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Spiritual Development

When the perfect comes the in part will pass away. When I was a child I spoke, thought, and reasoned like a child, when I became a man I did way with the things of the child.1

This word for "I did away with" is katargeó, (from kata and argeo; to be (rendered) entirely idle, literally or figuratively) it is used elsewhere in the scriptures to mean nullify, released from, passing away, that which fades away, severed from, separated from, discharged from, loosed from. It is this spiritual concept of putting on the new and doing away with the old. While this process is supernatural, the truth sets free, it also requires an abiding in the truth, something to be done on our part. It is interesting that this word is derived from the word argos which refers to being idle, lazy, thoughtless. This concept of doing away with being a child implies we need to think, act, to have self-discipline, to not be lazy in this. It is this concept of metamorphosis from child to young man, transformation by the renewing of the mind. The spiritual mature are those who have endured in truth, through the process God has established, from child and young man to father.

The transformation begins within the heart. The development of a child begins with trust. Trust is the foundation of relationship development. I was orphaned and the authority that should have cared for me abandoned me, but I have been adopted by my heavenly Father. My old nature was one of an orphan; distrust. I distrust authority therefore I am not obedient to authority. But my heavenly Father knows, He has given me grace upon grace, His mercy triumphs judgment. My relationship begins with Him, I am being established in His love

"I write to you, dear children, because you know the Father."2

He is good, He loves me, He has the best interest of me at heart, He truly cares for me. Because I know this about him I trust my Father. Because He first loved me I love Him and want to be like Him. "Trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus..." not trust, not obedience, but trust and obedience. Trust produces obedience, it is the nature of faith, we believe in our hearts which produces works, a confession through my mouth. A child develops identity through trust.

"I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name."3

I learn what it means to be a child of the Father by His example. "Come follow me..." A solid foundation is built on trusting in Christ, the foundation stone, without which the "house" will come down. Trust is often said to be faith in action.

In the nineteenth century the greatest tightrope walker in the world was a man named Charles Blondin. On June 30, 1859, he became the first man in history to walk on a tightrope across Niagara Falls. Over twenty-five thousand people gathered to watch him walk 1,100 feet suspended on a tiny rope 160 feet above the raging waters... he asked the cheering spectators if they thought he could push a man across sitting in a wheelbarrow. A mighty roar of approval rose from the crowd. Spying a man cheering loudly, he asked, “Sir, do you think I could safely carry you across in this wheelbarrow?” “Yes, of course.” “Get in,” the Great Blondin replied with a smile. The man refused.4

It’s enough to believe God, that I am his child, but until I “get in the wheelbarrow” and trust all to him, I stay a child. I am no longer an orphan but I still think like an orphan, I must believe what is in my inner being, my true identity, that I am a son. The development of a young person is a matter of abiding and overcoming in truth.

"I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you."5

This Word of God, is Jesus, He is the bread of life and living water, a supernatural transformation occurs due to His involvement. Once I commit, I must now do my part, like a soldier who follows orders, I must establish discipline, without discipline and truth I will not endure. I must set my mind on the truth, think on new things that are pure, I must create new habits, I must put on the new, new habits of thinking, meditation, gratitude. Trust and identity development continue into this stage of metamorphosis. To overcome, I must be strong, in trust and identity, in Him I am victorious. What happens here is supernatural, a transformation by the renewal of the mind.

"I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one."4

It is battle of the mind and to win the war I must abide in truth. A spiritual father is a veteran, victorious in battle, he has been established. He accepted the invitation to follow, he has learned to trust, to abide and to endure in truth, he has overcome the evil one. He knows his true identity in Christ, a son, he has been established.

"I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning."6

He who is from the beginning is the one we did battle with, along side of, He is the truth with which we endured. He is the Word of God, who was with God, was God, in the beginning all things through Him were created, He is the author of faith and its perfecter, faith comes through the hearing of His words. He became flesh and dwelt among us, and was given the name that is above all names, Jesus. Yes, fathers have known this Jesus, this from the beginning, the Word of God. Like our heavenly Father, a father adopts children and guides them along side, together with Him they walk. The one who creates all things also creates disciples. With example from an earthly father a child will know the truth and will endure into fatherhood by walking with Him who is from the beginning.

Love not the things of the world, nor the things in the world, if anyone loves the world, the love of the father is not in him because all that is in the world, the desires of the world, the flesh, the pride of life is not of the father, but of the world and the world is passing away and the desire of it. But the one doing the will of God abides for the age. Little children the last hour it is... 8



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