Briefing Document: Are You Stuck in a State of Arrested Development?
Source: Excerpts from "Are You STUCK in a State of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT_.mp3" by Apostle Keith Jenkins, Kingdom Teachers International Ministries.
Date of Broadcast: May 6, 2025
Click here for original broadcast
Key Speakers: Apostle Keith Jenkins and Reverend Rose
Purpose of Document: This briefing document reviews the main themes, important ideas, and key facts presented in the provided audio excerpts from a broadcast by Kingdom Teachers International Ministries.
Overall Theme: The central theme of the broadcast is the concept of "arrested development" within the context of spiritual growth, particularly among long-time believers. Apostle Jenkins argues that many individuals are stuck in their spiritual and emotional maturity, hindering their ability to love others and fulfill God's purpose for their lives.
Main Themes and Important Ideas:
The Concept of Arrested Development (Spiritual Stagnation):
Apostle Jenkins introduces the idea that believers can be "stuck in a state of arrested development," where their emotional or psychological (and in this context, spiritual) growth has "halted, hindered, or stopped."
This stagnation is presented as a serious issue, preventing individuals from reaching their "full potential" and moving forward.
A definition of arrested development is provided: "a condition. Whereas an individual's emotional or psychological growth halts or stagnates at a certain stage." The addendum specifically notes the spiritual application.
Reverend Rose emphasizes that spiritual stagnation "stinks," comparing it to stagnant water filled with "bugs and stuff," suggesting it negatively impacts the entire church community.
Disappointing Expectations and Entitlement:
A significant cause of arrested development, according to Apostle Jenkins, is rooted in "disappointing expectations" and a sense of "entitlement" among believers.
Expectations: Many believers come to church with expectations of what they should receive, such as "expect to feel the Holy Ghost," "expect people to love me," or "expect to be acknowledged." When these expectations are not met, they experience "a tail spin of rapid depression."
Entitlement: Entitlement is defined as "The belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment." This manifests in expecting specific treatment from pastors or church leadership, such as demanding the pastor visit them in the hospital regardless of other commitments.
Apostle Jenkins strongly refutes the idea that anyone "owes you anything," particularly within the church context. He contrasts "church hurt" or "church disappointment" with the expectation of being paid for a job, highlighting the difference in perceived obligation.
The notion of entitlement is linked to demanding a particular experience ("feel the Holy Ghost") which is not guaranteed by scripture and expecting others to cater to personal needs and feelings.
The Importance of Love for Others (The Acid Test of Discipleship):
A core argument is that the inability to love one another is a primary indicator of spiritual arrested development.
Apostle Jenkins cites 1 John 4:20: "If a man say, 'I love God,' and hateth his brother, he is a liar. But he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen. How can he love God whom he hath not seen?" This scripture is presented as irrefutable proof that hatred or detesting one's brother makes their claim of loving God a lie.
The term "liar" is defined from Strong's dictionary as "one who breaks faith. A false and faithless man," suggesting a fundamental lack of true faith and integrity in those who claim to love God but hate their brethren.
True love is presented in a specific order: "You love God, you love yourself, you love your neighbor with the same love." An inability to love one's neighbor is seen as a direct impediment to one's relationship with God.
Apostle Jenkins challenges believers who engage in outward expressions of worship (singing, waving hands) while simultaneously showing animosity ("rolling your eyes at me") towards others.
He explicitly states, "If you can't love me, you will be stuck for the rest of your life." This underscores the critical nature of love for spiritual progression.
The passage in James 4:1 is also referenced: "From whence comes wars and fightings among you. Come they not hence? Even of your lust that poor is in your member." This is interpreted through the Message Bible to mean that "appalling wars and quarrels" in the church stem from people wanting their "own way" and being "spoiled entitled little brat[s]."
Moving Beyond Feelings and Opinions:
Apostle Jenkins challenges the reliance on "feelings" as a guide for spiritual life and actions. He asks, "How does it make you feel?" and contrasts this with walking by faith, not by sight (or feelings).
He questions the accountability of feelings: "What is your feelings is your feelings? Who is that?" (Reverend Rose rephrases to "Who and what are your feelings held accountable for?")
He uses a personal anecdote from his childhood to illustrate that feelings ("I don't feel like cleaning up my room") were not an acceptable excuse for not doing what was required.
The reliance on feelings and personal opinions is seen as hindering spiritual growth and creating conflict within the church.
