The Signs of Spiritual Growth

I think it was Max Lucado who said, "God loves you just the way you are, but He loves you too much to let you stay that way."  God commands us to grow (2 Peter 3:18).

What are the signs of growth?  What does it look like when someone is growing spiritually?

There are three false ways of discerning growth.  First, comparing yourself to others.  If you are more spiritual than the people around you, then it could be that the people around you just aren't very spiritual.  Instead of comparing yourself to others, only compare yourself to Jesus.  He is the standard.

A second false way of discerning growth is confusing activity with achievement.  Just because you are very active in church doesn't mean you are growing in maturity.  A lot of lost people are active in church.

A third false way of discerning growth is biblical knowledge.  Biblical knowledge is essential to spiritual maturity, but it is not equivalent to spiritual maturity.  Spiritual growth requires the application of truth to life.  

The following are nine true ways of discerning spiritual growth.

1.  An increasing sense of my own sinfulness.  Note Paul's example (1 Cor 15:9; Eph 3:8; Phil 3:12; 1 Tim 1:15."  J.C. Ryle said, "The man whose soul is growing, feels his own sinfulness and unworthiness more every year."

2.  An increase in holiness.  Jerry Bridges said, "Holiness is conformity to the moral character of God."  It is becoming more like Christ.  Ultimately this is the litmus test of growth.  Growth means becoming more like Christ in your character, conduct, and convictions.  Archibald Alexander said that if you are growing you will see "a more habitual vigilance against besetting sins and temptations."

3.  Less desire for the world.  J.C. Ryle says you will have have an "increased spirituality of taste and mind."  You will be less interested in the things of the world; less tempted by them.  The world "is a morally evil system that is under the influence of Satan and is opposed to God and to Christ's kingdom on this earth (NLT Study Bible)."  The world is dominated by three values (1 Jn 2:15-16): the lust of the flesh (the passion for pleasure); the lust of the eyes (the passion to possess); and the pride of life (the passion for position).  In other words, sex, salary, and status.  The world says you need these things to be happy.  The more you grow, the less you will be drawn to these things.  J.C. Ryle says, "The ways and fashions and amusements and recreations of the world have a continually decreasing place in his heart. He does not condemn them as downright sinful, nor say that those who have anything to do with them are going to hell. He only feels that they have a constantly diminishing hold on his own affections and gradually seem smaller and more trifling in his eyes. Spiritual companions, spiritual occupations, spiritual conversation appear of ever–increasing value to him."

4.  An increasing grief over the state of the world.  The more you grow, the more grieved you will be when you see other sin against God and each other.  The more saddened you will be when you see how sinful our world is.  The more upset you will be that so many people are living and dying without Jesus.

5.  A growing desire for God.  Not merely for God's blessing, for God Himself.  You will want to be closer to God; to know God more.  King David set the example for this (see Psalm 42:1-2).  This will show itself in regular and habitual communion with Christ.  

6.  An increasing love for others (1 Jn 4:8).  The more you grow like Christ, the more you will love people.  This will show itself in your actions, your attitude, and your words.  You will be more caring, compassionate, serving, kind, patient, and forgiving.

7. An increasing desire to reach the lost.  The more you love God, the more you will care about the things He cares about, and He cares about lost souls.  J.C. Ryle said, "The man who is really growing, will take greater interest in the salvation of sinners every year. Missions at home and abroad, efforts of every kind to spread the gospel, attempts of any sort to increase gospel light and diminish gospel darkness — all these things will every year have a greater place in his attention."

8.  Increasing spiritual mindedness.  The more you grow, the more your mind will be on God and the things of God.  You will be more God-conscious.  You will be in a state of prayer all day long (1 Thess 5:17).  You will consider God in all you do.  

9.  Less worry and depression.  Worry is the absence of faith.  As your faith grows, your tendency to worry will diminish.  Depression is caused by relying on the things of this world for happiness.  As you grow in Christ, you will look more and more to Him for happiness rather than the things of this world.  Archibald Alexander wrote, "An entire and confident reliance on the promises and providence of God, however dark may be your horizon, or however many difficulties environ you, is a sign that you have learned to live by faith; and humble contentment with your condition, though it be one of poverty and obscurity, shows that you have profited by sitting at the feet of Jesus."

Nothing in this life is more rewarding than spiritual growth.  Happiness and holiness are inseparable.  As Thomas Watson said, "Let God have His will by being holy, and you shall have your will by being happy."