1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (NKJV) And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
The second stage is “childhood” consisting of unsteadiness, curiosity and talkativeness. People who go around talking too much are usually guilty of evil, vain or foolish talk.
Ephesians 4:14 (NKJV) that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
Finally, there is “manhood” where there is maturity.
1 Corinthians 14:20 (NKJV) Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.
We grow by having the right diet, exercise and rest.
Having the right diet means meditating on the Word. We have to constantly feed on the Word (i.e. the truth and life) which will strengthen our Spirit and enable us to take control of our mind and our body.
Matthew 4:4 (NKJV) But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
John 6:63 (NKJV) It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.
How do we exercise?
1) We exercise by being doers of the Word.
James 1:22 (NKJV) But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
2) We have to give the Word first priority in our lives. God’s Word will become our inward nature and the Holy Spirit will bring to our remembrance the Word that is already in us.
Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV) praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—
3) Exercising your Spirit Man by praying in the spirit.
1 Corinthians 14:4 (NKJV) He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
4) We have to obey the voice of our Spirit. The human spirit has a voice (i.e. guidance, intuition, inward voice or conscience). The Holy Spirit is our Helper.
John 16:13 (NKJV) However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
Finally, we also need rest, knowing that He is in us and we just have to yield to Him.
Philippians 1:6 (NKJV) being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
The Holy Spirit is our teacher. It is important to sit under the teaching of a teacher by reading and hearing. Teaching will also form and strengthen our belief and will help us grow roots which are solidly grounded so that we will not fall during the storms in life.
Sermon Series: Growing up Spiritually Summary
属灵成长
属灵的成长分为几个不同的阶段。
第一个阶段是“婴儿期”，表现为天真、无知及易怒。
哥林多前书3:1-3 弟兄们，我从前对你们说话，不能把你们当作属灵的，只得把你们当作属肉体，在基督里为婴孩的。我是用奶喂你们，没有用饭喂你们。那时你们不能吃，就是如今还是不能。你们仍是属肉体的。因为在你们中间有嫉妒分争，这岂不是属乎肉体，照着世人的样子行么？
第二个阶段是“儿童期”，表现为不稳定、好奇心及爱说话。那些到处说长道短之人往往是做贼心虚、虚荣或妄语之人。
以弗所书4:14 使我们不再作小孩子，中了人的诡计和欺骗的法术，被一切异教之风摇动，飘来飘去、、就随从各样的异端。
最后，当完全长成之时，就到了“成人期”。
哥林多前书14:20 弟兄们，在心志上不要作小孩子。然而在恶事上要作婴孩。在心志上总要作大人。
我们成长是通过正确的饮食、锻炼及休息。
正确的饮食意思是要默想真道。我们必须得到圣经（亦即“真理和生命”）的不断喂养，这将巩固我们的灵，使我们能够掌管自己的心智和身体。
马太福音4:4 耶稣却回答说，经上记着说：“人活着，不是单靠食物，乃是靠神口里所出的一切话。”
约翰福音6:63 叫人活着的乃是灵，肉体是无益的。我对你们所说的话，就是灵，就是生命。
我们当如何锻炼呢？
1）作一个真道的实行者。
雅各书1:22 只是你们要行道，不要单单听道，自己欺哄自己。
2）我们要把真道置于生命的首位。上帝的话语将成为我们内在的本质，圣灵会帮助我们记起那已经存记在我们心中的真道。
以弗所书6:18 靠着圣灵，随时多方祷告祈求，并要在此儆醒不倦，为众圣徒祈求。
3）通过在灵里祷告来操练你的灵人。
哥林多前书14:4 说方言的，是造就自己。作先知讲道的，乃是造就教会。
4）我们必须听从圣灵的声音。人的灵能发声（亦即：引导、直觉、内里的声音或良知）。圣灵是我们的帮助者。
约翰福音16:13 只等真理的圣灵来了，祂要引导你们明白一切的真理。因为祂不是凭自己说的，乃是把祂所见的都说出来。并要把将来的事告诉你们。
最后，我们还需要休息，知道神在我们里面，我们要做的只是顺从祂。
腓利比书1:6 我深信那在你们里面动了善工的，必成全这工，直到耶稣基督的日子。
圣灵是我们的教师。要紧的是要藉着阅读和聆听来领受教师的教导。教导也将形成并巩固我们的信仰，能够帮助我们牢牢地扎根，好教我们在生命的风暴来到时屹立不倒。
讲章系列：属灵成长之概述