Have you ever thought about how a person grows spiritually? We have a formula that we use to guide us in the Growth Institute to help people grow.

GUTS + GIFTS + GOVERNMENT = GROWTH

 
People often wonder what this means. It means simply this, following this growth formula will lead to fulfilling the call on your life and your destiny. This is a simple formula for becoming all that God wants you to be. While the formula is simple the implementation is a little harder!
 

Our 3 core classes of the Growth Institute are in this order Encounter!, Minister!, Group!. These 3 classes parallel the left side of the equation above. Let's explain the formula.

 
Guts

 
What is guts? It is character. Character will make or break you. Your gift may 'get you in the door' but character keeps you in the room. Your gift may get you started but character allows you to finish.

Your gift is given to you but character is grown. The character that we want to develop is the 9 fruits (implies time and growth) of the Holy Spirit.

Gal. 5:22-23 ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

We can have the greatest gift in the world but without guts in the end we will end up like Samson in the Old Testament. He was 'strong' in his gifting but his lack of character cost him his ministry and eventually his life.

 
The Encounter! class helps you in growing your guts!
 

Gifts 

 
There are three types of gifts given by the Trinity in the New Testament. Each person of the Trinity gives one of the types of gifts and they each have their own purpose. It is important to understand the gifts and discover yours because this is where a large part of your impact will come. God gives you these gifts to make a difference in the world. Each gift is a small reflection of Him that He wants imparted into the earth. Here are the three category of gifts.

1. Father’s Gifts (Motivational Gifts). 7 gifts given by Father God to bring ministry to others. Listed in Romans 12:6-8. Everyone has at least one of these gifts.

2. Holy Spirit’s Gifts (Supernatural Gifts). 9 gifts given by Holy Spirit to bring power. Listed in 1 Corinthians 12:7-8. Everyone can flow in these gifts as determined by the Holy Spirit.

3. Jesus’ Gifts (5 Offices). 5 gifts given by Jesus to bring the Church to maturity. Listed in Ephesians 4:11-12. Given to individuals by Jesus.

The alternate names in parenthesis are not biblical names but are given to help communicate the purpose of the gifts.

Do you know what your gift is? It’s important to find it out so that you can start growing in your skill level.

The Minister! course which is the second course in the Growth Institute helps you discover your gift.

Government

 
Along with your gift and guts you need to be aligned with the proper government. Government is the structure that Jesus has for His church. We are all a part of His church. We each have a place. We all need to find it. The local church is His instrument to bring about spiritual change in the earth.

Ps. 92:3 - "Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God."

 
For you to reach your destiny you must do it with a team of people that God wants you to work with. That team of people is found in a local church. Many Christians are lone rangers. If you are a lone ranger you may achieve some success but you will never reach your destiny. God has set it up that no one person has all of the answers or pieces. 
You must link arm in arm with others.

 
Are you planted in a local church actively partnering with others to accomplish God's will? Do you know which local church you are to be involved in and your place in it. All of the prayer lines, prophecies, and anointing will not take us to where we want to be with out being properly aligned in the body of Jesus. Even Jesus is aligned with His church. He is not a lone ranger. He is the head but He can't move unless the rest of the body wants to go. I guarantee you that there is a place in the church for you that will excite and challenge you if you haven't found it yet.

 
The Group! Class (third in the Growth Institute series) helps you to understand government and to find your place in it.

 
When we work on our guts, discover our gifts, and get into government we will see growth!