Where's the Power? Where's the Big Transformation?

If you're any type of theologian, you know that once one has become a born-again believer a change in that person's life takes place. This change is supposed to be dramatic, drastic, and immediate. At least thats what I have always been told. That's what I've preached. We all know that the Bible talks about the drastic, dramatic, and immediate change in Saul. His change is so emphatic that his name was changed to Paul. Complete change had occurred in this man.

Since, he had such a dramatic change we expect all Christians to have such an amazingly immediate transformation. So what happens when there isn't a big transformation? Was this person truly saved? What happens when there seems to be no power?

To answer the question about their salvation. The Bible tells us that yes there will be change, but how big and how quick is not told. Before we look at the effects of the change one must ask what is the change to begin with? The change is a change in nature. It is the death of our nasty sinful life and the beginning of a completely new life. It is regeneration. It is a new heart, and new spirit. Ezekiel 36:25-27,

"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them."

Our desires have changed while before we did not care about God nor His Word, with the new heart and new spirit we long for God's Word and desire to fulfill His Word. We want to be do-ers of the Word.So, the change is not external, but internal. It is the core of who we are as individuals. It is within us. Our passion has changed.

So is it fair to measure if a person is saved, or if he is "growing" by one's visible external change? Absolutely not. This is a big misconception. If you are wondering why do I not see a big evident transformation? Where's the power? Maybe you are looking in the wrong place. When you are questioning your salvation or spiritual maturity, maybe you should be looking at your desires, motives, and passions instead of outer displays of transformation.

Look at Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." This is talking about a Believer's desire to be holy and righteous like their Savior. If you are burdened about your sin, repentant, and desire change to be holy, I would be pretty confident about your position. Now the outer changes are effects of the inner change in desires.

Spiritual growth is hard. It isn't a mystical on/off switch. It is an all out fight. Its your new desires (for Christ), against the desires of the flesh. While I do believe in perseverance of the saints (for the most part), I think that Calvinists sometimes over-simplify the battle of spiritual growth. It is like an old western fight, its a brawl. And sometimes, maybe a lot of times, we lose. But that dosn't mean you're losing the war. Ask youself this, who's power are you fighting under?

If you are wondering where is the power? Where is the big transformation? Just look at what Christ has done for you, examine the change in desire from sin to holiness, and act or work that inner change out under the unction of the Spirit. That's my opinion. Take it or leave it. - Dean

(also see Spiritual Growth: What is it and How Does it Work?)

Spiritual Growth: What is it and How Does it Work?

When talking about the topic of spiritual growth one must first understand the term and have a working definition. So what does spiritual growth mean? Are we some type of Christian tree? Are we progressing to a more conscious state of spiritual awareness (that’s what Deepak Chopra would say)? No, spiritual growth can be simply defined as the continual process of being conformed to the image of Jesus Christ.

Now, I know many people would say that spiritual growth is more complex than that, but…they are wrong. Think about it, what could be more infinitely complex than the Savior? What could be more evasive than having the character of God? Nothing. Spiritual growth is the hardest thing in life. But it is what we are to strive for; it is what we are predestined to do. (Romans 8:29-30)

Paul tells us that spiritual growth is a lifelong (and beyond) process. Philippians 3:12-14, “Not that I have already obtained this (conformity with Christ, specifically the Resurrection) or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own.

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” The call of a believer in their life is to continually be conformed to the image of Christ. But how is this accomplished? And is there a “best” way or more “efficient way of doing so? Again, while others would say that this also a very complex question and write for days on end about how it can be done, my answer is simple and brief. I would say that the key to spiritual growth (conformity to Christ) is to walk in the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit is paramount in a Christian’s life. It is only through the Spirit that we are able to resist temptation, sin, and the devil. Paul says, “Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16) Walking in the Spirit means yielding to the desires of the Spirit, if you are yielding to the desires of the Spirit, you are being conformed to the image of the Son. It is simple logic, seeing that this is the goal of the Spirit. Now those are the over-arching ideas if you will. But what about the practicality of it? What about the ‘Nitty gritties?” When you are walking in the spirit a few things will come as an effect of it. You will constantly be in fellowship with God (prayer), you will constantly be in the Word, and you will constantly tell no to sin. You will truly be living a life pleasing to God. Now many people have been trying to figure out the best way to grow spiritually and they do so with a convoluted idea of what it is. They seem to think that spiritual growth is feeling better about your Savior, talking about Him more, praying more “passionately” (in other words starting off with something “better” than “Dear Heavenly Father”), fasting for more than one day at a time (impossible for any true Baptist), and going on more mission trips. But is that in the Bible? No. While some of these are effects of walking in the Spirit they are not true indicators of spiritual growth. Let me give you an illustration of spiritual growth. A new believer is like a newly planted tree, he is small and stubby. Now what He needs is water, the water of walking in the spirit. He also needs sunlight, the rays of yielding to the Spirit. As he walks in the Spirit (by yielding his desires to God, and being dependent on Him for everything) he begins to grow (spiritual growth; conformity with Christ). As he grows, he begins to bear fruit like victory over sin, more time spent in the Word, a passion for reaching the lost, etc. You see the fruit, isn’t the actual growth. The fruit is an effect of the growth. If the fruit was the growth that would mean that you are doing the work and not God. Which is incorrect, the Spirit is doing the work through you. While you are responsible for your own spiritual maturity, the Holy Spirit is the one doing the work, all you are doing is continually yielding yourself to and walking in the Spirit. Saddleback church has a process for spiritual growth I found interesting. It’s a twelve step plan: 1. 1. Commit your life to Christ. The most important decision you'll ever make! Get baptized. Make this outward expression of your inward commitment of faith. Commit to showing up consistently to our weekend services. One of the best ways to develop your spiritual life is to meet regularly with other believers. Attend CLASS 101. Class 101 is our basic introduction to our church family. Check out a small group. Commit to a daily time with God. Download a Bible reading plan: 30 Days | 90 Days | 1 Year Deepen your Bible study skills by downloading and following this devotional study form. Check out the Spiritual Growth Center for lots of great tools and resources. Make the I CARE commitment and start praying for your friends and family. Serve in a ministry team. You're never more like Jesus than when you are serving others because of him. If you're looking for significance and fulfillment, then start serving today! Host a small group. We are always looking for leaders so we can connect others into new groups, maybe it's time for you to step up and host a group. Go on a PEACE trip. If you want to make a difference globally, maybe it's time for you to step out in faith and serve on a PEACE team. Contact us today for more info. Again, fruit is not the actual growth, just an effect. I would say that a simple breakdown would look something like this (a prerequisite would be that you are already a believer with no unconfessed sin in your life) 1. Yield to the Spirit, 2. Be controlled by the Spirit, 3. Start over again. Always remember that our spiritual growth or conformity to Christ is for the glory of God. That’s my opinion. Take it or leave it. - Dean