Stages of Spiritual Growth

 

My hubby is gifted as a leader. He likes the view from the top of a mountain. I would rather look at it from the base, maybe because I’m afraid of heights. While this view from wherever you are on the mountain is often used to illustrate spiritual growth, I’m thinking this might not be the best illustration.

Today’s devotional says that what I see and what my hubby sees from these two standpoints shows that where a person at in their spiritual  maturity will determine how they view the same landscape. This conveys the idea is that the closer one is to the top equals maturity and the climb illustrates a progressive learning of God’s truth. However, I’ve met new Christians who have a better grasp of some aspects of God’s nature than older and supposedly mature believers do of that same truth.

Of course I googled this topic and found a host of opinions on the various stages of spiritual growth. Some were short, like “babies, youth, adults” while others had 8 or 9 stages with varying names. Some examples:

• Curiosity and Wonder, Commitment-Initiation, Questioning-Doubt, Enlightenment, Separation, Identification, and Transformation-Manifestation.
• Seeker, Believer, Learner, Server, Leader.
• Purgative stage, the illuminative stage, and the unitive stage.
• Honeymoon, Experiential, Discovery, Purpose/Identity, Unison

Some say Jesus experienced growth using this verse: “And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” (Luke 2:52)

Others look at terms like babies, young, elder, mature, but whatever method or ideas we have about spiritual growth, I’m wondering if doing this reflects a human effort to put the work of God in a box? For example, compare the life and attitudes of a new Christian when they are filled with the Holy Spirit and bearing spiritual fruit — to the life and attitudes of a church elder when he or she is walking in the flesh and griping about a problem rather than praying. Who is the mature person in that situation?

Maybe maturity is about consistency? I know Christians who have never doubted God’s acceptance of them, regardless of their ‘good’ deeds and others who struggle most of the time to be ‘good enough’ — begging the same question: who is the mature one?

The NT indicates stages in human terms regarding physical age…

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. (1 John 2:12–14)

Yet here, all of these know God’s forgiveness. The “children” and everyone else know the Father. All ages overcome the evil one because they are in the Word of God and it sticks with them. Perhaps this is the better measuring stick — the ability to fend off Satan because his tactics are recognized due to being immersed in Scripture, knowing about spiritual warfare, and learning that beating the enemy requires knowing and doing the will of God.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

One more thing seems plain; whatever we need to grow, God supplies it:

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (Philippians 3:14–16)

And He also expects us to hang on to what He tells us so we will not fall backwards and tumble down that mountain!

PRAY: Jesus, I am always grateful that You are the Savior for that road to maturity means learning and relearning that I cannot save myself and must trust You, not only for eternal life, forgiveness, and new life, but in every area of life. It is humbling to remember that I’ll only be genuinely mature when I see You face to face in glory!

Always room for improvement . . .

 

The title of today’s devotional is convicting. After some success in computer problems and a few other frustrations put behind me, my emotions picked up a bit, then this: “Your prayers reveal the level of your spiritual maturity.”

I’d decided early this week to pray three times a day. Ha! It happened Monday, then the wheels fell off. This week was filled with appointments, odd interruptions, and too many entries on that bothersome to-do list. I prayed, but felt it was not enough and not with the focus prayer should have. Even more distressing is that I’ve had a couple months of amazing answers to prayer that should motivate me to pray, but must admit that many days I’m not only distracted but don’t feel like praying.

I’ve apologized to God, beat myself up, made more prayer lists, and blamed Satan for trying to stop me — only to discover that my attitude remains on resistance instead of eagerness. Then I read this:

“Scripture gives many other commands to pray, but the true test of your spirituality is your compulsion to pray, not simply your obedience to commands. As a Christian you exist in a spiritual realm in which prayer is as natural as breathing is in the natural realm. Just as atmospheric pressure exerts force on your lungs, compelling you to breathe, so your spiritual environment compels you to pray. Resisting either brings devastating results.”

This is one of those days when I feel like I need a heart transplant. Paul had the right compulsion . . .

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9–11)

Jesus told a parable to the effect that (we) ought always to pray and not lose heart. (Luke 18:1) Paul tells me to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–19) Peter warns that “The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.” (1 Peter 4:7)

I know these things, and that nothing can be accomplished without prayer. I know also that the needs are great, and that many Christians do not pray much at all. But knowing is not enough.

MacArthur writes, “The more you see life through God’s eyes, the more you are driven to pray. In that sense your prayers reveal the level of your spiritual maturity. Paul prayed with urgency day and night because he shared God’s love for His people and His concern for their spiritual maturity.”

I thought I did, or at least have grown in that way, but JM urges to examine my prayers. Are they from a sense of duty? Or compulsion? Infrequent? Brief? He asks about their content, and I do pray for world concerns, other Christians and spiritual maturity, also temporary needs, but not with the consistency or urgency that is required. The world is a mess. Christians struggle to stand for Christ. Prayer is needed.

Lord Jesus, I thank You for the privilege of talking with You and for the answers You give. I want to be the ‘prayer warrior’ that some think I am but confess to not having that ‘holy urgency’ that this daily devotional speaks about. Sometimes I say, “I know God hears and He will take care of it” and now wonder if that is a strong faith or just an excuse for not praying more. You know. If I need a greater sense of urgency to pray, then please give it to me, especially on those days that are filled with so many distractions. I need You all the time, and so do others. May my prayers please You, and not quench the work of the Holy Spirit by their absence.

THINK ABOUT: Daniel 6:1–28. What was Daniel’s pattern of prayer? What accusation did the political leaders bring against him and what was the king’s attitude toward him? How did God honor Daniel’s faith?