Guidance for Maturity
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Guidance / Obedience for Spiritual Maturity

We should become mature, fully like Christ. That’s God’s goal for us. A good prayer to speed us on our way would be: “Heavenly Father, I ask you to bring growth in my spiritual life, in Jesus’ name, Amen.”

John 14:21 How do we know the Father’s commandments (so Jesus will manifest Himself in terms of answered prayer)?
John 14:26 By the Holy Spirit.

All this is given for understanding the will of God that we might obey with purity and be blessed. How do we get it?
1 Cor. 12:8 from the Holy Spirit
James 1:5 by asking for it!
Matt. 7:7 Jesus told us to ask for the gifts.

2 Chron 1:7-12 Solomon asked for knowledge and wisdom to bless others - God blessed him. We, too, are to ask for wisdom and knowledge.

What divine guidance is NOT:

  1. our own reasoning, understanding and intelligence. Prov. 3:5,6

  2. telepathy, clairvoyance, precognition, ‘voices’, Horoscopes, Tarot, Palm Reading, Dowsing, etc. James 3:13-17
  3. listening to counselors who use 1 or 2, even if they are priests, parents, shrinks, financial advisors, etc. Psalm 1:1
  4. role playing an identity other than “child of God” or “saint”.
  5. trusting in tradition, habit and good intentions. These might not be in God’s specific will. Apart from the Father’s guidance, Jesus did nothing. John 5:19
  6. We must cut off any occult sources of knowledge & wisdom. Otherwise, demons still have permission to influence you.

Here's a good prayer to start you off on guidance:
“Heavenly Father, we renounce all forms of guidance that is not of you. We renounce Satan and all his ways and advice, images & impressions. We dedicate ourselves to trust and obey Your guidance in all areas of our lives. Please manifest Yourself in our lives through Your wisdom and knowledge. We know this is your will, so we thank you for it in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Amen."   Now claim it.

Deuteronomy 28 Study on Obedience and Blessings.

Causes for Blessing

  1. diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God - vs. 1, 2,15,45

  2. keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways - vs. 1, 9,13,15,45
  3. serve the Lord your God with joy and gladness of heart - vs. 47
  4. study the words of His law, in order to fear His glorious and awesome name - vs. 58

Scope of Blessing

  1. personal

  2. family
  3. tribe
  4. nation
  5. church

Seven Resulting Blessings

  1. exaltation - vs. 10, 12, 13

  2. health - 7:15
  3. reproduction - vs. 4, 11
  4. prosperity - vs. 12
  5. victory
  6. God’s favor - vs. 9
  7. abundance - vs. 11

Nine Curses on disobedience

  1. humiliation

  2. barrenness and unfruitfulness
  3. mental and physical breakdown
  4. poverty
  5. defeat
  6. oppression
  7. failure
  8. God’s disfavor

A good prayer for God to place this in our lives would be, “Jesus, for your sake, I renounce all disobedience I have ever been involved in, known or unknown. I renounce all sexual immorality, impurity, drunkenness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, rages, selfish ambition, dissensions and factions I have been involved in. I dedicate myself and my family to You, Your Kingdom and Your Righteousness. I dedicate myself to obey you in all things. I make this vow in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Now comes the hard part; living this out.