The Four Stages of Spiritual Growth!


There are four stages of spiritual growth during a Christian's life. The four spiritual stages parallel our physical stages of growth and development. The four spiritual stages are, Babyhood, Childhood, Youth and Adulthood. The fivefold ministry gifts of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher are to equip and train the members of the Body of Christ
The following stages of spiritual growth are outlined here as a guide to help locate our spiritual stage, and to help us grow to the next stage of spiritual development. Spiritual growth is not the result of growing older physically. Spiritual growth occurs as a result of feeding and meditating on God’s Word, being a doer of God's Word, and desiring a closer and intimate relationship with Him. God desires for each member of the body of Christ to grow up spiritually so that we can function effectively where God has placed us in the body. With spiritual maturity comes spiritual responsibility.. We will have more spiritual fruit in our lives and our witness will shine brighter in the world when we grow up spiritually.

1. This first stage of spiritual growth begins the moment a person is born again. It is the Babyhood stage. We begin our spiritual growth as a babe in Christ. The word "babe" means not able to speak. A spiritual baby has not yet learned how to speak the Word of God out of his mouth. He is unskillful in using the Word of God against the enemy of his soul. He is motivated, responds and reacts to spiritual things with his five physical senses. His survival depends on others who are older spiritually. A spiritual baby cries and complains often. A spiritual baby does not know who he is. He does not know anything about the royal family of God he has been born into. The spiritual baby makes a lot of messes and mistakes. He cannot eat spiritual food on his own so he must be spoon fed by someone who is older spiritually. He must be constantly watched and cleaned up after. He requires a lot of patience from those that are taking care of him. A spiritual baby is not old enough to walk by faith on his own so he must be carried by a stronger Christian's faith. A spiritual baby will grow quickly just by feeding on the milk of the Word in a good local church.

Scripture References:
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
"And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ." (I Cor. 3:1)
"For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe." (Hebrews 5:13)
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby."(I Peter 2:2)


2. The second stage of spiritual growth is Childhood. A spiritual child is immature in spiritual things. He is learning to speak the Word of God out of his mouth, but he mostly imitates what he has heard his spiritual parents say. A spiritual child loves to learn. He absorbs knowledge from the Word of God like a sponge. He is still very dependent upon others who are spiritually mature for his survival. He has a respect for spiritual authority in the local church and he desires to please those that are watching out for his spiritual welfare. The spiritual child wants to test out his spiritual legs. He will begin to walk by faith on his own. The spiritual child still makes a lot of messes and mistakes. He may fall and get scrapes and bruises. He can be helped back up as he continues to learn to walk by faith. The spiritual child is selfish. Everything is me and mine. The spiritual child is very impressionable. If something spiritual looks good to his eyes, he will immediately put it in his mouth and embrace it as truth. New doctrines or teachings that sound good to his ears can easily deceive a spiritual child. If a stranger gives him bad spiritual food, the spiritual child will swallow it whole without first examining it in light of the Word of God. He can be easily swayed to go off into error. If he is not taught and protected by those that are spiritually mature, he could follow the wiles of the enemy and be harmed spiritually. A spiritual child will respond to correction from the Word. At this stage, a spiritual child does not require spoon feeding. He begins to eat spiritual food on his own.

Scripture References:
"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." (I Cor. 13:11)
"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." (Ephes. 4:14)
"As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance." (I Peter 1:14)


3. The third stage of spiritual growth is Youth. A spiritual youth will often venture away from his spiritual parents to try new things and discover who he is. A spiritual youth will tend to question spiritual authority in the local church. He often thinks that he can live the Christian life his own way. He thinks that his way is the best way. A spiritual youth will openly disobey spiritual authority with his words and actions. He still deals with habits that he is not willing to give up. Because of his quick growth, the spiritual youth will go through a "clumsy" season. He will try to run his spiritual race only to stumble because his feet do not measure the size of the rest of his body. The spiritual child gets offended easily. The smallest offense can cause him to leave a good church where he is being fed spiritually. He will continue to go from church to church only to discover that the problem is not with other people, but with himself. Until he stays in the hard places long enough to learn valuable spiritual lessons, he will never grow to the next stage of spiritual growth. The spiritual youth desires immediate gratification. Spiritual things are not as interesting to him as they were when he was a spiritual child. He becomes bored with scripture and desires something more new and exciting. The spiritual youth doesn't think he needs to learn any more than what he already knows about the Word of God. He needs to be trained and taught the importance of faithfulness and responsibility. He is strong willed and has a lot of energy. The spiritual youth has zeal for the things of God. He requires much encouragement and direction. He will often take leaps of faith when others around him watch from their comfort zone. Because of his zeal, the spiritual youth can be used mightily by God. His lack of maturity and character sometimes prevents the spiritual youth from staying faithful to the course and following through with God's perfect will for his life. The spiritual child will grow just by walking in the light of the Word of God that he already knows.

Scripture References:
"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Tim. 2:22)
"For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding." (Proverbs 7:6-7)
"The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head." (Proverbs 20:29)


4. The fourth stage of spiritual growth is Adult. This is a spiritually mature Christian. The spiritual adult knows what it means to live in the royal family of God that he was born into. He knows his spiritual position and responsibility In-Christ. He consistently bears spiritual fruit. The spiritual adult will be active in the local church. Being willing to help in any area that will help fulfill the vision of that church. All that he does, he does as unto the Lord and not unto man. He submits to spiritual authority over him from the heart as unto the Lord. He is more conscious of his spirit man than his outer man. The spiritual adult is not swayed or moved by criticism or praise. He is content in lack as well as abundance. He forsakes immediate gratification for lasting spiritual results. He has learned to use the Word skillfully. He exercises self-discipline. He has learned to bridle his tongue. He is a good witness to those both in and outside the church. The spiritual adult wants to help the spiritually younger grow and mature. He is faithful to fulfill the destiny and calling on his life. When things become hard, the spiritual adult perseveres through them. He never leaves his spiritual post when the arrows are flying. He does not intrude on another man's gift or calling. He runs his spiritual race with patience. The spiritual adult knows that he is seated In-Christ, far above all principality, and power and might. He exercises his spiritual authority in order to help set others free from the bondage of sin. He is humble. He attributes any of his success to the grace of God. He is more concerned with other's needs than his own. He forgives those who do him wrong. The spiritual adult constantly practices his love walk. He produces spiritual children whom he nurtures and encourages. He counts tests and trials as joy for the hope of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. The spiritual adult knows that with all his knowledge of the Word of God, he has not even scratched the surface of the depth and the wisdom of God.

Scripture References:
"Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: ( mature ) yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought." (I Cor. 2:6)
"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (mature) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Ephes. 4:13)
"But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5:14)
"For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect (mature) man, and able also to bridle the whole body." (James 3:2)


Conclusion:

There are four stages of spiritual growth during a Christian's life. All four stages parallel the physical stages of growth and development. The four spiritual stages are: Babyhood, Childhood, Youth and Adult. Once we know where we are located spiritually, we can work on growing to the next stage of development. Spiritual growth occurs as a result of being active in the local church, feeding and meditating on God's Word, being a doer of God's Word, and desiring a closer and more intimate relationship with Him. After we discover where we are located spiritually, we can begin to grow up and become a bigger blessing to the body of Christ and be more effective in our local church.

Pastor Jim