Spiritual Warfare Series — Devotional #12
Immaturity and Pride
This week we continue exploring the question:
How does God’s enemy come after His people and His leaders for the sole purpose of distracting, disrupting, and derailing them from being involved in God's great mission?
As we survey Pauline literature, we uncover fourteen tactical strategies that the enemy uses to oppose God’s people—along with Spirit-empowered antidotes to resist them.
Tactic 12: Immaturity and Pride
“There is nothing worse for a young convert than to be thrust into leadership without mentoring and ongoing coaching because the devil relishes these vulnerable souls.” – Gary Rohrmayer
Biblical Foundation
1 Timothy 3:6 – “He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.”
Paul makes it clear: leadership in the church is not merely about gifting or zeal but about maturity. A young believer, even if enthusiastic and gifted, may not yet have the spiritual depth and humility required for leadership. Pride—the very sin that led to Satan’s downfall—becomes a deadly snare for the immature leader.
The Problem: Pride Exploited by the Enemy
J. Robert Clinton warns:
“Satan can take a young leader out of ministry due to pride.”
Satan exploits unchecked ambition, fragile identity, and premature elevation. Leaders placed in roles too soon may mistake position for spiritual authority, confuse charisma for character, and equate influence with maturity. Once pride takes root, it breeds arrogance, moral compromise, and ultimately disqualification.
The Antidote: Slow, Intentional Development
Clinton offers a wise caution:
“Potential young leaders should not be placed into leadership responsibility too soon.”
The church must resist the temptation to fast-track leaders simply because of giftedness or need. Instead, healthy leadership development should include:
Spiritual Foundations – Grounding in Scripture, prayer, and obedience.
Mentoring Relationships – Seasoned leaders like Barnabas walking alongside emerging ones.
Character Formation – Testing and proving faithfulness in small things before larger responsibilities (Luke 16:10).
Training Pathways – Intentional discipleship, coaching, and equipping for specific leadership roles.
Community Accountability – Leadership discerned and affirmed within the body of Christ, not driven by personal ambition.
This process protects young leaders from unnecessary harm and preserves the witness of the church.
Reflective Questions
How does your church define spiritual maturity?
How does your church define spiritual leadership?
What intentional avenues exist for spotting potential leaders in your congregation?
What mentoring pathways help new converts grow into future leaders?
Do you have a structured training process for equipping and mentoring deacons?
Do you have a structured training process for equipping and mentoring elders?
Prayer
Father in Heaven, protect Your church from carelessly thrusting recent converts into leadership. Teach us to nurture, equip, and mentor new believers toward spiritual, emotional, and relational maturity. Raise up an army of leader-makers, like Barnabas, who will patiently invest time and wisdom into the lives of future leaders. Lord of the Harvest, grant us discernment in spotting, engaging, and mobilizing workers for Your mission field. Keep us from the snare of pride, and help us build leaders marked by humility, integrity, and Christlike character. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
