Spiritual Growth Manual Session 1 Lesson 8

Understanding how to grow up spiritually

Session 1 lesson 8

Introduction: Everything living is proven by its growth. We were raised from death to life, therefore we must grow. We entered this new life as seeds or children and once admitted into this new life, what is required next is growth. [John 5:24; Col.1:13; 1Pet.1:23 and 1Pet.2:2].

So far, we have been seeing the different ways the enemy has been trying to rob man of their benefits in redemption. We are presently looking at the way he is taking advantage of man’s ignorance.

Fear: This is another means by which the devil tries to rob us of our redemptive rights in Christ. This fear can carry out the following damage in man:

·        Keep him from receiving Jesus Christ on the threat that if he does, he would die. This is the kind of fear that is usually used to force people to remain in the cults that if they leave, they would die. These vices are usually done by initiating the victims into these evil cults through blood covenants. The good news is that Jesus has destroyed that fear by taking on flesh and blood to die for our sin and thereby destroy the devil that previously had the power of death so as to deliver all those held in bondage by this fear. See Heb.2:14-15 and Rev.1:18.

·        If the first threat fails, he tries to keep man bound by different kinds of fears like fear of failure and success. Fear that they may fail at any effort they make and the fear that if they succeeded, they would either lose it or be killed for succeeding. All these fears are really unfounded when we understand that God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind. Also, by redemption, we have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear but of adoption that enables us to call God our father. See 2Tim.1:7 and Rom.8:15.

·        When you overcome the fear of death, you can overcome anything and we have the key in 2Cor.10:3-6 and Eph.6:10-18.

Carnality: When the enemy cannot get you to fear, he tries to work on your Christian life becoming very unproductive. This he does by afflicting your mind with carnality. This is living like the natural man and sowing to the flesh thereby. The result of living like this is death. See Romans 8:1, 5-8, 1Cor.2:13-14 and Gal.5:16-21.