1-13 The Normal Healthy Christian's Primary Spiritual Development

This lesson reviews concepts previously discussed. Remember that the Christian life is a progression of growth.

I enter my "new" life with (1) the salvation decision.
Then I make a Lordship decision (2), meaning Jesus is the one managing my life. (This decision should be made at the same time as the Salvation decision, but many times comes later.)
The Lordship decision enables me to Abide (3) in Christ every moment.
The result is (4) the Spiritual Fruit that God increasingly produces through me as I allow Him.

1-13 The Normal Healthy Christian's Primary Spiritual Development

1) Salvation - A Decision

John 5:24 I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

1 John 5:13 I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

1-13 The Normal Healthy Christian's Primary Spiritual Development

2) Lordship - A Decision

Matthew 11:28-30 (Jesus said) Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Hebrews 3:19, 4:11 … they (Israelites) were unable to enter because of unbelief. Let us then make every effort to enter that rest so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience.

1 Corinthians 7:23 … You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

1-13 The Normal Healthy Christian's Primary Spiritual Development

3) Abiding in Christ - A Process

The goal is “continual” fellowship, to be a “usable” vessel (instrument / conduit)

John 15:1-17 …and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Romans 6:12-13 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires. And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.

2 Timothy 2:21 So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

1-13 The Normal Healthy Christian's Primary Spiritual Development

4) As I Abide, God Increasingly Produces His Fruit Through Me

Eternal spiritual fruit is whatever the Holy Spirit produces through my life

The Holy Spirit is producing His fruit through me

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

John 15:5 … The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit,…

Romans 7:4 Therefore, my brothers, you also were put to death in relation to the law through the crucified body of the Messiah, so that you may belong to another — to Him who was raised from the dead — that we may bear fruit for God.

John 15:16 … I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain,…

God is glorifying Himself through me

John 15:8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit.…

He is maturing me

John 15:2 … and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.

He is using my spiritual gift(s)

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 … A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial:…

He is preparing eternal rewards for me

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

He is attracting others to Himself through me

Acts 1:8 (Jesus said) … you will be My witnesses.…

Vera's true story illustrates these four Spiritual Development stages,

including an unfortunate time in her life when she lived in her "spiritual desert" experience

1) Even though a Lordship decision should be made at conversion, sometimes it is not made until years later.

2) A true surrender of the will is followed by changes in behavior. (Review lesson 1-7, if needed)

Where am I in my spiritual development?
Is God producing fruit through me?
- If not, then am I abiding -- in daily, constant fellowship with Him?
- If not, then have I made a Lordship decision, allowing Him access to all the "rooms of my house"?

1) Salvation - A Decision

Christ as “Savior”

Vera recalls her conversion in a little church in Kansas: "When the invitation to receive Christ as Savior was given, I knew I should go forward. But my feet seemed glued to the floor. Finally on the last verse of 'Almost Persuaded,' I went and made my confession of faith."

This new believer should have been personally discipled at this critical time, which probably would have averted the following years of desert experience.

1-13 The Normal Healthy Christian's Primary Spiritual Development

Desert Experience

After graduating from high school, Vera taught in an elementary school. Her teaching career ended when she married.

2) Lordship - A Decision

Christ as “Lord”

(After some years of wandering)

Vera relates. "I had been married several years when the Lord got my attention," "At home one day, I came under deep conviction, and knew I had to ask Jesus to be the Lord of my life.”

3) Abiding in Christ - A Process

Changed behavior brought about by the Holy Spirit’s transforming power.

“Changes came that I can't explain, except that I know it was the Lord's work in me."

Vera contacted people she felt she might have wronged and apologized to them. She developed a hunger for Bible study. "As a child I'd learned John 3:16 and Psalm 23, but I hadn't been interested in learning anything else," she confesses. "Now I wanted to learn everything."

To further her search for understanding of God's Word, she tuned in to Gospel programs on her radio. And she began to make prayer a part of her daily routine.

Through the years, as she helped with farming and raising their son, Vera continued to study the Bible and maintain her prayer regimen. When Vera and her husband decided to retire, they moved and joined a Bible‑teaching church, where Vera was soon recognized for her Bible knowledge and her faithfulness in prayer.

4) As I Abide, God Increasingly Produces His Fruit Through Me

Eternal spiritual fruit is whatever the Holy Spirit produces through my life

She didn't plan it, nor is her intercession organized, yet through telephone or personal visits she has encouraged many lives. Seekers have been counseled as Vera shares spiritual truths from a lifetime relationship with the Lord.

The source of this story is unknown.

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Go To Lesson 1-14 Hardship's Suffering and God's Sovereignty

1-13 The Normal Healthy Christian's Primary Spiritual Development