If you paid by credit card through the automated system, it should be active now. If you went through PayPal, it has to be done manually and will have to wait until Spark gets time, probably after SHOT. Click on UserCP up on the top bar, then click on group memberships under Networking. If the Gold Member group is there, click the dot that says Identify me as a member of this group and save. Poof, you're golden.