• LOGOS BIBLE STUDY - click on lesson
  • LESSON 101: REPENTANCE
  • LESSON: 102: FAITH
  • LESSON 103: BAPTISMS
  • LESSON: 104 A, B & C
  • LESSON 105: SALVATION
  • LESSON 106: LIFE & DEATH
  • LESSON: 107 HEAVEN & HELL
  • LESSON: 108 SIN
  • LESSON: 109 TRINITY
  • LESSON:110 GOD THE FATHER
  • LESSON:111 GOD THE SON
  • LESSON: 112 GOD THE HOLY SP[IRIT
  • LESSON:113 MAN (Anthropology)
  • LESSON: 114 ANGELS & SPIRITS
  • LESSON:115 SATAN
  • LESSON: 116 ESCHATOLOGY (End Times)
  • APPENDIX A: VICTORY (booklet)
  • APPENDIX B: LOVE STORY
  • APPENDIX C: THE SAMARITAN RESPONSE
  • LEVEL TWO: INTRODUCTION
  • LESSON 201: STEPS TO MATURITY
  • LESSON 202: LORDSHIP OF CHRIST
  • LESSON 203: RENEWING THE MIND
  • LESSON 204: DISCIPLESHIP
  • LESSON 205: GOD'S DWELLING
  • LESSON 206A: PRAYER
  • LESSON 206B: PRAYER
  • LESSON 207: LOVE
  • LESSON 208: Spirit Soul & Body
  • A PRAYER FOR jULY 4TH
  • A SENSE OF FOREBODING
  • ACCOUNTABILITY
  • ALL AUTHORITY
  • AMERICA MUST REPENT
  • AN ACT OF SELF PRESERVATION
  • ANOTHER LEGALIZED SIN
  • AT THE END OF YOUR ROPE
  • AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH
  • BEING MADE A VESSEL
  • BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS
  • BE CAREFULL WHO YOU LISTEN TO
  • BLIND TO THE TRUTH
  • CALLED OF GOD AND ......
  • CARNAL CHRISTIANS - Part 1
  • CARNAL CHRISTIANS - Part 2
  • CHRISTIAN WARFARE
  • COMPARING CHILDREN
  • CREATED IN HIS IMAGE
  • DARKNESS IN CHURCHES TODAY
  • DARKNESS vs LIGHT
  • DECEPTION
  • DECLARING THE KINGDOM
  • DEPENDENCE ON GOVERNMENT
  • DISCERNING THE WIND
  • DISCERNMENT
  • DIVINE GUIDANCE
  • DRIFTING INTO DARKNESS
  • ETERNAL VALUES
  • EXPERIENCEING HIS PRESENCE
  • FEAR - WHY?
  • GO AND SIN NO MORE
  • GOD STILL PERFORMS MIRACLES
  • GODLESS CHRISTIANITY
  • GOD'S PRESENCE
  • GOD'S SABBATH REST
  • GOD'S TIMING
  • GOD'S WORD IS ETERNAL
  • GOVERNMENT
  • GROWING TO MATURITY
  • HARVEST TIME IS ALMOST OVER
  • HE THAT HATH AN EAR
  • HIS ENEMIES - HIS FOOTSTOOL
  • HOW CLOSE IS CHRIST'S RETURN
  • HOW DISTRACTED ARE YOU
  • HOW TO SHIELD YOURSELF
  • I DREAMED OF TREASURE
  • IDENTIFYING ANTICHRIST
  • IMMORALITY IN THE CHURCH
  • IS THE DEVIL IN HARRY POTTER
  • IT IS TIME FOR GOD TO......
  • JESUS SAID IT WOULD HAPPEN
  • KINGDOMS IN CHAOS
  • KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD
  • KINGDOM THINKING
  • KNOWLEDGE OF TRUTH
  • KNOW THE POWER
  • LET THE LIGHT SHINE
  • MAINTENANCE
  • MANY REFUSE TO REPENT
  • MYSTERY BABYLON
  • NECESSARY DISCIPLINE OF A CHILD
  • NOT ALL CHRISTIANS ARE BORN AGAIN
  • AN OMINOUS PROCLAMATION
  • ON BEING A WITNESS
  • POOR, BLIND & NAKED
  • PRAY AFTER THIS MANNER
