As a subscriber of this blog, you’re clearly interested in growing in Jesus Christ.
But how do you measure if you’re really growing and making spiritual progress?
Let me tell you emphatically that it’s not by how much knowledge you’ve gained.
Indeed, an increasing knowledge of the Lord is certainly a basis for spiritual growth. But knowledge that’s not applied is little more than armchair philosophy and bloodless theory.
That said, there are a number of indicators by which to measure whether or not you’re growing in the Spirit, becoming more like Christ, or whether you’re remaining stagnant or even regressing in the flesh.
I’m speaking of transformation, here.
Here are three clear indicators that reveal whether or not Christ is gaining more ground in your life or whether you’re fooling yourself.
There are more than these three, of course, but these are the ones on my heart to share today.
You’re making spiritual progress if . . .
1) Before you reply to someone, you take time to ensure that you’re replying to them in Jesus Christ — which means that you reply according to Matthew 7:12.
Put another way, you reply to others the same way you would want them to reply to you if the roles were reversed.
This means responding with kindness instead of reacting in the flesh.
It means keeping an open mind and thinking the best of the other person.
It means laying aside any carnal reactions like anger, jealousy, or malice, and putting those to death before you respond.
Since you’re reading this blog post, you’re part of the digital world and you no doubt have email. You may even be on social media.
This principle applies big league to those modes of communication.
If you’re responding to others in a way that you don’t wish to be treated, then you’re in the flesh. Plain and simple. And Jesus Christ hasn’t gained as much ground in you as you may think.
That said, mistakes happen, but heartfelt apologies are what separates sheep from black sheep. 😉
2) If you’re attacked, criticized, or misunderstood, you don’t return fire.
This is a long subject, and I’ve addressed it before many times, but those who are carrying the spirit of the Lamb do not respond in kind when they are insulted, unjustly criticized, or misrepresented.
They don’t return evil for evil. They don’t descend into the mud, get down in the gutter, or engage in WWE-styled smackdowns, even when provoked.
Like their Lord, they take the high road.
Put differently, they understand the cross. And they have an instinct for it.
The carnal, the babes who are still on milk, and those who are in the flesh know nothing of this aspect of Christ.
3) You stop judging the motives and intention of others, but instead, you ask them questions with an open mind and heart if something concerns you.
And you go to them directly with your questions.
Judging motives looks like this: “You wrote this, you said that, you did this because . . .
By uttering statements like that, you’ve just put yourself on the throne of God.
Only the Lord can see the hearts of mortals. Not you or me.
Love thinks no evil, but always thinks the best, Paul says.
Consequently, if something looks “off” to you, lead with a question directly to the person in question instead of making an accusation.
“Hey Bill, when you said . . . did . . . or wrote . . . it gave me the impression that . . . But I could be completely wrong because I don’t know your heart. Can you tell me why you said/did/wrote that?”
You would want to be treated the same way, right?
Rigggghhtttt . . .
And we’re back to Matthew 7:12, the classic description of how the life of Jesus Christ operates and what it looks like when someone is living by that life.
A Common Thread
One of the common threads that ties these three indicators together is our reaction to others.
While we cannot control what happens to us or what people do, we can take ownership over our reactions to them.
When a person is in their flesh, they tend to OVERreact and react selfishly.
When they are in the Spirit, their reaction is counter-intuitive and counter-cultural. Where Christ has gained ground in us, we exhibit a Jesus-reaction more and more.
My encouragement: Bring these three issues before the Lord and do business with Him over them.
The good news is that repentance still works and God still honors it. 🙂
It’s about progress, not perfection.
New Video
Check it out below.
If you can’t see the video embedded above, watch it here.
Some Comedy
Thank you Frank, for the great video I wished all brothers and sisters displayed this joy and gratefullness of just being alive and sharing our like-minds of the hope we have in Jesus alone.
One thing I hope for, is that possibly we could get to connect online with these like-minded folks who would be in our area. Is this a possibility?
They are connecting through this network. http://thedeeperchristianlife.com
These are good suggestions that reveal a Christ-like heart. A more permanent version of that kind of heart is my goal. However, I find that there are specific spiritual growth activities that help me change my heart… or at least invite the Spirit to do so.
In fact, I created an intentional spiritual growth planner to help others plan their growth and a spiritual fit test to assess personal growth status. It was an interesting area for me because I acknowledge that only God changes hearts. However, I still see the need to demonstrate to God my desire for a transformed heart.. I think these tools can be helpful because they give people practical steps to take in the midst of our very distracting world!
