 How to know your spiritually mature five important signs. Here's what the Bible says in Galatians chapter five. I'm going to read verse 22 and 23. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things. I want to begin this message by making it very clear that the ultimate sign that the presence of the Holy Spirit abides in you is when the character of Christ is demonstrated through your life. The greatest sign that you have the presence of the Holy Spirit. The greatest sign that you're surrendered to the Holy Spirit. The greatest sign that you are growing spiritually is that the character of Christ Jesus is demonstrated through your life in word, in deed, in attitude, in thought. When Jesus begins to shine through you, that's how you know you're growing spiritually. So that is the most important thing to consider. The character of Christ are the fruits of the Holy Spirit being demonstrated through your life. That's the standard to which we aspire. Having said that, I'm going to give you five signs that many actually don't often consider. We know, of course, that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and so forth. We know that these are demonstrations of spiritual maturity. The greatest sign that the presence of the Holy Spirit dwells in you is that you act like Jesus. Having said that, I want to show you five signs that maybe you haven't considered, but that also demonstrates spiritual maturity. And by the way, all of us are works in progress. All of us are progressing spiritually, myself included. So as I minister these truths, of course, I'm going to be examining my own life. We all should be examining our lives. We all should be honest with ourselves. We all should seek to be more like Jesus. In fact, I want you to write that in the comment section right now, whether you're watching live or replay, simple words, more like Jesus. Let that be your prayer. Let that be your goal to let the character of Christ, his nature, shine through you. So again, having established that the fruit of the Spirit is the standard, having established that the character of Christ in you is probably one of the greatest measures by which you can judge whether or not you're spiritually mature. Let's now look at some other signs that demonstrate spiritual maturity. The first one I have listed here, and by the way, these aren't necessarily listed in any particular order. But the first one I'll mention here, number one, you don't avoid or seek controversy. Christians really do need to get controversy correct. Many times we fall into one of the extremes of either completely avoiding controversy out of fear or looking for controversy out of immaturity. So number one, when it comes to controversy, you don't want to avoid it. Psalm chapter 15 verses one and two say this, who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord, who may enter your presence on your holy hill, those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. So the scripture speaks highly of those who will speak truth out of sincerity. Some speak truth out of hypocrisy, but there's real power when you speak the truth and your life aligns with the truths that you declare. Acts chapter 5 verses 26 to 29 say this, the captain went with his temple guards and arrested the apostles but without violence where they were afraid the people would stone them. Verse 27, then they brought the apostles before the high council where the high priest confronted them. We gave you strict orders never again to teach in this man's name, never speaking of Christ Jesus. Instead, you have filled all Jerusalem with your teaching about him and you want to make us responsible for his death. Verse 29, but Peter and the apostles replied, we must obey God rather than any human authority. So here we see the scripture telling us very clearly that we are to speak truth. We are to stand for the things of God. We are to, when it's appropriate, stand in the midst of controversy. Listen to me. If you want to be in ministry or you want to have any impact on this earth or you want to touch lives or you want your life to be spent for the glory of God, I promise you you will run into controversy. Now many people miss their calling because they're so afraid of controversy and it's sad to me that the body of Christ is almost quick to judge those who find themselves in controversy. Now I'm not talking about blatantly teaching heresy, something that would directly contradict one of the fundamentals of the faith. Like if somebody stands up and says that Jesus isn't God or somebody stands up and says that Jesus didn't resurrect in bodily form. That's the kind of controversy that should be condemned. But think about the fact that when miracles begin to happen, when people start to get delivered, when people get healed, when you teach a truth that's aligning with scripture, if you do something right for God, if you do something effective for God, it will always attract critics. It will always attract controversy. Oral Roberts said this about the healing ministry. He said, the healing ministry attracts crowds, controversy and criticism. And it's true. Yes, the miracle ministry draws crowds, but people criticize those miracles. You can teach a perfectly sound teaching. And someone somewhere will find some way to pick it apart or maybe be upset with the way you worded it or maybe be upset with the terminology or the lingo that you use to communicate a truth that they believe. Now, we don't want to avoid controversy and miss our calling. We don't want to leave the call of God unfulfilled. We don't want to disobey God just because we're afraid of stirring things up. The spirit field shake up the systems of the world. The spirit field upset the religious establishment. That's