Sunday, October 23, 2016

How Do I Grow in My Christian Faith?

Every Christian is called to grow. Some people grow faster and others grow slower, but it is an ongoing process which never ends in this life. The key to becoming more mature in your faith is by consistently persevering in spiritual disciplines such as Bible reading/study, prayer, fellowship, service, obedience and witnessing. Doing these things will not save you, but bearing these fruits demonstrates your salvation.

READ AND STUDY THE BIBLE - Since the Bible is the Word of God, you must read, study, apply, and obey it. Doing so enables God to transform you. All you need to learn about Jesus and living the Christian life is found in the Bible. If you are new to the Bible, consider reading the gospel of John first. Ask God to help you apply what you have learned. If you don't have a Bible, try reading it free online at a website such as Bible Gateway. As you frequently stay in God's Word, the result will be spiritual growth.

DEVOTE YOURSELF TO PRAYER - When Jesus lived on the earth, prayer was a vital ministry. Actually, Jesus continues to intercede for the believer today. The Holy Spirit also intercedes for us according to God's will. Since prayer is important to Jesus and The Holy Spirit, it should be for us as well. You should not only pray for yourself, but also for others including your enemies. Prayer should also involve praising Jesus for who He is and being thankful for all the great things He has done. We should also confess the ways we’ve missed the mark and ask for forgiveness and how to move forward. A healthy prayer life is essential to spiritual growth.

WORSHIP, FELLOWSHIP AND SERVICE - It is critical to attend a healthy church. Church is about honoring and worshipping God and is meant for disciples to gather. It is important to have Biblical fellowship because it edifies the church and the Christians. Fellowship causes spiritual growth because Christ is the subject and source. It should include encouraging and praying for one another. You should also serve God and His people in the same way that Jesus came to Earth to serve us.

TELL OTHERS ABOUT JESUS - A faithful disciple will be obedient to the Word of God and should feel privileged to share the good news of the gospel and fulfill the great commission. Our motivation should be to glorify God and to see people come to faith in Jesus Christ. The gospel message has the power to heal and transform people. When you see lives changed by God, it encourages you and causes spiritual growth. Before sharing the gospel, pray for the Holy Spirit to give you boldness, truth, power, and love. You are called to be faithful, not successful because God does the transforming. Some people may not see the gospel as good news, but Jesus Himself got mocked, made fun of, spit upon and persecuted because He stood for truth.

MOVING FORWARD - If God has saved you and you devote your life to these spiritual disciplines, you will surely become more like Christ and stronger in your faith.

What’s YOUR next step to grow?

From www.washedred.com