UNDERSTANDING SPIRITUAL MATURITY
(First part)
Memory verse (Ephesians 4: 13) “ Till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ ”
We need to understand the spiritual dynamics of the new creation, i.e. the spirit man. And one of the dynamics of the spirit man is the spiritual growth. Our spirits are born the day we accept Christ into our lives, i.e. receive God’s kind of life, eternal life. But getting born again is not the end of the story; it’s the beginning of a spiritual journey of growth. Spiritual growth is similar to physical growth. We all need the Holy Spirit to open our spiritual eyes to understand the process of our spiritual development.
Paul said that when he was a child he spoke as a child, he thought as a child but when he became a man (mature), he left the childish things (1Cor13: 11). The level of your spiritual maturity determines your motives, behaviors and action and your understanding. The quality of your life also depends on the level of your spiritual maturity. How you handle issues of life like stress, problems, success depends on your spiritual level of development. Any change in your spiritual condition will be reflected in your behaviors, thoughts, speech etc. So spiritual maturity is a vital responsibility of every child of God. Much of the crises we see in the church, families, finances etc have their roots in the spiritual levels of those dear saints. Being careless about your spiritual development can be very costly to you as a believer (Gal4: 1). Spiritual lack of development keeps you in slavery and bondage. In fact Jesus admonished the Jews who believed in Him that they had to be committed to his word if they wanted to enjoy permanent freedom (Jn 8:31-32). Lack of spiritual growth denies many Christians the blessings Jesus died to give them. All heavenly blessings are ours, but until we reach certain levels of spiritual maturity we can’t walk in the reality of many blessings that are ours in Christ.
In this week’s teaching we want to start on a journey of spiritual maturity. There are five stages of spiritual development: (i) Spiritual babies (ii) Spiritual young children, (iii) Spiritual young men (IV) Spiritual sons (v) Spiritual fathers. As we study these levels of spiritual development, find your level and begin to work with the Holy Sprit to help you go to the next level.
Tomorrow’s subject: “ Spiritual babies”
(Second part)
Memory verse (1Cor3: 1-3): “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able ”
The Greek translation for this word baby is “nepios”. It means a little child, a minor, not of age. It also means one who is childish, one untaught and unskilled. Paul called the believers in Corinth, babies. They were born again, but they were at the level of spiritual infancy. They were not of age spiritually, they were childish spiritually, they were untaught and they were unskilled spiritually. The writer of the book of Hebrews had the same observation of the Hebrews brethren. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe, (Heb5: 13). Spiritual babies can’t discern what is good and wrong, i.e. they lack spiritual sensitivity development (Heb5: 14). In fact, the Hebrews problem was not that they were not taught but their hearts were dull. Their religiosity dulled up their spiritual senses. They were supposed to be teachers but there had been no spiritual growth. So they were childish in their thinking and behaviors.
Paul watched the behaviors and speech of the brethren in Corinth and he saw childishness. He saw strife, divisions etc in them. Spiritual babies are unstable (Eph4: 14). Spiritual babies can’t possess their inheritance in Christ (Gal4: 1-2). Spiritual babies walk in bondage; the flesh, the lust of the world and satanic temptations, controls them. The church has a responsibility to discern the spiritual babies and prepare the right food, i.e. milk for them, (1Pet2: 2.) When you give food for mature people to babies, it will harm or even kill them. Peter said, spiritual babies need spiritual milk of the word. It’s that milk that will cause them to grow to the next level of spiritual children. Hebrews gives the list of spiritual food to give to the spiritual infants (Heb6: 1-2). We need new converts class in our churches to care for the little children that are born of God through the gospel. We need to take good care of God’s spiritual babies. All believers need the shepherds God has provided in his church to take care of your spiritual life.
Tomorrow’s subject: “Spiritual little children”
(Third part)
Memory verse (1Jn2: 12): “ I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake ”.
The Greek translation for this word little children in the above scripture is “teknion”, which means little children; in the new testament it is used as a term of kindly address by teachers to their disciples. John taught some fundamental characteristics of the spiritual children, i) they have to understand that their sins are forgiven, ii) they have come to a level of understanding that God is their Father. Spiritual babies need true discipleship program that will develop them spiritually. This is what Jesus taught the Jews that believed in him, that if they got committed to the word of God, they would be true disciples (Jn8: 31-32). . Little children are believers who are committed to hearing and reading God’s word. The early church new converts were committed to the apostles teaching. (Acts2: 42-46).
Little children have to be committed to the apostles’ teachings, to fellowship, to prayer and to Holy Communion. Another name for the little children should be disciples (Jn21: 4-5). As the spiritual little disciples get taught about the cross and the finished work of Jesus on the cross, they begin to know the truth and that truth sets them free. They can walk in freedom and peace knowing that their sins are forgiven and they are now the righteousness of God through Christ. The discipleship teachings open the disciple’s eyes to know that God is now their Heavenly Father (1Jn2: 14). This is what Jesus taught his disciples when he taught them how to pray (Matt6: 9). Disciples address God as their Father. A disciple enjoys a good relationship with God since when he knows that God is his Father. He begin to come closer to God instead of running away from God. He begin to discover how much God loves him. Church leaders and shepherds of God’s flock, God’s children need to know how much God loves them as their Father. They need to have the assurance of their forgiveness so they can walk in peace with God. Have a program for God’s little ones, take them into the word of God, provide warm fellowship for them. Am also advising every one of you children of God, you need a spiritually healthy church, you need a pastor and you have to be committed to fellowship (Heb10: 25).
