BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE
DATE: MONDAY, JANUARY 12TH, 2026
THE MYSTERY OF MATURITY AND DOMINION
MEMORISE: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” (1 Peter 2:2)
BIBLE READING: GALATIANS 4:1-5
“Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all…”
I. THE CRISIS OF THE DISPLACED HEIR
The question “What is man?” is one of the most profound inquiries in the history of human thought. From a scriptural perspective, the answer is found in God’s original blueprint: Man was designed to be the governor of the earth, the regent of the physical realm, and the one to whom all creation bows. However, as we discussed previously, this dominion was forfeited through the transgression of Adam.
Through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, that lost dominion has been fully restored. Legally, the moment you become “born again,” you are reinstated into your position of authority. You are “lord of all” by virtue of your union with Christ. Yet, we see a tragic paradox in the body of Christ today: millions of believers are “Heirs” who are living like “Servants.” They have the legal right to command, yet they are being commanded by sickness, debt, and the devil. Why? The answer is found in the developmental law of Galatians 4:1: The heir, as long as he is a child, differs nothing from a servant.
II. THE ANATOMY OF SPIRITUAL INFANCY
Being a “child” in the context of Galatians 4 is not about how long you have been in church; it is about your spiritual stature.
A child has rights, but no authority. A toddler may be the heir to a multi-billion dollar estate, but he cannot sign a check or manage a corporation.
A child is governed by “tutors and governors.” He is subject to external forces because he cannot govern himself.
Many Christians brag about being “saved” for thirty years, yet they are spiritually malnourished babies. They still throw “spiritual tantrums” when things don’t go their way. They still need to be “bottle-fed” with encouragement and emotional hype. By now, some should be raising the dead and shifting the destinies of nations, yet they lack the spiritual “muscles” to even lay hands on a common headache. Dominion is not granted based on your age; it is exercised based on your maturity.
III. THE PROTOCOL OF GROWTH: THE MILK AND THE MEAT
Growth in the Kingdom of God is not automatic. You don’t grow spiritually just because time is passing. You grow by what you consume.
1. The Sincere Milk of the Word
1 Peter 2:2 instructs us to “desire the sincere milk of the word.” Note the word Sincere. It means unadulterated, pure, and without additives. To grow, you must have a “holy appetite.” You must crave the Word of God more than the “bread” of this world. Matthew 4:4 reminds us that man’s life is sustained by “every word that comes out of the mouth of God.” If your physical body needs three meals a day to function, how many “Word-meals” does your spirit need to exercise dominion?
2. Consumption and Digestion
Jeremiah said, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them” (Jeremiah 15:16). Eating the Word means more than just reading it. It means meditation. It means allowing the Word to enter your “digestive system” until it becomes your blood, your bone, and your very nature. When the Word is “eaten,” it ceases to be a book and becomes a Voice within you.
IV. THE SYNERGY OF THE WORD AND PRAYER
Growth is a two-fold process: the Word provides the substance, and Prayer provides the fire.
- The Word reveals the Dominion: As you study, you discover what belongs to you. You find out that you are a “joint-heir” with Christ.
- Prayer exercises the Dominion: As you speak to the One whose Word you have studied, you are transformed. Prayer pushes you from the realm of “knowing” into the realm of “being.”
When you spend quality time with God, you lose your fear of the “elements of this world.” You stop begging the devil and start commanding him. You realize that “Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
V. CONCLUSION: THE APPOINTED TIME
Galatians 4:2 says the child is under tutors “until the time appointed of the father.” That “appointed time” for you to walk in dominion is today. But God is waiting for you to grow up. He will not entrust the “keys of the Kingdom” to a baby who might use them to hurt himself or others.
Decide today to prioritize your spiritual development. Make the study of the Word and the discipline of prayer your highest priority. Move from being a “Servant-Heir” to being a “Master-Son.” The world is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God.
KEY POINT:
Dominion is the heritage of every believer, but it is only exercised by those who have matured through the diligent study of the Word and a consistent prayer life.
PRAYER POINTS:
For Hunger: Father, give me an insatiable hunger for Your Word. Let me desire the sincere milk of the Word more than my daily food.
For Maturity: Lord, deliver me from spiritual infancy. Help me to grow out of every “servant-mentality” and take my place as a son.
For Dominion: I decree that from today, I walk in the dominion restored to me by Christ. I shall not be a victim of circumstances in 2026!
For the Church: Father, revive the appetite for the Ancient Words in Your Church. Let Your people move from “seeking bread” to “seeking Your Face.”
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 39-41
HYMN: ANCIENT WORDS
Ancient words ever true, changing me, and changing you…
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: You are “Lord of All” by position; make sure you are “Lord of All” by participation through spiritual growth!
