Growing Spiritually

The key to growing one's faith is to understand faithspirit, understanding the Kingdom of God is natural. All
and how it works: How Faith Works, by Dr. Frederickthat is needed is our willingness to follow Jesus Christ.
K. C. Price, is a book I strongly recommend. VisitWe must understand our spirits if we are to grow in
faithdome for more information.Jesus Christ. The human spirit cannot be harmed
Over the past several years, I have been reading thephysically. Emotionally, it is harmed because of our
Bible in-depth and was quoting Psalms, not knowing fordisobedience to the Word of God (Lamentations 1:3).
what reason they were written, but the more IThe spirit definitely has our characteristics by which
understand faith, the more I understand David's faith.we will live in eternal life and on that day of the coming
Psalms illustrates the confidence and boldness ofof Jesus Christ, life will once again enter our bodies. On
David in expressing God's love. He does not fear histhe Day of Judgment, the bodies in which the spirits
enemies nor give place to the evil one. Wheneverexit will be the unsaved souls that enter hell. The
someone can be as bold as David in the Gospel ofdecision to communicate with God, the Father of
Jesus Christ, then they are ready to commit their life toJesus Christ, will not be in our control anymore.
Jesus Christ, our Lord whom God his Father rose fromTherefore, death will be inevitable for those who have
the dead.lost their spirits (Revelation 21:8), but for us whose
Attaining this victory can be a struggle because of thespirits remain in the body, death has already been
things we were taught to believe. One has to chooseremoved because of our fellowship with Jesus Christ.
life or death; that is, God may either be obeyed to giveThis death I speak of is not the death of our body, but
life or disobeyed to allow death. The human soulsrather, the reality that one has lost his or her soul and in
make the decisions. The evil one knows this andso doing has no hope to be with God, the Father, and
works overtime for the decision to be in his favourhis son Jesus Christ. We who are saved will not be
(Luke 21:19), but there is a consolation from ouraffected by this death (Revelation 20:6).
Heavenly Father, and that is salvation. Eternal life is ourThe proof lies with the Crucifixion and Resurrection of
consolation after death. We live in hope to achieveJesus Christ because as death approached him, his
eternal life, but first, we must have and grow our faithspirit exited his body (Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:37; Luke
to the satisfaction of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 6:17-19).23:46). On the third day, his Spirit reentered his body
Salvation cannot be destroyed (1 Peter 1:4); therefore,(Matthew 12:40).
the evil one uses worldly temptations to entice usGod, the Father, made it possible for all to achieve
away from the life of Jesus Christ. I pray for all whoeternal life. Jesus Christ is eternal life; he lives in both
believe in Jesus Christ that we become strong in faithbody and spirit, but our spirits live only in the body until
and resist the temptations of the evil one.the time of death, when God, the Father of Abraham
If one wishes is to understand the Word of God forand Moses, will receive those whose names are
the purpose of obedience (Matthew 5:6), then considerwritten in the Book of Life (Ecclesiastes 12:7) and send
time a major factor. Within a twenty-four hour timethose whose names are not written in this book to a
span, we use this time to rest, work, and study. Itplace where they will wait on Judgment Day.
requires strong determination to use our time wisely.Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God in whom
The distractions that one encounter will lead to twohe is well pleased. If we join in the new covenant with
decisions: One decision is about what is right and whathim, our responsibility will be to act on the Word of
is wrong, and we each decide that for ourselves (1God. Only then will we be able to please God. The full
Timothy 5:24-25). The other is one in which you havecontrol of the Holy Spirit has been given to Jesus
no clue so a prayer of dedication becomes the prayerChrist; thus, the Holy Spirit has been made to be "our
of choice.comforter" until the time of Jesus Christ's next coming.
The flip side is also true. There are those who chooseThe Holy Spirit is the head of all spirits; Jesus Christ is
not to understand the Word of God, develop a tastethe "King of kings" and "Lord of lords." I am truly
for unrighteousness, and thus, hinder their growth incomforted knowing that this same Jesus is our
faith. The thoughts that follow are thoughts that leadrighteousness and the answer to all our needs.
them back into the world. These thoughts characterizeI highly recommend Ephesians 6:11-18 as an in-depth
covetousness, jealousy, grudges, and persecution,study to protect your spirit and Matthew 4:2-4, 6-7, 9-11
which lead to ignorance, a characteristic of the evilas references for your understanding. These verses
one. However, for those who have the fruit of theare referring to the human spirit.