Part 2: What Is Spiritual Maturity?

As we discussed in part one, spiritual maturity is not just about how long someone has been a Christian; it is about their ability, and willingness, to flow in the Spirit and to have the discipline to remain there. As believers, we are called to move beyond shallow waters and into deeper intimacy with God where we surrender control to the movement of the Spirit. This deeper walk manifests by the single choice we make each day whether we will choose to live according to the Spirit or according to the flesh.

A Measure of Spiritual Maturity
How can we gauge our spiritual maturity? It’s quite simple actually. We see in ourselves what others already see: are we bearing the fruit of the Spirit. In Galatians 5:22–23, Paul describes the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

When mentoring others, I often ask them to rate themselves on a scale of 1 to 10 for each of these attributes. For instance, if someone struggles to show love, their score might be 1. If they consistently demonstrate unconditional love, it might be a 10. By rating each fruit in this way, it quickly becomes clear if we are spending more time in the Spirit than in the flesh.

Satan always seeks to pervert God’s work, continually enticing us back into the “dark waters” of the flesh. Once he gets us there, he continually lures us into the deeper water where we produce the fruit of the flesh described in Galatians 5:19–21. This imagery is both dark and real.

Living in the Holy of Holies
While reading God’s Word can accelerate spiritual growth, it does not guarantee it. In 1 John, we read that those who are in Christ will not sin (3:9–10; 3:6; 5:18). Reading this scared me since I knew I still sinned. Could it be that I was not even saved? Holy Spirit revealed to me that the Bible was written in the Spirit and it cannot be understood in the flesh. It can only be understood in the Spirit.

The book of Hebrews teaches us to enter the Holy of Holies and the throne room of God (4:16; 10:22; 7:25), where neither Satan nor his demons dare to tread. Living in God’s presence, which is synonymous with living in the Spirit, leaves no room for temptation. When we live in the Holy of Holies, the flesh remains crucified.

Our Default Mode
For Christians, living in the Spirit is our default mode. Each morning, we wake up in the Spirit, but we quickly decide whether to remain there or return to the flesh. Satan may entice us as soon we get out of bed to exit the Holy of Holies by telling us that we won’t be able to pay our bills this month. This may immediately cause us to live the day in fear (the flesh). We may then decide to deal with it ourselves versus seeking and waiting on the Lord. Satan studies us for what will draw us further into the deep with him. He prowls about looking for whom he may entice out of the spirit and out of God’s presence where they can be devoured (1 Peter 5:8).

What Could This Look Like for You?

Are you excited by the possibilities of what God could do with your business if you ventured deeper into the Spirit? Building your business your way produces what you can create. Building it God’s way produces what only He can create.

If you would like to learn more about what Spirit-led leadership might look like in your company, we invite you to a free 30-minute presentation on how we train Christian business owners to grow spiritually and build their companies in the Spirit.  Contact us today!