8 Steps to Spiritual Living
By
Bishop M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
Isaiah 28:9-10 “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. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little”.
Every building must have a foundation and that foundation must be solid or else the structure will not stand. Matthew 7:24-27 says “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it”.
Hebrews 11:6 says “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”.
Hebrews 11:1 says “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”.
So therefore our foundation is faith in Christ Jesus. Jesus is the Rock (Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it) and our faith in Him completes the foundation that our spiritual living is built upon. On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand.
No-one ever said that this walk was going to be easy. The young Christian will have thoughts of giving up, they will say things like I can’t make it, this is too hard while the mature Christian will understand that they must crucify flesh daily. Understand Paul said I would do good but evil is ever present, Jesus said the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. The spiritual living doesn’t just happen there is some work that needs to be done on your part Philippians 2:12 says Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. There is no greater privilege that to live a Holy life in Christ Jesus. We need to make up in our minds that we are going to do whatever it takes to experience the most satisfying and gratifying life possible.
We have established the foundation #1 is Faith. Hebrews 11:1 & 6. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”. Faith would be the cement but what is also part of the faith foundation is diligence.
Divine Completeness. The ability to successfully live the spiritual life.
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Now let’s build upon this foundation. Remember the Bible says in Isaiah 28:9-10 “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. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little”.
Turn to 2 Peter 1. We will see in the chapter that Peter gives detail of how to live the spiritual life successfully. In verse 1-4 we see that God doesn’t expect for us to do this by ourselves, but has given us power and promises to help us make it.
Vs#5:- Diligence – coupled with faith makes the strong foundation. Diligence is an eagerness, earnestness, forwardness, haste. It is the desire to accomplish or strive after. It is the effort and zeal for putting out and not putting off. Diligence is work, the Bible says in James 2: 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Then added to your faith virtue.
Virtue:- a course of thought, feeling, and action. This is the mind-set and willingness to do the right thing. It is this mind-set that causes you to say nothing shall separate me and nothing is going to stop me. My mind is made up I going to go through regardless.
AND TO VIRTUE KNOWLEDGE.
Knowledge:- knowledge signifies a general understanding and intelligence. Paul said it like this in Philippians 3:10 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death”. This is not just book knowledge or information about, but experience with and relationship. We must know what God is like Exodus 34:4-7; John 4:24. Know what God loves Psalm 37:28, 146:8; John 14:23, 15:9, 2 Corinthians 9:7. Know what God hates Psalm 5:5, Proverbs 6:16-19, Isaiah 61:8 Know who you are in Christ Ephesians 1:3-14 for example.
Vs#6:- ADD TO KNOWLEDGE TEMPERANCE.
Temperance:- Self-control, this is the ability to master control of your desires and passions, especially your sensual appetites. Understand knowledge is incomplete without practice – self-control is the practice of the knowledge we have gained. Self-control is not just a matter of personal effort it is a product of the Spirit Galatians 5:23. Only when we build upon faith with diligence, seek virtue and right knowledge can we expect to have this body under control.
ADD TO TEMPERANCE PATIENCE.
Patience:- Endurance, steadfastness, and consistency. Patience gives us the ability to finish what we have started Philippians 3:13-14. It enables us to follow Christ Hebrews 12:2. It enables us to love 1 Corinthians 13:7. Develop character Romans 5:4.
Understand patience happens when we have temperance (self-control) which is the result of relational thinking, which is the result of the desire to do the right thing which is the result of our faith. Without these your building of a spiritual life will fall.
We must have Patience / Endurance because in this life we will have trouble John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world”. All of us will have to go through trial and tribulations in order to obtain and hold on to that we desire.
ADD TO PATIENCE GODLINESS.
Godliness:- reverence, respect. To patience we must had godliness, this is what would Jesus do. We need to act like Christ, think like Christ. Philippians 2:5 says “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus”. Godliness is to have the character of Christ. Everything we do should grow out of a God centered view Proverbs 3:5-7. We speak to please the Lord in all things Colossians 1:10. Character is how we act when we are not in church. Since God is merciful we should be merciful Luke 6:36, God is Love we should be Love 1 John 4:7-11, God is Holy we are to be Holy 1 Peter 1:15-16 for example.
