Spiritual Adulthood by Father Al Jenkins
I Corinthians 13:11

I Corinthians 13:11 –"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man (adult), I put childish ways behind me."

Spiritual adulthood begins when a person creates the desire to do those things that God wants them to do.

The difference between childhood & young adulthood (years of innocence, searching for identity, and years of establishing independence) and adulthood lies in initiative and taking responsibility - by attending to the needs of others - out of oneÕs own desires.

Only a mature tree will bear fruit.

What makes one a spiritual adult? Knowing God intimately; it's that simple!

But this raises a question. How can you know that you know God intimately?
It's like a good marriage: two people fall in love and become so close that each one knows what the other is thinking and feeling without a word being spoken.

But such intimacy is not developed overnight. It's the product of time spent together – and commitment!

Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah, "No eye has seen nor ear heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him." Then Paul adds,"For to us, God revealed them through the Spirit" (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

The mature follower of Christ sees things the human eye can't see and hears things the most acute ear can't hear. And they have thoughts that didn't originate on their own. That's because God's indwelling Spirit is helping them to think God's thoughts.

One knows they are spiritually mature when God lets that person pick up on thoughts and insights from His Word - that go far beyond what someone told you, or what you heard in a sermon or teaching.

That's because the Holy Spirit is now free to send His message clearly and directly to you. In other words, we will "know the things freely given to us by God" (1 Corinthians 2:12).

But that means we have to be close enough to hear God speaking to us.
.....Such intimacy doesn't just happen.
.....It's not an afterthought.
.....Intimacy with God should be the number one priority and the consuming passion of one's life.

Ephesians 4 –

 1...I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit...(the church)

 7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it...12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ (the church) may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

 14Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will – in all things – grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body (the church), joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

 17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles (unbelievers) do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God (church) because of the ignorance that is in them, due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality - so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more...

 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

 25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully...

 29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God... 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

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