READ Hebrews 5:11-14
In this series of messages on spiritual growth, we have established two things.
The first truth we have established is that the Christian life is not a once-for-all event but a continuous process. At conversion, we become a new person in Jesus Christ. Then, for the rest of our lives as Christians, we are "to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ" (Eph. 4:15).
The second truth we have established is that there are some basic disciplines which we can apply to our lives which will enable us to experience that growth. We’ve looked at two of these disciplines: Bible study and prayer.
These two truths ...that we are supposed to grow as Christians and that by applying some basic disciplines to our lives will grow ... should lead to a third truth: every Christian experiences growth.
Unfortunately, this does not happen. Although all Christians should grow and all Christians can grow all Christians do not grow.
What keeps us from growing spiritually? In this final message on developing our spirituality, I want to identify these hindrances to spiritual growth.
Hindrance #1: Lack of Knowledge
Sometimes we do not grow because of a lack of knowledge. This is especially true of new Christians.
Someone once suggested that we should lock up new Christians for a year so they won’t do much damage to the cause of Christ. Their zeal and enthusiasm often exceed their knowledge and understanding. This was of course a frivolous statement, but the point is valid. New Christians have more enthusiasm than they have knowledge.
Maybe this is a problem for some of you. You really want to grow. You want to experience everything which is coming to you as a follower of Jesus Christ. However, you do not yet have enough knowledge about spiritual things to know what to do to experience those blessings.
What is the solution to this problem? Let me mention three steps which will help. First, begin a consistent plan of Bible study. Second, decide to read at least one book a month on spiritual things. Third, establish a relationship with a more mature Christian which include getting together at least once a month for prayer and discussion.
Hindrance #2: Lack of Enthusiasm
Sometimes we do not grow because of a lack of enthusiasm. This is especially true of someone who has been a Christian for a long time. The greatest indictment of many Christians is not that they are falling short of the mark but that they have quit striving to reach the mark. They have become complacent about the Christian life.
Maybe this is a problem with some of you. You have been a Christian for so long that it has become boring to you. You know enough to grow as a Christian. Yet, you have lost the spirit of enthusiasm in your Christian life.
What is the solution.
Here are some suggestions.
First, find someone who has a need and begin to minister to that person.
Second, look around for Christians who seem to have that contagious enthusiasm and set up some specific times to be with them.
Third, write a story about your own conversion experience.
Sometimes remembering our initial encounter with Christ will rejuvenate our faith.
Hindrance #3: Lack of Wonder
Sometimes the problem is not that we lack knowledge or enthusiasm. Sometimes the problem is that we begin to take God’s blessings for granted and get so accustomed to them that they fail to stimulate us as they once did. In this case, the problem is a lack of wonder.
Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that if the stars came out only once a year, everybody would stay up all night to look at them. Since they come out every night, we soon take them for granted.
Maybe this is a problem for you. You have been so blessed for so long that you are no longer aware of these blessings nor are you grateful for them.
What can we do when we have lost the wonder? Let me offer these solutions.
First, spend some time observing nature.
Andre Gide told of a time when, during a classroom lecture, he observed a moth being reborn from its chrysalis. He was filled with wonder and awe at this marvelous metamorphosis. Enthusiastically, he showed to it his professor who replied with a note of disapproval, "Didn’t you know that a chrysalis is the envelop of a butterfly? Every butterfly you see has come out of a chrysalis.
It’s perfectly natural." Gide said, "I knew my natural history as well, perhaps better than he.... but because it was natural, could he not see that it was marvelous?"
Second, spend some time reading about and learning about the world in which we live. Some television programs provide mind expanding stories about the marvelous animals and the other living creatures of this world which God has made.
Third, ask lots of questions.
Spend some time with people who know more than you do and ask them questions about different wonders of this world in which we live. Let them share their wonder.
We cannot contemplate the greatness of God and the world He has made without being touched with wonder.
Hindrance #4: Lack of Accountability
Sometimes the problem is that we lack the kind of accountability to others which will keep us on track in our spiritual pilgrimage.
What do I mean by accountability?
This means to open our lives to one or a few carefully selected, trusted, loyal confidants who will speak the truth, and give them the right to examine, question, and appraise our lives.
Why is this important?
Every person’s perspective is partial and limited and we need to balance our limited perspective with the broader perspective from another person.
Proverbs 13:10 puts it like this: "Through presumption comes nothing but strife, but with those who receive counsel is wisdom."
Maybe this is a problem for some of you. You have so isolated yourself from other Christians that you are accountable to no one but yourself. As a result, you have allowed yourself to fall into some habits which are keeping you from moving forward in your Christian life.
What is the solution?
First, find a prayer partner and begin to develop a relationship with that person.
Second, find a group of people with whom you can meet on a regular basis to share your struggles and your dreams as Christians.
Third, establish some specific goals and regularly evaluate your life against those goals.
Hindrance #5: Lack of Commitment
Sometimes the problem is a lack of commitment. All of the other hindrances are, in a way, simply a manifestation of this final hindrance: a lack of commitment to Christ. We are living in a day when people almost instinctively draw back from the idea of commitment.
Why are we so hesitant to commit ourselves?
Some refrain from commitments because they fear it will rob them of their freedom. Truthfully, freedom comes only through commitment. The uncommitted person is not free but rather is bound by the desires and demands of the moment.
Some refrain from commitments because they fear they will not be able to follow through on them. They’ve made other commitments ... to a parent, or to a spouse ... and they have failed those commitments. As a result, they don’t want to make an empty commitment to God.
A Garfield cartoon recently captured this idea. Garfield says, "One of my pet peeves is people who never finish what they start." He grins a knowing smile and says, "I do not happen to be one of those people." The last frame shows him under the bed covers saying, "My philosophy is, ’Never start anything.’"
Maybe this is a problem with some of you.
You don’t want to confine your life with a commitment you know you are not going to fulfill, so you just never make the commitment to spiritual growth.
What is the solution?
First, remember the grace and mercy of God.
Second, write down some specific commitments you need to make.
Third, put a time table on these commitments.
Spiritual growth is achieved as we remove these hindrances from our lives.
