Question to the Forum

[Jimmy West]

Does anybody here understand what spiritual growth and maturity is. I am not talking about theological growth and maturity.

 

[Velcro]

I am not Nazarene, but i have seen much growth and maturity in Nazarenes. Since I work for the Nazarene church, I see people when they are real, not in a church setting, where some may be tempted to put on an act.

Why do you ask? What is your purpose? What kind of spiritual growth and maturity do you intend?

 

[Zenaide]

I presently go to a nazerene church, im pentecostal (go with family to that church) and I also have seen that for the most part, people are real. granted there they really only say hi to my parents and not me. Stood by my dad and like 5 people shook his hand and totally neglected me... wasn't too happy about that.

Anywho back to subject yes I do. What questions do you have?

 

[Velcro]

Could it be that they were perceiving you as shy? If you wish to be included, include yourself. Just step up and offer your hand, introducing yourself. That is a fine and mature way to handle it. Remember that the Book says that in order to have friends, you must be friendly. Don't let shyness (or intimidation or anything else) hold you back!

 

[Zenaide]

I was lookin right at them with a smile... they do acknowledge my existance. Just ugh, i got frustrated that day.

 

[Velcro]

Zenaide, it is a problem with maturing young people. Often, older people are not used to young people who wish to be included. Many young people are embarrassed about shaking hands, especially. it is more likely, really, that they did not wish to cross your personal boundaries. Offer your own hand next time. Really, they will be delighted!

 

[Jimmy West]

I am not Nazarene, but i have seen much growth and maturity in Nazarenes. Since I work for the Nazarene church, I see people when they are real, not in a church setting, where some may be tempted to put on an act.

Why do you ask? What is your purpose? What kind of spiritual growth and maturity do you intend?

I ask because most Christian churches do not understand or promote spiritual growth. Their doctrine is mainly theological growth. There is so much more to your relationship with God than knowing scripture. To truely know God, you must be in The Spirit.

 

[Velcro]

I see the notes of the sermons for the pastor of the church where I work. I believe this church is fairly representative of the Nazarenes as a whole. He is very interested in everyone's spiritual growth, including his own. I think you can rest assured that this is a priority of the Nazarene church.

 

[Dad Sr]

Does anybody here understand what spiritual growth and maturity is. I am not talking about theological growth and maturity.

Jimmy,
Spiritual growth and maturity comes from practicing spiritual discipline. - you mature in the process. We grow through trials and working through the normal and sometimes not so normal events of our everyday lives.
Growth is also called sanctification where we grow more Christ like as we get closer to God.
"Celebration of Discipline, The Path to Spiritual Growth" by Richard J. Foster
is an excellent resource to suppliment your Bible study and prayer time.

Dad Sr

 

[Jimmy West]

Jimmy,
Spiritual growth and maturity comes from practicing spiritual discipline. - you mature in the process. We grow through trials and working through the normal and sometimes not so normal events of our everyday lives.
Growth is also called sanctification where we grow more Christ like as we get closer to God.
"Celebration of Discipline, The Path to Spiritual Growth" by Richard J. Foster
is an excellent resource to suppliment your Bible study and prayer time.

Dad Sr

Spiritual growth leads to state called spirituality.
Spirituality is not a mental state. It is not something you necessarily
achieve when you become a Christian. Spirituality is a true spiritual state.
It is achieved when you are filled with the presence of The Holy Spirit and
can physically feel his presence. Many Christians think that because they
pray often that they are spiritual. It is true that they become spiritual
when they pray. But, when the praying ends, most of them return to their
normal carnal state. Most Christians think that because they are serving
The Kingdom in one way or another, they are spiritual. That is not spiritual.
That is labors of the hand. Many have grown theologically mature and think
that all of that knowledge makes them spiritual. That is not spiritual.
Knowledge is only the accumulation of information and has nothing with
spirituality.
True spirituality is a way of life where the believer is in constant contact
with God through The Holy Spirit. You cannot be in contact with God if you
are not thinking about Him. A spiritual believer has made God the center of
his life at ALL times. When he is at home, he’s thinking about God. When
he’s at work, he’s thinking about God. When he’s at school, he’s thinking
about God. When he’s in the deepest part of his trial, he’s thinking about
and praising God. He is thinking about God every hour of every day and only
thinks about something else when he is distracted from his true purpose.
Spiritual believers cannot get enough of God and cannot bless and love him
enough. When they arise in the morning coffee may be their first thing, but
their second thing is asking the question; what can I do for God today?
Spiritual Christians have made loving and blessing God their true purpose
in life, knowing that if they do that, God will take care of everything
else.
So, how does one know if he or she is spiritual? Through physical evidence.
A spiritual believer can physically feel the presence of The Holy Spirit.
When you are worshiping the Lord, praising him verbally, you can feel what
almost feel like a static charge around you. You can feel your skin tingle,
your muscles twitch and your body shake. You will also feel it when you are
singing beautiful worship songs. Doing a kind deed for another person will
bring a sensation. Anytime you please God, you will FEEL The Spirit.
If you have never felt one those sensations, that means that your spiritual
growth has stopped or never started. God wants everyone to be spiritual
because that is the only way to truly know him. The problem is that most
Christian churches are not spiritual and do not promote spiritual growth.
Please, if you have not already done so, start your spiritual growth today.
Start by telling God that you Love Him every time you think about Him.

