The Spirit of Faith Newsletter
November 1980
Bill Bailey Ministries was the
name of Dr. Bill's ministry before Word of Faith
Ministries. |
|
Main
Article
"Growing Up Spiritually"
Eph. 4:11-16 deals with the need
for ministry gifts in the Body of Christ. Notice
verse 14: "That we henceforth be no more
children, tossed to and fro, and carried
about by every wind of doctrine..." And verse
15: "But speaking the truth in love, may grow
up into Him in all things..." God's desire
for us is that we grow up spiritually the same
way that we do physically. He gave the Five Fold
ministry gifts of Apostles, Prophets,
Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers to the Body
of Christ to: (1) help mature the saints, (2) do
the work of the ministry, (3) edify the Body of
Christ. (Eph. 4:12) These ministries will be
with us until "...we all come in the unity of
the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, unto a (mature) man, unto the measure of
the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Eph.
4:15) God wants us to mature, to grow up in Him.
How do we grow spiritually? 1 Peter 2:2 says,
"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of
the Word, that ye may grow thereby."
We grow by the Word. Physical growth comes by
eating physical food and by exercising.
Spiritual growth comes by drinking the milk of
the Word and chewing on the meat of the Word
(Heb. 5:14) and exercising it in our lives, or
doing it! (James 1:22) |
Notice Heb. 5:12-14: "for when the
time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again
which be the first principles of the oracles of God and are become
such as have need of milk (1 Peter 2:2) and not of strong meat (of
the Word), For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the Word
of righteousness: for he is as a babe (1 Cor. 3: ) But strong meat
(of the Word) belongeth to them that are of full age (mature)
even those who by reason of use (or "habitual use," as the Greek
says) have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." In
other words, to mature we need to habitually use the Word!
Make a habit of getting into God's Word, listen to good teaching
from people in which God has placed a ministry gift, and make a
commitment to speak the truth (of the Word, John 17:17) in love, and
you will grow up in Him!
Items of Interest in This Issue
Radio Coverage Map... Notice of
upcoming Piedmont Believer's Convention in Winston-Salem, NC
