Posts Tagged ‘Apostolic Teaching’

Everybody grows older, but not everybody grows deeper. Time can add years to your life without adding maturity to your walk with God. That is why growing spiritually has to be more than attending church once in a while, hearing a sermon, or feeling inspired for a few minutes.

Spiritual growth is not just emotion. It is not just knowledge. It is not just being busy in church. Real growth means becoming more like Christ in your thinking, your choices, your prayer life, your obedience, and your character.

Peter said to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That means God expects believers to develop. We are not supposed to stay spiritual infants forever.

The Problem: Some People Confuse Activity With Growth

A person can be active and still immature.

They can attend services and still hold bitterness.

They can know verses and still refuse correction.

They can serve in a ministry and still lack prayer.

They can talk about faith and still panic every time life gets hard.

That is where we need honesty. Growing spiritually is not measured by how much religious activity fills the calendar. It is measured by whether the Word of God is changing the person.

If I am still reacting the same way, excusing the same sins, avoiding the same convictions, and resisting the same corrections year after year, I need more than activity. I need growth.

Growth Requires Root, Not Just Reach

A tree does not grow strong only because branches reach upward. It grows strong because roots go downward.

That is a strong picture of growing spiritually. Everybody wants visible fruit, but not everybody wants hidden roots. We want peace, power, wisdom, and victory. But those things grow out of prayer, Scripture, repentance, discipline, and obedience when nobody is clapping.

The problem with shallow Christianity is that it wants fruit without roots.

But real growth starts in private. It starts when you open your Bible on a normal day. It starts when you pray even when you do not feel dramatic emotion. It starts when you repent quickly. It starts when you forgive because God said to forgive. It starts when you obey truth even when your flesh argues.

Growth Has a Direction: Toward Christ

Paul taught that believers should “grow up in all things into Him who is the head Christ.”

That tells us the direction of spiritual growth. We are not just growing into better versions of ourselves. We are growing toward Christ.

That matters because people can grow in knowledge and still not grow in Christlike character. They can grow in confidence and still not grow in humility. They can grow in religious opinion and still not grow in love.

Growing spiritually means Christ becomes the pattern. His truth shapes our doctrine. His holiness shapes our conduct. His compassion shapes how we treat people. His submission to the Father shapes our obedience.

Growth is not random. It has a target.

The Unique Solution: The Root-to-Fruit Check

Here is a simple way to test spiritual growth without making it complicated. Use the Root-to-Fruit Check once a week.

1. Root: What am I feeding on?

What shaped your thinking this week? Scripture, prayer, preaching, and godly counsel? Or noise, frustration, entertainment, fear, and fleshly thinking?

Whatever feeds the root will eventually show in the fruit.

2. Stem: What am I standing on?

What held you steady this week? Feelings? Opinions? Other people’s approval? Or the Word of God?

A weak stem bends with every wind. A growing believer learns to stand on truth.

3. Fruit: What is coming out of me?

Look at your responses. More patience? More prayer? More faithfulness? More honesty? More obedience? More love for the church? More hunger for God?

If nothing is coming out, something may be wrong underground.

This Root-to-Fruit Check makes growing spiritually practical. It moves the question from “Did I feel spiritual?” to “Is God producing something in me?”

Growth Also Requires Correction

Nobody likes this part, but it is necessary. Growth requires correction.

A child who is never corrected does not mature properly. The same is true spiritually. If every sermon offends me, every warning irritates me, and every correction feels like an attack, then pride is blocking growth.

Growing spiritually requires a teachable spirit. A growing Christian can say, “Lord, show me where I need to change.” A growing Christian does not run from conviction. They respond to it.

Correction is not God rejecting us. Often, it is God refusing to let us stay small.

What This Looks Like at Apostolic Life Tabernacle

At Apostolic Life Tabernacle, we believe God is calling people into more than surface religion. We believe in truth, prayer, holiness, discipleship, and a real walk with God.

We do not want people to only attend. We want people to grow.

That means learning the Word. Building a prayer life. Staying faithful to the church. Receiving correction. Serving with the right spirit. Walking in holiness. Loving people. Repenting quickly. Becoming steady when life gets difficult.

That is growing spiritually in real life.

Strong Call to Action

Do not settle for being older in church but still shallow in faith.

This week, ask yourself plainly: Am I growing, or am I just repeating? Is my prayer life stronger? Is my obedience clearer? Is my attitude cleaner? Is my love for truth deeper? Is there fruit that shows God is working in me?

Use the Root-to-Fruit Check. Feed the root. Stand on the Word. Look for fruit. And when God corrects you, do not run. Grow.

If you are looking for a church that teaches truth, prayer, holiness, discipleship, and spiritual growth, visit Apostolic Life Tabernacle. If you need prayer or want help taking your next step with God, contact us.

God is not calling you to stay where you are. He is calling you to keep growing spiritually.