what we do. And that's just by our very nature. So as you're being used for God, as you grow in Christ, as you begin to become more effective for the kingdom of God, there will be criticism. There will be controversy. Don't stop obeying God just because you're afraid of stirring things up. And as I said, I think the body of Christ needs to learn to reserve their judgment because sometimes I've seen my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ being criticized unfairly and just by the mere fact that there's criticism or controversy. People say, oh, well, I knew I had a bad feeling about that ministry. And that's just immaturity. That's to misunderstand what controversy actually is because not all controversy is bad. Think about the controversy that the apostles raise. Now, on the other side of the coin, I've already established that we mustn't hide behind false humility and wisdom just to avoid controversy. But we also shouldn't seek it. This is something the spiritually mature understand. You don't avoid it and you don't seek it. So don't seek it. Proverbs 20, verse three says this. Avoiding a fight is a mark of high honor. Only fools insist on quarreling. There are some believers who just want to argue. There are some believers who just want to be in the midst of controversy. There are some ministers. God help us. There are some ministers who just want attention. So it's all about trends. It's all about clicks. It's all about views. Now, there's nothing wrong with trends, clicks, or views in and of themselves. It has everything to do with motive. But there are some who will purposefully be controversial just because they know it attracts attention. And we have to be very careful of that. That's not spiritual maturity. Second Timothy chapter two, verses 23 and 24 say this. Again, I say don't get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach and be patient with difficult people. So here we see that the scripture is making a case for both. We mustn't avoid controversy at the cost of our calling. But we also shouldn't seek controversy just because we're looking for attention. Think about the fact that people often comment things on YouTube, on Facebook, or maybe they'll get up and make a video. And I'm not talking about anyone particular. Maybe in your church, people will come up and say comments. Maybe in your family, people will come up and say comments. And it seems that they're always trying to start an argument. They're always trying to start a fight. They're always wanting to egg someone on so that they can get involved in some type of quarrel. And this is a mark of immaturity. They say things like, well, you know, I'm just saying, it just had to be said, well, you know me, I'm just truthful. And they try to disguise their foolishness as virtue. They want to be seen as the one who always calls it. They want to be seen as the one who tells it like it is. And because of this, they make a trap for themselves and they end up walking in foolishness. They end up being labeled as a quarrelsome person. It doesn't have the effect that they think it does. And so I don't want this to happen to you, precious believer. I don't want you to fall into this trap of someone who thinks that because I'm someone who speaks truth, I have to get involved in every controversy. I have to speak against everything that I see. Now there is a time and a place to speak out. We should boldly declare truth. We should boldly speak up for righteousness. We should boldly come against the forces of darkness when the time comes for it. And that, of course, if there's anything that needs to be called out, call it out. Blatant sin, call it out. Wickedness advancing, call it out. That goes back to my other point. We shouldn't avoid controversy just because we're afraid of the opinions of man. But at the same time, we mustn't hide behind our ego disguised as false boldness. So don't hide behind false humility and false wisdom. Don't avoid controversy just because you wanna avoid it. And don't seek controversy. Don't hide behind your ego and say that your ego is just actually a passion for truth. When really all it is, it's a desire for attention. This isn't scripture, but it's a popular quote. A wise man speaks because he has something to say. A fool speaks because he has to say something. Don't let that be you. Both of these are marks of immaturity. When you're so concerned about your reputation that you won't even declare clear truths, when you're so concerned about what man thinks of you that it affects your obedience to God, well now you're walking in immaturity. When you think it's your place to call everything out all the time just because you wanna be looked at as the one who's bold and who's the speaker of truth, and you wanna be perceived as someone who will go there when no one else will go there, that's immaturity as well. We have to be well-rounded. We have to have balance. Those who are spiritually mature do not seek controversy, nor do they seek to avoid it. It's just happenstance. It's just a symptom. We who are spiritually mature seek truth. We seek Jesus. And if on the way to truth, if on the way to pleasing the Lord, we find controversy along the way, well then we deal with the controversy as it comes. Like I know that when I speak against religious established thought, I know that when I speak truth in love and boldness, that it will always upset someone. I'm not speaking it to offend people, but neither am I going to withhold that truth just because I don't want to offend them. And so we have to realize that controversy is a part of calling. So don't avoid it and cost yourself your obedience to God and don't seek it just because you're passionate and you're