Spiritual Maturity 3 - Hindrances to Spiritual Maturity

What Hinders Spiritual Maturity 

Two Critical Things :-

As soon as we became Christian, we are recruited into the army, as soldier of the cross

    

1. Satanic Oppposition

Spiritual Walfare is real) 1 Peter 5:8; Eph 6:10-12

Satanic Opposition

• need for deliverance
• As a Christian, we are enlisted into an army of God
• Who are we fighting against ?
• 1 Peter 5:8What
• Eph 6:10-12

We need to depend on the Blood of Jesus when dealing with the devil.

2 Main Tasks of the devil :-

1. To stop you from becoming a Christian
2. To hinder your walk with God from serving God with all sorts of bondages.

Luke 10:17-19 Satan fell like lightning from heaven.

2. Soulish Oppression

Soulish Orientation = Soulish Carnal Christian :- 

• Mind
• Will
• Emotions
• Living by the soul, by the flesh, in sin
• Sanctification taking place
• I am saved, I am being saved, I will be saved’
• My spirit is saved, my soul is being sanctified, my body will be renewed
• We have the Holy Spirit, does the Holy Spirit has us?

What is a soulish orientation

    1.Mind (think) 

    2.Will (want) 

    3.Emotions (feel) 

which made our personalities, soul

sanctification

My mind, will and emotions are not concecrated yet, do not conform by the living world, soul is being sanctified

The body will not be renewed but our soul is renewed day by day.

3 Manifestations

1. The mind operates with Soulish wisdom

1 Cor 2:10-16

When the Holy Spirit is in charge, our mind is renewed

James 3:12-18

wisdom is the life within in humility - humble life

Who is wise and understanding among you ? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

Such wisdom is earthly, unspiritual, demonic

wisdom that comes out from soul is earthly (human ideas) - demonic, unspiritual, which we defends with soulish energy eg: cults 

Heavenly wisdom is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Where you find Godly wisdom operating, people are in harmony and unity. 

Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

2. The will is ruled by stubborn self-content

Self-pride, centre of our lives is not God, God is the way, not our way.

I am the man for this task and job. I get the job well done. 

The carnal man thinks of I, me and myself as the key person.

3. The emotions are easily stirred by circumstances

Mood-changing Christians, Hi Hi, Dry Dry period 

Over sensitive, easily offended

Psalm 42:5-7

James 1:13-15

Matt 16:24-25

Gal 2:20 

Gal 5:25

Psalm 42:5-7 

Spirit telling own soul (emotions, will, mind) get in line, align to the Lord 

people don't take attention, we upset, seek other sensation. 

I AM SPIRITUAL MAN 

Walk in spirit not by flesh

James 1:13-15

Key: If flesh is not there, Satan has nothing to do there. Die to ourself, die to our flesh, then we follow Him, go back to the cross! Key to Spiritual Maturity 

Matthew 16:24-25

Galatians 2:20

Galatians 5:25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 

HABIT

In the word HABIT, if we drop H, we still has A BIT, if we drop A, we still has BIT, but if we try to drop I, we will have many challenges to yield it, so need to turn I toward the CROSS (T), then we can cultivate the Godly habit we want.

Christlikeness is the endgame of Christian Discipleship.

• Must experience Transformation by applying God’s Word in our life
• How to apply the Word of God unless you read the Word - spiritual discipline, easy to start but difficult to continue
• Spiritual Discipline as Spiritual Delight then only its sustainable.
• We must have spiritual hunger that give us spiritual Delight
• Only Holy Spirit that gives us spiritual hunger.

END GAME= CHRISTLIKENESS

must experience transformation (Romans 12:2- do not conform by this world, but transformed by the renwing of mind, so that we may discern what is good, pleasing, God's will to us.

Word + Spirit

https://youtu.be/GLeedepVtaM?si=SEW_GOKuQMjGAGOL