How to Grow Into Maturity As A Christian

A vast majority of Christians become discouraged as they journey through life. At times the journey could be very challenging, but there are incredible rewards for those who endure until the end. Jesus said he will not put more on us than we can bear. It is God's intention to makes us strong. For you as a Christian to endure the hardships of life, it is critical that you understand the intention and the purpose of God for bringing us through the process.



1. Foundations



A large number of spiritual calamities among believers can be attributed to inadequate foundations. Jesus warned us not to build on sand but on the solid foundation. In the church, there is so much teaching on finance relationships and success, and that is all built on sand or false foundations. The most critical part of a house or any building structure is a foundation. Foundations determine the height of a building. Your foundation is critical. It will determine your destiny. No foundation, no future.



2. Faith



The bible says, the just shall live by faith. If you are going to live by something, it is critical that you understand what it is. Ephesians 6:3 says, above all, that means in addition to all, take up the shield of faith that you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. The implication is that, missiles are coming. They have your address, shoe size and blood type. They are tailor-made with your weakness in mind. Their guidance system has your DNA and genetic code. Your faith is a shield that prevents the penetration. Your shield registers pressure, but pressure does not mean penetration. You feel the pressure of discouragement, you feel the pressure of fear, but just because you feel it does not mean it has gotten through. Feeling the pressure and having penetration from the attack are two different things. Just because you feel the weight of discouragement doesn't mean you're discouraged.



Many people judge themselves by that momentary feeling. When Satan attacks you, he comes with a lie, and when you submit to it, you lower your attitude, which is your shield, and hence there is penetration. Your faith is a gift from God; it doesn't come from a tape or your pastor. The bible says, God gives a measure of faith. This means faith is perfected, developed and matures. Praying for more faith is the most dangerous prayer you can ever pray. More faith means more tests. Faith is like a muscle. Muscles grow through pressure. It is only when there is resistance or pressure exerted against them that they have the opportunity to grow. The real testimony of your faith is that, you are in a fiery furnace and not burned, in a lion's den and not munched. If you always pursue a place of comfort, lacking resistance, you can never have growth in your life. So, it is very critical that you develop a strong and solid foundation in your Christian walk, not only that but also a strong faith for you to live a good and successful Christian life.



3. Discipleship



Today in the United States, the fastest growing religion is the mammon church. Why? They go to places where there is spiritual awakening or revival and wait until the excitement dies, and they will move in to turn those who have been saved to their religion. They are taught and know that Christians will never disciple their converts. That is why there is so much decision followed by mass defections. Many churches know how to run a crowd, but no idea how to see people's lives transformed through discipleship. You can have high visibility but low impact. What is discipleship? Discipleship is a personal investment of your life to mentor and pour your life into someone. Discipleship means correction, training in righteousness not just teaching. Remember, you never produce what you teach, you reproduce who you are. Discipleship is a significant tool that helps in making a decision for Christ last forever. Lack of discipleship produces Christians with faulty foundations. The Islamic extremists have more understanding of discipleship than anyone else in the world. The word Taliban means discipleship. You have young men and women who are suicidal bombers, they say, put weapons around me, arm me and send me to the place of maximum impact so that I can make a difference. If Christians can master this art, they will have a profound influence on the earth.



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