Spiritual maturity is when you can still love & forgive when someone is attacking you with their words.
Your first response is prayer, compassion, & understanding.
Know when to defend His name using biblical wisdom & being spiritually mature.
We're called to be witnesses of Jesus Christ.
You know you're growing in your spiritual walk with Christ when you're not slandering people, but praying for people.
PRAYING instead of PREYING on them to try to find evidence to come against them.
"Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots." (Luke 23:34)
“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matthew 6:14-15)
New believers come from a place where they want God to save others, but this is where discipleship, training on stewardship, & knowing what God has assigned you.
God did not anoint you for that giant.
Some have been given oil, but that giant was not assigned to you.
David got anointed then Goliath showed up.
We must have biblical wisdom to know when seeds are falling on good ground.
Have biblical discernment knowing that God has marked & anointed you for certain environments, people, & conversations.
You must go thru the fire to get refined.
You can’t lead somebody to places & spaces that you haven’t been to yourself.
Sometimes we may ask God why we’re going through certain situations even as a child of God
Understand your seasons and see things through God’s perspective
(Hebrews 5:12-14)
Paul is talking about a babe in Christ who is unskilled in the word of righteousness.
You can’t run until you’ve crawled, spiritually.
Spiritual maturity is discerning the difference between what is good and evil in God’s eyes.
The world is going to depict something as good.
Just because it’s good doesn’t mean it’s God.
The only way to grow is through God’s word.
There’s an active search for understanding the deep things of God.
But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10)
Discern your season & your moment.
Just because it's an increase, doesn't mean it's always from God.
Even the enemy tempted Jesus to promise to give the whole kingdom in exchange for His worship.
A check may come with a compromise.
Spiritual maturity is understanding & knowing where God wants you.
Seek His will not your will.
saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42)
Another sign of spiritual maturity is seeking God for yourself.
When receiving counsel from a pastor or another man or woman of God we need to be able to discern from the Spirit.
But we must also seek counsel directly from God on our own.
It’s okay to be inspired by what others may tell you, but we should not idolize them.
Ways to become more spiritually mature
#1 God’s Word
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
#2 Getting around other spirit-filled believers
He who walks with wise*men* will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed. (Proverbs 13:20)
#3 Have an active prayer life
Talk to God like you’re having a regular conversation with a friend or family