overzealous. Instead, just focus on your calling. Focus on what the Lord has you doing. Focus on ministering the truth in love. Focus on doing what your assignment is. And if on the way you encounter controversy, so be it. Don't seek it, don't avoid it. So that's number one, a mark of spiritual maturity is that you don't avoid or seek controversy. Number two, you demonstrate self-control. Proverbs chapter 16, verse 32 says, better to be patient than powerful. Better to have self-control than to conquer a city. I love that phrase, better to be patient than powerful. You see, your maturity isn't marked by how much you pray in tongues. I believe in speaking in tongues. I teach on speaking in tongues. In fact, one of the criticisms about me is that I'm too focused on speaking in tongues and teaching about it and helping believers walk in that spiritual gift. But that's not the measure by which you can tell whether or not you're spiritually mature. Spiritual maturity isn't being able to drive out demons. New converts can do that. Spiritual maturity isn't seeing miracles and healing. That's just speaking the name of Jesus. And it's God's power anyway. It's not like any one of us wield these powers in our own will and in our own strength. It's the sovereignty of God responding to faith. So it's not power demonstration. It's not about having dreams or visions. Dreams and visions are wonderful. I think they're powerful expressions of the Holy Spirit's voice. I think dreams and visions are for today. I think prophecy is for today. I think all of the spiritual gifts are for today. I think God moves supernaturally through anyone he wants to move through. But demonstrations of power aren't marks of spiritual maturity, not necessarily. Neither is being gifted in teaching or preaching. You may be able to communicate charismatically. You might be able to confound the wise with how you can expound upon the scripture. You may even have a lot of scripture memorized. A lot of Bible study techniques in your back pocket. You may know Greek and Hebrew. You may understand the nuances of the various texts that people have trouble with. That's not spiritual maturity. That's not the mark. Perhaps you pray a lot, but do you obey? Do you walk with God? You see, it's not power. It's not ability. It's not demonstrations that can be made in the efforts of man. That's not the mark of spiritual maturity. I've seen people who can preach, but behind closed doors, their character was just awful. No, a mark of spiritual maturity is the mastery of self. Before you can have dominion in the world and over demons, you have to have dominion over self. Dominion in your own life begins with dominion over your words, over your thoughts, over your impulses and your cravings. What are impulses? Impulses are those quick ways we respond to things. I know I need a lot of work in that area too. We all do. And then cravings have to do with those lingering desires of the flesh. How do you respond to your impulses? How do you respond in those split seconds where your anger is flair, where your impatience is flair, where your emotions are tossed to and fro? Emotional maturity, that's self control. Controlling your tongue, that's self control. Honing your thoughts, that's self control. Focusing in the midst of distraction, that's self control. Choosing the heavenly over the secular, that's self control. Saying no to sin and yes to God, that's self control. The Holy Spirit will give you the desire to please God, but you must make the decision to please God. He provides the desire. You must act on making the decision. You want that, that's spiritual maturity. How do you control those impulses? You know, the real test of how much mastery you have over the flesh, and as I said, we all are works in progress, is your ability to catch yourself in those split seconds just before you say something or think something or allow your attitude to turn a certain way. So mastery over your words, mastery over your thoughts, mastery over your emotions, sure you might be able to preach, but do you have flares of anger that send you into rages? Sure you might be able to prophesy, but can you control your tongue? Sure you may lay hands on the sick, you may drive out devils, but how stable are your emotions? How do you act when you don't feel like acting right? How motivated are you to do what you should do when you don't feel like doing anything at all? How do you feel when you're tired, when you're hungry, when you're exhausted, when you're physically drained? When difficult people are pressing on your patience, prophesy, lay hands on the sick, cast out devils, that's all wonderful. But have you mastered your character? Anyone can have dominion over demons, that's the easiest part of the Christian life. One of the easiest is dealing with demons. You speak a command under the authority of Christ, period. Demons have to obey, but are you under God's dominion? Is your tongue under God's dominion? Are your words under God's dominion? Are your thoughts under God's dominion? In those split seconds where your impulses drive you to act, what are you doing? Do you just allow yourself to go into autopilot and do what you want to do according to the flesh? Or have you learned to stop yourself in those split seconds and prevent the flesh from taking dominion in your life? Self control. The Bible says that one of the fruits of the spirit is self control, not spirit control. In other words, the Holy Spirit isn't going to overtake your free will and force you to do what you want to do. No, it gives you the ability to control yourself, but you control yourself. Stop blaming other people. Stop blaming your environment. Stop blaming circumstances. Stop blaming former generations. Stop