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.
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.
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