Three critical habits for growing disciples
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Pastor Jones’ message again paralleled our Bible study series on “Leaving a Godly Legacy” as he reminded us that God intends for Christians to grow into spiritual maturity and be fruitful.
Our relationship with the Lord is expected to become richer, deeper, and more intimate every day, from the day of our salvation to the day we die. That happens through prayer and spending time with the Lord, listening to what he says to us.
Charles Stanley in Leaving a Godly Legacy page 68, 69
Rev. Jones explained three crucial habits that mature believers always have that help them to grow spiritually. The first one is private devotional consistency. Certainly our individual practices of prayer, Bible reading, and personal worship will differ, but maturing disciples have an individualized daily plan and they follow it consistently.
The second key habit of strong disciples of Jesus is providing conducive environments for their own spiritual growth. On the negative side, it is their habit to avoid places or circumstances which tend to amplify temptations. Like an over-eater might avoid all-you-can-eat restaurants, so they stay away from situations that aggravate their weaknesses. On the positive side, they are careful to maintain positive mental inputs. Maybe they listen to Christian radio or watch a video series like “The Chosen.” They are regular Bible readers and regular attenders at worship service too. They know we need mental input that counters the world’s influence.
Third, Pastor Kelvin taught us that one further habit is essential. Christians of stature in their faith are people who are staying tuned to the Holy Spirit’s personal application of truth. We know that it is the Holy Spirit’s job to help us do that. Jesus spoke about the work of the Holy Spirit saying,
The Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.
John 16:15 NIV84
Mature believers try to always be listening. Their comments show that they have been relating a principle or a verse from Scripture to a daily event or to the subject of the conversation. They are in the habit of integrating their thinking with the truths of the Word of God. Even when they are going through trials and temptations, they desire to know, “What does God want me to learn in this difficult season?” In short, they live in relationship with their heavenly Father. They desire to take their cues from God’s Spirit’s promptings.
Pastor Jones assured us that people who have these habits will also have a great spiritual legacy. They will achieve the goal that Paul laid out for us.
Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4:15-16 NIV2011