blaming demons and curses and your pastor. Have some self control. We need to grow up, it's time to grow up. Grow out of blaming those things and gain some self control. That is a hallmark of the spiritually mature. You demonstrate self control. Number three, you forgive generously. Flesh has the tendency to cling to offenses. You ever notice that when someone offends you, they reoffend you in the memory of the offense? Like perhaps you remember a conversation. And you perceived that they were slighting you. You perceived that they were insulting you. You perceived that they were disrespecting you. You perceived that they were mocking you. You perceived that they were somehow coming into conflict with you through what they were saying to you. And so you leave the moment, maybe you're a little upset, but then you go back and you replay it again and again and again. And then you begin to spiral and as you begin to replay it again and again and again, you start to judge their motives. You start to think in their place and see it from their perspective and you try to read their minds and you think you know what they meant and you know how they felt and you know what they were trying to do. We're suspicious and cynical and paranoid. We misjudge people all the time, but then we take that offense and spin it again and again and again in our heads and we get angrier and angrier and angrier and angrier. My brother, my sister, you can't offend a dead man. You can't offend a dead woman. No longer I live, but Christ lives in me. Now I'm not saying that there are no legitimate hurts, but maybe a sign that you are still bitter is the fact that you probably got offended that I didn't say that right off at the top. I'm not even looking at the comments, but I guarantee you there will be some like, well, you don't know the story or you weren't there or I was actually offended. They actually hurt me. Well, that's where forgiveness comes in, isn't it? Sometimes the offense is perceived and sometimes it's real. Sometimes we think someone was angry with us. We think they were insulting us. We think they wronged us when they didn't and other times it's actually an offense. But I'm telling you that as Christians, whether we were offended in perception or we were offended in reality, whether we were offended in perception or whether we were offended in reality, as Christians, we have to let it go. No, if ends are buts. Well, you don't know how bad it was. You don't know what they did. They never apologized. The Bible says in Ephesians 4.32, instead be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. Just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Does God replay your offenses again and again? No, what does the scripture say about what he does? He separates the memory of your sin from his mind as far as the east is from the west as it's eternally separated from his memory. He chooses to forget. He chooses to not remember. The scripture says he does not deal with us according to our sins. What do we do? Well, you don't know the full story. And how dare you say that? And what's interesting is I'm not even talking to anyone in particular. I'm just giving you biblical truth. But I promise you, and again, I'm not reading the comments on purpose, but I promise you in the comment section there will be people who will say things like, you don't know the story. Well, I can't let it go. Or easy for you to say, or some excuse. Look, you can hang on to that if you want, but I'm telling you, you wanna be made mature in Christ, you have to learn to forgive generously. I don't care what culture says. Our culture is professionally offended these days. Being offended is a profession these days. And there are a lot of pros. As Christians, we let it go. We forgive radically the way Christ forgave us. That's the difference between us and the world. One of the major differences I should say, when speaking of forgiveness, Jesus said in Matthew chapter five verse 48, or I should say, when speaking of loving your enemies, Jesus said in Matthew chapter five verse 48, but you are to be perfect even as your father in heaven is perfect. Perfect how, perfect in this way that you love those who persecute you. You pray for those who come against you. You bless those who've wronged you. Wow, that's the true act of the supernatural power. Oh, it's easy to prophesy. It's easy to cast out devils. It's easy to heal the sick. Can you forgive? Can you forgive even when you have a right by the world standards? Can you forgive even when you have the right by the world's standards to be angry? Can you forgive even if they didn't apologize? Father forgive them for they know not what they're doing. He forgave them before they said, I'm sorry. As Christians, we forgive so much like God that we forgive faster than they can apologize. No exceptions, no excuses. Forgive. Did you hear what I said? Guys, this is Bible. No exceptions, no excuses. I'm sensitive to the plight of anyone who's been offended. I love you in Christ and I'm telling you the truth because I don't want you to get stuck in that prison. That prison of bitterness and unforgiveness. It's not an insult. Bitterness and unforgiveness is a prison. No excuses. No workarounds. We must forgive. And that is a mark of a truly mature Christian. Don't tell me about your visions and dreams. Don't tell me about how the Lord speaks to you. Don't tell me about how the Lord told you to write this in your journal or to paint that on a painting. Don't tell me about the miracles you've seen or the demons you've driven out or the visions about the future that God has given to you. You wanna know if you're mature? Forgive. And this is easier said than done for sure. I'm not saying this is easy. I'm