Planning Spiritual Growth

"The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty" (Prov. 21:5, ESV).

Many have misunderstood James 4:13-17 to say that we shouldn't plan.  In reality, James is warning against the kind of planning that leaves God out of the mix.  Solomon reminds us that diligence in planning and working reap an abundant harvest.  Just as diligence in the material realm produces material abundance, diligence in the spiritual realm produces spiritual abundance. If we want to see spiritual fruit our lives, we have to have a plan, and work it with diligence.  As we plan our spiritual growth, we need to make sure that we aren't planning the wrong things, that we plan with the help of others, and that we submit ourselves to God's plan.

Solomon says, "Whoever plans evil will be called a schemer" (Prov. 24:8, see also Prov. 6:18; 16:30).  The schemes of the wicked will never bear the kind of fruit they desire.  The end of all their schemes is trouble.  We cannot fake out God.  He sees through the most elaborate plans of man with ease.  As we plan, we need to plan in light of God's revealed Word, and not contrary to it.  If we don't, we'll only destroy ourselves.

If we are going to plan our spiritual growth, we will need to do more than avoid scheming.  Solomon advises, "Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisors they succeed" (Prov. 15:22; see also Prov. 20:18).  Failure to seek the advise of godly people throws a wrench in our plans.  Human beings were not designed to operate alone.  The Lord designed us to need social interaction.  When we seek the counsel of others, it sharpens our thinking, gives us insights that, most likely, we would not have otherwise gained, and it can generate a network of supportive encouragement.  We need to make our plans with the help of others.

The counsel of wise and godly friends is invaluable, but we must also seek counsel from the Lord.  As we pursue our spiritual growth, we have to plan with the will of God in mind.  Solomon warns, "Many are the plans in the mind of man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand" (Prov. 19:21; See also Prov. 16:1, 3, 9).  Ultimately, God's will is the only one that will prevail.  David planned a temple for the Lord with great passion and in great detail, but it was not his to build.  Sometimes we have great dreams we want to see come to fruition, but it is another who picks the fruit.  The saying, "Lord willing," must flow naturally and freely from our hearts.  Our goal in planning our spiritual growth should be to glorify the Lord.

We must become the kind of people who work and plan with diligence.  The principles that guide our work life or our hobbies can and must be applied to spiritual ends.  If we want to get in better shape physically, we don't just join a gym and then stay home on the couch.  No, we have to go and exercise.  Each day we go a little farther on the treadmill, add another flight on the stair-master, or add additional weights to our routine.  If we want to get better at our job, we have to learn additional skills, and hone them to perfection.  It is therefore safe to conclude that the desire to grow spiritually can only be accomplished as we learn and practice spiritual truth.

We must approach our spiritual growth plan with a simple formula: hard work + determination + perseverance = success.  We need to plan the right things with the help of godly people for the glory of the Lord.  As we do that, we will reap an abundant harvest.  With our faith firmly anchored in the work of Christ, we take hold of the means that God has appointed to bring about spiritual growth, and we labor to the glory of the Lord.  We do what God has told us to do, but we trust him to bring about the result.  With that in mind, what kind of spiritual growth plan do you have?  What ways will you use to draw closer to the Lord in the coming days? weeks? months? years?  Do you have a plan?  Are you going to follow it with diligence?

The Importance of Doctrine

"So the Church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied" (Acts 9:31).

When the great persecution that swept Jerusalem lost its more ardent warrior, Saul, the church entered into a season of fruitfulness. Luke describes this period as one of peace and growth. The people were allowed to live normal lives: go to work, worship, evangelize, minister, etc. While their neighbors may not have shared their Christian convictions, they stop trying to arrest and kill them for having Christian convictions.

Also during this time, the people went from trusting in Christ to being built up in the faith. With the persecution over people had the opportunity to dig deeper into their faith. When prison and death are imminent, there isn't much time for theological debate. When the dust settles in times of persecution, the opportunity for the expansion and clarification of doctrine arises. To put it another way, during persecution the basics of the faith--God, sin, Christ, repentance and faith--are the subject matters that receive the most emphasis. When persecution ceases, then the church has the opportunity (and obligation) to flesh out the implications of the gospel and to formulate doctrine.

The formulation of doctrine at least two purposes. Articulating what we believe in clear and concise language by way of creed or confession allows us to instruct new converts. Since we are commanded by Christ to teach new believers everything he commanded, we cannot neglect teaching doctrine. To neglect doctrinal teaching is an act of disobedience. How can they obey what they are not taught.

The second reason we formulate doctrine is so we can address our detractors. The Scripture calls us to be ready to defend the hope that is in us through Christ Jesus (see 1 Pet. 3:15). When people misrepresent our beliefs, we are obligated to point out the errors in their thoughts and arguments. When people accuse us falsely of believing or doing absurd things, we are obligated to show them what we really believe and do.

Acts 9:31 expresses this in such beautiful language. There was peace and people were being built up. The end result is also beautiful. As the people walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, the church multiplied. The image of "walking in the Spirit" indicates the people were producing the fruit of the Spirit--peace, joy, love, kindness, goodness, gentleness, patience, faithfulness, and self-control. They hated evil and loved the Lord. The image of walking in "the comfort of the Holy Spirit" indicates that the Spirit was healing the wounds caused by persecution.

The phrases, walking in the fear of the Lord and walking the the comfort of the Holy Spirit, teach us another important reality. In the Christian life we must do our part, and we can be sure the Spirit will do his. We are to work our faith with fear and trembling, but know that it is the Spirit who works God's will in our heart and lives (see Phil 2:12-13).

As the people walked with the Lord in the power and presence of the Spirit, the church grew. This is no mere adding daily. This was multiplication. The church flourished under doctrine of the Lord. When our theology, or doctrine, is out of focus our life will be out of focus. When our theology is correct, then our actions will be correct. When we are believing and living correctly, the church will multiply.