I don’t know how often we associate spiritual warfare with spiritual growth but if we don’t we should. I am not speaking of railing against and binding this that and the other thing. I am referring to how engaging in prayer, intercession and teaching is a pathway to spiritual maturity. After all, that is a major motivation for me in doing this teaching, providing a tool for growth. I also pray regularly for many of you. Let’s dig in a bit.

For decades I have believed that Paul’s apostolic heart cry is summed up in one verse of scripture.

¹⁹ My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, Galatians 4:19 (NKJV)

Here Paul is expressing his desire for the Galatian converts to come to maturity. Maturation is a process not a magic encounter. It requires commitment and discipline, that biblical word discipleship. Our culture prizes autonomy, scriptures prizes submission to the Lord. This is clearly seen in Romans.

¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:14 (NKJV)

¹⁶ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, Romans 8:16 (NKJV)

These verses highlight an important spiritual truth, yet in a desire to be non offensive and gender neutral many modern translations unintentionally obscure what Paul is saying. The Greek word for sons refers to mature children, not all believers are, while the word children applies to all believers. Those who are submitted to and following the Spirit are the ones who come to maturity. Which takes us back to Paul’s heart cry on Galatians 4:19 and the how in Colossians. Paul’s ministry to create converts focused on preaching and prayer. His ministry to see converts embrace discipleship focused on teaching and prayer. We can see his focus in Colossians. This passage is long but important.

²⁷ To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. ²⁸ Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. ¹ For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, ² that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 1:27–2:3 (NKJV)

Here Paul wants us to know Christ within. To that end he preaches Christ and teaches with wisdom to see his readers mature. He then talks about the great conflict he is engaged in to see that maturity realized. Here he is talking about his prayer life. If you look at his letters he begins Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians telling his readers how he is praying for them and in the passage above also references his intercession for believers in Laodicea. If we apply this our lives not all of us may be able to teach or preach but we can all pray. We can all intercede asking the Spirit to give wisdom and revelation to those we for whom we we pray (Ephesians 1). We can ask that they would grow in love, knowledge and discernment (Philippians 1), and we can ask that they would be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s will with wisdom and spiritual understanding (Colossians 1). This is the connection between spiritual warfare and spiritual maturity so let’s take up the sword of the Spirit and help the body mature.