  • PRAYER THAT CHANGES THINGS
  • PRAYING FOR ENDURANCE
  • PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT
  • PREPARE FOR THE LAST DAYS
  • PROOF ISLAM IS OF SATAN
  • PROPHESY GOOD TO US
  • PSALM 91: TRIBULATION PSALM
  • REASON TO WATCH & PRAY
  • RECOGNIZING TRUE MINISTRY
  • REJECTING TRUTH
  • RELEVANCE OF THE LAW
  • RELIGION vs TRUE CHRISTIANITY
  • REPENT MEANS CHANGE
  • RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP
  • SATAN'S STRATEGY EXPOSED
  • SELFISHNESS
  • SHALL DO EXPOITS
  • SHEDDING INNOCENT BLOOD
  • SIN AND GODLESSNESS
  • SPIRITUAL DECLINE
  • STRONG DELUSION
  • STUFF
  • SURVEILLAENCE
  • TAKE A STEP BACK
  • THE ENEMY WE DON'T SEE
  • THE BIBLICAL GOD
  • THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD
  • THE CHILDREN OF GOD vs ....
  • THE CHURCH & TRUTH
  • THE COMING OF JESUS
  • THE CONFLICT OF THE AGES
  • THE CURRENCY OF HEAVEN
  • THE GATES OF HELL
  • THE GOSPEL THAT PLEASES
  • THE GREATEST OF THESE
  • THE ABSOLUTE POWER
  • THE HORROR OF ......
  • THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS .....
  • THE LAST DAYS
  • THE MARRIED WIDOW
  • THE ORIGIN OF CREATION
  • THE OTHER CHURCH
  • THE REFORMATION CONTINUES
  • THE RISE OF LAWLESSNESS
  • THE SECULAR CHURCH
  • THE SEVEN CHURCHES
  • THE SIGNIFICANCE OF LOVE
  • THE THREE HOLY SPIRITS
  • THE TWO SIDES OF GOD
  • THE WALKING DEAD
  • WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE
  • THE WORKS OF GOD
  • THREATENED WITH DEATH
  • THE TIMING OF EVENTS
  • TO FEAR OR NOT TO FEAR
  • TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH
  • THE TRAGEDY OF ICABOD
  • TRIED BY FIRE
  • TRUE RICHES
  • TRUTH vs DECEPTION
  • TWO KINDS OF WISDOM
  • TWO NATURES IN CONFLICT
  • TWO KINDS OF ENEMY
  • UNCLEAR PROPHETIC WORDS
  • UNDERSTANDING THE LIBERAL MINDSET
  • WHAT HINDERS GOD
  • WHAT BECAME OF THE NEPHILIM
  • WHAT DOES JESUS HATE
  • WHAT GOD WANTS
  • WHERE IS YOUR TRUST
  • WHY A MINISTER FALLS
  • WHY CHRISTIAN DECLINE
  • WHY BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE
  • WHY DO THE HEATHEN RAGE?
  • WHY GOD MADE MAN IN HIS IMAGE
  • WHY IS AMERICA IN DECLINE
  • WHY IS THE CHURCH IN DECLINE
  • WHY NO JUDGMENT ON THE WICKED.....YET
  • WHY PEOPLE REJECT TRUTH
  • WHY PEOPLE WORSHIP FALSE GODS
  • WHY PRAY
  • WHY THE CROSS
  • WHY THE LATTER RAIN
  • WHY THE PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS
  • WHY WAS JESUS BAPTIZED
  • WONDER OF THE SEED
  • YOU SHALL RECEIVE POWER
  • YIELDEDNESS
  • YOUTHFUL LUSTS
  • YOUR BEHAVIOR REVEALS .....
  • DO NOT BE DECIEVED
  • WHEN ARE WE CAUGHT UP
  • WHERE IS THE POWER
  • REAL SURVIVAL GEAR