Tomorrow’s subject: “ Spiritual young men ”
(Fourth part)
Memory verse (1Jn2: 14b) “ I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one ”
The Greek translation of the word young men is “neaniskos”. It means a youth. Used of a young attendant or servant. So, spiritual young men can attend to certain responsibilities. They can serve in different capacities. John gave some characteristics about young men. They are strong spiritually, God’s word dwell in them, and they have overcome the evil one. Wow! This is a great level of spirituality every one should long to reach. A place in your spiritual life where you are strong in your spirit, when evil and the evil one can’t have dominion over you any longer. Where the word of God has filled your heart and your mind. A place where you know how to apply God’s word in any life’s situation and come out an over comer. What a place!!!!!!
These spiritual young men and women have been going through a consistent process since they were born again, they enjoyed the spiritual milk, then they went through the discipleship process and to this level of maturity. They have been feeding on God’s word and now it’s full in them, they are filled with the Holy Spirit, they have learnt to pray and they have a consistent time daily before God in prayer and God’s word, they have been grounded into the fellowship of the brethren. Man, they are strong now!
They are ready and eager to take up any responsibility and serve. Ephesians chapter six reflects these kind of believers (Eph6: 10-18). They are strong, they know how to put on the full Armour of God, they know how to wield the shield of the Spirit when the enemy attacks them, they have the helmet of salvation on their head, their shield of faith is always well positioned and every arrow Satan try to aim at them they quench them all. These are burden bearers of the ministry. These guys will be in the intercession, evangelism, ushering, running church projects, doing ministry administrative works or anything you put before them because they are strong! You can see how vital it is for every church to develop a comprehensive system of developing the spirituality of the believers. It’s good for their personal lives and for their ministry. When you develop the people God gives to you, you will be a blessing to them and they will be a blessing to your ministry.
Tomorrow’s subject: “Spiritual sons”
(Fifth part)
Memory verse (Heb12: 7) “ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? ”
The Greek translation of the word son is “huios”. Sons are those believers whose character is as a loving Father, shapes by chastisement (Heb12: 7). It again means those believers whose character and life resemble God’s. God’s will for every born again believer is to grow until he/she is transformed to become like his son Jesus Christ (Eph4: 11-13), (Rom8: 29-30). Our highest call is to manifest God’s glory to the whole earth, which is Christ his son and his glory. Sons are mature believers who have come to level of maturity where they resemble the lord Jesus in their speech, thought and actions. Jesus said to Philip that he who has seen him has seen his Father. Christlikeness is the goal of our spiritual development. Paul said: imitate me as I imitate Christ.
At that level of son, we begin to be led by the Holy Spirit no longer by our feelings or the worldly deceptions (Rom 8; 14). At the level of son, we can do what the Father is doing. Jesus said: my food is to do the will of the one who sent me (Jn4: 34). Again he said: what I see the Father do that I do. Sons are mature enough to receive their inheritance in Christ (Gal 4:1-7). At this level of maturity when we resemble Christ, God’s power begins to work through us without limit.
Christlikeness is the key to doing the works of God. Christlikeness is the key to power. This should be the commitment of every believer, to become like Christ. Those who lead should know where to lead God’s children. All our ministering, our teaching, our discipleship program, all our praying, our entire fasting etc should be for this one heavenly purpose to bring people to Christlikeness. Begin to change your vision, your motives in life. Begin to seek to become like Christ. Today’s church have shifted our focus from Jesus and we are putting all energy and resources in seeking all other things in the kingdom more than this one eternal purpose of God. We are busy teaching the church to seek the perishable instead of the imperishable. All we need is Jesus and a meaningful and fulfilling relationship with him that will transform our lives to be like him and all he has shall flow freely in our lives, bless God.
Tomorrow’s subject: “Spiritual fathers”
(Sixth part)
Memory verse (1Jn2: 13a) “ I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning ”.
The Greek translation of the word father is “pater”. John noted one thing about spiritual fathers, they know the one who was from the beginning. Spiritual fathers have a deeper spiritual relationship with God. They know God not just mentally but intimately. This is what Daniel meant when he said that those who know their God shall be strong and they shall do great exploits (Dan11: 32). Spiritual fathers walk with God. They know the mind of God; they know the ways of God. The scripture says that God showed his works to the children of Israel but he revealed his ways to Moses (Ps 103:7). Spiritual fathers carry greater authority of God. The level of your spiritual maturity determines the level of authority God entrusts you with.
There are two categories of spiritual fathers: the apostolic fathers and those mature believers. Apostle Paul said of the Corinthians church that he was their spiritual father (1Cor4: 14-15). Those saints who have paid the price to work on their spiritual development to the father level are so vital in building God’s kingdom. Their wisdom, their understanding of God’s purpose, their sensitivity, their counsel and experience is a great asset to the upcoming generation. They see things God’s way. They think the thoughts of God and their behavior reflects God’s nature.
Such men and women have great treasure of experience in vast areas of life, experience in the word, in prayer, in ministry, in business, in marriage, in counseling, in leadership, in problem solving etc. We need fathers in God’s house. One of the greatest needs in the church today are fathers. We need Men and women who have walked with God. Those who will love, care, guide, correct, rebuke, and mentor the young generation of believers and leaders. All of us we need fathers in our lives to show us the way. We don’t need to keep falling in mistakes when there are those who have gone ahead of us. Tomorrow’s fathers are today’s sons. How will you father others when you have not been fathered? Fathers produce fathers and orphans produce orphans. We need fathers in God’s house to destroy the orphan sprit in the church of our day.
Nice journey to spiritual maturity!
