Training and Formation

Essay

Every sincere believer begins here. When you receive the Spirit, your heart longs to live well in God’s presence. You don’t want to drift aimlessly; you want to live according to Scripture and stand upright before Him. The problem is, despite this desire, life often falls short.

When I was in Nation A, my desire to live according to the Bible was intense. I pushed myself hard to live the way the New Testament portrays—looking back, maybe a little too hard. This experience resonates with many passionate young believers today. They want to live well but struggle, and in that struggle, they push themselves harder and then face even deeper discouragement.

The more you absorb the New Testament, the clearer one point becomes: its standards are incredibly high. Jesus addressed not only external sin but the very intentions of the heart. It’s not just about not stealing; it’s about handling greed and desire within. Reading Paul and the apostles brings the question: "Is living like this truly possible?"

For many, diving deeply into the New Testament leads to discouragement. It can feel impossible. But that discouragement isn’t pure defeat. Actually, if there’s no zeal, there’s no discouragement. The fact that you’re frustrated means the desire to live by God’s word is real. Discouragement can be the sign that you’ve begun to grasp the New Testament’s true height.

From there, most come to the conclusion: "Spirit-filledness is necessary." That’s true—the New Testament way of life is impossible without the Spirit’s filling. But let’s take a step further. If we think of Spirit-filledness only as a one-time boost at worship or gatherings that fades during daily life, it can lead to doubt. Like a powerful meeting that energizes you but leaves you back where you started as soon as it ends.

That’s why the keyword is growth. Growth takes time. Feeding a two-year-old child won’t make them instantly seven years old. The same principle applies to spiritual growth. No matter how long you read Scripture or how hard you push to become mature quickly, the spirit won’t immediately grow full-sized. In fact, pushing too hard by our own strength can make us edgy instead of deeply grace-filled.

Here we must emphasize the concept of the new spirit—the new self, the new creation. In many Korean churches, doctrines like forgiveness of sins are well taught, but sensitivity to regeneration and the growth of the new spirit can be weaker. Having the Spirit dwell in us means new life has begun. This life must grow, be nourished, and protected.

Meanwhile, balancing identity and spiritual warfare is crucial. Dark influences and spiritual oppression demand attention, but focusing only on those risks blurring one’s true identity. Repeated messages like “You are full of problems” or “You are under darkness” can make a person see themselves as darkness itself. Identity must be strong—even when we appear weak or shadowed, the reborn identity within is beautiful.

Just like Romans teaches, if the Spirit dwells in us, our identity is not our flesh but the new life the Spirit inhabits. When anger rises suddenly, or desire overwhelms, or dark thoughts flood in, we should not instantly identify those as “me.” We can separate: “This is not who I am. I am currently oppressed. My true identity is in God.”

Spirit-filledness is essential. The fullness of the Spirit experienced in worship, prayer meetings, and praise is truly precious. But that fullness isn’t a bucket with a hole that empties completely. Even when it feels like the grace received in gatherings drains out as you live daily, a tiny growth remains within the new spirit. That tiny growth, though small as a millimeter, accumulates and eventually becomes a substantial increase in spiritual stature.

So don’t fall into despair. You might wonder, "Why do I fall again?" or "Why do I recharge but then feel drained?" but that doesn’t mean it’s pointless. Grace stays, the spirit grows. This growth doesn’t come by rushing or forcing it but by regularly feeding, protecting, resting, and avoiding suppressing the spirit with worry or anger.

I want to emphasize: we must help and guard the spirit. Worry oppresses the spirit. Anger and frustration do too. Even in ministry or leading worship, when we try hard to perform well through sheer will, we can actually disrupt the natural flow of the spirit. Sometimes what’s needed is to let go of striving. When we relax our grip, true strength from within can rise up.

The Word is food. Yet, just as the body grows when it eats the right foods at the right time, the spirit grows by consistently and calmly consuming the Word. Eating a lot at once won’t make you mature any faster. Nor will neglecting to feed allow growth. Spiritual growth requires steady, peaceful nurturing, balanced between pushing too hard and being lazy.

Now, let’s distinguish between training and formation. The church has long emphasized training – learning Scripture, setting discipline, applying will, and changing behavior. Training is undeniably vital. But focusing too much on training risks relying too heavily on our own strength, leading either to pride or discouragement when changes don’t last.

Consider military training. In the army, soldiers live by their training. But when discharged, most don’t maintain that lifestyle automatically. Training often stays at the level of actions, effort, discipline, and will. It can feel temporary without forming the person’s inner being. This calls for reflection on the limits of disciple training alone within church life.