 

[Velcro]

Jimmy:

I know you like to preach, and you have done a lot of that over the last couple days on this site. I am assuming you are Pentecostal, because most of your preaching seems to be on the Pentecostal sites, but they do not seem to agree with you very much or with your website either. I am not sure what religion you are, but neither the Nazarenes nor the Methodists believe as you do. They actually follow the Bible and not personal revelation, believing that the revelation was completed when the final books of the Bible were written.

Speaking only regarding the Nazarenes, because I know far less about the Methodists, they have several colleges and universities, and they use them, studying the Scriptures. They will not be interested in ethereal revelation nor in physical manifestations. Okay?

 

[Jimmy West]

Jimmy:

I know you like to preach, and you have done a lot of that over the last couple days on this site. I am assuming you are Pentecostal, because most of your preaching seems to be on the Pentecostal sites, but they do not seem to agree with you very much or with your website either. I am not sure what religion you are, but neither the Nazarenes nor the Methodists believe as you do. They actually follow the Bible and not personal revelation, believing that the revelation was completed when the final books of the Bible were written.

Speaking only regarding the Nazarenes, because I know far less about the Methodists, they have several colleges and universities, and they use them, studying the Scriptures. They will not be interested in ethereal revelation nor in physical manifestations. Okay?

Thank you I was just fishing. I will tell you this. There will come a day very soon where all houses will united as one body. They will all be spiritually mature and as a united body they will be a formidable political power. I know that this is not in scripture but it is what God wants and it is what He will get.

 

[Jimmy West]

Jimmy:

I know you like to preach, and you have done a lot of that over the last couple days on this site. I am assuming you are Pentecostal, because most of your preaching seems to be on the Pentecostal sites, but they do not seem to agree with you very much or with your website either. I am not sure what religion you are, but neither the Nazarenes nor the Methodists believe as you do. They actually follow the Bible and not personal revelation, believing that the revelation was completed when the final books of the Bible were written.

Speaking only regarding the Nazarenes, because I know far less about the Methodists, they have several colleges and universities, and they use them, studying the Scriptures. They will not be interested in ethereal revelation nor in physical manifestations. Okay?

What do you mean, you don't know which "religion" I am? Don't you mean "denomonation?

 

[Velcro]

No, I intended religion. The physical manifestations you seem to espouse make me question. If I understand your statements correctly, these are what I have seen demonstrated on the Discover channel when they deal with the subject of certain religions.

Perhaps we should take this discussion away from this area. The people here will not be interested.

 

[Jimmy West]

No, I intended religion. The physical manifestations you seem to espouse make me question. If I understand your statements correctly, these are what I have seen demonstrated on the Discover channel when they deal with the subject of certain religions.

Perhaps we should take this discussion away from this area. The people here will not be interested.

That is OK. I will drop it here. I've said what I needed to say. You are only one person. Perhaps five others have benefited from it.

 

[bgdaddy316]

Jimmy,

I am a Nazarene, and while I don't agree 100% with you, I don't know that I would be as harsh as Velcro. I do believe in spiritual maturity and I do think that you acheive that through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I also agree that focusing on God certainly helps you from becoming distracted with the things of this world. I don't know if anyone can achieve that 100%, but it is certainly something that I strive towards.

Have a good one,

T

 

[Velcro]

Just to tell you, should you not already know: Jimmy has decided that the voices he was hearing were not of G-d. He is redefining his understanding of G-d and trying to sort a lot of things out. Pray with me for him.