Wallace SC&W
Rev. Stephen C. Wallace
SPIRITUAL MATURING BY OPENING UP
Fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22-23
Spiritual Maturity is not all about what we can achieve and do.
It is not just about the actions we take. It is also about how
much we allow Christ to dwell in us. We are told that the Spirit
offers us fruit that will bless us and others. Yet we often close
ourselves off from these blessings. How open are you to receiving
these gifts from the Holy Spirit?
Love:
1. Who are you choosing not to love or limiting your love toward?
(check all that apply & list names)
___ Family: ____________________________________
___ Co-workers: ________________________________
___ Acquaintances: ______________________________
___ Strangers: __________________________________
___ Self: ______________________________________
___ Other _____________________________________
2. Are you ‘loving your enemy’ by wishing for them to find God’s
presence and blessing?
___ Family: _____________________________________
___ Acquaintance/co-worker: _______________________
___ Stranger (know of but don’t know personally): _______
___ Past Relationship: _____________________________
___ Other ______________________________________
3. Sometime I find it hard to love unless: (check all that apply)
___ People act ‘right’
___ We believe the same things
___ We have the same priorities
___ They treat me right
___ I am in the mood
___ Other ______________________________________
4. What is most likely to hold you back from loving?
___ Lack of accepting them
___ Fear of _____________________________________
___ Anger or hatred
___ Uncertainty over: ______________________________
___ Energy
___ Time
___ Unable to forgive
___ Other: ______________________________________
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The Next Step: How to Grow in your Spiritual Maturity
(specific suggestion to questions in the inventory are labeled Q +
the number of the question)
Love:
Reflect upon and do a Bible study on how much God loves you. (e.g. John 3:16,
Matthew 10:29-31). Study biblical reason to love (e.g. I John 4:18-20,
I John 4:7-21) Pray for God to fill you with love.
Q.1 – What about this person/people do you find hard to love? Why is this action/
attitude/trait so powerful for you (e.g. hurt, fear, jealousy)? How do you need to
respond to this barrier? Can you see positive things in the person? Think about how
God might feel toward this person and list the positive things that you believe God
sees or feels (perhaps separating the person’s actions from the person’s being would
help in this effort).
Q.2 – What keeps you from wanting ‘good’ for this person (anger, wanting
revenge, fear, etc.)? How do you need to let God deal with them (Romans 12:17-21).
Do you need to seek healing for your wounds? Do you need to trust in God’s
righteousness, wisdom and justice to ‘take care’ of wrongs done? Do you need to
pray daily for this person to find God’s presence and blessings? Do you need to
pray for God’s strength to help you see the good in them and desire good for this
person?
Q.3 - Reflect upon the rough edges in your life and where you have been shown
love ‘in spite of’ things you have done or said. List these experiences, what you
did and how others responded to you. Also list why you think they responded
that way and what helped them to take that pathway. Have you ever felt like
someone only loved you for what you do instead of who you are? Have
you ever wanted someone to see you as separate from your action(s) or mistakes?
Why? When? What difference would it have made? How do/could those
experiences shape your focus on loving or not loving?
Q.4 –List what it would take for you to lift the barriers keeping you from loving?
List how the Lord wants you to respond (e.g. forgive, trust, lovingly challenge)
and what you are doing or are hesitating to do on that list? If there are any
hesitations, why? Do you need to love from a distance because the relationship
is toxic or dangerous (e.g. praying for some one who is abusive but removing
oneself from the situation)?
Read Gary Smalley’s book “The Five Love Languages” to better understand
how to express love in helpful ways.
