The Reason God Needs You To Grow/Mature

* You can now watch a video of this message at: https://new.livestream.com/rickpina/live.

Last night I had a powerful experience with God.  My Pastor, Tony Brazelton, was prepared to teach Bible study, but as he led us in prayer, just before the study, the Lord led him another way.  Instead of teaching what he had prepared to teach, the Holy Spirit flowed through him and he shared powerful truth that truly touched me.  At the end of the night, just before I went to bed, I shared the following thought on Social Media: “The more I think about the awesomeness of what God has called me to do, the more humbled I am, the more inadequate I feel, and the more reliant upon God’s Grace I become.”  This morning I will share some of my notes from last night, so you can see “some” of what led me to make such a statement.  I took pages of notes, so I will only share a few of the golden nuggets.

1.  Jesus said, “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t handle them now” (John 16:12).  The disciples were not ready to receive ALL of what Jesus wanted to give them and the same can be said of us.  God has many great things to share with you, about your assignment, your purpose and your future, but unless you grow and mature, He will not be able to share with you the deep things concerning your assignment, because too much information, especially for an immature believer, can derail them from their destiny.

2.  God will take the time to mature you to the point where you can carry the weight of what He has promised you.

3.  God knows some things will destroy you if He gives them to you before you are ready to receive and walk in the weight of the them.

4.  God has to mature you to the point where you are ready to accept, receive and walk in His blessing.

5.  Your development is not to hurt you.  Your development is to prepare you, so you can walk in the weight of your calling.

6.  When God reveals something to you, that you need to deal with — like jealousy, greed, lust, anger, bitterness, etc. — He does it so you can mature to the point where you can freely walk in the level of grace and anointing you are called to walk in.

7.  God will never violate His Word, but He will violate your understanding of His Word, because He is trying to push you past your understanding.  The more you grow, the more you will be able to understand, and the more God will be able to give you.

8.  A key part of your development is in the process of discovering the voice of God.  Reading what God said is great, but you must be able to hear what He is saying to you today.

9.  If you are not hearing the voice of God, start reading the Word of God.  Reviewing what God said positions you to hear what He is SAYING.

10.  Learning to hear God’s voice will make you a candidate to perform the impossible, by God’s grace.

11.  Quoting scripture is good, but divine victories come when you hear and obey the voice of God.

12.  If you don’t allow yourself to endure the process of development/maturity, you won’t be prepared to complete your life’s assignment, and that is a sobering thought.

Closing Confession:  Father, I thank You for teaching me about the importance of growing and developing in You.  I now see how important my development is.  I realize that there are things You have for me, that You have already prepared for me in the heavenly realm, that You can’t even tell me about until I am ready to receive revelation concerning them.  You love me enough to withhold information from me — about my assignment, my purpose and my future — because You know I am not ready to handle it.  But by faith I declare that I will be ready soon.  I make a conscious effort to grow, mature, and develop in You, so You can be free to share with me all You need to tell me, in order for me to maximize my purpose and potential in life.  You made plans for me before the foundations of the world.  Those plans are good plans.  For years I walked around in the earth, not knowing that I was called of God.  I now know I am called, and I ready to receive more clarity concerning my purpose.  The more I grow in You, the more You are able to share with me, and the more You are able to accomplish through me.  I am determined to arrive at Your desired destination for my life.  I will die empty.  I get complete my assignment.  I will maximize my purpose.  I will fulfill my destiny.  Not because I am so good, but because of Your grace.  I declare this by faith.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.