Pst Josh Sola Adeniyi
27th September 2026
Bible Text: Colossians 2:1–8
Supporting Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 13:1–8, 2 Peter 3:18, 1 Timothy 4:7
Focus: Recognising the practical evidence of spiritual maturity and developing a life that increasingly reflects Jesus Christ.
Receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour is the beginning of your Christian journey, not the end of your spiritual development.
God desires that you continue growing in grace, knowledge, character and obedience. Your spiritual maturity should become evident in how you love others, forgive offences, use your resources, choose your relationships and depend on the Holy Spirit.
In this second part of Spiritual Maturity, discover how to move beyond simply knowing about Christ towards demonstrating His character in your everyday life.
Your salvation marks the beginning of a lifelong journey with Christ. God does not expect you to remain spiritually immature after receiving Him. He wants you to develop, grow and become increasingly like Jesus.
Colossians 2:6–7 encourages you to walk in Christ, become rooted and built up in Him, and remain established in the faith.
“Our spiritual journey is not a sprint.”
Spiritual growth is a marathon. It does not happen automatically or instantaneously. Just as physical development takes time, spiritual maturity requires patience, consistency and discipline.
2 Peter 3:18 calls you to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, while 1 Timothy 4:7 encourages you to exercise yourself towards godliness.
Do not measure your spiritual progress merely by how long you have attended church. Examine the transformation taking place in your character, understanding and relationship with God.
A spiritually mature Christian develops a genuine desire for the Word of God.
It is not enough to own a Bible or keep one beside your bed. You must read it, meditate upon it, understand it and allow its truth to influence your decisions.
Psalm 119:105 reminds you that God’s Word is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path.
The Word provides direction when you face uncertainty and wisdom when you encounter challenges. Whether you are navigating difficulties in your marriage, career, finances or personal life, learn to seek God’s guidance through Scripture.
Reading the Bible should not become a religious punishment or a task performed merely to satisfy an obligation. Develop a relationship with the Word until its truth becomes part of your everyday thinking.
As you continually study and meditate, ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate what you read and help you apply it.
One of the clearest indicators of spiritual maturity is your ability to forgive.
People will disappoint you. Some will offend you intentionally, while others may hurt you without understanding the effect of their actions.
You cannot control every offence, but you can grow in your response to it.
Advanced forgiveness is the willingness to approach relationships with patience and a heart already prepared to forgive.
“Forgive and move on.”
Holding on to offences places unnecessary burdens upon your heart. The person who offended you may already have moved forward while you remain trapped in resentment.
Colossians 3:13 calls believers to bear with one another and forgive as Christ forgave them.
Forgiveness does not mean ignoring serious wrongdoing or refusing to address difficult situations. Where reconciliation is needed, speak honestly, seek resolution and establish appropriate boundaries.
Do not allow bitterness to become an obstacle to your spiritual growth.
You cannot separate spiritual maturity from genuine love.
In 1 Corinthians 13:1–8, Paul explains that spiritual gifts, knowledge, faith and even acts of sacrifice lose their value when love is absent.
You may possess remarkable gifts or participate actively in ministry, but the way you treat others reveals the condition of your heart.
Love is patient and kind. It does not envy, boast, behave rudely or seek only its own interests.
These qualities provide a practical opportunity for self-examination. Are you patient with people who think differently? Can you celebrate another person’s success? Do you respond with kindness when someone disappoints you?
“The blood of Jesus does not discriminate.”
The body of Christ contains people from different cultures, countries, backgrounds and experiences.
You may not have been raised the same way as the person sitting beside you in church. Your personalities, preferences and experiences may differ, but Christ has brought you together as members of His body.
Jonathan’s love for David in 1 Samuel 18:1 illustrates the depth of genuine affection and commitment.
Learn to accommodate differences, protect the dignity of others and support fellow believers through their difficulties.
Love does not seek opportunities to embarrass people or publicly expose their weaknesses. Instead, it responds with compassion, discretion and a willingness to help them grow.
True Christian love must go beyond words and expressions of affection.
“This love we are talking about is tangible. It’s not abstract.”
When you know that someone is hungry and you have the resources to help, love should move you to respond.
Consider the things you own but no longer use. Clothes sitting untouched in your wardrobe could become a blessing to someone who genuinely needs them.
You do not necessarily need great wealth to demonstrate generosity. Sometimes spiritual maturity is expressed through a simple decision to share what you already have.
John 3:16 shows the relationship between love and giving: God loved the world and gave His Son.
Love gives willingly.
Your generosity should not arise merely from pressure or a desire for recognition. Let it flow from genuine concern for the people God has placed around you.
