Deepening Spiritual Relationship through Various Practices and Disciplines
A deepening spiritual relationship with God is often understood in Christian traditions as a progressive journey involving various practices and disciplines that foster intimacy, knowledge, and obedience. This pursuit is not merely intellectual but experiential, engaging the whole person in a relationship with the divine [9].
One foundational aspect of this deepening relationship is the cultivation of love, knowledge, and discernment. The Apostle Paul prayed for believers that their "love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment" (Philippians 1:9) [2]. This suggests that spiritual growth is not static but dynamic, continually expanding in both affection and understanding. Such growth is often facilitated by practices that engage both the heart and the mind.
Communal worship and fellowship are significant disciplines for spiritual growth. Believers are encouraged to engage in "speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19) [1]. This practice highlights the importance of shared spiritual expression and mutual encouragement within the community of faith. The act of singing together, making melody in one's heart, points to both outward communal participation and inward personal devotion. Furthermore, fostering a "spirit of friendship" and encouraging its continuance through "every friendly act" is emphasized, as seen in the instruction to "greet one another with a holy kiss" (2 Corinthians 13:12), which Adam Clarke interprets as a call to maintain good understanding and fellowship among believers [5].
The concept of "walking in the Spirit" is central to deepening one's spiritual relationship. Adam Clarke, commenting on Galatians 5:25, explains that if believers "profess to believe a spiritual religion," they should "show in their lives and conversation that the Spirit of God dwells in us" [4]. This implies that spiritual life is not just an internal state but must be outwardly demonstrated through one's conduct. The communication and learning of spiritual truth are understood to occur "in the dimension and power of the Spirit," rather than being solely a "rational, human exercise" [3]. This perspective underscores the Holy Spirit's active role in enabling believers to grasp and live out spiritual wisdom.
Patience and experience are also vital components in this journey. John Gill, in his commentary on Romans 5:4, notes that "tribulations tend to exercise and increase patience," and this patience, when exercised, "enlarges the saints' stock and fund of experience" [6]. This experience includes a deeper understanding of God's love, grace, faithfulness, and power, as well as an awareness of one's own frailty. Such experiences lead to humility, thankfulness, and resignation to God's will, ultimately strengthening hope [6]. This suggests that even difficult circumstances can be instrumental in spiritual formation, leading to a more profound reliance on God.
The pursuit of unity within the body of Christ is another discipline that contributes to a deeper spiritual relationship. John Gill describes the "unity of the Spirit" as a "spiritual union" among believers, bound by love [7]. This unity is not merely organizational but spiritual, reflecting the shared identity of believers as members of one body under one head [7]. Endeavoring to keep this unity involves being "of the same mind and judgment, and of one accord, heart, and affection" [7]. This communal aspect of faith reinforces individual spiritual growth by providing a supportive and harmonious environment.
A deepening spiritual relationship also involves an increase in grace and peace. The Apostle Peter's prayer, "Grace and peace be multiplied unto you" (2 Peter 1:2), is interpreted by John Gill as a desire for a "larger discovery of the love and favour of God" [8]. While God's love itself does not change, its manifestations and the believer's apprehension of it can increase. This multiplication of grace can also refer to an increase in the "internal graces of the Spirit of God, as to the actings and exercise of them," or a "larger measure of the gifts of the Spirit" [8]. This indicates that spiritual growth involves both a greater awareness of God's favor and a more robust exercise of spiritual virtues and gifts.
The concept of "knowing" God in a deep, personal, and experiential way is crucial. The Hebrew word often translated as "know" (יָדַע, yada') can signify an intimate, personal, and experiential knowledge that extends beyond mere intellectual understanding [9]. This kind of knowing can encompass formal recognition, personal experience, and even intimate relationships, and it is frequently used to describe God's relationship with Israel and Israel's ideal relationship with God [9]. This suggests that a deepening spiritual relationship moves beyond abstract theological concepts to a lived, personal encounter with God.
Sources
- Ephesians “speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and making melody in your heart to the Lord; -- Ephesians 5:19”
- Philippians “This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment; -- Philippians 1:9”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 2:13: 2:13 using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths: Just as spiritual wisdom is different from human wisdom, so the way spiritual wisdom is taught must be different from the way human wisdom is taught. The communicating and learning of spiritual truth must be done in the dimension and power of the Spirit; it is not simply a rational, human exercise.”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 5:25: If we live in the Spirit - If we profess to believe a spiritual religion, let us walk in the Spirit - let us show in our lives and conversation that the Spirit of God dwells in us.”
- 2 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 2 Corinthians 13:12: Greet one another with a holy kiss - Use every means by which a good understanding may be brought about. Let the spirit of friendship live among you, and encourage its continuance by every friendly act. See the note on Rom 16:16.”
- Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 5:4: And patience experience,.... As tribulations tend to exercise and increase patience, so patience being exercised and increased, enlarges the saints' stock and fund of experience; of the love and grace of God communicated to them at such seasons; of his faithfulness in fulfilling his promises; of his power in supporting them; and of their own frailty and weakness; and so are taught humility, thankfulness, and resignation to the will of God: and experience, hope; hope is a gift of God's grace, and is implanted in regeneration, but abounds, increases, and becomes more s”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 4:3: Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit,.... That is, a spiritual union: there is an union between God and his people, and between Christ and his members, and between saints and saints, and the bond of each union is love; and that it is which knits and cements them together; and it is the last of these which is here intended: the saints are united under one head, and are members of one and the same body, and should be of the same mind and judgment, and of one accord, heart, and affection: and this may be called "the unity of the Spirit"; because it is an union ”
- 2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 1:2: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you,.... By a multiplication of grace may be meant a larger discovery of the love and favour of God; which though it admits of no degrees in itself, being never more or less in God's heart, yet, as to the manifestations of it, it is different, and capable of being increased, and drawn out to a greater length; or else an increase of the internal graces of the Spirit of God, as to the actings and exercise of them; or a larger measure of the gifts of the Spirit, for greater usefulness among them; or a clearer view, and a more enlarged k”
- Amos (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Amos 3:2: 3:2 The word translated been intimate indicates personal and experiential knowledge that often extends beyond mere intellectual awareness. It can indicate formal recognition and acknowledgment (Exod 1:8; 5:2), personal experience (Gen 2:17), or sexual relations (Gen 4:1). This word is frequently used of God’s relationship with Israel (Hos 5:3) and of Israel’s ideal relationship with God (Hos 2:20). Because of Israel’s privileged status, God would hold them accountable for all their sins, not just some of them. God holds people accountable in terms of what has been gi”