Eric. I think you’d be interested in this – it opens again in January. http://thedeeperchristianlife.com
Frank,
Those were great points that you made. For me, the realization of my own self centeredness has been more apparent the older that I get (43 years old).
When and if we “deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him” in every situation, our reactions change drastically. No longer are we trying to be right. It’s a process especially for someone like me who reacts to most things in the wrong way. I blame my Italian roots! Haha
Thanks for your articles, books and honestly,
Christy
Wow…thank you for this post so encouraged me & my relationship with my Lord your words so resonate in my spirit as truth of what growth in the Lord looks like.Thank you!
Hello Frank, Left the institution in 1993. Been on Network of Open Church Ministries board for 10 years. Read and used your books for years.
I fully agree with these three comments. What I question is, does knowledge even with application bring transformation or just behavior modification? Is transformation from the outside in or the inside out? Apparently you experienced remarked levels of transformation and discipleship/education is valuable, but is that what actually brings transformation? In your opinion, what is the specific “application” that brings transformation?
Sincerely,
Katie Mather, D.Min.
Hi Katie. Curious to know if you’ve read my most recent books, since 2010 – because I deal with this question in those volumes. See https://www.frankviola.org/discography/
Real and lasting transformation occurs when people learn to live by the indwelling life of Jesus Christ. Per http://frankviola.info/2013/07/15/course1info/
Knowledge doesn’t transform unless it’s knowledge that unveils Jesus Christ and is applied in one’s life. Take a look at the above two links and let me know if you have any further questions.
These words come to me as important presence of the Spirit after going through yet another church meeting where I endured biting criticism which for the first time in 26 years years of ministry brought me the closest to tears. I did not respond, except to try and ask questions which brought us back to the bigger vision. However, I have sat for 2 days, in hurt, confusion, judgement, and avoidance.
Hello Karen, My experience is much the same within traditional “church” meetings/gatherings. Being sidelined or ignored when attempting to bring discussion or vision back to the greater picture, I stay with it because I know the woman minister at this church has a greater vision, also feels the struggle of breaking through the mist which envelopes many long time worshippers who have been fed false messages of many things over many years. May our merciful God begin to open their eyes too. Love in Jesus, Karen
Karen, I read your words here after just reading Franks quarterly (now to be monthly) email update. I hope you’re on his email list, because today’s send-out puts deeper/further arms and legs on this matter that you don’t want to miss.
I hurt with your hurt, while also knowing you will continue to grow phenomenally in His grace, through it, as you stubbornly press into Him. Phil 1:29
…It’s amazing to me that you went 26 years in ministry before finding yourself brought to the point you’re at. I’m sure you know that this, and future such experiences, are INCREDIBLE opportunities for us to learn much more about Christ, along with having to reckon with much more of the impact of the Fall on human nature. Yes, even on Christians, who have BEGUN our redemption from its curse, but won’t know it’s completed fullness til we’re with Him. Or, until we each press much fuller, and harder, into Him! (Growing up into Him, as Paul mentions.)
Know that “when one suffers, we all suffer”. Us feeling a tiny portion of your pain, with you, and also grieving with the Spirit’s grief for the immaturity that exists in His Body.
Praying for you with love, nj
Could not agree more. I see it as day to day actions that go with faith. I think we established Christians, not only have to monitor ourselves, but also mentor new Christians. Great post
With respect to the video…I’ve joined the network hoping it will help me grow deeper in Jesus and will connect me to likeminded folks in my area. This time in the wilderness looking for community and depth is a long time. Sometimes I’m ready to throw in the towel and just give up.
Frank, thanks for all you do.
“Indeed, an increasing knowledge of the Lord is certainly a basis for spiritual growth.”
I always understood this increase in knowledge to mean getting to know the Lord better (in a relationship way), rather than just having more “knowledge”. It is knowing Him and growing in obedience and love that matters, not “knowing” facts without the reality of experience.
So Amen and amen to your points: growing in knowing Jesus transforms us more into His image.
Love the video! You have good friends with great talent. While I joined the Deeper Christian Life Network already the video makes me glad I did, excited for what’s ahead, and wanting to share it with others.
Posts like these are why I love you Frank!
I sigh, roll my eyes, and close the Facebook page because I CANNOT take one more post over some meaningless minutiae that good people insist on arguing about. I open my email and read this instead. Thanks!
Great writing Frank, some solid thoughts here. Appreciate it!