1 Thessalonians 5:23 (NKJV) - “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Bible talks about our threefold nature. We are a spirit, we have a soul, and we live in a physical body. Our spirit is the eternal part of us, and it is our spirit that lets us have fellowship with God.
Stages of Growth
A newborn baby receives milk from the mother after birth, giving it the perfect nutrition in order for it to grow. Seeing a child grow gives the parents such excitement and fulfillment! Therefore, most parents will measure and monitor the child’s weight and height for some years after birth. Children go through different stages on their way to maturity -- newborn, toddler, preteen, teenager... and we would be very concerned if one were to stop developing and get stuck in one of these stages, never fully growing up to becoming an adult.
Just like natural parents expect a child to grow and develop, God also expects us as believers to grow spiritually. 1 Peter 2:2 says, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby” (NKJV). Here, the Word of God is compared to milk – it gives us the purest, most perfect nutriment available in order to grow spiritually. Spending regular time reading, meditating, and feeding on God’s Word is the most important aspect of growing spiritually. Exercise:
Athletes discipline themselves in order to strengthen their bodies and develop physically. In addition to proper nutrition, regular exercise is key for every successful athlete.
As believers we also need to develop our spirits through “spiritual exercise”. 1. Timothy 4:8 says, “Physical exercise has some value, but spiritual exercise is valuable in every way, because it promises life both for the present and for the future” (GNT). Prayer and Worship
Fellowshipping with God and spending time in prayer and worship will help us discipline and grow our spirits. Praying in tongues is a major secret here. 1. Corinthians 14:14 says, “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful” (NKJV). Often, spiritual things can not be discerned with our natural mind, and bypassing our mind by praying in tongues can open up doors for us that otherwise would stay closed.
Brother Hagin called tongues the doorway to the supernatural. He experienced personally that the more he spoke in tongues—the more he prayed and worshipped God in tongues—the more the other gifts of the Spirit manifested. The less he spoke in tongues, the less manifestation of the other gifts of the Spirit he had operating in his life.
As 1.Thessalonians 5:23 says, we are whole beings! Let us maintain balance, developing a godly spirit with a prosperous soul and a healthy body!
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