Spiritual Growth (Part 1)

Spiritual growth starts with a relationship between one person and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Spiritual life flows into the soul and spirit of one who has accepted Jesus as Savior.  That spark of life, nurtured in the spiritual womb of the Church, grows until a new disciple is created.  That disciple has the ability to reproduce spiritually by leading others to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Whether in the natural or spiritual worlds, growth starts with a single cell of life.  This is why God said in Zechariah 4:10: 

"For who hath despised the day of small things?"

The Biblical principles of growth  do not change, but the methods by which you grow may vary.  The methods change, but the purpose always remains the same. The principles of God always remain the same, but the strategy to reach these purposes changes.  God's purpose from the beginning of time has been:

Ephesians 1:20 "...That in the  dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in Heaven, and which are on earth, even in Him."

As the spiritual life of His people and historical conditions changes among the nations, God changes His strategy as necessary to accomplish His purposes.  For example, when fathers in Israelite families failed in their spiritual duty, God raised up the priests. When the priests became corrupt, He called prophets as spiritual leaders.   

Jesus used many different methods of ministry.  He did not deal with all people in the same way.  His methods varied, but His purpose remained the same, and that was to touch and change the lives of men and women.

Here are some basic principles you must understand in the "day of small things" before you begin to grow:  

-God's concern has always been with the whole world:

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

-God is "not willing  that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" according to  2 Peter 3:9.

-Jesus expressed this same concern when He said in Luke 19:10:

"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
 
He also said in Matthew 9:13 "For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Yes, God is concerned with the multitudes and with numbers, but not from the human aspect.  He is concerned with the addition of believers who will reproduce and spread the Gospel. Start your spiritual walk with the same concern as God, which is reaching the entire world with the Gospel message one soul at a time.