Spiritual Growth Eph.4:11-16.                Continuation
More obstacles to Spiritual Growth.  
Another Obstacle to Spiritual Growth is the Lack of Deep Roots in the person's life.
The analogy taken from plant life applies equally to human growth. This means a shallow existence. On the surface everything seems to be normal but under the surface there is insecurity.
Most plants, especially house plants, have little roots so you can easily uproot them, whereas to trees etc., the opposite applies. This also speaks of the life of the believer. The deeper we are embedded in the Rock of Faith the more difficult it is for the storms of life to affect us and move us from the foundation- Christ. Eph.3:14-19, refers to the necessity of being rooted in sure ground. 
The purpose of roots is twofold:-
First-to support the plant in the soil and,
Second- to draw out the vital chemicals necessary for the plant.
Our spiritual roots should serve the same purpose in our lives. We need to be firmly embedded in the soil of God's love so that our Christian lives are firm. Apart from this, we must also draw our spiritual life and strength from our loving God to flood our hearts and fill our souls.
Why do so many believers lack deep roots? What is the cause of this problem? In Matt. 13:5-6, 20-21, the Lord gave us answers. The heart, likened to the soil, is described as 'Stony Ground'. The seed of course is the Word of God. A rocky or stony ground has no depth of soil to support growth and so it cannot root properly. When the trials and storms of life come life withers.
What causes a heart to be hardened and offer no good soil? In Mark 16:14, we have the basic problem-Unbelief. It acts as a kind of rejection. The seed falls and finds no hospitable soil to root. It is rejected. What is the remedy for such a soil? We moisten it. The farmer upturns the soil with his plough and then the rain penetrates it.
In a similar way we need to do the same. Plough the heart to upturn it for the Word of God and then soften it with the tears of prayer. Cry out to the Lord of Mercy-Ps. 42:3.
                                                                                To be continued

Spiritual Growth - Eph.4:11-16.
Obstacles to Spiritual Growth.
One of the most serious obstacles is the lack of a clear Conversion. It stems from the lack of a clear representation of the Gospel of Salvation.
We are saved by responding to God's Grace. The response is in us, all else is in God. It is His work. Conversion demands a surrender of self, we turn to God in total surrender. This of course is not flattering to our ego, that is why many people keep going round in circles, always learning but never coming to the knowledge of a full and unreserved commitment to the Word. This kind of state will never bring release and true joy to the person but only deception and instability. The person tries with his mind to serve God but with his heart serves the world. James 1:8 tells us that a double minded person is unstable in all his ways.
A person may go to Church, pray, sing hymns, read the Bible, but he may not be converted or born from above. Many people confuse church going with Salvation. Unless a person experiences a Spiritual Rebirth, followed by a clear change of direction in his life then all that happened to him was a sham conversion. Proverbs 28:13; The person who receives Mercy and Forgiveness from God is the one who forsakes the old life.
One of the common failures in the Church is people who have only experienced a conversion in their minds but not in their hearts. They seem eager to learn but the life of Christ is not evident within them. It is a case of worshiping the Lord with their lips but not with the heart, because the heart has not been converted to Christ.
What is a True conversion, what example do we have in the Scripture? Phil.3:11. One of the most moving conversions is that of the jailer in Philippi-Acts 16:28-34, What must I do to be saved? Here, we have true conviction of sin and repentance. The outward signs: Commitment to Christ, treats his captors with love and care (the brethren), baptized in water. A change of mind that leads to a change in course. There must be evidence of a new life and we need to see that.