When we come to Christ, it is normal for us to develop a hunger to know more about Him. Therefore, we end up finding a person who, in some way, guides us, helps us pray, leads us on those first steps as Christians. That person becomes our mentor. We admire that mentor for their relationship with God, for all the knowledge and for being a person helping us in the beginnings, inspiring us to follow Christ, and find our purpose within the Kingdom. These people become a fundamental part of our spiritual growth and teach us a lot in their passage through our lives.
These mentors are instruments of God to guide you on the path, but they will not stay permanently with you. At some point, it is our responsibility as believers to seek to strengthen our relationship with God on a personal level. We create a spiritual dependency when, after some time, we continue to depend on those mentors for all of our spiritual needs. If we have a question, we go to them. If we have a request, we ask for prayer. Depending on them and, therefore, not developing our relationship with God.
It is curious to read the many times that Jesus told his disciples that he would go with the Father, but that they would receive a comforter, the Holy Spirit. In John 16: 7, Jesus says to his disciples: But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. Jesus is trying to make the disciples understand that he would leave them on the earthly plane, but the Holy Spirit would come to be with them and fill them with God's power. Jesus wanted them to understand that the Holy Spirit would be of great benefit to them. Jesus was a human just like you and me. Jesus wanted the disciples to stop depending on him and open up to a relationship with the Spirit of God.
In Acts 2, after the death and resurrection of Jesus, the disciples were gathered together, and the Bible says that a strong wind blew, filling each one of them with the Holy Spirit. The ministry of each of the disciples started strong after being filled with the Spirit. Thus began the church. When they were full, the Gospel began to spread, and thanks to them, you and I know who Jesus is and everything he did for you and me. The disciples developed a relationship with the Holy Spirit so strong that in Acts 5:15, the Bible says that even Peter's shadow healed the sick. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. It only remains to imagine that after seeing the power of the Spirit, they understood why Jesus told them that it was convenient for him to leave so that they could receive the Holy Spirit.
It is your responsibility to mature spiritually and strengthen ties with the Spirit of God that lives in you. The power is already within you. Don't focus exclusively on your brother. It is essential to have a mentor who we can go now and then to vent, ask for a hand in prayer if the burden is too heavy, but do not depend entirely on that person for all your spiritual needs. Maybe that person who gave you a little push in your beginnings needs you tomorrow to lift him. We are human; we fail; we go astray. Don't depend on someone else spiritually. Develop your relationship with the Spirit of God. Learn to listen to that voice. Pray fervently. Rebuke the enemy with authority. The same Spirit that the disciples received on the day of Pentecost is the same Spirit that dwells in you. This means that you can also be filled with that power of God, heal the sick, and carry the message of the cross with power.
Start working on your spiritual individuality today. It is not your leader's responsibility, but yours. Soak up the word of God, study, pray. Learn to connect with the Spirit of God behind closed doors in your secret place. You will understand that your Spiritual growth only depends on you!
Acts 1: 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Blessings!
