By Emily Wooten
Ephesians 5:15-17 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
In Colossians 1:9-11, Paul prayed that the body of believers (new born Christians) at Colossae would be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; so they could walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; which would cause them to be strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness…
This is a good example of how we can pray over ourselves and our loved ones. Without his Spirit teaching us, we can be a born again Christian and still not understand what is God’s will.
If a child did not grow as time passed, we would think something is wrong and we would be right. It is not God’s will for the human who has asked Jesus to forgive their sins and come into their heart to still be a baby Christian years later. Paul also prayed in
(Ephesians 3:16-19 That God would help you, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in your inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend how expansive is God’s love; and to experience the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God.)
In this paraphrased copy of Ephesians 3 prayer, we can see that God’s love working in us fills us with the fullness of God as we are rooting and grounded by Christ’s word being planted in our spirit and we are strengthened with his might. It is available now to every Christian but it is up to every Christian to apply God’s word and instruction in love.
James 1:21-22 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
What we choose to say about God in us can over ride any thought that would prevent us from exercising God’s word in our lives. When thoughts come to make us week remember. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…
1 Peter 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby…
Confessions:Hearing & Speaking God’s Word Causes Me To Grow!
Growing Up Spiritually-Part 2
By Emily Wooten
John 3:3… Verily, verily, I say unto you, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Jesus told Nicodemus it was impossible to see the kingdom of God if you haven’t been born of the Spirit. When a human accepts Jesus as Lord, the Holy Spirit creates in that human a new spirit. That spirit is alive and connected by the Holy Spirit to God. There is no more separation from God. That human spirit is a baby in Christ. If the spirit is fed, it will develop and grow more mature. If the newborn is never fed the word of God, they can be a physically mature person but still have a baby spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:9-14 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God has revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knows no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Thank God! Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to teach us. As we study to show ourselves approved, a workman that needs not be ashamed (2 Timothy 2:15), we grow spiritually learning how to see (perceive and understand) the things of the kingdom of God.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
It is God’s desire that we look to find his way of doing things so he can help us with all the things we need.
1 Corinthians 2:15 But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
We have available to us the Holy Spirit. We are born of his spirit and God wants us to labor to enter in by studying and doing his word.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
Paul continued to tell them they were babies; unable to receive the mature words or doctrine. As we hear the word, lets receive it as doctrine to live by and apply it to our behavior as we do we grow!
Growing Up Spiritually-Part 1
By Emily Wooten
Read Ephesians 4:7-15
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:
God gave ministry gifts so the body of Christ would be built up, edified and grow up.
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:
Paul wrote we should no longer be children tossed by every wind of doctrine.
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ…
Jesus is our example; the measure we aim for. Paul would not have written that we should grow up, if it was not possible. If it was not possible to be perfect or complete, (whole, lacking nothing) God would not have required that. But it is possible and he does require that.
Spiritual maturity has little to do with chronological growth or maturity.
A human isn’t born an adult physically. Neither is a newborn Christian mature spiritually the moment they receive Christ. Maturity involves learning, practicing and experiencing. We develop as we try to do what we have learned.
Psalms 8:1-2 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
Even babies can learn to speak the truth in love and as we do, we grow. Because we learn to understand how awesome our God is, we learn to accept how excellent he can be in and working through us.
1 Peter 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew (avoid) evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. (ensue is to make it happen)
Ephesians 3:16-19 That God would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Weekly Confession: Thank you Father! I am being filled with all the fulness of God. Every day I grow stronger, smarter and speak the truth in love.