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Bible Study Time, Tuesday, September 7, 2010, Sister Edith Tolbert
Hindrances to Spiritual Growth
God wants us to always be growing spiritually. We should never come to a place where we stop growing spiritually
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. II Peter 3:18
Spiritual growth is not miraculous, accidental or automatic. We bear responsibility for spiritual growth. It is our choice. Will we hear the word of God? How will we hear it? Will we put into practice what we hear? This will either help or hinder our spiritual growth.
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
They on the rock are they,which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it,and bring forth fruit with patience. Luke 8:11-15
There are four types of hearers:
1. Dullness of hearing
Dull – lacking sensitivity, unfeeling, sluggish; boring, not felt keenly or sharply
The person, who is dull of hearing, hears the word of God but does not believe it. His heart is hard toward the things of God. God’s word is not important to him.
2. Lack of endurance The person receives the word of God when he hears it, but does not count the cost of serving God. He is unwilling to pay the price when trials and tests come. He hears with an emotional mind and at first receives the work with joy but soon gives up. They think God’s way is too hard. They will never grow.
He that endures to the end shall be saved.
3. Neglect, lazy or no diligence, lack of effort
The person who stops craving, eating and depending on the word of God will stop growing.
Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. I Peter 2:1-3
Babies cry for milk every day; every 2-4 hours. How are we hungering after God’s word? If we have malice, guile, hypocrisies, envies or any sin in our life, our desire for God’s word will be hindered, and we will not grow.
The devil wants our life to be taken up with cares, riches and pleasures of this life so we will not spend time in praying and reading the Bible. We have to take time to read and pray. Daniel had a set time every day to pray – 3 times a day. We need to make a habit of reading and praying every day. Be diligent about it. Don’t let the things of this life distract us from staying close to God. If we don’t put into practice what we hear and allow the things of this world to come in our life we will stop growing. We cannot be lazy and neglect our devotion to God and grow.
If we stop learning God’s word; stop assembling with the saints to worship God; stop praying; and stop obeying the truth; our spiritual life will shrivel up and die.
Jesus is our example. At 12 years old he was earnest about his father’s business. Luke 2:41-52. He was not concerned about what he could get out of life for himself. He wanted to learn more about his Father and please his Father. He came to do the Father’s will and not his own will. We need to have the same earnestness of learning about our heavenly father in order to grow.
If we do not eat true spiritual food, we will not grow. Our intake of truth is vital to spiritual growth. Man’s ideas, religious ideas and doctrines of men will not cause us to grow spiritually; only the true word of God with the Holy Spirit anointing.
4. Honest hearts will hear the work and keep it.
The honest hearer will be obedient to the word of God. Regardless of what others do or say, the honest hearer will remain faithful to Christ and grow. The honest hearer will take time to be alone with God. The honest hearer will be diligent about the things of God. The honest hearer will not neglect God’s word and prayer every day. Feeding on God’s word every day and putting into practice what it says is what will cause us to continue to grow spiritually.
Be an honest hearer of God’s word.
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