10 Rites of Passage to Spiritual Influence and Authority

By rites of passage in this particular article, I am referring to a person’s transition from one status or phase to another. In the church we have various ceremonies that mark different phases of spiritual and biological maturity: for example, baptism, first communion and confirmation. 

However, in the context of this article, an ROP (Rite of Passage) is more of a test that is part of a process God uses to bring believers into another stage of maturity before assigning them into another level of kingdom service. Biblically, we see great leaders who have gone through different stages of their life that prepared them for something greater they were called to do. For example, the patriarch Joseph, one of the sons of Jacob, had various tests and experiences before he was made second in charge to the Pharaoh in Egypt; Moses was in the wilderness for 40 years before God called him to be the deliverer of Israel.

King Saul persecuted David and hiding in the wilderness for many years before God elevated him to be the King of Israel. Even Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days, being tested by Satan, before He began His public ministry; He also had to endure the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane before He was ready to go to the cross and be raised from the dead.  

The following are some ROPs I have observed as a believer for almost four decades. 

1. The ROP regarding dependence upon God instead of upon man 

The higher the calling you have, the greater the tests and more intense ROP you will have to go through. As we look at the most effective leaders in the Bible, they all had one thing in common—their utter dependency upon God to fulfill their calling. The more you grow into your higher calling, the more fragility there is along with so many moving parts that you have to trust God to bring everything together every day just so you can survive. This is the only kind of person He can release to the highest levels of spiritual leadership.

2. The ROP regarding learning courage in the face of fear 

One thing I learned many years ago was that, obedience to the will of God meant that I had to leave a predictable life and live a life of risk based on faith. You live on the edge so much in so many areas that it sometimes takes courage just to get out of bed in the morning! God cultivates courage during an intense ROP in our life to prepare for the next kingdom assignment.

3 The ROP regarding obscurity

One of the greatest ROP is being willing to obey God without the accolades of men. God cannot thrust us into the public eye if we cannot first serve Him faithfully in obscurity. 

4 The ROP regarding adversarial circumstances 

One of the most common ROP is during times of testing where everything in your life is under attack. I have had seasons in my life lasting more then several years at a time in which I experienced major push back and conflict in every area of my personal life and ministry. 

I knew this was my ROP because it always came right before God wanted to bring me into another level of my divine assignment.

5 The ROP regarding financial lack 

Sometimes there is no immediate provision for a divine vision. God uses these times to test our hearts to see if we want to do something for Him based on financial gain or for His glory. He also wants to know if we will continue to move forward in obedience even if we do not see a long-term financial solution. The children of Israel were required to continue to obey God even when they did not know where there next meal was coming from when they were in the wilderness for 40 years.  

6 The ROP regarding silence from heaven 

There are times of testing in which there are long periods when we do not continue to receive clear words of affirmation or confirmation regarding a calling from God He gave us a long time ago. It is always much easier to keep on going when we receive ongoing prophetic encouragement and or divine endorsements through others—but maturity and preparation is often cultivated more inside of us when the heavens are silent for a period of time and we have to live totally by faith.