SPIRITUAL MATURITY

SIGNS OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY

1. Having the Word in your heart and speaking it.

(Rom 10:6-8) But the righteousness of faith says this: "Do not say in your heart, Who shall ascend into Heaven?" that is, to bring Christ down; or "Who shall descend into the deep?"; that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead. But what does it say? "The Word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart"; that is, the Word of Faith which we proclaim;

2 . Being a Doer of the Word

(Jas 1:23) For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man studying his natural face in a mirror.

3. Grown up, now taking the meat of the Word

(1Co 3:2-3) I have fed you with milk and not with solid food, for you were not yet able to bear it; nor are you able even now. For you are yet carnal. For in that there is among you envyings and strife and divisions, are you not carnal, and do you not walk according to men?

4. Coming into the unity of the faith and Not tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine

(Eph 4:13-14) And this until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

so that we no longer may be infants, tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine, in the dishonesty of men, in cunning craftiness, to the wiles of deceit.

5. Being cleansed by the Word

(Eph 5:26) that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word,

6. Being transformed into the image of Christ

(Rom 12:2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.

7. Knowing who you are in Christ and who He is in you.

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery" (Galatians 5:1 NIV).

8. Daily renewing the mind and being renewed in knowledge

"put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him" (Colossians 3:10).

9. Speaking the truth in love

10. Knowing you are becoming better

You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you" (Colossians 3:10 NCV).

"He who has begun a good work in you will complete it" (Philippians 1:6).

THE GOD OF PEACE

"Rule In The Midst Of Your Enemies--Crush Satan With The Victory Of Peace!"

"There is a place of walking with God where you simply 'fear no evil.'"

True peace does not come from extreme indifference, nor does it originate from becoming so "spiritual" that you fail to notice the world around you. Peace is the fruit of being confident in God's love; it is born of the revelation that, regardless of the battle, "...greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). You are not self-assured, you are God-assured.

The God Of Peace Will Crush Satan

The apostle Paul taught, "The God of peace will soon crush satan under your feet" (Romans 16:20). When we maintain peace during warfare, it is a crushing deathblow to satanic oppression and fear. Our victory never comes from our emotions or our intellect. Our victory comes by refusing to judge by what our eyes see or our ears hear and by trusting that what God has promised will come to pass.

When you truly have authority over something, you can look at that thing without worry, fear or intimidation. Your peace is the proof of your victory. Jesus' authority over the violent storm (see Matthew 8:23-27) was the exercise and expansion of His peace over the elements. He did not fight against the storm, nor did He fear it. He faced its fury and subdued it with His authority in perfect peace.

Wherever you have peace--you have victory. When the enemy hurls his darts against you, the more peace you have during adversity, the more truly you are walking in Christ's victory.

Paul tells us to be "...in no way alarmed by your opponents--which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you" (Philipians 1:28). Your peace, your immovable stand upon the Word of God is a sign that you are positioned correctly in focused submission to the will of God. The very fact that you are "in no way alarmed" by your adversary is a sign that you have authority over him.

Peacemakers Are Sons Of God

Peace is spirit power. Peace is an attribute of the Holy Spirit, and when you are walking in peace, you are walking in power. A peacemaker is not merely someone who protests against war; he is one who is inwardly so yielded to Christ in spirit and purpose, that he can be called a son of God (see Matthew 5:9). Where he goes, God goes and where God goes, he goes. A peacemaker is fearless, calm and bold. Peace emanates from him the way light and heat radiate from fire.

In the 23rd Psalm, David declared, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me" (verse 4). There is a place of walking with God where you simply "fear no evil." During his lifetime, David faced many enemies including a lion, a bear and a giant. In this Psalm, he stood in the "shadow of death" itself, yet he feared no evil. David's trust was in the Lord. He said, "You are with me." Because God is with you, every adversity you face will unfold in victory as you maintain your faith in God. David continued, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies" (verse 5). The battle you are in will soon become a meal to you, an experience that will nourish and build you up spiritually.

