How To Nurture Spiritual Growth

November 4, 2005

Everyone is growing in something the question is are you growing in godliness or sinfulness? The bible gives us the keys to spiritual growth, both the what, and the how. And we will see how to put these principles in practice as we go through 1st and 2nd Peter using the biblical truth found in each chapter.

Chapter 1

Renewing the mind. In 1 Peter 1:13-15, he tells the believers to “gird up the loins of their minds.” Girding up was an ancient practice of gathering up one’s robes when needing to move in a hurry. Metaphorically, it’s (the word) telling us to pull in the loose ends of one’s thinking. This is what to do, but how to do it is found in the next sentence. Notice it says to “be sober.” The Greek word means to be alert; it can also imply to stay away from intoxicating drink, meaning keep your mind away from anything that can negatively influence it. Likewise, in Titus 2:6-8, Paul tells us to be sober minded, meaning to be self-controlled, to have complete steadfastness, to keep a clear mind.
Verses 7-8 line up directly with verses 14-15, as we pull away from our past behavior and embrace actions and attitudes befitting of a Christ-like mind.

Chapter 2

Chapter two says spiritual growth must be accompanied by a spiritual hunger for the Word. Additionally, we see in 1 Peter 2:2-3, that there are no still born Christians because all who truly know the Lord will have a desire to feed and grow. In Job 23:12 and Jeremiah 15:16, we see that true spiritual growth is always marked by a craving and a delight for God’s word.

Chapter 3

We see in the third chapter with growth comes an ability to suffer for Christ sake (1 Peter 3:14-17). As you grow so does the persecution. In 2 Timothy 3:12, it doesn’t say “shall not” or “might” but “will.” It’s also interesting that no one likes to claim this promise found in John 16:33.

Chapter 4

The fourth chapter shows us that spiritual growth also brings along a supernatural ability to love regardless of the situation. In 1 Peter 4:8-9, the word “fervent” means to be stretched to the limit, and it pictures a runner who is moving at maximum output, with muscles straining and stretching to the limit. This kind of outpouring occurs when you put another’s spiritual well-being ahead of your desires, even if they are acting ungracious or mistreating you.

Chapter 5

Spiritual growth will also bring about an awareness to recognize and resist the Devil, our true adversary (1 Peter 5:8-9). In 2 Corinthians 2:11, we are warned not to be ignorant of Satan’s schemes, yet so many are blaming parents, friends, spouses, supervisors and anyone else who has mistreated them for their problems. We must remember that people are not the enemy. According to scripture, the enemy is Satan.

Chapter 1

Here is the second phase of spiritual growth found in 2 Peter 1:5-9 - adding to your faith. There is no such thing as stationary growth in Christianity, either you are going forward or backwards.

Chapter 2

Just as you are able to recognize the Devil, you also will recognize the false from the genuine (2 Peter 2:1-3).

Chapter 3

Finally, the last step found in Peter’s book of growth is mentioned in 2 Peter 3:18 - growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. Literally, grace means unmerited favor. We don’t deserve grace, yet the Lord not only gives it to us but also implies we should learn more about it because grace is a teacher according to Titus 2:11-12. Often people will erroneously use grace as an excuse for sin, but 1 Peter 2:16 reminds us that grace teaches us to live godly in an ungodly world.
So after eight chapters of truth, let’s review the spiritual growth chart:
1. The mind is changed
2. Hunger for the word
3. Able to suffer for Christ sake
4. Able to love for Christ sake
5. Able to recognize the Devil
6. Always adding to your faith
7. Able to recognize false teachers and false teachings
8. Continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord
In closing, check out the horrible thing which occurred in Israel - Jeremiah 5:30-31. This kind of ungodliness occurs when spiritual growth and accountability are absent from our Christian lives. Also James 1:22 shows us the danger of recognizing the way our lives truly look and walking away only to do nothing about it. In spiritual growth the most important step is application.