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Rooted or Rattled? The Call to Grow Up in Christ
“Dear children, this is the last hour…” – 1 John 2:18
Thank you, J.D. Walt, for today’s piercing and pastoral Wake-Up Call. You didn’t just call out the antichrists. You called out something even more subtle and sinister: immature faith. And I felt the conviction land hard—in the most gracious way.
J.D. says it clearly: Immature faith is the greatest threat to the Church. Not scandals. Not heresy. Not even apathy. Because all of those grow where spiritual maturity hasn’t taken root.
We’re not talking about how long you’ve been attending church or how many podcasts you’ve heard. True maturity is measured in humble obedience and holy love. It’s the fruit of a life steeped in Scripture, saturated in the Spirit, and surrendered to Christ as both Savior and Lord.
When I first encountered church in the summer of 2023, I hadn’t yet been baptized. What drew me wasn’t worship or community—it was a beautiful, well-produced 53-page PDF about relationships from a local church.
But something felt off.
The first 25 pages never mentioned the words man or woman. That omission said everything. When I later asked the pastor if his church condoned same-sex relationships, he simply answered, “It’s been a long journey.”
And just like that, I saw it: sin not being confessed—but redefined.
I didn’t even have deep spiritual discernment yet, but something holy inside of me grieved. Because the more I read Scripture, the more I saw: Jesus didn’t die to affirm our confusion. He died to redeem it. That church never became my home. But it did send me running into the arms of truth. And by September 2023, I was baptized into Christ, no longer confused about sin or salvation.
And here’s the humbling part: I didn’t grow overnight.
When I met my friend Jim—our building’s superintendent, a man who’s walked faithfully with Christ for over 30 years—he lovingly called me a “baby in Christ.” I was offended. Pride flared. My flesh whispered that I needed to defend what I thought I knew.
But over time, the Holy Spirit gently corrected me. Jim wasn’t judging—he was guiding. And in letting go of the need to be right about everything, I started to become something better: teachable. That’s when the roots of maturity started to take hold.
Now I know: the more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know. But I do know this—I believe Jesus died for my sins, I have been saved by His grace, and I now walk in His mercy. For over two years and for all eternity, I belong to Him.
J.D., your words today confirm the battle we’re in. You said:
“Immature faith opens the door to false teaching. False teaching leads to false faith. It desecrates community. It destroys unity.”
It’s time for us to grow up in Christ. Not just believe, but belong. Not just learn, but live. And the only way is through the Word of God and the Spirit of God.
Sower Nation, here’s the question today:
Where are you still compromised?
Where has your maturity stalled?
Are you drinking milk when you should be wielding a sword? (See Hebrews 5:12)
And who in your life has helped you grow—even if it stung at first?
Let’s not settle for a half-formed version of the Gospel. Let’s mature. Let’s rise. Let’s be the Church Jesus is coming back for.
For the Kingdom ❤️
Jeff in Christ
Every Moment, Every Day!
Founder, Jesus24365 Ministry
Jesus24365.org
What a great visual!! Jesus the “guest” into an extended stay into “Jesus u have a house key”. 7 days a week Jesus not just on Sunday.….
The Danger of Deception
Our human nature works in opposition to Christ. (Galatians 5:17) That’s why we need to deny our self-focused desires and allow the risen Jesus to directly lead us by His Spirit moment by moment. (Luke 9:23) It’s much easier to follow self away from Christ than it is to follow Christ away from self. To remain close to Christ and continually abide intimately in His presence requires being poor in Spirit. (Matthew 5:3) Pride pries us away from Jesus, humility draws us to Him. (James 4:6) How fortunate are people who have no confidence in their human nature (Philippians 3:3) for they are being trained to trust in and rely on King Jesus living and working within them through the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 5:3)
Preaching that causes people to look toward and rely on a preacher more than on the actual presence and the direct inner leadership of the Holy Spirit, does great harm to Christianity. It makes people think that they have been spiritually fed when all they did was hear some words spoken to their head. That type of preaching is like hearing a talk about food (or watching Food Network) but not eating anything.
Preaching that describes or informs people about God but doesn’t cause people to hunger and thirst for righteousness (Matthew 5:6) and for the kingdom of God, which is His inner government, is deceptive. (Matthew 6:33) Without life-changing Spirit-given inspiration, preaching is merely religious information. The preaching that is needed isn’t a studiously prepared message, but a message that so passionately burns in a preacher’s heart that it vividly demonstrates the power, presence, and reality of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:1-5)
O how we need for the members of the body of Christ to step up and allow the Spirit of God to empower them to be sent ones (apostles), speakers of the truth in love (prophets), Christ spreaders (evangelists), spiritual shepherds (pastors), and disciple-making trainers (teachers). (Ephesians 4:11) Then the body of Christ can be built up, come to true unity in the faith, and experience the presence and reality of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians: 4:12)
Thank you! These were anointed and such thought provoking words. I will be ruminating on them for several weeks. Thank you!