Apostle Allison Smith Conliff centers on the vital necessity of spiritual maturity through the study of the Bible. She utilizes 1st Corinthians 3 to warn the congregation against carnality, citing behaviors like envy, strife, and division as evidence of an underdeveloped faith. By comparing the Word of God to milk for infants and solid meat for the mature, the message encourages believers to move beyond a superficial relationship with religion. The message emphasizes that faith is developed through hearing and internalizing scripture, which serves as essential preparation for life’s inevitable challenges. Ultimately, this sermon calls for a disciplined prayer life and a shift from worldly logic to a mindset anchored in divine authority.

Key Points:

Spiritual maturity is achieved through consistent study of the Word and prevents carnal behavior by building a strong foundation, developing spiritual muscles, and transforming internal motivations from the flesh to the spirit.

Building Faith and Directing Action: Consistent engagement with the Word is essential because "faith cometh by hearing" and is strengthened and developed through the Word of God. What a person hears determines how they react and function; therefore, hearing the Word prompts a person to take specific actions in how they live their life. By studying, a believer gains the knowledge necessary to avoid "perishing" or becoming a victim of the devil.

Preparation and Internalization: The Apostle emphasize that studying allows the Word to transition from the written page into the heart of man. This acts as a form of preparation, similar to filling water tanks before a shortage; if the Word is not "stored up" through consistent study, a person will have nothing to draw from during challenges or when God is silent. This internal "logos" (written word) provides the light and life necessary to handle the "Rhema" (spoken word) and navigate reality without falling into "fables" or "Hollywood" fantasies.

Growth from Immaturity to Spiritual Strength: Carnal behavior is often characterized as "baby behavior" or immaturity, marked by envy, strife, and divisions. Spiritual maturity prevents these behaviors through the following:

• Moving from "Milk" to "Meat": Consistent study allows a believer to move past "milk" (basic teachings) to "strong meat" (deeper truths), which provides the nutrition needed to build "spiritual muscles".
• Avoiding Spiritual Stagnation: Without growth through the Word, a believer remains a "midget" or "underdeveloped," unable to handle correction or spiritual conflict.
• Establishing a Foundation: Studying helps a person build their life on the foundation of Christ rather than the "quick sand" of the flesh.

Combatting the Carnal Nature The carnal nature is described as being at "enmity against God" and prone to worldly distractions like parties, alcohol, and secular influences that do not glorify Him. Spiritual maturity prevents these behaviors by:

• Empowering the Spirit over the Flesh: By being "anchored" in the Word, believers can crucify the flesh and resist the urge to react with curses, strife, or "back analyst" (backbiting) behaviors.
• Providing Wisdom over Folly: Maturity gives a believer the wisdom to recognize environments that may feed carnal desires, helping them to walk circumspectly and abandon carnal ways of living.
• Enabling Spiritual Warfare: A mature person who has studied the Word can rebuke demons and stand strong during "whirlwind" experiences, whereas a carnal person lacks the power to confront spiritual darkness.

When the Word is esteemed more than "necessary food" and digested into the soul, it brings joy and builds a character that is loyal to God's virtues rather than the lusts of the flesh.

Rec. Date: 26th Novemeber, 2023