Rest precedes rule. Peace precedes power. Do not seek to rule over the enemy until you are submitting to God's rule over you. The focal point of all victory comes from seeking God until you find Him, and having found Him, allowing His presence to fill your spirit with His peace. From full assurance at His right hand, as you rest in His victory, so will you rule in the midst of your enemies.

LEGAL AND VITAL SIDE OF REDEMPTION

LEGAL SIDE (SPIRIT MAN)

(What God did in Christ for us, finished work)

New Creation

Mind of Christ

More than a Conqueror

Overcomer

Full salvation; sin, no dominion over us/Right to healing, prosperity, safety

Sons and daughters of God

Heirs of God

Joint heirs with Jesus Christ

Redeemed/Justified/

Made righteous

Free from guilt and condemnation

Partaker of His divine nature(love)

Authority given/Legal right to use His Name

Perfect fellowship with God

Destiny sealed

Ministers of reconciliation

Faith of God

Ability to speak the creative Word

VITAL SIDE( SOUL/BODY)

(What the Holy Spirit through the Word and the Power does in us daily, progressively)

Daily renewed in spirit; mind is renewed

Overcoming by the blood and the word of our testimony; not loving our lives to death

Being saved, sanctified in soul and body

Maturing into manifested sons of God, pure spotless

Prospering as soul prospers

By faith and obedience righteousness accounted to us

Walking in the Spirit, being led by the Spirit

Walking in love, love shed abroad in our hearts

Lay hands on sick, cast out demons, Word

Communion/intimacy, no veil

Being led by spirit, Word a light to pathway

Repairers of the breach, restoring,

Growing in faith, as Word is seeded in heart

Decree and Declare, see the establishment

RECONCILED TO GOD AND TO MANKIND

Ministers of Reconciliation

What are we called to do? We are all called to be ministers of reconciliation.

But you will be named the priests of Jehovah; it will be said of you, Ministers of our God; you will eat the riches of the nations, and you will revel in their glory.

(Isa 61:6)

If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

(2Ch 7:14)

And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

(2Co 5:18)

..that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe that You have sent Me.

(Joh 17:21)

What does it mean to be reconciled?

“reconciled,” katallasso means “to change, exchange, reestablish, restore relationships, make things right, move an enmity. Five times the word refers to God’s reconciling us to Himself through the life, death and Resurrection of His Son Jesus (Rom. 5:10; 2 Cor. 5:18). Whether speaking of God and man or husband and wife, katallasso describe the reestablishing of a proper loving relationship, which has been broken or disrupted.”

In examining the word reconciled, we gain a rich understanding of what real ministry is all about. In your own words, explain how the following terms relate to the quality of ministry that Jesus Christ wants us to have.

Change

Reestablish relationships

Restore relationships

Make things right

Remove enmity

Steps to being:

1. Believe the Promise of restoration—(2 Chron. 7:14 and 15)

The beginning point is to decide that the power of prayer is potentially effective to bring a saving turnaround, and that such prayer is underwritten by the Almighty Himself.

2. Love the Body (Rom. 12:3)

Mutual respect and acceptance among all God’s redeemed is essential. But this requires an end to suspicion, criticism, judgmentalism, and separatism.

3. Bless Your Enemies (Matt. 5:44)

The stance toward those opposed to our best interest as a people must be changed from one of snobbish and condescending anger to a posture of releasing, intercessory blessing.

4. Pursue Peace (Ps. 34:14; 1 Pet. 3:11)

The embracing of every ethnic group is required by the mandate of the Creator, who “has made from one blood every nation of men.” Transethnic reconciliation is God’s order.

5. Live in Purity (Phil. 2:14–15)

The Word of God, lived out by the early church, showed that the way to assert moral superiority in a corrupt culture is to shine by example, not shoot as an adversary.

6. Value Life (Prov. 31:8)

The issues of abortion and euthanasia are not political ones, but morally decisive ones. Our commitment to life is born of a respect for the Creator’s world.

