After the New Birth comes growth. If there is no growth, there is no life. To be in Christ means to be saved, converted, regenerated, sanctified, and continually growing in grace and knowledge. Christian growth is learning what God wants through his Word; doing what God wants; and living our lives through his love. The evidence of growth in grace and knowledge can be found in (1) an increase in love; (2) an increase in faith (3) an increase in respect for God's Word; and (4) an increase of the fruit of the Spirit. God wants us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior. But how can we who are in Christ grow in a suitable and wholesome manner? In the ABC's of Christian Growth you will find guidelines for growth in the Christian's life. We will explore from A to Z some basic principles to embrace in the day to day walk with the Lord. When these ideologies are applied to the life of the believer, growth is inevitable.

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Brokenness Brokenness is a state of no longer being whole or in working condition; lacking parts necessary to be complete; or lacking order or harmony. It is necessary that man's will is broken so that God's will can be perfected in him. As long as one operates under his own ideas, opinions, and stubbornness, he does not leave room for the will of God to be made manifest in his life. Man is a triune being made up of body, soul, and spirit. The soul of man is the area of his thoughts, emotions, and will. Every action begins with the intellect (thoughts) which triggers emotions and then controls the will. That is why it is necessary to bring every thought into subjection to Christ so that our will can become subject to His. God wants us broken and whole. Everything in our flesh that is contrary to the will of God in our lives should be broken and destroyed. It should remain broken as the Spirit of God mends us and makes us whole according to His will and His way. He makes us a brand new creature. Therefore, our will is lost in His and we no longer see ourselves but we see the Christ that is within us. The Word of God lets us know that the Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart. We understand that God is omnipresent and is near all at all times. The adapted concept is that one who is near us can help us, or that one who is afar off cannot give us aid. The phrase, them that are of a broken heart, occurs quite often in the Bible. It refers to a situation when a burden appears to be on the heart, and when the heart appears to be crushed by sin or sorrow; and it is intended to describe a consciousness of deep guilt, or the greatest kind of affliction and trouble. The Lord is nigh unto them who are pressed down with afflictions, by the sorrow of heart under which their spirits are broken, or with a sense of sin, and sorrow for it, for which their hearts cut them, and they are hurt by it, and broken with it: these are the ones to whom the Lord is nigh. This is not in a general way only, as he is to all men, but in a particular manner; he comes and reveals himself to them in a gracious way. He pours in the oil of his love, and heals their brokenness. Enlightenment from the Scriptures Psalm 34:18 - The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Psalm 51:17 - The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 147:3 - He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. Brokenness Worksheet 1. How can we be broken and whole? 2. Does being broken indicate a sign of weakness? Explain 3. What effect does a broken heart have on a true relationship with God? 4. How does the spirit of God minister to "them who are of a broken heart"? 5. How does brokenness position you for the anointing of God in your life? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________