Accountability and Taking Responsibility
:
Apostle Jenkins emphasizes personal accountability for one's spiritual state. He states, "It's interesting to me that we some coming up in the faith... 'It's me, it's me, it's me, oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer.' And now that we are grown, we're no longer taking responsibility for who we are."
He points out that those who consistently have problems wherever they go should consider that they are the "constant element in every situation."
The inability to love others is presented as a personal failure, not the fault of those who are not loved.
Challenging Traditional Religious Practices (Revivals, Conferences, etc.):
Apostle Jenkins questions the effectiveness of relying solely on external events like conferences, retreats, and revivals for spiritual growth if the individual is not actively engaging with scripture and growing.
He suggests that attending numerous such events without genuine transformation indicates a lack of "hunger" for righteousness.
He provocatively states that if believers would "just do what the book says," they might save money spent on these events.
Photo by Dorianny Castro Cedano on Unsplash
The Call to Maturity and Growth (Getting Unstuck):
The solution to arrested development is presented as a process of actively choosing to grow and mature.
This involves moving beyond a sense of entitlement and expectation.
It necessitates learning to love one another, even those who are considered enemies.
A key step is to "Get serious. Really serious. Get down on your knees before the master. It's the only way you will get on your feet." This signifies submission and humility before God.
He urges believers to "Quit dabbling in sin. Purify... your inner life. Quit playing the field."
He calls for taking responsibility and choosing to "treat everyone right," even when treated wrong, in order to foster peace.
Cheating on God:
A strong accusation leveled against those stuck in arrested development is that they are "cheating on God."
This is linked to prioritizing one's "own way" and "flirting with the world," which puts them in "enmity with God and his way."
This highlights the seriousness of spiritual immaturity and its impact on one's relationship with the divine.
The Importance of Bringing Something to the Gathering:
Apostle Jenkins points out that when the church gathers, everyone, including the attendees, should have something to contribute, such as "a song, a psalms, a hymn, an encouraging word, a prophecy."
He contrasts this with showing up "empty-handed," implying a lack of spiritual preparation and engagement.
He uses the analogy of not coming to see the king "empty-handed."
The Concept of "Household" (Oikos):
Building on a previous teaching, Apostle Jenkins clarifies that the "family" or "household" that believers are called to reach and love refers to their immediate community unit, including "blood family or your close friends," rather than distant relatives.
Key Facts and Quotes:
"Are you stuck in a state of arrested development?" (Central Question)
"Arrested development define as a condition. Whereas an individual's emotional or psychological growth halts or stagnates at a certain stage, it can be referred to as stagnated and in this case spiritual growth being as halted, hindered or stopped."
"Disappointing expectations."
"Some are not living up to their full potential. Some are stuck in a rut and can't seem to move forward."
"Many people struggle with feelings of arrested development."
"No one No one owes you anything."
"Entitlement defined as The belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment."
"When I go to church, I expect there's a problem. Uhhuh. Right there. There's a problem."
"Do you have a problem with the church? Do you have a problem with your sister or brother? Or do you have a problem with your expectations."
"to frame the whole church for a crime they didn't commit is totally unfair."
"whenever you can accuse someone and point the finger at them, there are several fingers pointing right back at you."
"I'm not intentionally trying to motivate you or encourage you. I'm here to educate you."
"you are going by your feelings. You are walking by your feelings. And according to scripture, we walk by faith and not by sight."
"Who and what are your feelings held accountable for?" (Reverend Rose)
"Some of us have overstayed. our visit to the hospital that you call the church. There is nothing wrong with you."
"you are not a widow indeed." (Referring to those who claim widowhood for church support but have other means or are still "marriage material")
"The line of demarcation is drawn in the sand that the help first is going to come from your own family."
"What did you do? Saved person, sanctified, filled with the Holy Spirit. What did you do to your family that your own family don't want to help you."
"Are you stuck in your religion of the past? Are you stuck in the last Sunday school lesson that you had repeatedly for 20 years? Are you stuck in a revival that that did not revive. Are you stuck in a conference? Or a retreat."
"You should have never taught me to read. Ever taught me how to read. Amen."
"critical thinking, reading comprehension. Leaders read, readers lead."
"God is not obligated to feed you. Amen. What are you saying, Apostle? The Lord said, 'He that hunger and thirst after righteousness, that one shall be fed.'"
