SPIRITUAL GROWTH 2

8 THEREFORE He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”
11 AND He Himself gave some to be APOSTLES, some PROPHET'S, some EVANGELISTS, and some PASTORS and TEACHERS,
12 FOR the EQUIPPING of the SAINTS for the work of ministry, for the EDIFYING of the BODY OF CHRIST,
13 TILL we all come to the UNITY of the FAITH and of the KNOWLEDGE of the SON OF GOD, TO a PERFECT [mature] MAN, TO the MEASURE of the STATURE of the FULLNESS OF CHRIST;
14 THAT we should NO LONGER be CHILDREN, TOSSED to and fro and CARRIED about with every WIND of DOCTRINE, BY the TRICKERY of MEN, in the CUNNING CRAFTINESS OF DECEITFUL PLOTTING,
15 BUT, SPEAKING the TRUTH in LOVE, may GROW up in all THINGS into HIM who is the HEAD—CHRIST."
Ephesians 4:8,11-15 (NKJV)

II. Childhood stage:
"THEN WE WILL NO LONGER BE IMMATURE LIKE CHILDREN. WE WON'T BE TOSSED AND BLOWN ABOUT BY EVERY WIND OF NEW TEACHING. WE WILL NOT BE INFLUENCED WHEN PEOPLE TRY TO TRICK US WITH LIES SO CLEVER THEY SOUND LIKE THE TRUTH" (Ephesians 4:14 (NLT).

• A Baby grows to become a child. The childhood of Jesus Christ was mentioned at the first part of this teaching:
  39 SO WHEN THEY [Joseph and Mary] had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40 AND THE CHILD GREW AND BECAME STRONG IN SPIRIT, FILLED WITH WISDOM; AND THE GRACE OF GOD WAS UPON HIM. 51 THEN HE [Jesus, as a child] WENT DOWN WITH THEM [Joseph and Mary, His earthly parents] AND CAME TO NAZARETH, AND WAS SUBJECT TO THEM, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 AND JESUS INCREASED IN WISDOM AND STATURE, AND IN FAVOUR WITH GOD AND MEN" (Luke 2:39,40,51,52).
• The childhood stage could also be considered as the boyhood, girlhood, preteen, or prepubertal stages.

• Characteristics of a child.

1. Unsteadiness

• Children are unsteady, unreliable, impressionable, and spasmodical. When they are assigned or instructed to do a thing, they may play away with the time and failed to do the needful—what they are instructed to do. They are unsteady and unreliable.
  SPIRITUALLY speaking, someone who is immature, yet to be taught and trained could not be trusted with a responsibility without a proper supervision.
  APOSTLE Paul Admonishes Timothy, that a novice, a new convert or believer, should not be appointment as a bishop: "THE PASTOR [bishop] MUST NOT BE A NEW CHRISTIAN BECAUSE HE MIGHT BE PROUD OF BEING CHOSEN SO SOON, AND PRIDE COMES BEFORE A FALL. (Satan’s downfall is an example.)" (1 Timothy 3:6 the Living Bible).

1. Curiosity. Children are inquisitive.

• They poke their noses in other people's businesses. They are intrusive or nosey or busybodies (2 Thessalonians 3:11; 1 Timothy 5:13; 1 Peter 4:15).
  GOD does not want any believer to be nosey, a busy body who is intrusive and gossip about others in the church. Such believers sow discord among the brethren:
  16 THESE SIX THINGS THE LORD HATES, YES, SEVEN ARE AN ABOMINATION TO HIM: 17 A PROUD look, A LYING tongue, HANDS THAT SHED INNOCENT BLOOD, 18 A HEART that DEVISES WICKED PLANS, FEET that are SWIFT IN RUNNING TO EVIL, 19 A FALSE WITNESS who SPEAKS LIES, And ONE WHO SOWS DISCORD AMONG BRETHREN" (Proverbs 6:16-19).
• Those who are intrusive in a fellowship, the gathering of the believers, are immature. It is one of signs or characteristics of childishness.

1. Talkativeness or motormouthed—talking excessively.

• This also is one of the characteristics of childishness.
  THE believer who talks much, who finds it difficult to control his or her speech, is being childish.
  SOME believers cannot hold their mouths, they talk much. It is a sign of childishness or immaturity: "IN THE MULTITUDE OF WORDS SIN IS NOT LACKING, BUT HE WHO RESTRAINS HIS LIPS IS WISE" )Proverbs 10:19 (NKJV).

"FOR a dream comes through much activity, AND A FOOL'S VOICE IS KNOWN BY HIS MANY WORDS."
Ecclesiastes 5:3 (NKJV)

• The People who talk too much are always guilty of: (a) evil Speaking, (b) vain Speaking, and (c) foolish Speaking.
a. Evil speaking. Talking about and the discussing of the faults and failures of the person not present.
b. Vain speaking. Always talking about the self. The being self conceited. The self-aggrandizement, that is, trying to draw attention to the self or one's importance.
c. Foolish Speaking. This is about obscene talking. Coarse jokes.
"OBSCENE STORIES, FOOLISH TALK, AND COARSE JOKES—THESE ARE NOT FOR YOU [believers]. INSTEAD, LET THERE BE THANKFULNESS TO GOD" (Ephesians 5:4 (NLT).

• If you still manifest any of the above characteristics, you are still a child, you are an immature believer in the things of the Spirit; thus, you need to grow up spiritually and become mature—grow to manhood or adulthood:
"BUT SOLID FOOD IS FOR full-grown MEN, FOR THOSE WHOSE SENSES AND MENTAL FACULTIES ARE TRAINED BY PRACTICE TO DISCRIMINATE AND DISTINGUISH BETWEEN WHAT IS MORALLY GOOD AND NOBLE AND WHAT IS EVIL AND CONTRARY EITHER TO DIVINE OR HUMAN LAW" (Hebrews 5:14 (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition).

• There is a need to eat proper spiritual food that would help or necessitate a proper spiritual growth:
  14 THEREFORE the LORD Himself will give you a sign: behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, And shall call His name Immanuel. 15 CURDS AND HONEY HE SHALL EAT, THAT HE MAY KNOW TO REFUSE THE EVIL AND CHOOSE THE GOOD" (Isaiah 7:14,15 (NKJV).
• The spiritual food you eat would help in your growth and development spiritually and that would help you in choosing between the evil and the good.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• Whatever ailment in your body is cursed and completely uprooted in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• You are made whole and never to be down with sicknesses again in Jesus' mighty name.
  Peace!
  TO BE CONTINUED

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!