And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
Ephesians 4:11-15 NKJV
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- “THAT we should no longer be children“
- Rules of Biblical Interpretation
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 5:16-18 NKJV
IF YOU ARE LED BY THE SPIRIT, YOU ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW
Three-fold nature of man:
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I Thessalonians 5:23 NKJV
You ARE a spirit, You HAVE a soul, You LIVE in a body
Peter calls it the “hidden person of the heart”:
Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
I Peter 3:3-4 NKJV
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
I Corinthians 3:1-3 NKJV
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- Spiritual = spirit governed
- Carnal = flesh governed
- When the outward man is stronger than the inward man, you are carnal and immature
- When the inward is stronger than the outward, you are spiritual
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Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23 NKJV
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- The health and well being of the outward man depend upon the condition of the inward man.
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The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can bear a broken spirit?
Proverbs 18:14 NKJV
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- The more you mature the more healing will manifest.
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Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.
III John 1:2 NKJV
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- The prosperity of the outer man is dependent on the inner man
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“How degenerate is your heart!” says the Lord God, “seeing you do all these things, the deeds of a brazen harlot.
Ezekiel 16:30 NKJV
IT IS POSSIBLE TO BE CARNAL AND FLOW IN THE HOLY SPIRIT: THE MANIFESTATION OF THE GIFTS IS NOT A SIGN OF MATURITY
Charismata: a favor with which one receives without any merit of his own; grace or gifts denoting extraordinary powers, distinguishing individual Christians and enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating on their souls by the Holy Spirit.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Galatians 5:18 NKJV
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2 NKJV
as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby
I Peter 2:2 NKJV
So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Luke 1:80 NKJV
And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.
Luke 2:40 NKJV
Principals of Growth – apply to spirit, soul, and body
- Have to be intentional
- Have to use the right “diet”
- Requires dedication and consistency to bring it to completion