“The Spirit we received does not make us slaves again to fear; it makes us children of God.”
Romans 8:15 NCV
In the afterglow of celebrating our mothers this past weekend, it seems appropriate to continue our conversation of growing up in the family of God.
We’ve been talking about the destiny-defining process of maturing spiritually—the 8 Stages of Spiritual Maturation.
Join me for the 4 Points Broadcast this Thursday at 7pm ET as we continue this series.
This week, we will be taking a deeper dive into the second stage of the maturation process—the tikto, or bonding stage, that I only briefly introduced last week.
You will learn how to recognize the signs of those who haven’t fully matured in this area—the symptoms of those who suffer from the spirit of an orphan.
More importantly, you’ll learn how to overcome this lack of bonding to grow into a place of belonging.
“To all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.”
John 1:12 NLT
When you don’t grow up in Christ (see Eph. 4:15-19) enough to know how to exercise your right as a child of God, you will remain a slave to fear.
This is what the apostle Paul reminded the Romans in his letter:
“For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption.”
Romans 8:15 NKJV
This Spirit of adoption that works in our lives is powerful; it is what infuses our lives with purpose, meaning, and belonging.
However, the wonders and workings of this Spirit enlivening us is only as powerful as we have knowledge of it—and are able to walk in the grace that such knowledge empowers us with.
“But grow [spiritually mature] in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 3:18 AMP
We must spiritually mature in the grace and knowledge of Christ.
If we neglect this process, we will remain bound by ignorance and fear.
Worse, we will never fulfill the greater purpose for which God placed us on the earth at this time in history.
If you don’t mature spiritually, you won’t fulfill your assignment.
You may begin to take steps in that direction, or fulfill a parallel calling that might feel aligned with your purpose, but you won’t maximize your potential in that area.
Knowledge is powerful.
Knowledge of the truth about who you are in Christ is the primary thing the enemy wants to keep you in the dark about.
“We must become like a mature person, growing until we become like Christ.”
Ephesians 4:13 NCV
Can you imagine how we might change the world if we, as a body of believers, matured spiritually to the degree that each of us were actually “like Christ”?
“We will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people.”
Ephesians 4:14 NIV
Can you imagine a body of believers “fully grown” in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior?
“Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ.”
Ephesians 4:15 NLT
How might “growing in every way more like Christ” affect the heath of the Church, let alone its impact on a hurting world?
Until we are committed to our own spiritual maturity as individual believers—taking our proper place within the family of God—we will be ill-equipped to manifest God’s Kingdom on the earth.
This is why I’ve been focusing my teaching during our bi-monthly “virtual life group” on the process of spiritual maturation.
I invite you to join me this Thursday at 7 pm ET for the 4 Points Broadcast where you will learn life-changing keys to growing and maturing spiritually.
Don’t miss this hour of power where you and those you love can gather to receive divine downloads from heaven.
Learn how you can recognize the orphan spirit—and how you can step way from life as a spiritual orphan and into the realm of the Spirit of adoption.
“You are no longer strangers and foreigners, but…members of the household of God.”
Ephesians 2:19 NKJV
Sometimes all any of us need is to be reminded of the simple truth that as believers we are each beloved “members of God’s family” (Ephesians 2:19 NLT).
But also, that as members of this royal family, it is incumbent upon each of us to “grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, even Christ” (Eph. 4:15 KJV).
Let’s explore how we can do this together every 1st and 3rd Thursday at 7pm ET.
I’ll be looking for you on the live 4 Points Broadcast this Thursday!
P.S. If you missed any of the past sessions, you can watch them on demand right here.