Vs#7:- AND TO GODLINESS BROTHERLY KINDNESS.
Brotherly Kindness:- this is a family kind of love. Family love is strong and will conquer all. Brothers can argue but let someone else try to jump in. We are a family, we are God’s children made up of a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic group of people. Galatians 3:28 says “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus”. 1 Corinthians 12:12 says “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ”.
Romans 12:9-13 “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality”.
If brotherly kindness is lacking it is because we are not working the steps to spiritual living. We are failing to follow God’s instructions to successful spiritual living.
ADD TO BROTHERLY KINDNESS CHARITY.
CHARITY is LOVE:- This is not Eros (Romance) or Philia (Friendship) but Agape (Unconditional). Agape love is a love that depends on the 7 steps that precede it. It is the kind of love that the Bible calls for. It’s this kind of love Jesus commanded his disciples to have in John 13:34 – 35 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another”.
Matthew 5:4 says “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”
Luke 6:27 -38 “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also. ive to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again”
1 Corinthians 13 :1-5 “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil”.
Divine Completeness. The ability to successfully live the spiritual life.
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If we follow the steps lined out in 2 Peter 1 we can live this spiritual life with great success.
We will not be unfruitful or unproductive in the knowledge and relationship to Jesus Christ. We will not be shortsighted and blind to the point of losing sight of how much God has done for us.
By our diligence and faith we will make it to maturity and not stumble and fall in our spiritual progress. We can look forward to a triumphant entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
These steps are not a timeline that we strive to accomplish, but show the progression of real faith. God is not just looking for love, but he is requiring all these characteristics for combined they provide a balanced and spiritually successful Christian.
These steps are not a short cut to spiritual living. There is no easy way to breeze through any levels. This life requires much effort just as anything in life that is worthwhile to pursue.
Understand living the Spiritual life is not about speaking in tongues or shouting or even quoting scripture but living in obedience to God’s word in such a way that others see your works and glorify God – HOW – by coming to Jesus.
Once you have applied the 8 steps to Spiritual living you can live this Spiritual life regardless if you are Single, a Single Parent, Divorced, or Married.
Single & Never Married Living a Spiritual Life.
The possibilities that exist for the single and never married adult are unlimited, more than any other category of being single. This is especially true if you have a love for God and a desire to see His kingdom advanced on the earth. God has given you a single life as a gift and He wants you to celebrate it, appreciate it, prize it, discover its benefits and enjoy it. "Being single is not a problem to be solved, but a gift to be enjoyed."
The attributes you possess that are particularly beneficial to the Kingdom of God are time to be focused on God's kingdom agenda and freedom to be led by the Spirit of God. The opportunity to abide in God's presence with undistracted devotion makes you an invaluable resource to the Kingdom of God. You have an opportunity to establish intimacy with God that will create a holy jealousy from your married counterparts if you recognize it and learn to take advantage of it. This intimacy will also result in you having profound impact on the kingdom of God. Charles Spurgeon describes the opportunity that awaits every single adult that has the courage to embrace it:
"To abide in Jesus is never to quit Him for another love, or another object, but remain in living, loving conscious, willing union with Him. The heart must remain in love, the mind must be rooted in faith, the hope must be cemented to the Word, the whole man must be joined unto the Lord. The carte blanche can be given give to one whose very life is, "Not I, but Christ liveth in me."
The success of your single life will be determined and evaluated by the level of intimacy you establish with God. The degree of your intimacy will be measured by the amount of fruit you produce. Maybe the Lord will call you to the mission field during your single life and many souls from the third world will come into the kingdom because you are an obedient single adult. Maybe you will use your time, gifts and finances to ensure the needs of your local church are met. Maybe your devotion to intercession and prayer will bring life to dead marriages, bound children and drug infested neighborhoods and communities. Maybe your skill and character in corporate America will cause the name of Jesus to be glorified and your financial success will be used to spread the gospel. As a single adult, if you make yourself available and pay the price giving God undistracted and undivided devotion these are just a few examples of the testimonies you will have.
Single Parenting and living a Spiritual Life.
As single parents you have one of the most challenging aspects of the single life and yet if you discover God's provision for the single parent your life and the life of your children will be fruitful and fulfilling. There are numerous promises in the scripture that deal with the single parent.
