Spiritual Maturity
The Lord had me teach on spiritual maturity recently with our women's group. It began as a list of 10 signs to recognize spiritual maturity, then it quickly went to 20 ways and it ended with 32. Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, but below are the verses and notes I felt led to share.
32 Ways to Recognize Spiritual Maturity
Ephesians 4:11-15 (TPT)
And he has appointed some with grace to be apostles, and some with grace to be prophets, and some with grace to be evangelists, and some with grace to be pastors, and some with grace to be teachers. 12 And their calling is to nurture and prepare all the holy believers to do their own works of ministry, and as they do this they will enlarge and build up the body of Christ. 13 These grace ministries will function until we all attain oneness into the faith, until we all experience the fullness of what it means to know the Son of God, and finally we become one into a perfect man with the full dimensions of spiritual maturity and fully developed into the abundance of Christ. 14 And then our immaturity will end! And we will not be easily shaken by trouble, nor led astray by novel teachings or by the false doctrines of deceivers who teach clever lies. 15 But instead we will remain strong and always sincere in our love as we express the truth. All our direction and ministries will flow from Christ and lead us deeper into him, the anointed Head of his body, the church.
Not easily shaken by trouble
Not led astray by false teachings
Will be strong + sincere in your love while expressing truth
All of your direction will flow from Christ
You will be led deeper into Him
Luke 16:10 (NKJV)
He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
6. Faithful in the little + in much
7. Enlarged territory
Proverbs 9:9 (NKJV)
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
8. Are teachable
Philippians 2:3 (TPT)
Be free from pride-filled opinions, for they will only harm your cherished unity. Don’t allow self-promotion to hide in your hearts, but in authentic humility put others first and view others as more important than yourselves.
9. Humble
10. Put others first
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (TPT)
And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.
11. Always thankful
2 Corinthians 8:11-12 (NLT)
you should finish what you started. You were so eager in your intentions to give, so go do it. Finish this act of worship according to your ability to give. 12 For if the intention and desire are there, the size of the gift doesn’t matter. Your gift is fully acceptable to God according to what you have, not what you don’t have.
12. Committed
13. Generous
1 John 2:27-28 (TPT)
But the wonderful anointing you have received from God is so much greater than their deception and now lives in you. There’s no need for anyone to keep teaching you. His anointing teaches you all that you need to know, for it will lead you into truth, not a counterfeit. So just as the anointing has taught you, remain in him.
14. Anointed
15. Led into truth
16. Not deceived
17. Remain in Christ
18. Confident
19. Unashamed
Hebrews 6:12 (TPT)
So don’t allow your hearts to grow dull or lose your enthusiasm, but follow the example of those who fully received what God has promised because of their strong faith and patient endurance.
20. Enthusiastic
21. Follow other mature Believers
22. Strong faith
23. Are patient
Ephesians 4:25-32 (NLT)
So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil. 28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
24. Truthful
25. Not led by emotions
26. Trustworthy
27. Hard workers
28. Givers
29. Encouraging
30. Kind
31. Tenderhearted
32. Forgiving
