A Call to Spiritual Maturity
My soul feels such a burning within that we have entered an unprecedented season of repentance, holiness and purity. If you're paying attention, you'll realize that God is digging deep and pulling out things that laid dormant within us for far too long. Roots of bitterness, jealousy, repetitive sins, anger, hatred, fear and insecurity. Things that we may have gotten away with for a while are now being required of us. There are things that He's revealing that we may not have realized we were still carrying. For me and many others, it's thought processes, priorities, reactions to certain types of pressure and attitudes are all being dealt with. Time is short and there's no more we can afford to waste on our own issues.
It's time to grow up church! Many have sat in congregations that spoon fed them, patted them on the back, never mentioning hell, sin, repentance, the power of the blood of Jesus and their authority over the enemy and his schemes.
Let's face it, these things are messy and they are not conducive in growing a large church. The Body of Christ is no longer challenged to study God's Word, seek Jesus with fervor or to worship with uninhibited praise! We've become a microwave, fast food generation of Christians that faint when pressure is applied, run from the slightest intimidation of the enemy and do their best to always remain politically correct! We no longer hear of hours spent tarrying in God's presence, praying, not just for our own needs, but to join forces with our brothers and sisters to see their loved ones come to Christ, their bodies healed and their needs met!
All of this may sound old school to you, but God has not changed. Yes! He loves His children, but His goal is not to raise spoiled and selfish brats, but ones who display His heart and character. Strong and fearless warriors who are not easily intimidated, trust their God completely, enjoy pleasing Him no matter what is required of them and share His love even to the one who's considered the most undeserving.
Contrary to popular belief, Jesus didn't just save our souls so we could go on living life to fulfill our own pleasures with His blessings... the greatest fulfillment is realized when we are willing to sacrifice all to fulfill His purpose for our lives and our greatest joy comes from pleasing Him!
Our plans are empty unless they are ordained by the one who created us for His purpose and pleasure!
Matthew 10:37-39 (TPT) “Whoever loves father or mother or son or daughter more than me is not fit to be my disciple. And whoever comes to me must follow in my steps and be willing to share my cross and experience it as his own, or he cannot be considered to be my disciple. All who seek to live apart from me will lose it all. But those who let go of their lives for my sake and surrender it all to me will discover true life!"
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (TPT) Brothers and sisters, when I was with you I found it impossible to speak to you as those who are spiritually mature people, for you are still dominated by the mind-set of the flesh. And because you are immature infants in Christ, I had to nurse you and feed you with “milk,”not with the solid food of more advanced teachings, because you weren’t ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready to be fed solid food, for you are living your lives dominated by the mind-set of the flesh. Ask yourselves: Is there jealousy among you? Do you compare yourselves with others? Do you quarrel like children and end up taking sides? If so, this proves that you are living your lives centered on yourselves, dominated by the mind-set of the flesh, and behaving like unbelievers.
Luke 24:49-53 (NLJV) "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.