saying this is true. Forgiveness and the ability to forgive radically just as the Lord has forgiven us. That is a mark of the spirit field. Now nobody is saying that you have to continually put up with abuse. Nobody is saying that even that you don't report crimes. What I am saying is that you forgive generously no matter the circumstance. And that is truly a difficult thing to do. But it's a mark of spiritual maturity. So number one, you don't seek or avoid controversy. Controversy just is or it isn't. You seek Christ. You seek your calling. You declare the truth. And if on your way to fulfilling your calling, you encounter controversy, so be it. And please, body of Christ, just because a preacher, a man or a woman of God is being criticized from left and right, doesn't mean you dismiss them. Oh, well, they're controversial. That's something that I think is so manipulative. And this is on a side note. Thank God it's not really happened with me because it just hasn't. I guess the Lord's been gracious in that area. But I've seen my brothers and sisters in Christ who just get pummeled with criticism and questioning. And that's a part of the job, so to speak. But then what really frustrates me is the way the body of Christ responds to that. And they'll say, well, you know, well, there's so much controversy there. I'm gonna steer clear and I'm thinking, wait a minute. There was controversy around Jesus. I was speaking to someone on the phone who was asking me about a great man of God. And this guy was just arrogant, just as arrogant as could be. I think he was like a 16, 17 year old guy. And he's just telling me about this. He's telling me about this man of God and saying, well, you know, he's this, he's that. And I go, really, where did you hear that? From the critics and the secular media? And he's like, yeah, okay. And you just believe that because somebody said it. You just repeat it, because everyone else repeats it. No thinking for yourself, no digging, no questioning. And he said to me, he goes, well, you know, it's just, there's this cloud of confusion around him. Thinking it's the critics that are the ones that are kicking up the dust. Isn't that funny that it's a tactic, by the way. It's used in political campaigns where they'll criticize, criticize, criticize, ask all these leading questions and stir up all this controversy and then say, see, look what's happening over there. Look at all that controversy. And they're the ones who stirred it up. So this is a tactic of Pharisees. It's okay to ask questions. It's okay to challenge people on doctrine. But you know when it's being done in the right spirit and when it's being done from a religious spirit. They criticize, criticize, criticize, say, look at all the criticism surrounding them. Well, you're the ones who did it. But they did the Jesus. So let's be discerning and not so sheepish in the way that we respond to these controversies. Now again, if somebody's teaching blatant heresy, of course the controversy is probably well deserved. But number one, you don't avoid or seek controversy. Number two, you demonstrate self-control. Number three, you forgive generously. Number four, you think eternally. Colossians chapter three verses one through four says this, since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven. Where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand, think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in his glory. Now, when we begin to turn our focus to the eternal, it puts things into perspective that are here on earth. This is something I'm really praying that the Lord would help me with. I'm very driven by nature. I love to build, I love to create, I love to expand. And it's somewhat of my offering back to the Lord. I've had conversations with several of my friends here. I truly believe that one of the best offerings you can offer to the Lord is not, yes, of course, you need to offer him your faith, your obedience, your holiness, and so forth. But I think additionally, God created us for a purpose. And one of the greatest ways that you can glorify God is by living to the potential with which he created you. It's your offering back, thank you for giving me breath. Here's what I'm doing with my breath for you. Thank you for giving me energy and strength and a body and influence. Here's what I'm doing for you back with that unto your glory. And as long as the motives are in place, I think the work will hold up on judgment day. But you know, even as I'm driven to build, even as I'm driven to win souls today, to see miracles today, to expand the kingdom of God through media today, I also have to be thinking about the future because every great man or woman of God who I've sat with, they all tell me the same thing regarding time. They all tell me that it just goes by so much quicker than you could possibly imagine. And maybe you're in that season of life where you have had your focus shifted now to the eternal, to the next life. But you know, there are generations who don't really pick up on this. And I have to ask for the Holy Spirit's help to keep me focused on eternity because I can get so caught up in the everyday here. And it happens so fast, every week goes by that. And I'm finding that the longer I live, the faster the years go by. Think about this. If your life were a pie, say apple pie or pizza pie, whatever one you want, let's cut it into four slices, okay? If you're 20, 25 years old, you've already had your first slice and you have three more. And then the next three slices will go by much quicker than the first one. Think about it, if you're 20 to 25 years old, everything you've experienced, everything you've known, your entire life, that whole timeline, you've got three more