"Hungry people find a way to eat."
"As the deer panteth for the waterbrook, saw my soul long after you. You are not thirsty."
"Someone has arrested the villa. Yes. Then some people started and not just there on the family table, but in our community experience, we have this issue with loving one another."
"Your pass by grown."
"And then have the nerve to say, 'I want to lead someone to Jesus.' What? Jesus."
"The world will know that you are my disciples. Not because I love you or you love me, but they're going to know that you are my disciples because you have love one toward the other."
"Please tell me what spirit that is." (Referring to spiritual manifestations without love for others)
"Draw closer, my father's children. I'm right here. Draw closer. All right. Cuz if you can't love me, you will be stuck for the rest of your life."
"First John 4 and 20... If a man says, 'I love God,' and hateth his brother, he is a liar. But he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen. How can he love God whom he hath not seen?"
"You love God, you love yourself, you love your neighbor with the same love."
"How you going? You You can't get by me and get to God. Well, I can't get by you and get to God."
"God says, 'Go back. Mhm. Cuz you going to be stuck messing with me. Go back cuz you're going to have arrested development dealing with me.'"
"some of you have work related drama because you refuse to love your enemy."
"What I'm going to your conference for? I got a book."
"Liar is one who breaks faith. Yes, sir. A false and faithless man." (Strong's definition)
"You are a falsifier. It's on record. Yes, that you are a liar. It is documented that you are lying."
"Open up your mouth and talk long enough and I will find your sense of entitlement. Open up your mouth and talk long enough, I will find where you are stuck in a state of arrested development."
"Somebody else is wrong. Someone else is wrong." (The shift in attitude)
"Follow Peace with all men and holiness without. No one shall see the Lord. We love to gravitate toward love, the false one. Gravitate toward holiness. But you a hell raiser."
"Why is it that the same people have the same problems everywhere they go when they are const when they are the constant element in every situation? Shake my head." (Delitha question)
"You got a good dance but a ragged walk."
"You got to praise and got to let it out, but you won't let no one in."
"They come about because you want your own way. You spoiled entitled little brat." (Message Bible interpretation of James 4:1)
"You're cheating on God."
"Submit yourself to God. Resist the devil and he will flee. He will run like he's in terror." (King James interpretation of James 4:7)
"Quit dabbling in sin. Purify, watch this, your inner life."
"Get down on your knees before the master. It's the only way you will get on your feet."
"Some of us never submitted to Jesus in the first place."
"Some are stuck in a state of arrested development spiritually, emotionally, psychologically, professionally, because the integral part of us is missing. We will just won't we just won't tell God yes."
"I'm going to treat everybody right. Come on. I don't hear nobody singing a Baptist song. I'm going to treat everybody right. I'm going to treat you right, even if you treat me wrong. I'm not going to stay stuck now."
"Are you stuck in the state of arrested development? Are you stuck? Can can you realize it? that you are the one that is stuck." (Reverend Rose)
"Do you know when something becomes stag It stinks. Stagnant water. Stinking water. You have all kinds of bugs and stuff." (Reverend Rose)
"You expect the Holy Spirit to show up and show out. You know, you expect pastor to jump when you say jump high. These are words that we need. to understand." (Reverend Rose)
"Can you see yourself in the story? Can you see yourself? Are you the stagnant one? Or are you the one that thinks that you're entitled? And what is your expectations when you come to church?" (Reverend Rose)
"We don't even love yourself." (Reverend Rose)
"Leaders read and readers lead." (Apostle Jenkins, highlighted by Reverend Rose)
"when we come together as the church, everyone, watch this. Everyone, meaning you and I should have something to bring to the meeting."
"Anytime you go to see the king, you're supposed to bring something, you know. handed. You don't come in empty-handed."
"That family is what is called your household, your Oikos. That's not your third cousin on your father's side, 2,000 miles away from where you live. That is those in proximity of your house in the confinement."
Conclusion: The broadcast strongly challenges believers to self-examine their spiritual maturity, particularly regarding their capacity for love, their sense of entitlement, and their reliance on feelings over faith and scripture. Apostle Jenkins and Reverend Rose argue that spiritual arrested development is a prevalent and harmful condition that hinders individuals and the church as a whole, emphasizing that overcoming it requires personal responsibility, humility, and a genuine commitment to loving God and one another. The call is to get "unstuck" by actively engaging with God's word and submitting to His will.
Share this post