Remember that maturity and sinlessness are two different things. What we normally think of as “sinful” is the condition of the soul in the sin-consciousness. When we get born again we become “sinless” as Christ is sinless because we receive His resurrected spirit as our own and we are therefore fused in spirit:
1Co 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one
spirit.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin;
but the
Spirit is life because of
righteousness.
Our job is now to take our new nature of “power, love, and a sound mind (healed affections: 2Tim 1:7) and break down the sin-consciousness within our mind and to establish Yahweh’s consciousness within us which is “Christ consciousness” (not the way New Agers believe).
Putting Away The Childish
1Co 13:10 But when that which is perfect (G5046: telios) is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
Thinking, understanding, and speaking. These are the three things that Paul points out that need to change for you to grow from a child to a “man”. This is what is needed to be worked on to go from a bottle feeder to a meat eater and one who can walk in dominion. What is supposed to be the foundation of all three of these? The Word. Think the Word. Use your imagination to understand the Word. Speak the Language of the Kingdom using the Word. When you do these things they “frame the age” in which you begin to live (Heb 11:3; 1:3). This is how you step into maturity and this is what makes you a strong ‘young man’.
1Jn 2:14 …I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
The measure of maturity is the consciousness that you hold into this natural realm. This is the fruit of your thoughts and meditations and reckonings.
Thoughts, meditation, and reckoning all take work. They do not come to the lazy of heart. They happen in a person who is diligent and who is after the reward of Father’s Likeness (Psa 17:15; Math 5:48; Heb 11:6; Gen 15:1).
Father’s Likeness is “that which is perfect” (1Cor 13:10). When Father’s Likeness has been formed into someone’s soul, they have had a complete shift of consciousness where they are able to ‘perceive’ continually of Father’s Mind. This is when, in Mount Zion, His Name is written into your forehead (Rev 14:1).
Walking IN the Word is Exercising Your Identity
Maturity is when we walk in the Word of God. We think the Word and we speak the Word and then we walk in our daily life trusting that the Word is true and will come to pass in our circumstances.
Maturity comes to the soul as the Word of God is exercised and put to use. How do you do this? By speaking and trusting. By agreeing with the Word to become real in your life and by speaking the Word to every mountain in your path.
When “that which is mature” comes (1Cor 13:10). How does the “perfect” or ‘mature’ come? It comes by use of the Word:
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Maturity begins to show up in your life when you begin to “put away childish things”. It is important to note that “childlike” and “childish” are two different concepts. Childlike is the state of your spirit while “childish” or “adultish” is the condition of your soul. The soul matures by the spirit defining itself into that territory. Remember, the soul is designed to submit (not my will but thine be done), and the spirit is designed to express the scroll-covenant-new name of your heart of hearts that Father put in you to make you you. Capisce?
Mindset of Maturity of the “Perfect Man”
When we “put away childish things” we put on a different mindset. If you desire to be “perfect”, or better understood as ‘mature’, then you must begin to practice the mindset of a mature son. Below are some very significant scriptures that help us see the mindset of the apostles Paul and Peter, whom had become “perfect” or mature. Read through these scriptures and see how they think:
Php 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (G5046: telios), be thus minded…
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us
2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
1Co 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
1Co 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1Co 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