of those at best. And not even that is guaranteed. You're in your 30s, like me, then you can cut that pie into thirds and you've had one of three slices. And the next two will go faster than that first one. We could go on and on. I don't want to freak everybody out, but that's just the reality of our time we're given. The scripture says life is a vapor. Just, we're here today, gone tomorrow. And even if someone can make history, they make a name for themselves, even history forgets its greats. I mean, most of us can't name actors or celebrities from even 30 years ago. Who was famous then? I don't know. Fame fades. Even if you become iconic, even if you become legendary, even if you become historic, that all fades. Money, somebody else will have it. All the things you work for, somebody else will use it. Car you drive, the clothes you wear, the house you live in, it's temporary. But what you do for eternity, that's what truly matters. And because it's so difficult, please hear this, because it's so difficult to think about the eternal when the now is so apparent is exactly why only the spiritually mature do it. There are some individuals who are well into their final slice, and they're still just thinking about the here and now. They're still just thinking about what they can gain on this side of eternity. They're still just thinking about the car, the money, the career, not even considering eternity. What are you doing for eternity? Are you taking souls with you through the preaching of the gospel? Are you preparing to help the next generation? What are you leaving behind? Think about that, because everything else fades. Only what you do for eternity truly counts because it's the only thing that lasts. And so this is a difficult thing to do because it's so easy to be caught up in all of this. I mean, it's right here, right now. I can touch it, I can hear it, I can see it, I can feel it, I can experience the now. And it's coming at me so fast and it's also vibrant and it's also distracting. I'm not careful, I'll fail to see off into the distance into eternity. The Bible tells us, think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. Spiritually mature people, yes, they acknowledge that here and now is important. I'm not saying just dismiss the moment because technically now is all you'll ever get to experience, but those who are spiritually mature, they live from the perspective of eternity. And I'm asking the Holy Spirit to help me do this because I'm a very fast-paced individual. Everything's quick. Let's get it done, let's go. That's me. But I ask the Holy Spirit help me to really see things from the perspective of eternity. The spiritually mature think long-term. They think eternally. They think generationally. Not about the temporary only. Yes, there's some significance to the now. Otherwise God wouldn't have us experiencing it. But in all that you do for the now, don't forget about eternity. So, so far we've seen these signs of spiritual maturity. Number one, you don't avoid or seek controversy. Number two, you demonstrate self-control. Number three, you forgive generously. Number four, you think eternally. Number five, you're always willing to learn. Correction, even though it's uncomfortable, can lead to learning. Proverbs 12 one says this, to learn, you must love discipline. This is the Bible here. I think it's the new living translation. It is stupid to hate correction. Hebrews 12 six, for the Lord disciplines those he loves and he punishes each one he accepts as his child. So, if you're not experiencing correction in your life, you're likely not growing. You ever talk to someone who, as you're trying to teach them, they just go, yeah, yeah, yeah, I know, I know. Oh, yeah, yeah, of course, of course, of course. I used to have a friend who would do that to me. I like, I would be teaching him things like on the technical side. And I knew he didn't know any of it. And I would talk to him about he would go, correct, correct, that's right, correct, you're correct. I know I'm correct. That's why I'm telling you this. And, you know, those people who just can't admit that they're learning something. They don't like correction. They want to be the one with all the answers. They want to be perceived as knowledgeable and competent. And I understand that, but it can be quite unhealthy if we're not willing to acknowledge that we do need correction. All of us have blind spots. All of us have character flaws that we can't quite see clearly. All of us have areas that we need someone to speak into to correct whether that come through the correction from the word. Correction from a legitimate source like your pastor or a spiritual leader or even a friend. These people bring correction to your life and God brings them to your life because he loves you. He loves you. Now, my friend pastor Vlad said something that was really powerful and it's stuck in my head. I call him Vladisms, by the way. You know those short phrases. Many of you know pastor Vlad. Those short phrases he uses, those quick, they're almost, I told him he needs to write a book and call it Vladisms. Short like statements. And I believe the alliteration he used was something to the effect of there's a difference between a coach and a critic. And I love that because everyone's gonna have their critics and of course you can't legitimize them with responses or legitimize them by being concerned about what they're saying. With critics you kind of just have to dismiss and ignore or move on. And so you have to know the difference between a critic and a coach because if you're receiving correction from your critics all the time, no matter what, you're never gonna be able to please anybody because you can't please everybody. But