Five –Fold Understandings for Spiritual Growth

To live a successful life in Christ Jesus, a Believer must have a biblical understanding of these five main components.  The understanding of these will open a flow of hearing God and serving Him as He desires.

Marsha Deveaux Johnson, www.livingjoyministries.com http://hepzibah40.blogspot.com

·         God’s Word

 It is the main focus of the life of the Believer.  A Believer must constantly be receiving, speaking, meditating, and digesting God’s word on a daily basis.  This hunger for the Word of God must be motivated by a desire to live for and please Him, Psalms 119:105.   It must not be for gaining knowledge for knowledge’s sake or to teach others.

·         Obedience

Every Believer must become a “Doer” of the Word of God and not a “Hearer” only, James 1:22.  Obedience is the key to living the life of Christ.  Studying, speaking, meditating on the Word of God is the starting point and obeying it brings your life into completion.  Deny your wayward flesh and choose the path that is revealed in scripture.

·         Man’s Flesh

Our flesh is defined as the cravings of the corrupted self-will, self-desire, self-importance, and self-interest.  By an act of our will, we must crucify the flesh and die daily to its corrupted cravings, Romans 8^th Chapter.

·         Satan

Every Believer serves God successfully only if they have a revelation of Satan.  Isaiah 14: 12-32 records a historical description of Satan’s fall.  Ezekiel 28^th Chapter aligns Satan’s reign and fall with a literal king who once ruled in the earth.  In Luke 10:18, Jesus says of Satan, “I beheld you fall like lightening from heaven”. 

The Bible records Satan as a defeated enemy with no power against the word of God and the blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ.  Until a Believer understands this fact, much time will be directed at fighting a defeated enemy rather than building a firm foundation on the Word of God.  Satan falls on the sword of the Word of God.  God’s word manifested in your life will overthrow Satan every time it is enforced.

·         Union

Every Believer must understand that “Union” with God is the life and Eternity goal, John 17:21.  Jesus prayed that we would be “One” as He and the Father are “One”.  Union with God for the Believer is a work of the Holy Spirit in the Believer.  Only the Holy Spirit can usher us into “Union” with God.  It is not a work of man or flesh. 

The first four above mentioned components must be in operation before “Union” with God can occur.  We were sent to earth to begin to get to know the One with Whom we will spend Eternity.  As we focus on the Word of God, obedience, crucifying the flesh, putting Satan in his defeated proper place, the Holy Spirit will conform us to the image of Christ and bring us into union with the Father.  AMEN!