As we continue to delve into the teachings of Growing in 2024, it is important that as the body of Christ, we grow spiritually in the things of Jesus Christ even as we grow naturally. The Apostle Paul in the book of Ephesians chapter 4 gives us a detailed outlook on what Growing spiritually entails. As we look into this epistle, we see that he emphasized two important areas of growth. First, that the believers live a lifestyle of Jesus Christ both physically and spiritually. This is so critical to our identification with Christ as many believers can be seen and heard in a lifestyle that does not line up with the fruits of the spirit of Christ. Spiritually they would be deeply engaged in worship and speaking the word of God but have little control if provoked or displeased. The Apostle Paul beseeches us to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love (vs. 1-2). As a believer, we must grow both inwardly and outwardly. In other words our inward growth must be reflected on our outward living. It is our outward living that becomes an open book to our world as the light and salt of the world.
Secondly, he focused on the relationship among believers. He says we must endeavor “to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (vs.3).” Why? Because as believers we belong to “one body, and one Spirit, even as we are called in one hope of our calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all (vs 4-6).” Paul is making clear to us that as believers of Jesus Christ, we are members of one body. We are a family with one Father, one Spirit with one hope. We all make up the body of Jesus Christ where He is the Head. How can we then be at war with each other? We hesitate in the natural to take our sibling to the court of law because we are of one family, likewise, he tells us to keep the unity among us. Jesus Himself tells us, “Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespasses against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him (Luke 17: 3-4).” When the apostles heard this teaching from Jesus, immediately they said, “increase our faith (vs.5).”
They understood the depth of the call to unity among them despite their differences. They understood the call to grow out of their natural selves and grow spiritually so that their natural man would be diminished to live the life Jesus was calling them to live. In Galatians 5:24 (AMP), this very apostle Paul tells the believers in Galatia, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.” King James version reports, “They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. This is what it takes to walk in the Spirit and grow spiritually.
The apostle Paul was merely reiterating the principles of Jesus Christ. According to my pastor Exzabia who was teaching on the theme Growing in 2024, his direction for the flock, gave a great takeaway when he said, “when we are out of place and position, then we are trying to undo what Jesus has already completed. To stay in unity of the Spirit with each other we must cease being easily offended especially when correction comes from and through the word of God. There will and must be correction for growth to occur. The Word was inspired for doctrine, correction, reproof, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16). As our older champions of the faith would often say, the Word of God is the single measuring rod or mirror that keeps us all together and in the one mind of Christ. It’s the one and only instruction manual for all believers everywhere, far and wide.
The Apostle Paul gives us a clear picture when he said, “Christ has put each part of the church in its right place. Each part helps other parts. This is what is needed to keep the whole body together (NLV), So, when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love (GNT).” It is in the togetherness where each believer recognizes that they are an integral member of the body and lends itself to the oneness of the body that we each grow into the one hope of Jesus Christ. This brings us into another of his takeaways, “The Church (Body or Local Church) cannot function to its maximum potential until each member has reached their full capacity.” This in itself should fuel our Faith because we all have a part in the ineffectiveness of our brothers and sisters not functioning up to their full potential. The unity of the body of Christ is of such that when one errs or falls it affects every one of the body. When one is jubilant or excels likewise it affects us all. We are one body in Christ Jesus and as we walk close to Him we will emanate His essence and character in our walk with each other in strength and in unity.
Blessings!