instead, look for those coaches, people who have that fatherly love, that big brother love, that big sister love, that motherly love, that grandmotherly love, that grandfatherly love, those people who love you and who are mature in the faith and who have an actual connection with you and who are correcting you because they care about you, not just because they want to be perceived as the one who got you or the one who put you under, what is the phrase like, they wanna sun you, like you're under me and I want everyone to think that, no. Correction leads to learning, we must love correction and of course receive it from legitimate sources. Number two in terms of willing to learn, you're always willing to learn, a humility leads to learning. Psalm 119, 25 to 29, look at the language being described here. I lie in the dust, revive me by your word. So here's someone who knows that they need God's help. I told you my plans and you answered. Now, teach me your decrees. Help me understand the meaning of your commandments and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds. I weep with sorrow, encourage me by your word. I love this, this right here. Look at verse 29, this is incredible. I don't know about you, but I love this. Keep me from lying to myself. Wow, keep me from lying to myself. Give me the privilege of knowing your instructions. Here we see someone who understands their own brokenness. Maybe not fully, but at least acknowledges it to some degree. Here we see someone who recognizes their dependency upon God. They recognize their shortcomings. They recognize the need. They recognize that they cannot do it without the help of the Lord. Even knowing his instructions is a privilege and they approach him in humility. People who are filled with pride, they'll never learn. Why? Because people who are prideful despise it because anytime they admit they learn something, it's a check to their ego. So correction leads to learning. Humility leads to learning. Hunger leads to learning. Psalm 119, same chapter. View verses above, we'll go to verses 12 through 16. I praise you, oh Lord, teach me your decrees. I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word. Here is someone who rejoices in the law. They rejoice in the word of God. They have a hunger. Now if you're starving, it means you haven't been eating. If you're hungry, it means you're regularly eating and that's healthy. I'm not saying we should starve for the word because that means you're not getting it on a regular basis. I'm saying we should have a hunger for the word, a healthy appetite, meaning we're regularly eating the word, we're regularly receiving from Him. We should have that childlike wonder around the word of God even if we've been serving the Lord for decades. I was saved when I was 11 years old. I'm 33 now. And still I pray, Lord, don't let me lose that love for your word. Oh, I don't wanna lose that. You can get it back by the way if you feel you've lost it. It's not completely gone. It's just like dusting off an old book. You have to get rid of that layer of apathy. And under there is your passion. Under there is that desire the Holy Spirit has placed in you. One of the best ways to grow a desire is to feed that desire. And if there's even a small desire in you to know the word, to understand God's ways and to receive that correction, then you act on that. You begin to receive of that desire and that desire will begin to grow. Correction leads to learning. Humility leads to learning. Hunger leads to learning. But don't lose that childlike eagerness to learn because when you're willing to always learn, that's how you know you're spiritually mature. It's the immature who are insecure. And it's the insecure who can't admit that they have learning to do. It's the immature who are insecure. And it's the immature who can't admit that they've not completely arrived. Let us not be immature. Let us be fully mature and maintain this hunger for the word. Hunger to learn, hunger to receive that correction. But to recap, five important signs, and we're gonna pray right now so don't turn this video off. Five important signs that demonstrate that you're spiritually mature. And of course, this is in addition to the fruits of the Holy Spirit. One of them was mentioned self-control. Number one, you don't avoid or seek controversy. Number two, you demonstrate self-control. Three, you forgive generously. Four, you think eternally. Five, you're always willing to learn. Now let's pray and let's ask the Holy Spirit to help us in these areas. And as we pray, I want you to believe that the power of God's gonna touch you right. I truly believe that the tangible touch of the Holy Spirit's power can flow right through that camera, right to you watching. I want you to receive, whether you're listening or whether you're watching, receive of this now. Say this first, say, welcome Holy Spirit. Say that out loud. Say, welcome Holy Spirit. Now, Father, I pray for that one receiving this in this moment. And I ask that you would give them grace. Let your empowering presence draw them. Let your empowering presence mold their character. Father, we cry out, transform our nature. Change the way we are Lord. Help us to surrender Holy Spirit. Give us the desire for your word. Incline our hearts towards your will and your nature. Holy Spirit, let the character of Christ shine through us. Help us in all these areas. We desire to be like Jesus. Just say that out loud, say, Holy Spirit. Say it again, say, Holy Spirit. Make me more like Jesus. Father, also heal your people, deliver them. Come against every sickness and disease. We break that bondage in the mighty name of Jesus. And I pray for deliverance to come upon your people. Set them free from