Levels of Transformation
There are 3 levels of transformation (or change) that every believer should experience:

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Spiritual maturity is all about transformation at the second level.

What is Spiritual Maturity? 

Text: Ephesians 4:13-14 

Discussion point: What does spiritual maturity mean to you? 

Spiritual maturity encompasses the following: 

• Life-long pursuit of being Christ-like in thoughts, words, and actions (Ephesians 4:13, Romans 12:2, Revelations 3:15-16) 
  
• Having an intimate experiential knowledge of God (1 John 2:13-14, Hebrews 6:1-3)

Evidence of maturity or attributes of a mature Christian: 

• Able to clearly hear from God

• Stability and capacity in the Christian walk

• Depth of character 

Maturity Habits 

What do I do to grow up spiritually? 

1. No Scripture, No Supper: God’s word is to your spirit man what food is to your natural man (Matthew 4:4, 1Peter 2:2) 
   
2. Prayer: Rich and dynamic communication is the live-wire of any relationship (Luke 18:1, James 5: 16)

3. Fasting: This is necessary for keeping the flesh under to attain different levels in God (1 Corinthians 9:27, Matthew 17: 21, Acts 13:2 )

4. Soul-winning: It demonstrates the genuineness of your faith to the world and the devil. It is God’s heart-cry and it must be yours as well (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19-20)

5. Giving: This is the only proof that all that you have now belong to God. It opens you up to the bountifully abundant blessings of God (Luke 6:38)

6. Act of Kindness: Organize your life to be a blessing to people who cannot pay you back. This is how to lay up treasures for yourself in heaven (Matthew 5:43-47)

7. Kingdom Service: This is the only proof that your time and attention now belong to God. It brings a sense of balance and fulfillment to your life as a believer (John 5:17)

8. An ongoing relationship with the Holy Spirit who is the true agent of change (2 Corinthians 3:6, John 6:63, Philippians 2:12-13)

9. Being a part of a small family of God’s people which is a conducive environment for transformation (Psalms 68:5- 6, Psalms 133)

Christian Character 

Text: Galatians 5:22-23 

What are the elements of Christian Character (that is, the fruit of the Spirit)? 

• Love: Divine affection not earned or lost by good or bad deeds (I John 4:7, I Corinthians 13)

• Joy: Simple gladness that flows from our spirit without any earthly reason (Acts 2:46)

• Peace: An inner calmness in the soul not based on earthly conditions (Philippians 4:7)

• Longsuffering or Patience: Enablement from the Holy Spirit to be tolerant of others. It helps us to endure their imperfections with love and hope that God is at work in them

• Gentleness or Kindness: Having a kind and good disposition towards others. Putting their well-being ahead of our own in our thoughts and attitude towards them (Philippians 2:3)

• Goodness: Deliberate acts to cater to the needs and desires of others at the expense of ours. It is basically acting out our kindness (Hebrews 13:1-3)

• Faith: A heartfelt commitment to God and godly things. Reliability and consistency (2 Timothy 2:2)

• Meekness: Mildness of temper. A humble and quiet mind that makes us teachable. (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2, James 1:21)

• Temperance: Ability to discipline (not indulge) the flesh. Being moderate in all things: food, sleep, drink, entertainment, fashion, talking etc (1Corinthians 9:27)

 The Holy Spirit (Our Maturing Agent) 

Who is the Holy Spirit? 

• The third person of the Godhead (1 John 5:7, Luke 3:21, 22)

• Possesses all the attributes of God. He is omniscient (John 14:26), He is Omnipresent (Psalms 139:7-10), and He is eternal (Hebrews 9:14). Therefore, He is God.

• He has intellect, will, and emotion. (1 Corinthians 12:11, Ephesians 4:30, Romans 8:27)

• The human spirit depends on the Holy Spirit to function effectively in the natural realm (Job 32:8) 

His Works in our Life 

• Represents all that Jesus is, to us (John 14:16)

• Convicts of sin (John 16:8)

• Reveals Jesus to us (John 15:26)

• Teaches us all things (John 14:26)

• Helps us to pray (Romans 8:26-27)

• Shows us things to come (John 16:13-14)

• Reveals our inheritance (1 Corinthians 2:12)

• Gives us power for service. (Acts 1:8) 

Holy Spirit Baptism 

• Baptism in the Holy Spirit is receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 19:2)

• Baptism in the Holy Spirit is meant for all Christians (Act 2:1-4, Acts 19:1-6, Acts 10:44-46)

• This experience gives us boldness and power to witness (Acts 1:8)

• It makes prayer more effective (Romans 8:26-27)

• It makes the release of the gifts of the Spirit possible (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) 
• It enables a better understanding of the word (John 16:13) 

How to Receive the Holy Spirit 

• You must be born again (Acts 19:1)
   
• Ask the Father to give you the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13)
• Get someone who is filled already to lay hands on you (Acts 19:4-6)
• Receive the Holy Spirit by Faith and thank God
• Open your mouth and begin to speak in tongues (Acts 2:4)

Principles of Biblical Stewardship 

• Whatever we have belongs ultimately to God (Matthew 25:14-30)

• God will not give us more than we can handle

• We will account for our stewardship 
• Faithfulness in little things results in promotion (Luke 16:10-12)

• An unfaithful steward is regarded as wicked and lazy

• Opportunities are taken away from the unfaithful and given to the faithful

• Every unfaithful steward will end up in regret 

Our Finances

• Tithes and Offerings (Malachi 3:8-10)
• Sustain and support our families (1 Timothy 5:8)
• Support special projects in the church (Exodus 25:1-8)
• Give to the poor (Proverbs 28:27, Ephesians 4:28)
• Invest your money wisely
• Prophet Offerings (Galatians 6:6)

Our Gifts

1 Peter 4:10

• Our natural gifts (Exodus. 31:2-5)
• Our spiritual gifts (Romans 12:6-7)

Our Time

Ephesians 5:16

• Our time is our life
• God gave to each of us in equal measure
• Measured to us to fulfill God’s purpose (Ecc.3:1, Psalms 90:12)
• Invest not spend our time
• Buy up opportunities

Our Bodies

Romans 12:1

• Give our bodies to God to use (Rom. 6:12-13)
• Keep our bodies healthy (1 Cor. 6:19-20)

My Maturity Habits Checklist 

This is a personal checklist and it forms part of the requirements for completing this course. 

Collect a printed copy from your instructor