GROWING in Jesus Christ
(From the Christ's Assembly Newsletter)
 
Eph 4:15 "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"
 
 
This message isn’t exclusively dealing with babes in Christ who must grow in Him, but this is dealing with all believers as we are all to spiritually GROW day by day, even if you think you’re at the highest spiritual level available there’s still more unless you’re walking the complete walk & talking the complete talk and miracles do follow you, you’re walking through walls and are going up in chariots of fire up into heaven 2Kings 2:11. We all have a spiritual stomach and a daily need to renew our minds in the spirit of God’s word. Whether you are a teacher or a new believer this still is meant to be an encouragement to you to continue in the Faith.  
 
Beloved as we know many in the body of Christ are still in the baby cradle spiritually speaking and are not ready to take steps in Christ. For many we must start introducing them with baby-steps and get them the spiritual milk of the word of God that is needed that they may grow thereby: 1Cr 3:1-2 "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.”  
 
None of us should have a sitting comfort zone in our spiritual walk which is basically falling asleep spiritually. Many in the body of Christ have gone into a spiritual coma, and it would be as if a miracle to raise them up from their spiritual bed.  
 
Many believers who have been Christians their entire lives cannot handle even the slightly more solid substance than spiritual milk, baby talk. However we know God in heaven has thrones up there with our names written on them. To Him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me on my father’s throne Halelujah!  One of our lesson series is on the Power of the Spirit, and WALKING in the Spirit. As we also don’t want to end up as mature Christians to get into a spiritual rocking chair, go from walking, to running the race and winning the crown! There is no death in Christ and there is no lack of spiritual power there but continual growth in strength and power in Jesus to proclaim the Gospel in greater capacities as our mind is more sanctified in the years we have, as we continue in the faith.
 
This is not only about growing from Spiritual Infancy in Christ but growing even from Maturity in Christ until you are transformed into the very image of Jesus Christ, and literally walking, talking and doing all the divine miracles and things Christ did, for those who believe on Him will do greater works than He did because there will be millions of us doing it WALKING IN THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT. Remember, this is written, Phl 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”  Rom 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Now how do we do it again? Rom 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  
 
2Pe 3:18 "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be] glory both now and for ever. Amen."  Hbr 5:12 “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.”
 
There are a lot of "baby Christians" out there who cannot acknowledge Kingdom truths such as purity. Once they have grown beyond milk they can then take on the meat of the word of God and deal with our heavenly father's work for His Kingdom will to be done on earth as it is currently being done in heaven.
 
What is the Faith once delivered to the saints? Will He find “the faith” in the earth? He told Peter not about what he did wrong in denying Him 3 times, as we know Peter felt very ashamed, and had went back to being a fisherman and had given up on ministry work at that time, but Christ encouraged him to CONTINUE in the Faith. Then Peter went on to become one of the greatest Apostles. It is the continual growing, changing and repenting (changing our thinking to be biblical) until we have been completely transformed into the image of Jesus Christ upon His return.
 
Col 2:6-7 "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."
 The whole word of God is put there for you to walk in it. "We live by every word of God". So we have death & destruction operating in our lives in as much as we don't have the word of God there operating in it.
 
Col 2:6-7 "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."
 
1/3 of you is eternally saved for ever, that is your spirit. However, you can choose how much rewards & blessings you want by how much of the word of God you apply to your life. There are a lot more things to be saved from other than just eternal darnation. There are mental strongholds only broken by the light of the word of God, and there are physical, social & even financial blessings required for the elect.
 
The best way to grow is get established in a church and begin honoring the Sabbath day (Not just 1 hour of church, but setting apart 24 hours for God). Make it the best day of the week with the best food & fellowship, a time when you have all your work already done around the house, etc. So you can rest in the Lord, and prosper in the ways He would have you. Sabbath is a day for only talking about good things and never fights or negativity. It is a time for resting on the finished work of Jesus Christ, and also resting from all the labors we've had throughout the week. (That's just a basic fundamental for growing in the spirit. God has a time schedule built into us for growing and He also works on a calendar. So you'll have to get in tune with the spirit.)
 
All it takes to activate that new life inside of you is once and for all accepting Christ’s penalty for your sins, so you can partake in eternal salvation which starts in this life. One of the first symbolic acts of faith and conversion to Jesus Christ is Baptism. However remember when you get baptized it represents a whole new life and God honors it as an act that you're fully converting, but most importantly He sees your heart if you are willing. You'll then be on your path to growing in grace and knowledge as the Holy Spirit empowers to to live by the word of God contained in the Bible.
 
2Pe 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
 
 
I must remind you, Christ is ALL THE WORD John 1:1 and 1:14, including 85% of it labeled the Old Testament.
Christ/Messiah means Anointing in Greek and Hebrew; and there are 3 Anointings: Prophet, Priest and King. As Jesus was all three we also are baptized and called to grow into these Anointings of Christ Jesus. (#1Prophet is one who speaks the word, #2Priest is one who ministers the word, and #3King is one who rules by the word being done). His salvation reaches into every aspect of living to the fullness.
   
More articles on this subject are available from the Christ's Assembly Newsletter Archive.