Growing Up In Christ. Part 4:

Stages of Spiritual Development.

Deacon Adekunle Adenuga

The understanding of the stage of our growth will help us to know what to do to move to the next stage of growth. We ought to know the truth of each stage of growth so that we can make quality decision to grow to the next stage. God wants us to grow. The Bible teaches that there is a remarkable comparison between spiritual development and growth, and physical development and growth. The Bible provides at least three stages in spiritual development that compare to the stages in physical development. They are  babyhood, childhood and manhood. We will find out that some of the characteristics of each stage of natural development are also true of the corresponding spiritual stage. I believe we can locate where we belong to in our development.

Babyhood. 1 Peter 2:2 KJV As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

No one is born a full grown human naturally and physically. They are born babies, and then they grow up. In the same vein, no one is born a full grown Christian. You are born a spiritual babe, and then you grow up. The newly born again Christians are referred to as newborn babies. The first stage of our growth is babyhood. Every born again child of God begin as newborn babe, and then they grow up. We are all born into the family of God as newborn babies. We are going to be held responsible and accountable for the spiritual babies born into the family of God in our churches. People are born babies, they need to be helped. They need to be followed up and prayed with, talked to and dealt with. They are newborn babies.

We are responsible for babies. Babies do not know. Babies cannot do for themselves. A newborn babe in the natural cannot do much. He does not walk yet; he does not dress himself. In fact, he does not do anything for himself. All he does is eating. And all he eats is milk. Spiritually speaking, there are newborn babes. And if they get the sincere, uncontaminated milk of the Word, they will grow thereby.

Characteristics Of Babyhood. 

(a) Innocence. A newborn babe has no past. He is pure and sinless. He has no knowledge of good and evil. Therefore, a newborn babe in Christ does not have any past. No matter how evil and devilish he may have been, once he becomes born again, he becomes a new man in Christ Jesus and he does not have any past. In the mind of God, you are an innocent babe.

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

A new man in Christ is a new creation. He is a new person, a newborn babe. Another translation says he is a new kind of specie. He is very new; he has never existed before hence he has no past. All things about this man are new. Though, innocence belongs to the babyhood stage of Christianity, it is one characteristic we should not outgrow. We should maintain this state of innocence and pureness in order to be teachable and focused. A new convert is simple, full of faith, ready and willing to learn. We should maintain that teachable spirit. We should not have a know-it-all attitude or a you-cant-tell-me-anything attitude. We should maintain a humble spirit toward God and man. You should always keep an open spirit and a teachable spirit, as well as an innocent spirit toward God and man.
1 Corinthians 8:2 KJV And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
You must always be ready to learn from the Holy Spirit, and let Him teach you. No matter how much you think you know, you do not yet know anything as you should know. In fact, one of the sign of growing up is that the more you increase in the knowledge of the Word of God, the more you discover and realize you do not even know anything yet. If you think you are wise, then you are a fool. If you want God to give you His wisdom, then you ought to become a fool. 1 Corinthians 3: 18.

(b) Ignorance. Ignorance means to be without knowledge and unenlightened.
Romans 1:13 KJV Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

God does not want you to be ignorant. He wants you to be with and have the knowledge of His will. Colossians 1: 9. He wants you to be aware of the devices and tricks of your enemy. 2 Corinthians 2: 11.
Babes are ignorant. Hence, they put everything in their mouth. A newborn babe always puts his hands in his mouth. So, whatever he can lays his hands on, he thinks it ought to go in his mouth. Babes do not know what should or should not go into their mouth. This is dangerous and deadly. Spiritually, Christians need to be carefully what goes into their spiritual mouths.

Christians need to be as careful about what we read and listen to as we are about what we eat physically. We need to be careful of what we hear and read. We need to be careful about what we focus on and incline our ears to hear. Luke 8: 18. That is the reason Apostle Peter through the Spirit admonished us to desire the sincere, uncontaminated and unadulterated milk of the Word.

An insincere, contaminated and adulterated milk will only kill and destroy. But, sincere and unadulterated milk of the Word will make you grow up. Whatever takes faith out of you instead of putting more faith in you, do not accept it. Reject it immediately. You are what you eat. You are what you read.

(c) Unskillful. Babes are unskillful. They are incompetent. They are without experience; hence do not really know what is right. They need to be taught to know. They are not experience in the things of God. They need to be followed up and visited from time to time.

Hebrews 5:13 KJV For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

As long as you remain a babe using milk, you will remain unskillful in the Word of righteousness. A babe cannot be acquainted with his parents. They cannot be held for responsible for anything. Yes, they are true Christians but all they know is the basic teachings of the Word. though, they could have gone deeper in the things of God, rather they choose to stay with the milk.

(d) Irritability. Babes are easily spoiled. When they become spoiled, they become irritable. They are touchy, fussy and short-tempered, lacking self-control. Babes want to be pet. They want to be carried all days. There are many spiritual babes in the Church, those who ought to have grown up and weaned from bottles and milk.

Isaiah 28:9 KJV Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

Wean means to be detached or alienate, no longer fretting (worrying, fussing) for milk. A weaned babe is a growing up babe. This babe Christian has been detached from the bottle and milk, now he is growing getting ready to take on strong food. Getting ready to learn the knowledge of the Word and to know and understand the doctrine.

Furthermore, babes are easily frustrated, disappointed and hindered. They are easily distracted, deflected and disturbed. They are easily hurt, discomforted and offended.

Growing Out Of Babyhood.

1 Peter 2:2 KJV As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Growing out of babyhood involves making a quality decision to grow up. It means to desire and covet intensely the sincere, unadulterated milk of the Word. It involves taking time to listen to sound teaching. It involves consistent meditation in the word of God. It involves making the choice to be a diligent student of the Word and giving yourself to the whole counsel of the study of the Word of God, and practicing the Word.
Jeremiah 15:16 KJV Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.

Feed your spirit man with the Word of God. Make a quality decision to indulge your man in at least three square meal a day. Get the Word into your spirit. Let your spirit have the luxury of banqueting in the Word of God every day. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Give your undivided attention to the Word; make it your top priority in life. Build up your faith by which you can access the grace of God. Faith comes by reading and hearing the Word of God. Keep at giving yourself to the Word. Hear the word and do the word. Be consistent in looking into the perfect law of liberty. This is the way to grow up and reign as king by Jesus Christ. Acquaint yourself with the Father God and the Lord Jesus Christ. be fruitful and productive-this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus.