Spiritual maturity is obtained by partaking of the Word and acting on it. 1 Peter 2:2 says to partake of the Word that you may grow (mature). James 1:22, “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only”. Hebrews 5:13, 14 says that one who is spiritually mature is one who is skilled in the Word by reason of practice. We must partake and act on God’s Word in order to grow spiritually. The next ingredient of Spiritual Etiquette is Excellence in Ministry.

Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do in word and deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…” When you do anything in the name of someone else, you better make sure you do it in the manner that they would do it themselves. 2 Corinthians 5:20 says that we are ambassadors for Christ. When we claim to be Christians, we are setting forth the notion that whatever we do; we are doing on Christ’s behalf. Ambassadors were chosen from the ranks of mature, experienced men. To be an ambassador necessitates spiritual maturity. Many scriptures link excellence with maturity. Remember, the mature son displays the characteristics of his father. Excellence is a characteristic of our Father.

Unity is also required in order to achieve Spiritual Etiquette. The body must operate in harmony and in one accord in order for Holy Spirit to move. Acts 2:1-4, on the Day of Pentecost, they were all in one accord and then they were filled with Holy Spirit. In Matthew 18:19, “If two of you agree on Earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in Heaven”. So, when two are in unity, God will act. Each person is an important part of the body that must function in order for the whole body to be complete and function in oneness. We must each one operate decently and in order in the gifts that we are given. The church body must operate in unity in order for the power of the Holy Spirit to manifest itself.

We must each one submit to the authority placed above us. We must not operate in the spiritual gifts unless submitted to the leadership of our church. We are not to operate out of order. Roman 13:1, 2 says to “let every soul be subject to the governing authorities”. We must not cause confusion in a church setting. We are to submit to the authority over the house.

We must first be saved and filled with the Holy Spirit before we can operate in the Gifts of the Spirit. The Word clearly shows that the infilling of the Holy Spirit is a separate occurrence than salvation. We must be filled with the Spirit in order to operate in the power that God intended. We are commanded to preach the gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons, and raise the dead. We can’t do these things without the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us.

In order to operate in the Gifts of the Spirit decently and in order, we must first have proper instruction on the operation of the gifts and have the right motive for doing so. Our motive should always be love. Without love, the gifts will not accomplish what they were intended to. The Gifts of the Spirit were given to edify the body and to cause sinners to enter the kingdom. They were not given to draw attention to man. The Holy Spirit always points to the Father.

When we operate in Spiritual Etiquette, we allow Holy Spirit to lead and guide us. It is only when He is in charge that we can accomplish anything of worth. When man is in control, we tend to make a royal mess of things. By submitting to our fleshly nature to be in control, we have rendered the church ineffective. By denying the gifts or by misusing them, the church has lost its power. Until we come to the place of proper operation of the Gifts, we will not fulfill the Great Commission. Only by the showing forth of the power of God will the world listen to His truths and thus turn to Him.

We must operate with proper etiquette and regain the credibility and integrity of the church. Proverbs 10:9 says “He who walks with integrity walks securely”. Titus gives the qualities of a sound church with one being “in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, and incorruptibility”, (Titus 2:7). We must operate with integrity, reverence, and incorruptibility in order to be the effective body of Christ.

I hope this discussion has opened your heart and spirit to the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit has come to bring power to the church. He does that by empowering each individual believer and by empowering the Body of Christ as a whole.

He has come to be our Comforter, Counselor, Teacher, and guide. He has come to point out our gifts, talents, and abilities and to empower them so that we can each fulfill our God-given purpose.

He then gave us the tools needed in order to build up and edify the church body. He has provided all that the church will ever need in order to fulfill the purpose and plan of God to multiply His kingdom. By operating decently and in order, we bring back the credibility and integrity that the church has lost. We can now fulfill that Great Commission to “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the Nations…”

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