Sunday, October 28,
2018 pm
WHAT MATURITY MEANS
That we must strive for perfection or completeness is taught throughout
the New Testament – Matthew 5:48, you shall be perfect, just as your
Father in heaven is perfect; 1 Corinthians 13:11-13 speaks of a child,
when he becomes a man, he
is to put away childish things (while not directly dealing with our
subject, it does describe what maturity means); 2 Corinthians 7:1 – we
are called upon to cleanse ourselves and perfect holiness in the fear of
God; James 1:4 notes how patience is to have its perfect work in us.
This passage is dealing with the various trials we face.
He notes that in these, we reach toward perfection.
In Philippians 3:13-14 Paul noted that he was not done –
forgetting the things that are behind, and recaching forward to the
things ahead, he pressed toward the goal…
These verses and others show our need to reach toward maturity.
But achieving maturity is not an easy thing.
In fact, it is hard work requiring tremendous sacrifice and often
heartaches in the process.
But to please God we are called upon to press forward.
So I ask the question: Is it worth it?
I believe the answer to be yes and in this lesson we want to
notice some of the blessings associated with maturity as Christians.
Matthew 5:8 – the
pure in heart see God. Ultimate
we will see God when on the other side of eternity, but as we live our
lives for Him while here, we learn more of Him and see Him.
1 John 1:3 – John’s desire was that we have fellowship with the Father.
Vs. 5-7 speaks of walking in the
light (with maturity) and the fellowship we enjoy, with Him and with one
another (I believe this includes God).
Faith is not
something we get overnight.
It grows and matures just like our physical bodies.
It is reaching that point where we totally trust Him.
Wouldn’t you like to have the faith of Abraham? The maturity of
his faith was demonstrated at about 110+ years of age (Hebrews 11:17)
What about the faith of Paul we read of in scripture? 2 Timothy 1:12, he
said, “I know whom I have
believed…” 2
Timothy 4:7-8
David said, “I have been young,
and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his
descendants begging bread.” (Psalm
37:25) Here is a man of faith, looking back at his life, complete with
flaws, yet he knows his God.
1 John 5:4, faith is our victory that overcomes the world.
– because we
continually study God’s word we know more.
We are grounded in the faith. (Cf. Ephesians 4:14)
It was this concern that prompted the Hebrews writer to call them to go
on to perfection - Hebrews 5:12-14.
In my life, I have seen various plateaus of learning.
Those continually given to study will know what I mean.
– we have learned
from our sins and temptations.
We have learned to be master over them.
James 1:12-14 discusses how blessed is the man who endures
temptation. With maturity
we also know NOT to blame God for our temptations.
And 2 Peter 2:9 – the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of
temptation
V. With maturity comes confidence to deal with your problems
– it is no accident
that elders must be, well, older or mature!
They must be able to teach – and that means more than knowing
facts, but the mature understanding we have addressed this week.
They have the ability to spot and deal with the wolf (Titus 1:9,
cf. Acts 20:28-31).
We better appreciate 1 Corinthians 10:13 which notes that God will make
the way of escape.
When we mature in the faith we know more, and HUMBLY, we approach
problems with greater wisdom.
Why? Because you have a better grasp of the answers AND where to
find them. We have
experience! Proverbs 16:31
says, “The silver-haired head is
a crown of glory, If it is found in the way of righteousness.”
– we KNOW from
scripture that God answers our prayers – 1 Peter 3:12 tells us that the
eyes of the LORD are one the righteous, and His ears are open to their
prayers. Be reminded that 1
John 5:14-15 speaks of our CONFIDENCE in our prayers.
We know He hears.
But what’s the difference between the babe and the mature in
prayers?
1) We KNOW He answers prayers because He has! Not in some miraculous
way, but we have seen His care.
2) We are better prepared to accept His answers, even when He doesn’t
say yes! (He might answer
no! Wait! Not that way but this way!)
But He answers and we accept that answer!
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 where Paul pleaded with the Lord concerning his
thorn in the flesh which was not removed.
Paul gladly accepted that answer.
3) With maturity we know that He knows what is best!
Therefore, we can boldly say, even as our Lord, “Your will be
done!”
Philippians 4:6-7 calls for to not be anxious, but with prayers we
request to God, and we have peace.
VII.
With maturity comes a
greater appreciation of our brethren
– we have emphasized
the importance of brethren throughout the years.
They are our lifeline in this troubled world.
God gave us this spiritual family to build us up in the faith –
Ephesians 4:16 speaks of growth of the body (the congregation).
Romans 12:10 we are to be kindly affectionate toward one another and
preferring each other.
They ARE our spiritual family and we cherish that and like Paul, we
thank God for them often (Philippians 1:3)
– while not popular
today, the Bible speaks of hell.
It is truly tragic that this subject is ignored by so many as it
removes any real incentive to obey God.
It is a place of eternal torments for those who do not know God
and do not obey the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9).
Jesus described it as everlasting (Matthew 25:46, 41).
He also described it as a place of eternal torments (Matthew
18:8-9 – if your hand or foot causes you to sin…).
It is a place we seek to avoid at all costs.
Friends, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the
living God (Hebrews 10:31) – but the mature in faith has great
confidence that such is not his eternal destiny.
A.
The Bible is filled
with examples of the godly who were ready to stand before God.
Hebrews 11:13-16 describes the faith of the fathers who endured so much
and didn’t quit.
B.
2 Timothy 4:8, Paul
spoke of the crown of righteousness he was waiting for.
2 Peter 1:11, the entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and
Savior is waiting.
2 Corinthians 5:1-8, Paul speaks of our assurance of the resurrection.
Our desire to be further clothed awaiting our house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens.
C.
Friends, IS THIS NOT
WHY WE ARE HERE? If you
miss heaven, you miss all there is!
In this study, we have addressed one who is actually maturing in the
faith, not just in number.
This is one who is genuinely striving to serve God and that is WHY he
endures as he does. But
understand, that is what God expects of us.
Many today do not appreciate the blessings of maturity in the faith –
because they live lives of nominal service to God and do not really put
forth the required effort to mature well.
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
There really is no down-side to spiritual maturity.
So let’s be willing to put forth the necessary effort to reach
that maturity.
What about you? Are you
growing as you should?