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Our being able to stand strong in the faith depends on the Lord.
1 Those who stand do not fall back into the ways of the world. 1
Those who stand have a testimony of a strong witness for the Lord.
2 The Christian who is standing is in unity with other believers 2
The standing Christians form the core of a productive local church.
2 The standing Christian has confidence in the Lord, expressed in his prayer life.
The standing Christian is always wearing his spiritual armor. 2
The advanced Christian, the person who has “attained to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ,” has completed basic preparation, is standing firm, and is ready to be promoted into mature production in the Lord.
1 Cor. 15:57,58.but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Psalm 16:8.I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Psalm 21:7.Some trust in chariots, and some in horses. But we will remember the name of the Lord our God. They are brought down and fallen; but we are risen, and stand upright.
Our being able to stand strong in the faith depends on the Lord.
Psalm 55:22. Cast thy burden on the Lord and He shall sustain thee; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 125:1.They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abides forever.
Those who stand do not fall back into the ways of the world.
Gal. 5:1.Stand fast therefore in the liberty where with Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Those who stand have a testimony of a strong witness for the Lord.
Phil. 1:27.Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
The Christian who is standing is in unity with other believers
Phil. 2:1,2.Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.
Eph. 4:13.until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
The standing Christians form the core of a productive local church.
Eph. 4:14-16.As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
The standing Christian has confidence in the Lord, expressed in his prayer life.
Phil 4:6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
The standing Christian is always wearing his spiritual armor.
Eph. 6:10-17.Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Psalm 66:8,9.Bless our God, O peoples, And sound His praise abroad, Who keeps us in life And does not allow our feet to slip.
Prov. 10:30.The righteous will never be shaken, But the wicked will not dwell in the land.
Acts 11:23.Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord
2 Thess. 2:15. So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
Heb. 3:6.but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.
Heb. 10:23. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful
Stages of Spiritual Growth
Stages of Spiritual Growth
Gene Cunningham
Salvation is only the beginning of God’s plan for man. After salvation, the believer’s objective is to advance through the stages of spiritual growth on the path from the cross to the crown. At each stage the believer faces increasingly intense tests that can only be passed through faith. Paul in Rom 1:17 says that believers progress “from faith to faith.” The five Hebrew words for faith illustrate the five stages of growth described in the New Testament.
The Babe (1Pe. 2:2) All believers enter the family of God as infants when they exercise faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. After the tremendous stress of birth, of being cast from the realm of darkness to the light, every infant’s first impulse is to nurse. The objective is nourishment, but the baby receives great comfort in feeding. God’s objective for the spiritual infant is growth, but He begins the process with comfort. Not much is expected of the child in his first years. Babies eat, sleep, cry, and mess, and parents do not get upset about the fact that their babies cannot change their own diapers or fix their own meals. Spiritual infants are just as helpless and need a great deal of nurturing, encouragement, and patient instruction.
Spiritual infancy is illustrated by amen, the leaning faith of Gen 15:6.
The Adolescent (1Jo. 2:13-14) The apostle John describes adolescent believers as the young, the strong, the eager. These are believers who have grown to the point at which they understand some principles of truth and are beginning to apply them to life. But, like most adolescents, they have the growing pains of arrogance and rebellion against authority; they are sometimes too eager to act on their own, and this often gets them into trouble. They have knowledge, which they mistake for wisdom, but they lack experience. Their tendency is to want to apply the truth to other people’s lives. Adolescents may be troublesome, but they are at least not apathetic. They must be patiently trained and encouraged to channel their energies. No one makes it to maturity without passing through adolescence.
Spiritual adolescence is illustrated by batach, the wrestling faith of Psa. 37:3.
The Mature (Heb. 5:14, Heb 6:1) The mature believer is able to take meat, the advanced doctrine of the Word. A Christian who has arrived at spiritual maturity knows enough about the Bible to take responsibility for his own life. He knows how to apply the Word of God to himself, so instead of airing all his problems, he figures out how to solve them. He is not ready to take on everyone else’s problems, but he can take control of his own life. He understands that God has a plan for his life, and he becomes occupied with fulfilling that plan. He gives himself to training and discipline, exercising himself and building spiritual muscle.
Spiritual maturity is illustrated by chasah, the confident faith of Psa. 57:1 that takes refuge in the Lord.
The Hero of Faith (Isa. 53:12; Heb. 11) Heroes of faith are men and women who have gone beyond maturity and have learned to fight the good fight. They have advanced beyond simply taking responsibility for their own lives to becoming responsible for the lives of other people. They are always ready to pick up fallen comrades, to treat their wounds, to encourage them and supply their needs. Heroes of faith still make mistakes and they still fall, but they always stand back up and go back into battle.
Hero of faith status is illustrated by yachal, the healing faith of Job 13:15.
The Friend of God (Jam 2:23-25) The highest of all possible achievements in life is to become a friend of God. Every believer has the potential and the assets necessary to reach this point, but very few Christians do. It takes persistence and tenacity. The only people who make it this far are the people who absolutely refuse to quit.
Friend of God status is illustrated by qawah, the enduring faith of Isa. 40:31.