by Angela Blair

Created on: November 19, 2009   Last Updated: January 20, 2010

New Christians are often referred to as "Milk Fed Christians" indicating they have just begun their spiritual journey, much as infants begin their journey to adulthood. The initial decision to accept God's salvation is a personal, individual experience and the most important made in a lifetime.

To be a Christian one must accept the seven facts of salvation with a receptive heart; they are: It is a fact God loves you, that you are a sinner, that you are now dead in sin, that Christ died for you, that you can be saved by faith in The Lord Jesus Christ, that you can be saved and know it and that you are now a child of God and you are to obey Him.

From that moment forward, as a new person in Jesus Christ, the learning experience begins through prayer and study of God's Holy Word in the Bible, which, in layman's language is the "guide book" for Christians. "So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" Romans 10:17. Praying for enlightenment and understanding, prior to Bible study, not only indicates faith but a willingness and desire to learn. The support and instruction of mature Christians is extremely helpful at this point in time.

As study and prayer progress and God's love, ways and desires become more apparent, the road to spiritual maturity broadens. The desire to make one's life acceptable to God intensifies and old, sinful ways are cast aside. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" Proverbs 1:7. The word "fear," as used in this statement means acknowledgement of and belief in the Lord. Prayer, study and faith, is where knowledge of The Lord is obtained and often referred to as "being grounded in the Word."

Once grounded in the Word the extent of maturity is measured by deeds, actions and day-to-day living. Traumatic life experiences can be catalysts for early spiritual maturity by requiring immediate great faith, patience or persistence. A Millk Fed Christian becomes a Meat Fed Christian upon reaching a faith based spiritual maturity. Ideally, upon reaching some level of spiritual maturity there would come a time to "coast" and just enjoy the peace faith brings. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

Once attained, Christian maturity is a warfare - a spiritual conflict with Satan: "Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:14-16.

Christians are under constant attack from Satan, who is referred to "as the prince of the air" in the Bible. As air surrounds us on this earth one can only surmise that Satan's all around us so the battle is ongoing, constant and fierce. He attempts to distress us, discourage us, and kill us. The mature Christian's faith in God lifts him/her above the often unbearable attacks of Satan.

Through faith in and love of God, one denies Satan pleasure and success in his "prince of the air" domain, ie.,sorrow, pain, and unhappiness in our lives.

Without doubt, refusing to bow to Satan's onslaught is a clear indication - the spiritual maturity destination has been reached.

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