5 SIGNS OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION

1. A Rooted Faith

Colossians 2: 6, 7 - "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

The pathway to spiritual formation includes being "rooted and built up in him" and "strengthened in the faith".  

How? - Based on what "we were taught" through the precious Word of God.  

A biblical faith is one where it is fiercely rooted in the Word.  It is not a faith in faith itself but a faith in the God that the Bible reveals.  If we want to see solid spiritual formation happening in our people, get them rooted in the unadulterated Word of God!  

So leaders, teach your people the Word like as if your life depends on it because it does!

2. A Grateful Heart

A Christian who truly understands the nature of biblical salvation cannot help but to end with a grateful heart.  

To see the depravity of our sinfulness and the awesome grace of God to save us; even though we are totally undeserving, will inevitably result in a heart "overflowing in thankfulness" as the Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 2: 7.   

How can one not response with gratitude to a grace so amazing?  A grateful heart is an unavoidable sign of true spiritual formation.

Without gratitude, there is no true worship or prayer or service!

3. A Humble Posture

A rooted faith and a grateful heart will then lead to a humble posture.  When we realise that there is no good thing in us but we are simply saved by grace; we will come to the conclusion that we have nothing to boast about.  

As Paul said in Ephesians 2: 8 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."  

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To have any other posture would be like a woodpecker flying away from a tree that has just being struck by lightning and thinking to herself: "Look what I have done!"

This is why we should all become "Double L-Plate Leaders".  We have one L-plate in front to remind us that we are life-long learners.

We will never come to the place where we think we have "been-there, done-that" and have a T-shirt to proof it.  But we are life-long learners who have so much more to grow into.  At the same time, we have a L-plate behind to remind us that God has called us to be leaders so we will not be reticent but boldly step up the plate and fulfil our calling.  We will say boldly to our people: "Follow me as I follow Christ".  

The L-plate in front reminds us to have a humble posture of a life-long learner and the L-plate behind reminds us to have the boldness of a leader called by God.  So we end up with this oxymoronic posture of "humble-boldness".   

Perhaps, this is what it means to be a "servant-leader".

4. A Rested Spirit

If we have a rooted faith, a grateful heart and a humble posture, we will come to this place where we can truly rested in the Lord. 

True rest do not come out of an absence of trouble. It is rest that remains in the midst of trouble.  It is a rest that is not superficial but deep.  True rest comes out of trust.

Psalm 91: 1, 2 - "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust."

In the context of enemies, pestilence, plagues and wars, the Psalmist reminds us that we are secure and rested in the "shelter of the Most High" and in the "shadow of the Almighty" because we trust in Him.  Because we are anchored in the Lord, there is a stillness and inner assurance that "It will be OK."  

The Psalmist describes this rest in Psalm 63: 7 - "Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.  My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me."  

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Psalm 62: 1 - "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken."

The little word "alone" provides the insight to this rest.  When our security is rooted ultimately in God alone, then we will truly gain a "rested spirt" and become unshakable!

5. A Quiet Composure

What is real on the inside will ultimately be manifested on the outside. If we have a rooted faith, a grateful heart, a humble posture and a rested spirit inside, it will eventually result in a quiet composure on the outside.

A spiritually matured believer on the inside will walk before man with a quiet composure on the outside.  He is calm in the midst of turmoil.  He is still in the midst of chaos.  He is steady in times of troubles.  He is faith-filled in times of bad circumstances.  He is composed in times of turbulence.  He is a stable mooring in times of uncertainties.  

Our Lord Jesus modelled this quiet composure for us in the Garden of Gethsemane; when he took time to heal the ear of the soldier when it was cut off by one of Jesus' followers.  It took calmness of spirit and composure of soul to be able to do this in the midst of the tensed situation of conflict that they were in.  This is only possible because Jesus has a rooted faith, a grateful heart, a humble posture, a rested sprit and therefore a quiet composure at all times and under all circumstances.  

The Apostle Paul said in Galatians 4: 19 - "My dear children, for who, I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you..."

This is what spiritual formation is all about! 

As leaders, this is our spiritual responsibility towards our people - to see "Christ formed in them"!

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