Topical Study~SPIRITUAL NURTURE AND DIVINE WORK (II)
SPIRITUAL NURTURE AND DIVINE WORK (II)
II. Spiritual Nurture
Spiritual nurture refers to the cultivation of one’s spirituality. We need to cultivate humility, love, righteousness, holiness, faithfulness, obedience, unity, courage and patience in our words, deeds and within ourselves, through spiritual nurture.
There are two essential purposes of spiritual nurture:
1. To Save Oneself
Rev. 18:2-42And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!3For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."4And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.
As believers of the Lord, we have separated ourselves from the world to become a holy people to Him, and are partakers of His divine nature.
Deu. 7:6 "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.
2Pet. 1:4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
However, we live in a world that resembles Babylon, filled with wickedness and filthiness. If we do not remain vigilant and attentive, we may easily fall into temptation due to the weakness of our flesh and faith that has grown cold. This can lead us to conform to the world and love the world, causing us to commit sins. If we do not actively practise spiritual nurture, we may commit grave sins that are irredeemable.
Jas. 1:15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Therefore, the Bible tells us:
Phil. 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
Acts 2:40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation."
This is the period of grace which offers an opportunity for us to repent and exercise spiritual nurture. We must seize this great opportunity, lest it will be too late.
2Cor. 6:2 For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
2. To Save Others
God wants us to preach the gospel and bring salvation to the world.
Mark 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Matt. 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
In order to save others, engaging in spiritual nurture is of utmost importance. If one fails to exercise spiritual nurture, he will not be able to save others, even though he is knowledgeable and eloquent or has a good outward appearance.
2Tim. 2:21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honour, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
The Lord commanded us to shepherd His sheep. How can we be an example to the flock if we constantly criticise others but do not examine ourselves and acknowledge our shortcomings? If this is the case, we will lead the sheep astray.
Rom. 2:21-2421You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?22You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?23You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?24For "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you," as it is written.
As such, Paul emphasised in the following verse:
1Cor. 9:27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Thus, we must examine our deeds daily, discipline our bodies, and bring them into subjection. Maintaining a clear state of mind and upholding a good conscience is essential.
We can refer to Enoch who preached warnings in the Old Testament, and Paul who preached the gospel in the New Testament, as great examples of those who practise spiritual nurture and those who worked to save others.
Jude 1:14-1514Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, 15to execute judgement on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him."
Acts 9:15-1615But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.16For I will show him how many things he must suf er for My name's sake."
Rom. 10:15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!"
While there are numerous ways to exercise spiritual nurture, we will highlight two of the most significant ones for our mutual encouragement:
1. Search the Scriptures Diligently
Isa. 34:16 "Search from the book of the Lord, and read: Not one of these shall fail; Not one shall lack her mate. For My mouth has commanded it, and His Spirit has gathered them.
2Tim. 3:16-1716All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
We should study the Scriptures diligently as it is our spiritual guide. The believers in Berea examined the Scriptures daily to understand God’s teachings. The Lord Jesus Christ also encouraged us to search the Scriptures.
Acts 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
John 5:39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.
The Bible advises us to search out and examine our ways.
Lam. 3:40 Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the Lord;
How can we evaluate our actions? The best way to do this is by studying the Scriptures.
Isa. 8:20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Jas. 1:25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
We study the Scriptures to seek righteousness and truth, and to walk in them.
Jas. 1:22-2322But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
Even while Paul was imprisoned in Rome, he sought spiritual nurture continually.
Phil. 3:12-1412Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.13Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,14I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul’s achievement in spiritual nurture earned him the crown of righteousness, and he would not be disqualified from it. He has truly set a good example for all of us.
1Cor. 9:27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
2Tim. 4:7-87I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.8Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2. Pray Persistently and Earnestly
Prayer is essential for believers, much like breathing. We live in a wicked and adulterous generation that is overwhelmed with filthiness. For this reason, the Lord Jesus Christ admonishes believers to remain vigilant, as we may struggle to overcome these challenges without combating them through prayers.
Matt. 26:41 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."
The saints who had high level of spirituality and were victorious constantly prayed to God.Take for example:
i. Moses
Moses was the meekest man on earth.
Num. 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)
Moses led the Israelites to Mount Sinai and he went up to the mountain twice, each time for forty days. When he descended the mountain for the second time, his face shone brightly because he had spent a long time talking to God face-to-face.
Exo. 34:29-3529Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses' hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.30So when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.31Then Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned to him; and Moses talked with them.32Afterward all the children of Israel came near, and he gave them as commandments all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.33And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face.34But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with Him, he would take the veil of until he came out; and he would come out and speak to the children of Israel whatever he had been commanded.35And whenever the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone, then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with Him.
Today, we communicate with God through prayers. We can indeed speak to God through our prayers and receive blessings from Him.
Ps. 34:5-75They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.6This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.7The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.
2Cor. 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
ii. Daniel
Daniel had an excellent spirit, having the Spirit of the Holy God in him. He prayed to God three times a day without ceasing. (Dan. 6:10, 13)
Dan. 5:11UP There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him;…
Daniel was a governor, and the king wanted to appoint him to oversee the entire realm. He held such a prominent position that his colleagues sought to find grounds for accusations against him, but they could find none because he was faithful and no error or fault was found in him.
Dan. 6:3-43Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm.4So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.
Daniel had an excellent spirit. Without the presence of God and without joining as one in the spirit with God, he would not be able to demonstrate it.
iii. Anna
The prophetess Anna became a widow at a young age. She remained a widow and did not remarry for the rest of her life. She maintained a pure heart and lived a virtuous life. The Scriptures state that this was mainly because she “did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”
Luke 2:36-3736Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;37and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
Conclusion
The above explains the significance and importance of spiritual nurture and divine work. It clearly states that they are both our duty and responsibility. However, we can see that there is a close relationship between these two. On the one hand, spiritual nurture is critical for the progress and effectiveness of the divine work; on the other hand, divine work is vital in the cultivation of spiritual nurture. Therefore, we should not focus on one aspect and neglect the other.
Eccl. 7:18 It is good that you grasp this, And also not remove your hand from the other; For he who fears God will escape them all.
(The Holy Spirit Times – 10.08.1965)
ACTS-2025-0506-Eng
