Parents understand when they have children that there are certain appropriate developmental milestones that indicate healthy growth in their children. These milestones encompass a variety of skills and abilities that typically emerge as children grow and learn. While each child develops at their own pace, these milestones provide a general framework for observing expected progress. In the same way, scripture outlines spiritual milestones that help us to identify where we are as we grow in our spiritual walk with Jesus. Just like physical development, we each grow spiritually at a different pace, but having a spiritual map that helps us to know where we are in the process, both encourages us and helps us stay on course as we run the race that God has set before us.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
(Hebrews 12:1-2, NIV)
Jesus pioneered the way for us as we follow the example he has mapped out. Scripture describes our life in Christ starting at a rebirth. When the religious leader Nicodemus came to visit Jesus in John 3, Jesus shares with him that “unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” This is the starting point of our journey. Having a spiritual birth, awakens us to seeing spiritual realities. A newborn is completely dependent on receiving care from their parents. A baby is very vulnerable and requires much provision and protection for it to have a healthy environment in which to grow. Likewise, a spiritual infant, needs a lot of support to grow and develop. Spiritual infants look to others to feed them God’s word. But as they digest God’s word, it begins to take root in them and the fruit of the Spirit begins to form in their lives. As spiritual infants grow through childhood, they become aware of the areas in their lives that do not reflect the righteousness of Christ that they have been given. They learn how to walk in the Spirit and recognize the ways of the Kingdom of God that is flowing within them. We find the spiritual progression outlined in 1 John 2:12-13:
I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name. I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one…
John continues to write in verse 14 that overcoming the evil one is an effect of having the word of God living in them, producing the strength they need to stand against the enemy’s devices. At this stage in spiritual development, young men, or we might say young adults are actively aware and intentional in partnering with God in spiritual warfare. They are beginning to walk in the authority and power of Christ and are destroying the works of the enemy, just as Jesus instructed his followers to do. This requires wisdom and understanding because it is tempting to want to take on every dark entity out there, when you awaken to the spiritual battle that is going on around us. Wisdom teaches us to start in the areas that you are personally responsible to steward:
- Your body and body gates
- Your household and family
- Your work place and community
This is being light and removing the darkness by taking up spiritual space and expanding as you carry more of God’s Spirit. As we mature the 7 Spirits of God help to tutor us into mature sons. The 7 Spirits listed in Isaiah 11:2-3
- The Spirit of the Lord
- The Spirit of Wisdom
- The Spirit of Understanding
- The Spirit of Counsel
- The Spirit of Might
- The Spirit of Knowledge
- The Spirit of the Fear of the Lord
These are the same spiritual attributes that Jesus manifested as he fulfilled his earthly mission. Jesus calls his disciples to walk in his ways releasing the kingdom of God that is within us. When we begin to fully live from this place of maturity, continuing to surrender and being empowered by the Holy Spirit within us, then we will be revealing the love and nature of the Father, because we will know Him as we are known.
Steps in Pursuit
- Recognize what stage of development you currently live from and ask God to connect you with others who are further along in their spiritual growth.
- Starting with your mind and body gates, begin to evaluate things that are promoting spiritual maturity and things that are hindering it.
- Practice praying in authority over your household and work environments. Notice the changes that begin to happen as you partner with God to extend the Kingdom.
We were made to grow in a loving community, so progress in spiritual maturity will happen much more quickly as you make loving connections with others who are also on the journey. Please let me know if I can encourage you along the way as we…
Continue the Pursuit,
Denise