  • UNITY IN CHRIST
  • VISION OF TWO CHURCHES
  • WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
  • WHY SEXUAL PERVERSION EXISTS
  • WHEAT AND THE TARES
  • ON BEING SONS OF GOD
  • WHAT KINGDOM DO YOU DESIRE
  • WHAT IS THE GREAT AWAKENING
  • THE GREAT AWAKENING - Part 2
  • TWO HIGHWAYS OF LIFE
  • PRAYING FOR THOSE IN AUTHORITY
  • WHY CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN POLITICS
  • WAS JESUS LATE?
  • WHY THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH
  • WHY DID JESUS COME
  • WHY IS THE CHURCH IN DECLINE
  • WHY CHANGE IS COMING
  • CLARIFYING THE GREAT AWAKENING
  • YOU WILL FACE THE JUDGE
  • WARNING: BEWARE OF WOLVES
  • FAILURE OF THE PRIESTHOOD
  • WHAT DOES "LORD" MEAN
  • THE ULTIMATE LOSS
  • THE WAY YOU THINK
  • WHAT IS REALITY AND TRUTH
  • THERE IS A PRICE TO PAY
  • WHY IS PATIENCE IMPORTANT
  • WHERE WAS GOD WHEN ......
  • WHY MANY WON'T BE SAVED
  • SECTARIANISM IN THE CHURCH
  • WHY SO MUCH DARKNESS
  • INCREDIBLE DECEPTION
  • THE VALUE OF SALT
  • WHY THE PARABLE OF WHEAT AND TARES
  • WHO IS IN CONTROL
  • We Are Wonderfully Made By God
  • STUDY OF DIVINE POWER
  • TOTAL REDEMPTION
  • THE HARVEST IS RIPE
  • THE PENALTY OF UNBELIEF
  • WHAT PRECEDS THE RETURN OF CHRIST
  • WHO WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN HEAVEN
  • THE ERROR IN THJE GRACE MESSAGEE
  • FINAL CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE
  • HAS AMERICAN BECOME WORSE
  • WHY CELEBRATE PENTECOST
  • WE HAVE BEEN INFILTRATED
  • IS A FAMINE COMING?
  • THE FOUNDATION OF GOD'S KINGDOM
  • DEALING WITH LEFTIST PROGRESSIVES
  • MAN'S KINGDOMS vs GOD'S
  • MOTIVATION TO PRAY
  • PRIDE - WHAT GOD HATES
  • SEEING IS BELIEVING - OR IS IT?
  • WHY THE DISCIPLES HAD GREAT SUCCESS
  • REVIVAL vs ENTERTAINMENT
  • FACING DEATH
  • AFFLICTION
  • THE CONSEQUENCE OF BITTERNESS
  • THE REALITY OF HELL
  • TIME OF TRAVAIL
  • IN HIS IMAGE
  • BELIEVERS ARE SONS OF GOD
  • EXPOSING A FALSE DOCTRINE
  • EXPOSING A FALSE DOCTRINE - PART 2
  • THE POWERLESS CHURCH
  • WHAT IS ATONEMENT
  • UNGODLY COUNSEL - BEWARE
  • BEWARE FALSE PROPHETS & MINISTERS
  • THE GREAT DISCONNECT
  • WE HAVE A SERIOUS FUEL SHORTAGE
  • WHY SO MUCH CORRUPTION IN GOVERNMENT
  • PROOF OF A DIVINE CREATOR
  • THE DANGEROUS PROSPERITY DOCTRINE
  • SPIRITUAL WOLVES
  • OUR WORLDLY STRUGGLES
  • UNEXPECTED AND UNPREPARED
  • WHAT GOD IS
  • EVERTHING IS BEING SHAKEN
  • NO EXPIRATION DATE
  • WHY JUDGMENT BEGINS AT THE HOUSE OF GOD
  • WALKING IN THE SPIRIT
  • THE STATE OF THE UNION
                                                            GROWING TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY

