Text: Galatians 4:1; 1 Cor 3:1-4
Memory verse:
“Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Under Roman law, boys from birth to 14 years of age were under the charge of guardians, and then from age 14-25, their inheritance was administered by managers.
“Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves an inheritance for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had.” ‭‭(Gal‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT‬‬).
You see, even though the heir has right to his father’s inheritance, yet he can’t enjoy it until he is mature. He can’t manifest his true heirship until he is of age.
No father will commit his estate into the hands of an intellectually and morally immature son; a drunk, a spendthrift, a whore, or a son who has temper tantrums. Recently, I heard of how a family was surprised when the family lawyer read their father’s will. Instead of making the firstborn and first son the next of kin, the father made the younger who is also a female his next of kin. The son was said to be immature, incontinent, and irresponsible.
“And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.” ‭‭(I Cor‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬). In contrast to the fully grown, being a child also connotes spiritual immaturity and carnality. Carnal believers still live according to the flesh. They haven’t learnt to bring their flesh under subjection, nor do they make an effort to do that. They can’t understand, nor do they appreciate a call to live the sanctified and separated lives. They can’t receive such teaching (1 Cor 3:2). Rather, they mock it. They enjoy the carnal life and boast of it. They laugh when you tell them not to drink or serve alcohol; not to cut corners in business nor be involved in sharp practices or examination malpractices; not to listen or sing worldly songs or engage worldly musicians or DJ for their events; or not to be revengeful. They enjoy living in malice and strife; wearing indecent, revealing, and provocative dresses; hanging out with unbelievers, and in wild partying. Sexual impurities, uncleanliness, vulgar language, filthy talking, coarse jesting, wrath, and factions are their identities. Paul said this about the Corinthian believers ‭‭(I Cor‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬-‭4‬).
Friends, heirship does not only come with sonship but with maturity. It also means that maturity provokes manifestation. To manifest your God-given destiny and purpose for life, long to grow out of babyhood to maturity, from carnality to spirituality.

Prayer points
1. Father, I desire to grow into maturity, please, create a desire for spiritual growth and help me to be committed to it, in Jesus’ name.
2. I renounce carnality in me, and I refuse to allow it to hinder my manifestation in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. To manifest my God-given destiny and purpose, I must be committed to spiritual growth.
2. I overcome carnality by daily living in the Spirit and putting to death the desires of my flesh.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng