Summary:

God has given the fivefold ministry gifts for the perfecting of the saints. One of the primary reasons people have not grown spiritually is they are not receiving the milk of God's Word. His

Word is necessary for maturing in the things of God.



  1. God gave us the means to grow and mature spiritually.
    1. The fivefold ministry gifts are used in the perfecting of the saints (Ephesians 4:11, 12).
      1. The prophet
      2. The evangelist
      3. The apostle
      4. The teacher
      5. The pastor
        1. Their first assignment is to operate in the anointing for the maturing and the perfecting of the saints.
        2. When the saints mature, they will be able to do the work of the ministry; which is edifying and building up the Body of Christ.

  2. The milk of God's Word is necessary for spiritual growth.
    1. You should crave and thirst for the spiritual milk of God's Word
      (1 Peter 2:2, The Amplified Bible).
      1. In the natural, a baby begins physical growth with milk.
    2. You should grow if you're getting the right kind of milk
      (1 Corinthians 3:1, 2).
      1. Spiritual immaturity hinders you from having spiritual experiences.
      2. Being a 'baby' will hinder you from experiencing God's promises.

  3. You may need to be taught again if you have missed the basic principles of the oracles of God (Hebrews 5:11-14).
    1. The oracles of God are the milk of God's Word (Hebrews 6:1, 2).
    2. These are the basic foundational, 'milk' principles that you must have:
      1. Repentance from dead works
      2. The doctrine of baptisms
      3. Laying on of hands
      4. Having faith toward God
      5. Resurrection of the dead
      6. Information concerning eternal judgment
        1. If you don't have these basics, you are still in need of milk.

  4. Receiving knowledge is an important part of the growth process.
    1. Feeding on the Word of God is the first step in the growth process.
    2. You grow by receiving full and accurate knowledge of the Son of God (Ephesians 4:13, The Amplified Bible).
    3. Feed on the Word of God until you understand:
      1. Who Jesus is and how He consummated your salvation.
      2. Who you are in Christ and who Christ is in you.
      3. What Christ did for you in his death, burial and ascension.
        1. Jesus defeated Hell and Satan, so that you could never be defeated.
      4. Your standing before the throne of God.
        1. Read the Bible from the covenant standpoint realizing God will do everything He promised.
    4. God built His Church on the rock of revelation knowledge
      (Matthew 16:15 - 19).
      1. Paul prayed for wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1: 17 - 19).
      2. Pray for revelation and wisdom, and the spirit of might to bring it to pass (Ephesians 3: 14 - 21).
        1. A baby doesn't understand revelation.
        2. A baby won't experience revelation.

  5. The primary reason for not growing spiritually is not receiving the milk of God's Word.
    1. Failure to grow can be attributed to lack of right teaching.
      1. The responsibility to teach the milk of God's Word has been given to the fivefold ministry gifts.
      2. The Church has majored in minors—things of minor importance vs. major importance.
        1. Right teaching reveals what you need and how to get it.
        2. Often, the Church teaches only about what you need instead of how to get what you need.
        3. God is on your side and will provide all that you need (Romans 8:31).
    2. One can be called to pastor but still need to grow and mature.
      1. There is a misconception that you are 'grown' simply because you have a call on your life.
        1. When pastors have not grown spiritually, they are merely babies teaching babies.
        2. When pastors are lacking maturity, there is nothing left but to try and move people through emotionalism.
    3. Not having right teaching can lead to the psychology of unbelief which talks more about what we don't have then what we do.
      1. The Church hinders spiritual growth by teaching the Bible to Christians as though they are sinners.
      2. The difference between the sinner and the Christian is that the sinner has the promise of eternal life if they become born again, but the Bible confirms that Christians have eternal life
        (1 John 5:13, Romans 6:23).

Scripture References:

  • Ephesians 4:11,12
  • 1 Peter 2:2, AMP
  • 1 Corinthians 3: 1, 2
  • Hebrews 5:11-14
  • Hebrews 6:1, 2
  • Ephesians 4:13, AMP
  • Matthew 16:15-19
  • Ephesians 1:17-19
  • Ephesians 3:14-21
  • Romans 8:31
  • 1 John 5:13
  • Romans 6:23
Pastor Robert Bagonza
Redeemed Church
www.mrolec.org