Therefore, the concept of formation comes forward. Formation focuses on being. It’s not just about fixing behaviors but about the new spirit and inner self genuinely growing. Discipline and effort are necessary tools for supporting this growth, but they should not be the focus. The heart must be life and the goal stable transformation.

Disciple training should not be discarded. It remains necessary. But it must deepen into disciple formation. All practices—reading the Word, worshiping, praying, self-control, obeying—are not projects to become perfect by our own power. They are ways to aid the growth of the new life God has given us. Training exists for the sake of formation.

Ultimately, the encouragement to hold onto is clear. It’s wonderful to desire to live well in God. Discouragement is part of the process. Spirit-filledness is essential. But it’s not all a cycle of momentary charges and drainings. Grace remains; the spirit grows; small changes accumulate. Rather than pushing yourself too fast, nurture and protect the new spirit and trust the gradual growth that God accomplishes in time.

Content Notes

1. Those who receive the Spirit want to live well in God.

Sincere believers do not want to live carelessly. The Spirit stirs a desire to live upright before God. Yet, despite this longing, life often doesn’t go as expected.

2. New Testament standards are very high.

Reading it deeply reveals how high Jesus’ and the apostles’ standards are—not only external sin but the heart’s motives and direction. That leads many to conclude it’s impossible by human effort alone.

3. Discouragement can be evidence of zeal.

Without a real desire to live by the Word, there is no disappointment. Discouragement is not the end but a sign of confronting New Testament standards sincerely. We should learn from it rather than be ashamed.

4. Spirit-filledness is absolutely necessary.

The New Testament life cannot happen without the Spirit’s filling. The Spirit’s movement in worship and prayer is vital. However, viewing it as only a one-time charge risks faith feeling like repeated charging and draining cycles.

5. Growth takes time.

Just as feeding a toddler doesn’t make them instantly older, spiritual maturity takes time. Reading more, praying more, and trying harder won’t force quick maturity.

6. Pushing by zeal alone can create brittleness.

Reading the Word might suggest more love and gentleness, but forcing oneself hard can actually make a person irritable. This comes from a misguided pace, not grace.

7. Understanding the growth of the new spirit is vital.

The Spirit dwelling in us means new life has begun. This must be fed, protected, and grown. Weakness in sensing regeneration and new creation can lead to mistaking Spirit-filledness for a transient experience.

8. Identity and spiritual warfare must be balanced.

Darkness and oppression exist, but overemphasizing them can blur true identity. Strong identity in the new life God gave enables healthy spiritual warfare.

9. Don’t identify anger and desire as yourself.

When anger or temptation arises, don’t immediately say, "This is me." Separate the true self indwelt by the Spirit from the temporary dark influence.

10. Grace received in gatherings doesn’t disappear.

Though it may feel like grace fades after worship or prayer meetings, it leaves lasting growth in the spirit, however small.

11. Nourishing and protecting the spirit is key.

Consistently and appropriately consuming the Word helps growth. Worry, anger, and striving can suppress the spirit, so create calm conditions for growth.

12. Worry suppresses spiritual growth.

Worry isn’t just an emotional issue; it can hinder the spirit’s freedom to grow. Overcoming worry and guarding the spirit in God is necessary training.

13. Letting go of self-effort is sometimes needed in ministry.

Trying too hard in ministry or worship leadership can disturb the spirit’s natural flow. Relaxing can allow God’s true strength to come through.

14. Training is important but has limits.

Training shapes discipline, effort, will, and behavior and is necessary, but relying solely on it leads to pride or discouragement when changes don’t last.

15. Military-style training doesn’t guarantee sustained change.

Soldiers live by training in service, but after discharge, many don’t keep the same lifestyle, showing that training without inner formation yields unstable change.

16. Formation is being-centered.

Formation means the new spirit and inner person grow, not just fixing behavior. Discipline and effort serve growth, but life growth is the focus.

17. Disciple training must deepen into formation.

Training remains essential, but it should support the growth of the new life, not just rely on human effort to produce perfect behavior.

18. Stable change comes from accumulated growth.

True transformation isn’t from momentary zeal but from grace sprinkled through worship, the Word, prayer, obedience, and repentance—all adding up.

19. Embrace Spirit-filledness and spiritual growth together.

Spirit-filledness is the strength you need today, growth is the lifelong formation. Holding only one leads to imbalance.

20. Care for the new spirit rather than rushing it.

The desire to live well in God is precious, but pushing too hard can exhaust you. Protect and nurture the new spirit, trusting God’s timing for growth.