Growing Spiritually 20 Ways
Summary: I was born again 50 years ago in my mid-20s, through “repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21, NASB). After five decades of serving the Lord, I still realize how short I still fall of the image of Christ to which God desires us to be conformed (Romans 8:29 and 2 Corinthians 3:18).
We face much uncertainty in our modern world. But this one thing I can guarantee you: if you follow diligently after the Lord and obey His Word the Bible, you will personally walk in victory this year, even if chaos surrounds you. Come see some of the Lord’s beautiful commandments and promises. These are things you can do! Will you join with me and determine before God that this will be a year in which we obey the apostle Peter’s wise exhortation to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”? (2 Peter 3:18) Even after 50 years I need that spiritual growth, and I’m sure you would agree that you do too.
(Note: Please forgive the personal reflections I will offer below. They help me to frame these Scriptures in a living context, rather than just a teaching one.)
Love God with all that is in you
There are hundreds of commandments in the Bible. Jesus said this is the “first and greatest” — that is, to love God with all that is in us. I greatly desire in this coming year to cultivate a stronger love relationship with God the Father and with His Son Jesus.
Love your neighbor
This is a commandment I need and want to fulfill better. If all the other commands of the Law and the Prophets depend on these two, then Lord, help me to love not just you more, but also my “neighbor,” even those whom the world wrongly considers unloveable. Let me see everyone through your eyes.
Be given to prayer
Many Christians I speak to agree that prayer is not a strong point for them. I too want to strengthen and enlarge my prayer life.
Read and/or study God’s Word the Bible daily
Israel’s king was to secure a copy of God’s Word and to read it every day of his life. We Christians who are “kings and priests” unto God (Revelation 1:6; 5:10, KJV) should follow that example and spend fruitful time daily in the Word of the Lord.
Let God’s Word be frequently on my lips
We all have the Word of God available to us. Let’s purpose to speak it faithfully to others. I have many times seen the profound impact of simply quoting a Scripture to a friend. Don’t hide that light under a bushel, but be ready and faithful to speak the Word of the Lord as God opens up the opportunity.
Be more worshipful throughout the day
One of the Bible’s shortest sentences reminds us of a simple thing: God is worthy of and is expecting our worship and praise. Take time often — even if just for a few brief seconds in the midst of a busy day — to thank and praise the Lord for His greatness and His goodness to you (Psalm 150:2).
Know God the Father and Jesus His Son more closely
In the private high school I attended, we studied Religion daily for 4 years. The same was true at the college I attended, where I studied 4 years of Theology. And yet for all that, I didn’t “know” God the Father and Jesus His Son. I only knew about them. Later on, in early 1969 during a Holy Spirit-prompted time of voraciously reading the Bible, I received the revelation of the Lord in the Scriptures and accepted Jesus as my Savior personally and came to truly know Him and God the Father in a genuine relationship sense. As Peter exhorted us in the Scripture in our opening Summary above, I greatly desire to grow in my personal relationship with the Father and the Son (and the Holy Spirit).
Speak often in tongues
When a born-again Christian receives the subsequent baptism with the Holy Spirit, he or she will speak in tongues as the Spirit-given evidence. The apostle Paul emphasized the importance of keeping that gift stirred up — “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you” (1 Corinthians 14:18). It is easy for Spirit-filled believers to let this slip. I am purposing this year to be faithful daily to pray in tongues, as well as with my understanding, in order to have a balanced prayer life.
Become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s voice
My wife and I often cry out to the Lord for a greater sensitivity to the voice of the Holy Spirit. May this be for us (and you!) a year of increased perception of the Spirit’s voice.
Covet and stir up the gifts of the Holy Spirit
The apostle Paul wrote extensively about the gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14. In chapter 14 (King James), the apostle approved of the believers’ zeal for spiritual gifts and encouraged them to seek to excel in manifesting them for the edifying of the church (vs. 12). He exhorted them further to “covet to prophesy” (14:39) and to “desire spiritual gifts” (14:1). And as Paul wrote to Timothy, we should be faithful to “stir up” whatever gifts of God are in our lives from God for His service.
See the sick healed more and more
In Mark’s account of Jesus’ Great Commission, the Lord is quoted as promising believers that as we lay hands on the sick, the sick shall get well. My heart’s desire and prayer personally, and for you, is that we grow in faith to see more and more divine healings as we step forth in faith in Jesus’ absolutely reliable promise.
