Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,
1 Peter 2:2, NLT
This article will help you discover more signs of spiritual maturity.
Recognising and Honouring Spiritual Authority
In the military, army personnel truly understand what it means to operate under the authority of their superiors. Once, Jesus came into contact with a centurion whose servant was paralysed, nearing death. On requesting that Jesus heal his servant, he made a stunning comment: For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (Matthew 8:9) This centurion knew something that had piloted him up the rungs of the military terrain. He attributed his ability to command his subordinates to the fact that he himself was a man under authority. The first person you should recognise in the realm of the spirit as greater than you is Jesus Christ Himself.
Your pastor is anointed of God to deliver unto you spiritual realities and to build you up in your walk with God (Ephesians 4:11,12). Learn to honour him as the man of God who blesses your life with God's grace and anointing. The Bible says, 'Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.' (Hebrews 13:17) Love whoever it is that God has placed over you to teach you the Word of God. Do not regard them as mere men. Don't talk to your pastor as if he's one of your peers- because he's not your co-equal. When you see them, recognise that the anointing is upon them and relate with them as such. You can demonstrate honour sowing into your man of God's life (1 Timothy 5:17,18). Be careful that you do not speak any word against any man of God- whether he is your pastor, or one afar off: “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.” (Psalm 105:15). When you begin to recognise and honour spiritual authority, that's a sign of spiritual maturity.
Being continually filled, led and controlled by the Spirit
The one who sees God as being in charge of his life has become God's own possession. He no longer has any right to himself. He's all of God's! The Bible says, 'For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.' (Romans 8:14). The key to unending victory in your walk of faith is in being filled, led and controlled by the Spirit. And that starts with intimacy with Him. There is nothing like knowing the Holy Spirit as your Helper, as your Counsellor, as your only true Confidant. How can you know if you're in the will of God? By allowing the Lord to have absolute control over your life. The Bible says we should trust in the Lord with all our heart and not to lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5,6). God said He'd pour out His Spirit upon all flesh- and He's honoured His Word. Today, hundreds of thousands of Christians are filled with the Spirit every day; you too can be one of them if you've not been filled with the Spirit. Just ask the Lord to fill you with His Spirit and He will do so. You will see yourself bubbling with joy from within and your tongue will be endued with a supernatural prayer language. It happened to the apostles and you can have it today- just be desirous and ask of the Lord. He will fill you with His Spirit.
Now, it's not enough to be filled with the Spirit on just one occasion. It has to be a continual thing. You have to be filled daily. In Ephesians 5:18-21, the Apostle Paul clearly shows us how to be filled with the Spirit: And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God. When you are filled, led and controlled by the Spirit, your life literally demonstrates God's glory. Your preaching makes eternal impact in the lives of the hearers and everything you do turns out to be a success. Why? Because the Spirit of God is at work in your life; in every affair concerning you.
Living in the position of Sonship
The Bible says, 'Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.' (Galatians 4:1,2) There is a difference between a child of God and a son of God. The Greek word translated child in this verse is nepios which means one who is an infant; one who is untaught and unskilled in the things of God. Such are those who may have been newly born again or may may have been born again a long time but have not received adequate knowledge concerning their inheritance in Christ. Paul describes such people as no different from a slave- one who is untaught or unskilled in the Word of God. On the other hand, the Greek word used in Romans 8:14 for son is uihos, which means an adopted son. It does not denote the normal adoption we know in this contemporary setting, but refers to one who has been raised and taught the customs and way of life of the home; such that he can stand on his own.
In order to live as a son of God, you need to be aware of your inheritance in Christ and take possession of it. That's why your confession is important because it will eventually determine what you believe and the kind of live you'll live. Don't allow circumstances make you a victim in life. No! You're a victor! Declare it to be so and live as such. When you begin to live in the realm of your inheritance, that's a sign that you're maturing spiritually.
I will share the final two signs of spiritual maturity in the next part of this article.
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