God provides protection to single parents from their enemies:
Exodus 22:22-24: "You shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child. If you afflict them in anyway and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry and My wrath will become hot and I will kill you with the sword; your wives shall be widows and your children fatherless."
God provides deliverance for single parents:
Job 29:12 " Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless and him that had none to help him."
God provides assistance for single parents:
Psalms 10:14 "But You have seen it, for You observe trouble and grief, To repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless."
Psalms 146:9 " The Lord watches over the strangers; He relieves the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked He turns upside down."
Single parents should be careful to remember that as long as they live their lives in undivided devotion to God, He will always direct them to put their children first. Hagar displays the devotion that a single parent should have to God and to their child and God's incredible response to that devotion.
Practically speaking single parents must be extremely careful not to become involved in relationships or activities that cause them not to be intimately involved with the overall development of their child. Your life must be lived first to enusre your child is raised to fear the Lord and live for the Lord. This will be well pleasing to God and cause Him to shine favor on you. This may mean that God will not permit you to have a romantic relationship until your children are grown and living a successful life. Don't sacrifice the well being of your child for a relationship. More than likely you will live to regret that decision.
Practically speaking, seek out an environment that offers assistance to single parents particularly if you don't have family support. You shold be intimately involved with a local church that is sensitive to the needs of single parents and has programming to address those needs. Look for churches with male and female mentorship progrms, parenting skills for the single parent, economic provision such as job training and housing. You should also live in a community that offers these services.
I encourage and exhort you to enjoy your season of being unmarried and take full advantage of the benefits and opportunities it offers. You may never get an occasion to have intimacy and impact like the one that awaits you right now as a single that has never been married.
If you are one of those choice singles that God has called to remain single a life- time like the Prophet Jeremiah and the Apostle Paul, you are to be commended for your obedience and sacrifice. Like the Prophet Jeremiah and the Apostle Paul you are a treasured possession and your life is invaluable to the advancement of the kingdom of God.
Divorced and living a Spiritual Life.
Going through a divorce is one of the most traumatic experiences anyone will face. In order to navigate through it successfully you must receive healing. Healing does not come from keeping busy, starting a new relationship or believing that time heals all wounds. Healing can only come from God's Word and God's anointing.
Statistics reveal that many people never receive adequate healing because as high as 50% of first time marriages end in divorce, 62% of second time marriages end in divorce and over 70% of third time marriages end in divorce.
God hates divorce, but He loves all divorcees and is committed to making you whole and complete again.
Here are some scriptures the Holy Spirit can use to bring healing to you:
Jeremiah 17:4 O LORD, if you heal me, I will be truly healed; if you save me, I will be truly saved. My praises are for you alone!
Isaiah 61:7 Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor. You will possess a double portion of prosperity in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.
Psalms 147:3 He is the healer of the brokenhearted. He is the one who bandages their wounds.
Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted
Isaiah 43:18-19 Do not call to mind the former things, Or ponder things of the past. 19"Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.…
It is the desire of God that every Christian grow spiritually and live a successful Spiritual Life.
The follow acronym will help you remember the essential elements to spiritual progress.
P –pray the Christian who wants to grow communicates with God through prayer. They express gratitude, confess sins and come to Him with request for themselves and others.
O – obey. Our obedience is better than sacrifice and is an indicator of our love for God. The Holy Ghost gives us power to walk in obedience Galatians 5;16-25.
W – Worship Hebrews 10:24-25. We should also worship him continuously Psalm 34:1.
E – Evangelize the gospel with others. Matthew 28 19:20.
R – Read The most direct source of Spiritual living is the Bible. It must be read regularly because it is milk and strong meat 1 Peter 2:2, tells us how to live Psalm 119:105, is God’s word.
Spiritual Living is not abiding by some agenda but is a life characterized by
Understanding you are a new creature 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Transforming and renewing your mind Romans 12:2
Treating others with Love Philippians 2:3-4.
Living out the teachings of Christ Matthew 5.
Living by the steps outlines in 2 Peter 1.
This is just an outline to help you as you grow from faith to faith to becoming a spiritually mature Christian.
Bishop M.L. Maughmer, Jr.
