Growing Strong in Spirit

In Growing Strong in Spirit, Michael E.B. Maher explains that every believer is born again as a babe in Christ, with a spirit that must grow to maturity. He distinguishes three stages of spiritual growth: children (babes in Christ), young adults, and fathers (mature believers). Characteristics of babes include limited understanding of God’s word, weak faith, and carnal behaviour. Young adults have grasped the foundational doctrines and display stronger faith. Mature believers have spiritual understanding, strong faith, and consistently display the fruit of the Spirit, walking free from sin.

Maher outlines four key practices for spiritual growth: feeding on the word of God (both milk and solid food), gaining spiritual understanding through prayer and revelation, meditating on Scripture (constant reflection), acting on the word (obedience), and praying in the spirit (tongues). He emphasizes that the spirit is nourished only by what the mind understands; thus renewing the mind is essential. Neglecting to act on revealed truth hinders further revelation.

The book contrasts Old and New Covenant saints, noting that only New Covenant believers can grow spiritually because they are born again. Maher encourages believers to progress from infancy to maturity, using the examples of Jesus and Paul, who both grew strong in spirit. 

Print length: 98 pages