7. Invade Violence (Matt. 11:12)

The living church is not an institution, but an incarnation of Jesus Christ— a seat of government in the world but not of it. The Body of Christ is called to enter Hell’s terrain, not run from its intrusions, reaching with life and love.

8. Serve the Needy (Matt. 5:16)

The ministry of the gospel involves compassion for the social need of humankind, as well as man’s spiritual need. Good works create a platform for truth to be listened to.

9. Preserve Liberty (Rom. 13:1–7; 1 Tim. 2:1–4)

Responsible exercise of our privilege as free citizens and faithful attention to our responsibilities as believing intercessors are tools to employ.

10. Demonstrate, Declare, and Dispense the Gospel of the Kingdom. (Rom. 5:20)

PRESSING INTO YOUR DESTINY

Pressing Into Your Destiny

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jer. 29:11).

For we are his workmanship, CREATED IN Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath BEFORE ORDAINED that we should walk in them (Eph. 2:10).

For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among MANY brethren. More-over whom He did predestinate, them He also called: and whom He called, them He also justified: and whom He justified, them He also GLORIFIED (Rom. 8:29-30).

The Bible further declares our destiny or destination to be the end of this race, "the end of our faith, even the salvation of your souls" (I Pet. 1:9).To press into our destiny is to press into the high calling, to press toward the mark for the prize.( Phil. 3:14)

The Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of the RUNNER in the games who reaches the goal and wins the prize (1 Cor. 9:24; Phil. 3:13-14; Heb. 12:1). Moreover, the GOAL or DESTINATION of this race-our DESTINY-

THE GOAL, THE END OF THE RACE IS A PERSON! The "high (upward) calling" of Philippians 3:14 and the "heavenly calling" of Hebrews 3:1 is that each of us has been summoned forward to be like Jesus, to be conformed to His image and likeness! The Bible further declares our destiny or destination to be the END of this race-the "end" is a Person! Our INDIVIDUAL GOAL is to BECOME LIKE JESUS (see Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18; Heb. 2:10-11; 1 Jn. 4:17). Our CORPORATE GOAL is "THE UNITY OF THE FAITH" (Eph. 4:13 with Jn. 17:20-23), UNTIL CHRIST IS FULLY FORMED IN A PEOPLE (Col. 1:27 with 1 Cor. 12:12; Gal. 4:19; Rev. 14:1-5).

Mark 4:35-41. Jesus has commanded us to go to the other side, the realm of the SPIRIT. The MULTITUDES had to be sent away. They took Him as He WAS. There were other LITTLE SHIPS (other beliefs), but we need to stay with the one that Jesus is on! There must be STORMS and tribulation, but this ship cannot go down, through it is "full" of water. In Mark 5, we make it to the other side, and encounter the demoniac; the Woman, the bleeding Church lacking divine government; and Jairus' daughter.

OUR DESTINY IS OUR DESTINATION/ OUR DESTINY IS A PERSON (JESUS CHRIST)

DESTINY- PREDESTINED FOR WHAT?

1. DOMINION ON THE EARTH- AUTHORITY OVER CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE POWER OF THE ENEMY. GEN. 1:26

2. TO BE CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF CHRIST/ MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS/ DAUGHTERS OF GOD ON THE EARTH. EPH. 1:4-5

3. ORDAINED TO DO GOOD WORKS. EPH. 2:10

4. ORDAINED IN YOUR TALENTS/SKILLS, PURPOSE/S,CALLING/S (GIFTS) JER. 1:5, 2 TIM. 8:9-10

5. TO HAVE A HOPEFUL FUTURE. JER. 29:11

6. TO FULFILL YOU DAYS ON THE EARTH. PS. 139:16

7. TO DO GOD’S WILL. HEB. 10:7, PS. 40:6-8, PROV. 16:9

8. TO MAKE YOUR WAY PROSPEROUS AND HAVE GOOD SUCCESS. JOSHUA 1:8

9. WHOLENESS IN SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY 1 THESS. 5:23

10. WALK WORTHY OF YOUR CALLING IN GOD. COL 1:10, EPH. 4:1

11. RIGHTEOUSNESS (RIGHT REALTIONSHIP), PEACE ( WHOLENESS AND SECURITY) AND JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST (FLOWING IN THE RIVER OF GOD)

12. GLORIFY GOD AND WORSHIP HIM FOREVER.

OVERCOMERS

OVERCOMERS

The word overcomer in the Greek is Nike- just do it!!

