Thy Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet Outreach

Growing Through the Word

The Bible plays a pivotal role in spiritual growth.

GROWING UNTO HIM
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. [Ephesians 4: 14, 15]

The Bible makes it clear that our walk with the Savior doesn’t end on the day of conversion. When people give themselves totally to YHWH, they begin a whole new life, a whole new existence (Romans 6:4). It’s not that a new Christian has to work to reach salvation, as in other faiths; instead, because he or she already has salvation, already stands accepted in YHWH through Yahushua, the Christian begins to live a life that reveals and reflects that salvation.

Central to the new life is spiritual growth. Christians aren’t “static”: they’re in the process of change to better reflect the image of the Savior. And crucial to the whole growth process is the Word of YHWH, which shows how and why it’s important to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our lord and savior Jesus Christ [2 Peter 3:18].

THE NEED FOR GROWTH
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk hath no experience in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of a habit have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. [Hebrews 5:12-14]

Scriptures say that though we’re saved by faith, though our acceptance with YHWH is based on the righteousness of Yahushua credited to us by grace through faith, the Christian life is one of spiritual and moral progress. We’re to change — and for the better; we’re to reflect more and more the character of YHWH.

In 2 Corinthians 7:1, the apostle Paul shows that accepting Yahushua as Master and Savior isn’t the end of the spiritual walk, but is the beginning. “Perfecting holiness” means to bring it to completion. In Ephesians, Paul admonishes followers of YHWH to lead a life worthy of their calling (Ephesians 4:1).

Food for thought: in what areas have you seen much spiritual growth and maturity? What are your weaker areas?

GROWING IN FAITH
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them; but the word of hearing did not profit them, because they were not united by faith to them that heard it. [Hebrews 4:2]

So often people think that if they only had more signs, more evidence, their faith in YHWH would grow. But it doesn’t work that way. Faith — or the lack thereof — isn’t an intellectual matter or a matter of signs and wonders. It’s a matter of the heart. We can grow in faith only to the degree that we surrender our hearts to the Lord; we can grow in faith only through exercising our faith; we can grown in faith only to the degree that we study the written Word with an open heart to learn from Him.

YHWH is the Source of faith, but we must put our trust in Him. Faith grows through study (Romans 10:17), but we must take the time and put forth effort for that study. The more we study — with a heart and mind surrendered to the Lord — the more we know about our loving Creator. And the more we know Him, the more we love and trust Him. The more we trust Him, the more we do whatever He wants us to do. Study of the word of YHWH is absolutely essential if we want our faith to grow.

GROWING IN LOVE
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. [1 Corinthians 13:13]

The word LOVE is used so often that it’s easy to lose sight of what it actually means. Biblical examples show that love is something we do rather than simply an emotion. Scripture speaks about love as attitude and actions (1 Corinthians 13). We know that love will motivate us to action. The Bible clearly gives an example of what true love really is: Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren [1 John 3:16]. To love at this level, we need to get beyond our own rights, our own interests, and our own hurts; and we can do this only through the power of YHWH, only as we grow in Him and in His grace.

How often have you been wrong: wrong about theology, wrong about doctrine, wrong about the motives of other people? And yet, love never fails; whatever errors we make, we can never go wrong when we love others. It’s hard to imagine what our witness would be like if all who professed the name YHWH loved in the way He loves!

GROWING IN MESSIAH
Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. [Isaiah 28:9]

The Bible is our final authority on all doctrine; it’s crucial to study the Word in order to grow in Messiah. Only through knowledge of the Word and what it teaches can we be protected from “the sleight of men.” But it’s not enough to just read; it needs to be obeyed. If there’s no obedience, then there’s no change within us. By obeying — by seeking to be like Yahushua in our thoughts, words and acts — we will grow in Him. By keeping our hearts pure, our words, actions and attitudes will be pure as well.

Growing in Messiah — growing into Christian maturity — can’t happen without a surrender of Self. We’re no longer to follow the whims and passions of the flesh, but rather, the commands of YHWH. Surrender is a day-by-day process, something that must be a part of our walk with the Lord. The moment we start letting Self rule, sin lies at the door and it leads to death.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me, and gave himself for me. [Galatians 2:20]

GROWING IN THE SPIRIT
Jesus answered and said unto him, “Verily verily I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born from above.” [John 3:5-7]

As we grow in Christian living, we need to grow in the spirit. This means being more and more sensitive to YHWH’s leading; we know He talks to us because we know the Word, and the spirit of YHWH guides us to His Word. The spirit guides every Christian into all truth by reminding us of what the Bible says, because the truth is the word of YHWH (John 17:17). The spirit also convicts us about our own spiritual condition (John 16:8).

In Luke 11:13, Yahushua makes it clear how readily available the spirit of YHWH is for those who want it. YHWH never forces Himself upon us. He’s shown us who He is and what He’s done for us. We ourselves, in our hearts, have to make the daily choices — choices of faith, obedience, surrender, confession — that’ll enable us to grow in grace and in the spirit, or that will lead us toward eternal ruin.