We use the term spiritual growth? Is that a correct statement or is our spirit already made complete? The scriptures used for growth have to do with the mind, so is the term spiritual growth correct?
We use the term spiritual growth? Is that a correct statement or is our spirit already made complete? The scriptures used for growth have to do with the mind, so is the term spiritual growth correct?
You are absolutely right. 10 years before brother Hagin went to be with the Lord a friend of mind told me that he was going to rewrite that book he wrote on spiritual growth because he really thought the same thing. He said he thought it would be confusing. My friend (Buzzy) has since gone on to be with the Lord.
rick, what caused me to stop & take the time to send off a quick reply, is the mention of a mutual friend, pastor buzzy sutherlin.
two days before his passing from here to heaven, he had called me & left a message for me to return his call, to which i was unable, thus my heart was grieved over missing his call.
just today, i was listening to a teaching cd. by pastor buzzy titled "one with god, just like jesus" in which he made the same statement, that we should call it soul growth, & not spiritual growth, to which would be more accurate.
well i have other things to attend to, but i will leave a quote from buzzy's favorite translation,
"salvation for all. salvation supplied by god. god giving to man all that he demands from man. this is good news."
"the distilled bible"
the book of romans
copyright1998
"in christ"
scott
...
just today, i was listening to a teaching cd. by pastor buzzy titled "one with god, just like jesus" in which he made the same statement, that we should call it soul growth, & not spiritual growth, to which would be more accurate...
"in christ"
scott
Let me make sure I am understanding. Are you guys saying that the spirit never learns or is any longer receiving revelation knowledge from the Holy Spirit? That at the moment a person is born again, their spirit is fully grown and fully developed in all its capacities?
Technically our mind is a spiritual thing and exists in the spirit realm. Spiritual is not limited to spirit. The soul is as equally a part of the spirit as the spirit is part of the soul. Our mind (soul) is so intertwined with our spirit that they cannot be divided except for by discussion and definition.
Matthew 4:4 KJV
(4) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Is this food Jesus is referring to food for our soul or food for our spirit? If it is food for our spirit, and this is what I believe, then that means your spirit needs food. What for? To grow and be strengthened thereby.
Ephesians 3:16 KJV
(16) That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
If my inner man (spirit) can be strengthened, it reasons that it can be weakened & or wounded. This means it can grow or be stunted in growth depending on the health of one's spirit.
Luke 2:40 KJV
(40) And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
That pretty much says it all.
What is revelation knowledge? Is it revealed to our spirit or our minds? Revelation knowledge is for the spirit man. It is revealed to our spirit by the Holy Spirit who takes the things of Christ and shows them unto us. God's wisdom doesn't come directly to the intellect but through the spirit to the intellect.
Here are some direct quotes from E.W. Kenyon:
"it is almost an unknown fact that the Holy Spirit does not communicate knowledge to the intellect, except in rare cases where one is so dense spiritually that He must communicate to the senses". E.W. Kenyon
[FONT="]I[FONT="] h[/FONT][FONT="]a[/FONT][FONT="]ve [/FONT][FONT="]co[/FONT][FONT="]m[/FONT][FONT="]e [/FONT][FONT="]to b[/FONT][FONT="]e[/FONT][FONT="]li[/FONT][FONT="]e[/FONT][FONT="]ve, as I have [/FONT][FONT="]s[/FONT][FONT="]tudied the subject of the[/FONT][FONT="]spirit[/FONT][FONT="], [/FONT][FONT="]that wh[/FONT][FONT="]e[/FONT][FONT="]n G[/FONT][FONT="]o[/FONT][FONT="]d imparts t[/FONT][FONT="]o [/FONT][FONT="]us His n[/FONT][FONT="]a[/FONT][FONT="]ture[/FONT][FONT="], [/FONT][FONT="]there comes w[/FONT][FONT="]ith [/FONT][FONT="]it [/FONT][FONT="]a[/FONT][FONT="]ll of the [/FONT][FONT="]a[/FONT][FONT="]ttribut[/FONT][FONT="]es [/FONT][FONT="]of Himself. Th[/FONT][FONT="]e[/FONT][FONT="]y [/FONT][FONT="]a[/FONT][FONT="]re undev[/FONT][FONT="]e[/FONT][FONT="]l[/FONT][FONT="]ope[/FONT][FONT="]d, [/FONT][FONT="]but [/FONT][FONT="]th[/FONT][FONT="]e[/FONT][FONT="]y are there lying l[/FONT][FONT="]a[/FONT][FONT="]tent in [/FONT][FONT="]o[/FONT][FONT="]u[/FONT][FONT="]r [/FONT][FONT="]hum[/FONT][FONT="]a[/FONT][FONT="]n spi[/FONT][FONT="]r[/FONT][FONT="]it[/FONT][FONT="]s[/FONT][/FONT][FONT="]. E.W. Kenyon[/FONT]
[FONT="]Faith is a product of the human spirit and we are to grow in faith. My spirit, yes my spirit has more faith in God today than it did 6 months ago. Why? Because I fed my spirit the Word of God.Gods Word is spiritual food, not of the mind. It is not a state of mind, but it will cause a state of mind.[/FONT]
The cultivation of our spirits come through our giving this spirit right of way in our daily walk. E.W. Kenyon
There are some things no matter how renewed our minds may be that our minds will never fully comprehend. It can be renewed to accept them but not to understand or comprehend them.
We understand with our hearts, this is what faith is, what is understood with the heart (heart knowledge) - not the mind.
Ex. You dont "believe" with your mind that there is a heaven and have a heavenly mansion- no, you have "accepted" that in your mind through the renewing process. Otherwise it is to say that faith is nothing more than something that can be learned or taught. It is our spirit that we believe with period. "If you shall believe in your heart "
Our minds were not built to contain revelation knowledge. It is for our spirit. This means that there are things our spirit doesn't know. As the Holy Spirit reveals the things of Christ to us, our spirits develop in them and we as a result we grow spiritually.
The word is not just for the purpose of educating or renewing our mind. It is food for our spirit (wisdom, strength, revelation knowledge, etc ).
God's Word is first revealed to my spirit, then it is conveyed to my intellect (mind).
God does not speak to our mind, He speaks to our spirit by His Spirit (deep calls to deep; spirit calls to spirit).
Just some of my thoughts...