John 16:33“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

1 John 5:4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Rev. 12:11“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

8 promises to Overcomers:

1. SALVATION

Revelation 2:7“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”

2. ETERNAL LIFE

Revelation 2:11 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.” ’

3. PROVISION, DESTINY

Revelation 2:17 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” ’

The overcomers who stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion have "His Father's name" (the same kind of relationship that Jesus had with the Father) in their forehead. (Rev. 14:1-5; 22:4; compare 1 Cor. 1:10)!

White Stone: "To Him who overcomes... I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it."

JESUS reached into the heart of the Father and brought forth a white stone which decreed us to be innocent through His sacrifice. Upon this stone was a new name (nature) which cannot be known by any man (carnality).

4. NEW REALMS OF AUTHORITY

Revelation 2:26 “And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations—

5. RIGHTEOUSNESS, HOLINESS, FULFILLING DESTINY, AFFIRMING YOU

Revelation 3:5 “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

6. IMMOVABLE, NEW NAME, BRIDE OF CHRIST

Revelation 3:12 “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

Isaiah 62:2 The Gentiles shall see your righteousness, And all kings your glory. You shall be called by a new name, Which the mouth of the Lord will name.

The New Name God Gives to Us

The Lord gives us a new name--a new identity. Our total identity is wrapped up in our association with Him. As His children, we receive this new name. In walking in the new name, we are confident and strong, knowing who we are in Him. It is about the name that He has given to us (Revelation 3:12).

We can choose to walk in our "old name" or walk in the new that God has given. It is a picture of choosing to yield to the old man or the new man created in true righteousness in holiness (Ephesians 4:24). We are partakers of the divine nature through His promises (2 Peter 1:4).

Just as Saul received a new name from the Lord, the demons recognized him by his new name, the new divine nature--not the old. This is because Paul walked in the new name and life that God had given to him.

7. A THRONE - a royal position and authority (Matt. 28:19-20). RULING AND REIGNING

Revelation 3:21 “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Revelation 3:21, KJV To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My THRONE (thronos - place or stately throne seat of authority, with a footstool), even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His THRONE.

Ephesians 1:20-23, KJV Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,21 FAR ABOVE ALL (rulership) principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:22 And has put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church,23 Which is His body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all.

8. MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD

Revelation 21:7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.

Overcomers are true sons of God and the Bride of Christ.

OPEN HEAVEN

OPEN HEAVEN

Do you know that we live in an OPEN HEAVEN? I was reading again today that when Jesus was baptized, the HEAVENS OPENED and God spoke. After this, there is no record of the heavens closing! Rather -- we see a progressive opening.

If we really understood that, all our prayers would change. All our business and churchy activities would cease. There would be no more beggarly pleading or faithless doubt. Our ideas about Spiritual Warfare would change radically.

Let the truth of an open heaven apprehend you and you into new realm of the Spirit.

Mark 7:33-35 tells us an interesting aspect of openness: "He (Jesus) took the man off by himself, put his fingers in the man's ears and some spit on the man's tongue. Then Jesus looked up in prayer, groaned mightily, and commanded, "Ephphatha! - OPEN UP!" And it happened. The man's hearing was clear and his speech plain - just like that" (MSG).

We see here that Jesus "looked up" into that already OPEN HEAVEN. He comprehended the reality of that Truth. Then, He commanded the deaf man's hearing to be likewise OPENED! Jesus called out what is in heaven upon the earth.

Beloved, let the veil be rent from our eyes that we might comprehend the nearness and nowness of the Lord and His already open heaven.