Principles For A Healthy, Multiplying Church: Spiritual Renewal

Spiritual renewal is a practice and principle that refreshes the believers and the church. 1 Timothy 4:7-8 works for this application as well. Belleville dictates, “‘spiritual training,’ which is parallel to ‘physical training.’ Paul pictured the process of daily spiritual renewal in terms of a daily physical regimen.”[1] It is vital the church planter and leaders of the church receive a breakthrough daily. Spurgeon writes, “he who desires to see a rightly-ordered life should first desire an inward renewal by the Holy Spirit.”[2] Daily prayer and devotion of scripture is vital to the health of leadership. The law of the lid would apply here as well. One can only lead a group of people to the point they are at. If spiritual growth begins to stagnate, they will either lead those individuals to spiritual idleness or they will lose their congregations. The church will not be healthy in idleness, and they will not be sustainable without a congregation.

1 Timothy 1:5 states, “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” A church planter must lead with a pure heart. Belleville informs, “Ceremonial purity was required of those who ministered at the altar.”[3] Psalms 51:10 tells us, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” This was David’s plea when asking God for forgiveness of his sins with Bathsheba. This is a mark of authentic spiritual renewal. 

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Spiritual renewal, while giving priority to spiritual disciplines, is also focused on right relationship with God and development of spiritual gifts, such as wisdom. Boda comments, “The human components required to move from discipline to forgiveness are fourfold: they must humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face, and turn from their wicked ways”[4]Ott writes, “James 1:5 gives us the promise: ‘If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.’[5]This advocates that spiritual renewal helps with decision making and other situations one will face in the day to day tasks of church planting.

[1] Linda Belleville, “Commentary on 1 Timothy” in 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Hebrews, vol. 17,Cornerstone Biblical Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2009), 1786, Logos.

[2] C. H. Spurgeon, The Soul Winner: How to Lead Sinners to the Saviour (New York; Chicago; Toronto: Fleming H. Revell, 1895), 253, Logos.

[3] Linda Belleville, “Commentary on 1 Timothy” in 1 & 2 Timothy, Titus, and Hebrews, vol. 17,Cornerstone Biblical Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2009), 1729, Logos.

[4] Mark J. Boda, 1-2 Chronicles, vol. 5, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2010), 272, Logos.

[5] Craig Ott and Gene Wilson, Global Church Planting: Biblical Principles and Best Practices for Multiplication (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2011), 11, Logos.