                                                                                                                                                                         By W. G. Guy

                As I traveled in many foreign lands ministering the Word of God I noticed that there was a tremendous lack of spiritual maturity in those professing to be Christians.  This was especially true in the United States of America.  I decided to research why and recorded the results of that research for my doctoral dissertation which I later simplified and published as a book entitled, Awakening the Slumbering Saints, published by Fairway Press.  The following is a brief summary of what is necessary for believers to grow up into true spiritual maturity.

          The writer of the Book of Hebrews, (presumably the apostle Paul), addressed the same issues regarding the lack of spiritual maturity:

Hebrews 5:12-14 – For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

          The problem with lacking spiritual maturity is that such believers are not fully equipped to recognize what is of God and what is evil, or not of God.  This is a major problem among Christians today, especially in America.

          In order to build oneself to spiritual maturity one must first have a solid foundation to build on.  If you plan to build, what kind of a foundation do you build upon, rock or sand?

Matthew 7:24-25 – Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 

          The starting place is obviously using rock as a solid and unmovable foundation.  Jesus Christ is that foundation.

1 Corinthians 3:10-11 – According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

          Laying a foundation on sand means that what is built will not stand against the storms of life.

Matthew 7:26-27 – And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:  and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

          Once a solid foundation is laid you can begin to build on it.  With Jesus Christ as savior and Lord as the foundation, you build by taking the foundational doctrines of the gospel to heart so that they become part of you.  Those foundational doctrines or elements are listed in the Book of Hebrews right after the author chided them about being unskilled in the Word and knowledge of God’s will in righteousness.  These elements are called the “First Principles”.

Hebrews 6:1&2 – Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection (completion); not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 

          What I discovered in my research is that the average Christian believer does not have a sound knowledge of these “first principles”.  As a result there is not a good base to build upon, thereby many such Christians are lacking in spiritual maturity and cannot discern what is truly of God and what is evil and not of God.

          I am not going to take the time and space to elaborate on each of these first principles in this article.  If you desire to learn more about them they are covered in Lessons 101 to 105, the first five lessons plans above.

          Once a believer has a sound base layer in the doctrines of first principles, then the process of building spiritual maturity can begin.  This building process requires adhering to qualified instructors or builders who are ordained of God who are careful in how they teach and build you up in the knowledge of the Lord, (see 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 above).  This process is not accomplished by just one minister, that of a pastor; it requires what God has ordained as the five-fold gifts of ministry.

Ephesians 4:11-13 – And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  for the perfecting (completion) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

          The main reason why there is a lack of spiritual maturity in the church today is because the church has rejected the functions of the apostle, prophet, and teacher, while accepting the ministry of an evangelist, although he is on his own and not considered as a ministry staff of the church.  Today’s churches depend solely on the function of a pastor for spiritual development.  Teachers are accepted but they are relegated to Sunday Schools and are not considered essential ministers in churches. 

          Again, there is not time or space to explain the vital role of each of the five gift ministries in this article, but you can find out more in the Lesson above.

          Now let’s look at the steps to maturity as these steps are listed in a progressive order by the apostle Peter.  First we need to understand that the goal of spiritual maturity is to reproduce Christ likeness in every believer.  This Christ likeness is known as the divine nature – the character and nature of God as it was manifested in Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:4 – whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

          Next the apostle lists in progressive order the steps to spiritual maturity.      

2 Peter 1:5-7 – And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;  and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;  and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 

          Notice that these steps begin with faith which is the means upon which we receive salvation, and then we walk in faithfulness as we progress to each successive level.  Next is virtue which is a disciplined life as a disciple living faithful to God, Christ and His Word.  If you are truly faithful then your virtue will become obvious.  The next step is to grow in knowledge of His Word which is His Will for you, and this will equip you to be able to show others the way of truth and righteousness.  This is followed by temperance, which is self-control or restraint in conflicting and trying circumstances.  Patience, which includes endurance is next in line; then comes godliness which is devout, moral and righteous behavior.  Brotherly kindness follows which is being sympathetic and merciful toward others.  And the final step to reach spiritual maturity is charity, the God kind of love that is compassion, caring and giving.

          Peter then goes on to list the outcome or result of spiritual maturity:

2 Peter 1:8-9 –  For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.   But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

          Peter verifies what Paul stated in Hebrews 5:14 that if you lack this spiritual maturity you will not be sufficiently equipped to recognize or discern what is evil or not of God.

          Now look at a similar list of spiritually mature qualities as mentioned by the apostle Paul.  He lists similar steps but in reverse order as if God is looking down the staircase from the top down toward us while Peter was taking us up the staircase to full maturity.  These elements are known as the “Fruit of the Spirit” which is actually the divine character and nature of God.  (Remember what Peter stated above in 1 Peter 1:4.)

Galatians 5:22 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

          Peter’s steps take us up to the God kind of Love while Paul’s list starts with love with each fruit being an element of God’s divine nature.  Now notice Paul’s conclusion of the matter in how growing up into spiritual maturity takes us far away from the carnal distractions of human lusts.

Galatians 5:16-17 – This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 

Galatians 5:24-25 – And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

          The goal is for us to become Christ-like and be manifested as the sons of God as His own beloved children.  This will enable each of us to say as did the apostle Paul:

Galatians 2:20 – I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

          Even all of creation is waiting for believers to mature into the fullness of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:18-19 –  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

          Please remember that the pure work of those in the ministry is to bring believers to full spiritual maturity.

Ephesians 4:12-13 – for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:           Think on that!  
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.