Embracing Humility: The Path to Spiritual Maturity

Today, the focus is on the heart of God for His people: that each one would die to self, be formed in Christ, and walk in the fullness of their calling. It is not about chasing after anointings, titles, or the outward trappings of ministry, but about surrendering fully to God, allowing Him to work through us. True grace and anointing are not transferred by proximity or by seeking the favor of men, but by embracing a servant’s heart, enduring suffering, and submitting to the process of spiritual maturity. The journey to spiritual authority is marked by humility, faithfulness, and a willingness to be shaped by God, often through hardship and obedience.

Every believer is given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift, but that grace alone does not bring us into maturity. God has appointed leaders—apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers—to equip and perfect the saints for the work of ministry. Honoring and submitting to godly leadership is essential for growth; no one matures in isolation or by simply consuming spiritual content online. The greatest hindrance to spiritual growth is pride—thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought, or believing we can bypass the process of dying to self.

The power and authority of Christ are released in and through those who are truly dead to self. The more we die, the more Christ lives through us, and the more the miraculous becomes possible. This is not just for a select few, but for all who believe in His name. The call is for every believer to proclaim the gospel, not just from a pulpit, but everywhere, to everyone. Signs and wonders follow those who believe in His name and step out in faith, as seen in the testimony of healing shared today.

God’s heart is for His church to come into full maturity, to become kingdom ambassadors who impact the world. The work of the ministry is not limited to acts of charity, but is about proclaiming the resurrection and lordship of Jesus, bringing salvation, healing, and deliverance to others. The invitation is to repent of complacency, embrace the call, and go forth as sent ones, proclaiming the good news and allowing God to confirm His word with signs following.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Grace and Anointing Flow from Death to Self, Not Proximity or Ambition Spiritual authority and anointing are not gained by seeking the favor of men or by being close to those who are anointed. They come through a servant’s heart, enduring suffering, and dying to self. Only those who have walked the path of humility and obedience can truly carry the weight of God’s glory. [67:12]
• 2. Maturity Requires Submission to Godly Leadership and Community No believer matures in isolation or by simply consuming spiritual content. God has appointed leaders in the body to equip and perfect the saints. Honoring and submitting to these leaders is essential for growth, as grace alone will not bring us into our calling without the process of discipleship and accountability. [71:14]
• 3. Pride is the Greatest Enemy of Spiritual Growth Thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought, or believing we can bypass the process of dying to self, hinders our spiritual development. Even those with great prophetic words over their lives, like David, had to endure years of preparation and brokenness before stepping into their calling. True leadership is birthed in submission and death to self. [73:20]
• 4. The Power of Christ Flows Through Those Who Are Fully Dead to Self The miraculous is not withheld by God, but is often blocked by our own flesh. The more we die to self, the more Christ lives and works through us, releasing His power for healing, deliverance, and transformation. Love powers the works of God, while the flesh can misuse spiritual authority for harm if not crucified. [76:06]
• 5. Every Believer is Sent to Proclaim the Gospel and Demonstrate the Kingdom The call is not just for pastors or apostles, but for every believer to go everywhere, proclaiming the good news of Jesus. Signs and wonders follow those who believe in His name and step out in faith, as God confirms His word through them. The world will not hear unless we go, and we have already been sent by Christ to do the work of the ministry.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [66:20] - Chasing Anointing vs. Dying to Self
• [67:12] - The Cost of True Spiritual Authority
• [68:27] - Honor and the Process of Maturity
• [69:09] - One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
• [70:33] - Grace According to the Gift of Christ
• [71:14] - The Role of Godly Leadership
• [73:20] - The Danger of Pride and Self-Exaltation
• [76:06] - The Necessity of Dying to Self
• [79:01] - Christ Living Through Us
• [82:02] - Gifts Given to the Church
• [85:04] - God’s Heart: Maturity and Ministry
• [88:06] - The Call to Proclaim the Gospel
• [92:08] - Testimony: Healing in Jesus’ Name
• [94:43] - Signs Follow Those Who Believe
• [98:08] - The Early Church’s Example
• [100:51] - The Call to Go and Proclaim
• [103:25] - Repentance, Forgiveness, and Invitation
• [105:56] - Closing and Giving Information

Bible Reading

Ephesians 4:4-13 (ESV) — > There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Mark 16:15-20 (ESV) — > And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.

Acts 8:1-4 (ESV) — > And Saul approved of his execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.

Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 4, what is the purpose of God giving apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to the church?
2. In Mark 16, what signs does Jesus say will follow those who believe in His name?
3. What did the scattered believers do in Acts 8 after persecution broke out in Jerusalem?
4. In the sermon, what does the pastor say is the true source of spiritual authority and anointing? ([01:07:12])

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that grace and anointing flow from “death to self” rather than from proximity to leaders or ambition. What does it mean to “die to self” in practical terms? ([01:07:12])
2. Why is submitting to godly leadership and being part of a church community essential for spiritual maturity, according to both Ephesians 4 and the sermon? ([01:11:14])
3. The pastor mentions that pride is the greatest enemy of spiritual growth. How might pride show up in a believer’s life, and why is it so dangerous? ([01:13:20])
4. The sermon shares a testimony of a layperson praying for healing and seeing a miracle. What does this suggest about who is called and empowered to do the work of ministry? ([01:32:08])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to “die to self” so that Christ can live through us. What is one area of your life where self still gets in the way? What would it look like to surrender that area to God this week? ([01:16:06])
2. Are you currently submitted to any spiritual leaders or mentors who help you grow? If not, what steps could you take to seek out godly leadership and accountability? ([01:11:14])
3. The pastor warns against trying to mature in isolation or just by consuming online content. How connected are you to your church community? What is one way you could deepen those relationships? ([01:11:14])
4. Can you think of a time when pride kept you from growing or receiving correction? How can you guard against pride in your spiritual journey? ([01:13:20])
5. The sermon says that every believer—not just pastors or apostles—is sent to proclaim the gospel and demonstrate the kingdom. Who in your life needs to hear the good news, and what is one step you can take to share it with them this week? ([01:42:08])
6. The testimony shared in the sermon was about a layperson praying for healing. Have you ever prayed for someone’s healing or for a miracle? If not, what holds you back? If yes, what happened, and how did it affect your faith? ([01:32:08])
7. The pastor calls the church to repent of complacency and embrace the call to go. Is there an area where you have become complacent in your faith or ministry? What would repentance and renewed action look like for you? ([01:43:25])