The relationships you maintain can influence your spiritual development.
1 Corinthians 15:33 warns that evil company corrupts good habits.
As you grow in Christ, examine the people who influence your thinking, decisions and behaviour.
Not everyone who has been part of your past should automatically retain the same level of influence over your present.
This does not mean treating people who do not share your faith with hostility or disrespect. Rather, it means exercising wisdom about the individuals you allow to shape your values and spiritual direction.
Your closest relationships should encourage honesty, righteousness, accountability and growth.
Be careful when you gradually become comfortable with attitudes or activities that contradict the Christian values you desire to uphold.
Spiritual maturity requires discernment. Love people genuinely, but choose your strongest influences wisely.
You cannot grow into spiritual maturity while neglecting prayer.
Prayer strengthens your relationship with God and keeps you conscious of your dependence upon Him.
Jesus taught the importance of persistent prayer in Luke 18:1, reminding believers that they should always pray and not lose heart.
“Pray when it’s convenient. Pray when it’s not convenient.”
Do not make prayer something you practise only during emergencies or when circumstances are favourable.
Bring your concerns before God consistently, whether they involve your family, work, career, health, relationships or spiritual responsibilities.
However, prayer must not replace preparation.
If you are attending a job interview, prepare thoroughly. Understand the role, develop the necessary skills and demonstrate your competence. At the same time, commit the opportunity to God in prayer.
Faith and diligence should work together.
Prayer reminds you that your abilities are not your only source of help, while preparation demonstrates responsibility for the opportunities before you.
The transformation God desires cannot be accomplished through human determination alone.
“Holy Spirit is the enabler.”
You need the Holy Spirit to strengthen your prayer life, develop godly character, overcome weakness and fulfil your calling.
Romans 8:26 reminds you that the Spirit helps in your weaknesses and intercedes for believers.
Consider Peter. Before receiving the Holy Spirit, he denied Jesus three times. Yet after Pentecost, he stood boldly and proclaimed the gospel. See Acts 2:14–41.
The same Peter who had previously struggled with fear became a powerful witness for Christ.
Your present weakness does not have to determine the limits of your future service.
Whether you struggle with confidence, prayer, discipline or another area of Christian living, seek the help of the Holy Spirit.
As you submit to Him, He can strengthen you to become the person God has called you to be.
The desire of every growing believer should be to move beyond spiritual infancy and live a life that increasingly pleases God.
1. Spiritual maturity is continuous. Do not allow your Christian journey to become stagnant. Keep growing in grace, understanding and obedience.
2. Forgiveness reflects spiritual growth. Release unnecessary resentment, address conflicts wisely and develop patience towards others.
3. Love must be visible. Let your care for others produce kindness, generosity and practical support.
4. Your associations matter. Choose close relationships that encourage rather than weaken your commitment to Christ.
5. Prayer and preparation belong together. Remain dependent on God while faithfully fulfilling your responsibilities.
6. Depend on the Holy Spirit. True spiritual transformation requires His guidance, strength and enabling power.
Father, thank You for the salvation You have given me through Jesus Christ.
Lord, help me to continue growing in grace and knowledge until my life increasingly reflects You. 2 Peter 3:18
Father, give me a genuine love for Your Word and help me apply it daily.
Lord, deliver me from bitterness and grant me the grace of forgiveness and forbearance.
Father, remove pride, selfishness, envy and every attitude that prevents me from loving others sincerely.
Lord, give me a generous heart and help me recognise opportunities to support those in need.
Father, grant me wisdom and discernment in choosing my friendships and close relationships.
Lord, help me develop a consistent prayer life and remain faithful even when prayer is inconvenient.
Father, give me the grace to combine prayer with diligence and responsible preparation.
Holy Spirit, strengthen me wherever I am weak and empower me to fulfil my God-given assignment. Romans 8:26
Lord, transform every area of my character that does not reflect Jesus Christ.
Father, I do not want to remain spiritually immature. Help me to grow into the person You desire me to become.
May the Lord strengthen you to continue growing in grace, wisdom and spiritual understanding.
Your love for God’s Word will increase, and His truth will guide your decisions. May He give you the grace to forgive freely, love sincerely and extend generosity to those around you.
You will not be drawn away from Christ by harmful influences. The Lord will establish you in godly relationships and give you discernment in every area of your life.
Your prayer life will grow stronger, your faith will become deeper and your commitment to God’s purpose will remain steadfast.
May the Holy Spirit empower you to overcome weakness, develop Christlike character and fulfil every assignment entrusted to you.
You will not remain a spiritual infant. You will continue growing in grace, and your life will increasingly reflect the beauty of Jesus Christ.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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