Stages of the Spirit | The Christian Walk With God

“Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” — Deuteronomy 8:3

Our walk with Jesus isn’t a straight road. It’s a series of seasons—Egypt, wilderness, promised land, even Gethsemane—each serving a different purpose. Scripture itself outlines these stages, and each one forms us in unique ways. Let’s look at five key stages of the Christian journey, along with the very passages that describe them.

Conversion Stage — From Egypt to New Life

Scripture:
“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. No one who lives in him keeps on sinning, because God’s seed remains in them.” — 1 John 3:14, 9

Israel’s journey began in Egypt: slavery, despair, and helplessness. God set them free, brought them through the Red Sea, and gave them a new start. Likewise, in Christ, we are freed from sin and given new life.

Warning:
Just as Israel longed for Egypt’s meat pots (Exodus 16:3), new believers can be tempted to look back and think the old life was easier. But slavery dressed up is still slavery.

Growth Stage — The Wilderness Classroom

Scripture:
“Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart… He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna… to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” — Deuteronomy 8:2–3

God led His people into the desert, not to destroy them but to reveal what was inside them. The wilderness is the school of growth: a place of testing, training, and dependence.

Lesson:
Humiliation is when circumstances bring us low. Humility is when we choose to bow low before God. Maturity is learning to humble ourselves before He has to.

Servitude Stage — Joining God’s Work

Scripture:
“Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs… a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing.” — Deuteronomy 8:6–9

As Israel entered the land, they moved from wandering to working. They fought battles, built homes, and planted vineyards. For us, this is the season of service—pouring ourselves out for others in ministry, mission, and daily faithfulness.

Warning:
Serving can become a substitute for seeking. If we’re not careful, ministry activity can hide emptiness of soul.

The Dark Wall Stage — Character Refinement

Scripture:
“When you have eaten and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large… then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” — Deuteronomy 8:12–14

“You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth.” — Daniel 4:25

God doesn’t just test us with lack—He tests us with abundance. Pride, greed, and self-sufficiency lurk beneath success. At some point, every believer hits a wall where gifts and effort no longer carry them forward. God strips away illusions so that only surrender remains.

Lesson:
You can’t go around the wall; you can only go through it. It’s the place where God whispers, “I will not let you succeed without Me.”

Surrender & Abiding Stage — Life on the Other Side

Scripture:
“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you will not fall into temptation.’ He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, ‘Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.’ … And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.” — Luke 22:39–44

This is the highest stage: abiding. Like Jesus in Gethsemane, we learn to surrender fully to the Father’s will. We no longer live for titles, platforms, or success. We live to abide—remaining in Him daily, drawing life from His presence, and obeying His voice.

Fruit:
Quick repentance, steady gratitude, quieter decisions. Ministry flows not from striving but from abiding.

Reflecting Perfect Love Stage — Becoming Like the Father

What this stage is:
Beyond surrender, the Spirit forms us to reflect the Father’s love—mature, enemy-embracing, fear-casting love that looks like Jesus. This is the telos of discipleship: love perfected in us.

Scripture (1 John 4:7–12, 18–19):

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God…. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins…. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” — 1 John 4:7–12
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear…. We love him, because he first loved us.” — 1 John 4:18–19

Scripture (John 15:9–13):

“As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love…. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” — John 15:9–13

Scripture (Matthew 5:43–48):

“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies… that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven…. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” — Matthew 5:43–48

Scripture (Romans 5:5):

“…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” — Romans 5:5

Scripture (Colossians 3:12–14):

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God… bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind…. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” — Colossians 3:12–14

Marks of this stage:

• Fear yields to filial confidence.

• Love moves outward—especially toward enemies and the undeserving.

• Holiness expresses itself as Christ-like charity in ordinary life.

A Prayer for All These Stages

Father, thank Thee for rescuing, growing, refining, and teaching me to abide—
and for perfecting Thy love in me by the Holy Ghost.
Make me steadfast through every season,
that others may see Thy perfect love reflected in Jesus’ name. Amen.