Cultivate the fruit of the Spirit
Once many years ago I prayed a simple prayer to the Lord: “Lord, show me my faults.” He answered immediately by pointing me to some fruits of the Spirit where I needed some significant improvement. And that remains my prayer: “Lord, help me to grow, by your grace, in the fruits of your Spirit, so that I might daily become more and more conformed to your image. And especially may my life show an ever-increasing holiness.”
Rejoice in the Lord throughout the day
No matter what this year brings, I desire to have a heart that rejoices always. Not in earthly things, and certainly not in carnal things, but rejoicing always “in the Lord.” As Jesus Himself said to His followers, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). So we can rejoice — in the Lord! — even when all around us may be in chaos and turmoil.
Take time to fast and seek the Lord
Hmm, “when you fast,” said our Lord, not “if.” I am convicted by this. With the Lord’s grace and help, I hope to set aside more time to fast and seek the Lord. Our church, led by our pastor’s devotion to this spiritual discipline, typically begins each year with a 21-day “Daniel fast.” It has borne good fruit over the years. I sense that there is wisdom and encouragement from the Lord to me personally to take time also throughout the year to draw apart and just seek the Lord.
Share Jesus Christ with humility yet boldness
As the late T.L. Osborne said well, the purpose of Pentecost, of being filled with the Spirit, is to give us “power [to] … be [Christ’s] witnesses … to the ends of the earth.” Most of us will remain in our own Jerusalem, Judea, or Samaria (our home area). Some will go to the mission field. But all of us should receive and use Holy Spirit-given power to be Jesus’ witnesses to a lost world. Lord, grant us holy boldness, coupled with humility, to share the the Good News of salvation in Jesus with those around us.
Be an example, a role model, of a biblical Christian
The world needs Christ-honoring role models. Your family and friends need godly role models. And we can be that to the extent that each of us “follows the example of Christ.” In ourselves we can’t do it. But as we allow Him to conform us increasingly to His splendid, faultless character, then we can become those flesh-and-blood, godly examples that people around us can look to. The apostle didn’t hesitate to put himself forth as a role model, consistent with his living after the example of our Savior. We can too.
Be a good, attentive husband, father, & grandfather
Jesus’ love for the church is the example I am determined to follow in being a giving, loving husband to my wife.
And although my children are now adults with their own families, I’m thankful that my wife and I took the time when they were young to raise them up to know the Lord, His Bible, and His ways. And as we continue to serve the Lord, we can still have a wholesome influence for the Lord upon our grown children and upon [at last count] our 24 grandchildren.
Serve my church, my pastor, and others as opportunity presents
Jesus our Lord came “to serve…to give” even His very life for us. How can we His servants do any less! My hope is to be one who serves the Church, its leaders, God’s people, and (as the Lord gives opportunity) others in my sphere of influence. Will power and good intentions alone won’t suffice. But the Lord by His Holy Spirit can and will guide us into situations where He would have us serve.
Continue to bear fruit in old age
At age 76 I'm retired from the workaday world. Or, as I like to put it, I’m retired “from office hours.” But I do have a compelling desire to continue to bear fruit for the Lord. My pastor occasionally has me fill in for him in the pulpit when he is away, and I enjoy helping out that way. And this website that you are reading today gives me an enjoyable opportunity to share God’s Word with a wider group of people seeking after God and His Word. I pray that the reach of this website will increase more and more as part of the Lord’s Great Commission to preach and teach His Gospel to the nations.
Keep our lamps burning for the Lord!
Oil in the Bible is a frequent symbol of the anointing of the Holy Spirit (e.g., 1 Samuel 10:1,6; 16:12-13). Determine not to be like the five foolish virgins of Jesus’ parable (Matthew 25:1-12). To their own spiritual detriment, they failed to have at all times an abundant supply, a consistent flow, of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
May you and I and our families devote ourselves this year to loving God deeply, to honoring His Son Jesus our Savior, to seeking God in His Word and worship and prayer, and to determining to keep our “lamps burning” brightly for Jesus each and every day. If we do these things that we’ve looked at today, I can guarantee that this will be a year in which each of us will “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18).
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Check out our related sermon: Spiritual Renewal & Awakening: A Heavenly Recharge
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©2019, James H. Feeney.
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Pentecostal Sermons &
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