 12:1-2). Jesus Christ suffered and died on the cross to redeem to Himself a peculiar people.

“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead” (Eph. 1:19-20). If we find that our spiritual growth has been somewhat hindered, we can be assured that God is not to blame. He has provided all we need to flourish if we will but accept his path into an abundant Christian life. A lamentable sadness is found in God’s cry to his people: “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?” (Isa. 5:4). In the light of all that God has provided for our spiritual growth, maybe we should we ask ourselves, “Is the life I am living worthy of Christ’s salvation?” How we treasure the riches of Christ and the way we apply ourselves to God’s will is evidence of our sincerity in trusting in his atoning death at Calvary.

Spiritual growth takes place as we learn to know God more intimately. If we are to be molded more and more into his image, we will need to seek Him and a knowledge of his ways. In times of sincere, consistent prayer, a longing for his fellowship will grow deeper. During those quiet moments when we still our hearts and minds, the Holy Spirit can reveal the deeper truths of Christ that give us glimpses of his greatness. As we take time to read and meditate on God’s Word, we give the Lord an opportunity to renew our minds unto his will and ways. Today’s world offers many distractions from our pursuit of God, which do not require the self-denial that seeking a clearer vision of God demands. God will not share the secrets of his heart to the frivolous or half-hearted. The honest seeker is encouraged to press toward God, knowing that the closer we draw to Him the more clearly we will reflect his image.

Spiritual growth takes place when we can submit our lives to God through the light and example of our brethren. “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend” (Prov. 27:17). One distinguishing characteristic of true Christian fellowship is the spiritual provocation that takes place as we encourage and exhort one another to good works. One of the primary purposes for God’s church is for the safekeeping and spiritual growth of his children, but this purpose is frustrated if we allow an independent spirit to take hold.

Spiritual growth takes place as we give ourselves to a life of sacrificial service. Christian service to God and our fellow man is like finding a key that unlocks the chains of self-centeredness. We read in the Bible of a common trait that the great spiritual examples shared: a giving of themselves to serve for the good of others. Jesus told his disciples, “And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:44-45). Those who practice unconditional, sacrificial service will always benefit more than those they serve.

Spiritual growth takes place when we are wholly dependent upon Christ. Our tendency is to put trust and confidence in ourselves instead of in God, and He often uses the dire circumstances of life to remind us that we are not sufficient of ourselves. We appreciate mountaintop experiences, but going through the valley affords us the opportunity to grow. God uses the adversities of life to tear down the false confidence of self-sufficiency that plagues us all. In his eyes the greatest sin may not be lying, stealing, or even murder but the spirit that says, “I can manage my life all by myself.” We may carry wounds from our experiences in the valleys and wonder if our needs really required such extreme measures, but heaven will turn life’s deepest sorrows into beautiful gems. Possibly, someday we will wish we had wept more, prayed more, and thanked Him more. In desiring heaven, we hope for a crown, but when God looks upon us, He might well behold scars and wounds that were healed and made whole by his wonderful grace. Christ is all that we need when He is all that we have.

Illustration

The old Christian maxim “Let go, and let God” is still relevant in our day. God can never effectively guide us if we have one foot on the brake pedal and a hand on the steering wheel. There is a story of a young man who, recognizing he needed Christian growth, went to a preacher and asked him for advice on what he could do to find a more fulfilled life. After listening to the man open his life to him, this humble pastor had a simple word of advice. “Your problem is that you have been in the driver’s seat far too long. What you need to do is get out from behind the wheel, but don’t go around to the passenger seat. Don’t even sit in the rear seat, but go to the back of the car, open the trunk, get in and hand the keys to God, close the trunk lid, and whisper through the keyhole, ‘It’s your car now, God; take it however and wherever you like’.” This does not mean we have nothing to do, but generally our greatest fight is to keep out of the way and allow God to guide us. We will never truly experience the spiritual growth God has planned for us until “Let go, and let God” has become the commitment of our heart.

Questions

1. How can we determine whether we are growing in Christ?
2. What does it mean to “neglect so great salvation”? (Heb. 2:3)
3. What is the difference between spiritual milk and meat?
4. Discuss 1 Peter 2:2: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” In the light of our lesson, what does this mean?
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).