SPF 126: Lest We Drift – Can We Backslide? How Do We Grow?

Spiritual dullness affects all Christians at some point. Some symptoms are wanting to hear what we want to hear, coming to the Word with our own presuppositions on how things should be and being wooed by the world – we must pay careful attention lest we drift away.

IMG_4470.PNG

Spiritual dullness affects all Christians at some point. Some symptoms are wanting to hear what we want to hear, coming to the Word with our own presuppositions on how things should be and being wooed by the world – we must pay careful attention lest we drift away.

Enjoying the Podcast?

Consider supporting the podcast in one of these ways:

  1. Give $5 monthly on Patreon to the SPF Podcast and get access to extra resources. Learn more at patreon.com/sheprovesfaithful.com

  2. Try Audible for a month for FREE and get TWO FREE audiobooks that you can keep forever! When you try Audible (even if you do not sign up), the SPF Podcast is directly supported. More info here: https://amzn.to/2CZLh41

  3. Check out Amazon affiliate links. When I link to the resources I talk about on the podcast, you can click through and SPF receives a small percentage for recommending resources I love!

Life Hack: Minimal Mom Meal Planning

Here is here blog post with video and downloadable (and editable) meal planning/shopping list!

https://www.ithinkwecouldbefriends.com/2018/09/27/simple-easy-meal-planning-free-printable/

Lest We Drift

We can be dull and dim in our understanding even as Christians.

No one is stagnant.

We grow or regress.

We move forward or backward.

We are being softened or hardened.

In Mark 8 Jesus wants to urge His disciples on to spiritual maturity.

Mark 8:17-21

slow to understand because we. . .

  • hear what we want to hear

  • let presuppositions and preconceived ideas affect the Truth of what Jesus says

  • not receptive to spiritual teaching

  • no capacity to receive teaching when we are dull of hearing

  • We need spiritually maturity

  • God has not called us to remain infants in the faith. We are called to spiritually mature but if we are dull to hear becoming slow to understand, we remain in this infant state.

Hebrews 5 and 6 gives warning and instruction with this . . .

  • loosing confidence and hope

  • drifting away

  • neglecting a great salvation

  • Insensitive to God

  • Staying infants in our faith

  • becoming influenced by the world and it’s offerings

  • getting off track about the true mission of God

The opposite of dull is growth, it’s progress, it’s moving forward, it’s a soft soil in the heart that drinks the rain and is fruitful and receives blessing. The growing life is a blessed life.

Spiritual Growth looks like:

  • God has a way He wants to be worshipped and we worship in that way.

  • Cultivating Understanding 1 Cor 14:20

  • We long to become more like Christ instead of more like a perfect version of ourselves or a worldly standard

  • We grow by overcoming temptation

I think if we’ve become dull, we need to stop and carefully examine the occasion of our decline. Why is are my ears dull of hearing? Why is my heart hard?

Resources

Check out these sermons and articles on the topic of “dull” from Monergism (including sermon by Lawson and Piper): https://www.monergism.com/search?keywords=dull&format=All

(amazon links are affiliate links)

ESV Study Bible

By ESV Bibles by Crossway

Knowing Scripture

By R. C. Sproul

Search

Support the Show

Join the Newsletter

Encouragement & Helpful Resources
– all ❤️, no spam –

Share this Episode:

Recent Episodes

Review Your Cart
0
Add Coupon Code
Subtotal