Directional Growth of Man

THEME: Spiritual Growth: Understanding The Whats and Hows of Growing Up unto God’s Life in our Souls

LESSON: Four

TOPIC: DIRECTIONAL GROWTH OF MAN

TEXT: 1 Peter 2:2; 1 Corinthians 14:20; Proverbs 4:20–23; Luke 6:45; Malachi 2:6–8

MEMORY TRACK:

In our last study, we learned that God’s ordination for the earth is patterned after growth. The earth was designed by God with the ability to grow up to a higher sphere, height, altitude, and state. Being fruitful and multiplying are attributes synonymous with the earth. Man’s need to grow was not in response to sin but a response to designing a habitat. Without the fall of Adam, he would have still needed to grow into God’s Nature and Life (Gen 2:16-17). We saw that, amongst other factors, suffering and submission to spiritual authority are instrumental for man to grow spiritually.

1. MAN’S NEED FOR GROWTH

1. Man’s Original Estate – Glory and Dominion: From the beginning, God made man upright and crowned him with glory (Genesis 1:28). He was crowned with glory and honour (Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:7–9). Dominion was tied to glory. Man ruled because he carried God’s glory. But according to Romans 3:23, man fell short of that glory. When sin entered, sin and death began to reign (Romans 5:14, 21). Man fell from a son-of-God state into a lower one. He became subject to elements he was meant to rule over. Instead of ruling, man began seeking what he was meant to dominate.
2. Man’s Fallen Condition: By the time Christ came, we were without strength (Romans 5:6), without true knowledge of God (Hosea 4:1), and without spiritual understanding (1 Corinthians 15:34). Man descended in state from glory to flesh (Genesis 6:3) to grass (Isaiah 40:6–8; 1 Peter 1:24–25), and this shows degeneration instead of growth.

2. CHRIST: THE RESTORER OF DIRECTIONAL GROWTH

The coming of Jesus set the correct direction for man’s growth back to God (Hebrews 2:9–10 – Bringing many sons to glory; Ephesians 4:15 – Growing up into Him in all things; Colossians 2:19 – Growth that comes from God; John 14:6 – He is the Way back to the Father). Jesus is the rule and plummet (standard) for development. There is no journey back to dominion except through Him. Growth in Christ follows divine progression: Milk —-> Meat —> Strong Meat (Isaiah 28:9; Hebrews 5:12–15; Colossians 2: 2)

MEALS FOR OUR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

1. MILK STAGE – FOUNDATION OF SPIRITUAL CHILDHOOD (1 Peter 2:2; 1 Corinthians 3:1–2; Hebrews 5:12)

Just like natural babies begin with milk, spiritual babies begin with foundational doctrines. The early church continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers (Acts 2:42). This “milk” builds a healthy spiritual child ready for deeper meals.

WHAT MILK SHOULD DEVELOP IN US

1. Fellowship Acts 2:42: Fellowship with the Holy Spirit cultivates repentance (Hebrews 6:1—repentance from dead works) and sanctification; lack of fellowship leads to spiritual insensitivity (Acts 5—Ananias and Sapphira). The Milk Church is a Holy Ghost church. Healthy fellowship produces sensitivity, conviction, and continual cleansing.
2. Breaking of Bread (Love for the Word): (2 Timothy 3:15 – Timothy’s grounding in Scripture; Proverbs 4:20–23 – Guarding the heart through the Word; Joshua 1:8 – Meditation for prosperity and success). A milk believer must love scripture, trust God’s Word, and meditate consistently. The Word guides proper spiritual development.
3. Prayers (Acts 6:4—The Apostles gave themselves to prayer; Ephesians 6:18—Praying always; 1 Thessalonians 5:17—Pray without ceasing). A healthy child talks often with the Father. Prayer becomes natural, not forced. Jesus prayed regularly (Luke 4:16 shows consistent spiritual habits); the early church also prayed continually.
4. Leading of the Spirit (Romans 8:13–14 – Sons are led by the Spirit; Galatians 5:16–18 – Walk in the Spirit; John 16:13 – He guides into all truth). We were once led by sin (Romans 6:16; Eph 2:1-2); now we must cultivate yieldedness to the Holy Spirit. Spiritual health depends on waiting on the Spirit, obeying His promptings, and rejecting fleshly impulses

THE GOAL: GROWTH BACK TO DOMINION

The purpose of directional growth is restoration from grass to glory, from weakness to sonship, and from subjection to dominion. Christ restores us to a state of spiritual authority and maturity.

A healthy milk child is recognized by healthy spiritual habits. Just as the seven deacons in Acts 6 were easily identified as men full of the Spirit and wisdom, spiritual health is visible. Directional growth is not accidental. It is intentional, Christ-centered, Spirit-led, and Word-rooted. May the Lord grant us grace to repent where necessary, rebuild healthy spiritual habits, grow from milk to strong meat, and return to glory and dominion. Amen.