deception. Set them free from stronghold. Set them free from the attacks of the enemy. I speak peace to your mind. Someone's receiving that right now. Peace to your mind. Torment to the mind. I command you to cease now in the mighty name of Jesus we pray, the mighty name of Jesus we pray. Matthew 6, 19 through 21. Jesus says this, don't store up treasures here on earth where moths eat them and rust destroys them. Where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven where moths and rust cannot destroy. And thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is there, the desires of your heart will be also. Now I want you to resist the impulse of the flesh to now click to the next video or turn this off. It's good that you received, but now I want to challenge you to give. And I want you to resist that fleshly urge that says, okay, I got to get out of here now. No, no, no, no, no. Isn't it interesting that whenever you talk about something that's demonstrated through selflessness, the flesh doesn't want to hear it. The flesh gets offended, gets defensive. Doesn't like to hear things that challenge selfishness and all of us need to be challenged in this area. All believers need to be givers. And there's that impulse. There's that side of us that we wrestle with, isn't there? That greedy little person who lives inside of us. And I don't mean that as a spirit, I mean just that side of our nature where we like to withhold, we like to retain, we hesitate and we become defensive when we're challenged to give. Now this isn't everyone. Most of you watching this are givers. In fact, most people who watch the stream give and we appreciate that. But then I want to challenge that one who maybe hasn't quite grown in this area. You say things like, well, preachers shouldn't ask for money or move on to another topic or you're asking too long. That's the conviction of the Holy Spirit. And the flesh gets stirred up whenever it's challenged. That's why Jesus said, there the desires of your heart will be also. Money is a test of the heart. I'm not saying you need to give to be saved. I'm not saying you need to give to please God and that's the only thing you ever need to do. No, but money does test the heart. Why? Because money is what we've worked so hard to gain. It's the time you invested, the skill you invested, the energy you invested. It took a lot of you to get it. And so it takes a lot out of you to give it. And that's just the fact of the matter. But money is a test of the heart. That's why we recoil. That's why we become defensive. That's why we try to use any excuse that we can to get out of it. Now, again, I'm not talking to the majority of you. The majority of you are probably already going to the link and clicking it. But I want to challenge you. If you're not a giver yet, you're not someone who practices this. This is good practice for you to begin to do these things that are difficult to do, to mature and grow in this area. I want to challenge everyone watching this, whether you're watching live or on the replay, to give toward the gospel. Don't give to get. Don't give for selfish ambition. Don't give for your own gain. Instead, give because you love Jesus. Give because you love this ministry. Give because you love souls. Give because you want to see this ministry continue to affect more lives. Well, we see what's happening in our world. Doesn't our world need the gospel now more than ever? Doesn't the darkness need to see the light? We need to show them the light. It's time that the world sees the power of the Holy Spirit demonstrated with the true gospel preached. I need you to do your part. I need you to get involved. I can't do this without you. You're my brother, you're my sister. God designed it so that we need each other. That's just the way he did it. If I could do it alone, God would have made it so I can do it alone. But the word makes it clear that we need each other. I need you. And I'm asking for your help. Go right now to davidhernanisministries.com. Davidhernanisministries.com slash donate to give a single gift. Davidhernanisministries.com slash partner to become a monthly ministry supporter. So whether you're giving large or small one time or monthly, I'm asking you to give so that the work can go forward. Help us continue to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit all around the world through events and media. As you give, we will continue to see the kingdom expand. We're not talking about it. We're doing it. We're not just philosophizing. We're taking action and it's working. Hear me now. It's working. Thousands upon thousands of people are being impacted by this ministry every single day. I'm asking you now to do your part. Join us and help us spread the gospel all around the world. Now, as people give on davidhernanisministries.com slash donate, I'm actually able to see many of the donations that come in. So I wanna say thank you to Bryant for your one time gift. Thank you, Donna, for your one time gift. Thank you, Noah and Glory. That's a beautiful name, Glory. God bless you. Also thank you to Merida, our dear friend, Jessica, that's my wife's name. Thank you for your gift. Marie, thank you for your gift. Patricia, thank you for becoming a partner. Rapi, thank you for becoming a partner. Luigiini, thank you for becoming a partner. Raymond, thank you for your gift. Matthew, thank you for becoming a partner. Diane, Alexandra, thank you for your gift. Mirna, thank you for becoming a partner. Valerie, thank you for becoming a partner. I also see a single gift from Araul. Thank you so much. And they're just continuing to pour in from all around the world. So thank you for your giving and remember until next time, nothing is impossible with God.