Spiritual Maturity
Most of us see ourselves as mature.
What is the definition of maturity? One of Webster's
definitions says that maturity is "a being perfect, complete or ready".
Does that describe you spiritually?
What is our level of spiritual maturity? Are we spiritually
perfect, complete and ready? What will our spiritual maturity be at
Christ's return? Will it be any different than it is now? How dangerous or
wrong is it to be spiritually immature?
Today let’s talk about spiritual maturity.
The mark of the maturing Christian is that we continue to
walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Many who picture themselves as
Christian put up a good front but have little or no substance according to
the criteria found in the Bible. They would like others to see them as
good Christian people, maybe they even look at themselves as good
Christian people, but behind the front is a person sadly lacking Christian
substance.
The word "perfect" as used in the King James Version means
"mature" and comes from the Greek word "Teleios" (tel’-i-os G5046). A good
example of this can be found in comparing the KJV with the NAS version of
1 Cor 2:6.
The KJV reads: Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are
perfect...
while the NAS reads: Yet we do speak wisdom among those who
are mature....
Now let's read the entire statement starting again at verse
6:
1 Cor 2:6-16 (NAS) Yet we do speak wisdom among those who
are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age, nor of the rulers of
this age, who are passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in a
mystery, the hidden <wisdom>,which God predestined before the ages [i.e.
before creation of time] to our glory; {8} <the wisdom> which none of
the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it,
they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;
[and rulers today would not water down God's rules for
Christian living, break God's laws, question God's existence, and
persecute Christians for their values]
{9} but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT
SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND <which> HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF
MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."
[No one can even imagine the reward for those who God will
choose to be in His Kingdom]
{10} For to us God revealed <them> through the Spirit; for
the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. {11} For who
among men knows the <thoughts> of a man except the spirit of the man,
which is in him?
[In other words, man can not rule wisely with only his own
spirit to guide him.]
Even so the <thoughts> of God no one knows except the
Spirit of God.
Man needs God's Spirit to see things from God's perspective.
{12} Now we have received, not the spirit of the
world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things
freely given to us by God, {13} which things we also speak, not in words
taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining
spiritual <thoughts> with spiritual <words>. {14} But a natural man does
not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to
him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually
appraised [or discerned]. {15} But he who is spiritual appraises [or
discerns] all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man.
Those who have God's Spirit, are able to rationally see and
understand what others can't. While at the same time, others can't
understand what gives God’s people that insight.
{16} For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE SHOULD
INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ. [So He can instruct
us.]
Paul is saying that the wisdom he speaks is understood by
mature or perfect Christians but not by others. He points out here very
specifically that the rulers of this world do not have the same wisdom as
those in the Church; partly because worldly rulers, without God's Holy
Spirit, can not understand that man can even become members of
God’s family (Sons of God). They thereby make decisions reflecting only
viewpoints from their perspectives and their perspectives are often
gravely limited.
In Philippians 3, Paul reiterates this concept that we must
see things as it pertains to our potential in the Kingdom of God:
Phi 3:13-16 (ESV) Brothers, I do not consider that I have
made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and
straining forward to what lies ahead, (14) I press on toward the goal
for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (15) Let those
of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think
otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. (16) Only let us hold true
to what we have attained.
What is your potential in the Kingdom of God? How are you any
better or different than those outside the church?
In Colossians, Paul assigns to his ministering servants the
responsibility of giving the Church the vision of the Kingdom and the
teachings of Christ:
Col 1:23-29 NASB [You will be presented to the Father] if
indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast,
Let me break off here to read Psalm 18:20. Keep your place in
Col 1:23.
(Psa 18:20 NASB) The LORD has rewarded me according to my
righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed
me.
Continuing Paul’s statement in Col 1:23
and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you
have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of
which I, Paul, was made a servant. {24} Now I rejoice in my sufferings
for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body
(which is the church) in filling up that which is lacking in Christ's
afflictions. {25} Of <this church> I was made a servant according to the
stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully
carry out the <preaching of> the word of God, {26} <that is>,the mystery
which has been hidden from the <past> ages and generations; but has now
been manifested to His saints, {27} to whom God willed to make known
what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles,
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. {28} And we proclaim Him,
admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we
may present every man complete [or mature] in Christ. {29} And for
this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which
mightily works within me.
It is Paul's intention to teach everyone sufficiently that
they will mature to a level acceptable to Christ.
In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul encourages us all to continue to
build on the examples of Christ; to never slack off.
1 Cor 3:10-17 (JNT) 10 Using the grace God gave me, I laid
a foundation, like a skilled master-builder; and another man is building
on it. But let each one be careful how he builds. 11 For no one can lay
any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Yeshua the
Messiah. [Paul is here cautioning Servants who follow him to build upon
the foundation begun by Christ and Paul with solid and simple truth.] 12
Some will use gold, silver or precious stones in building on this
foundation; while others will use wood, grass or straw.[notice three are
strong and fire-resistant and three are weak and burnable] 13 But each
one’s work will be shown for what it is; the Day will disclose it,
because it will be revealed by fire — the fire will test the quality
of each one’s work. [Are your servants building with wood or hay or
straw? These are all burned when the fires from trials come along - and
they will come along.] 14 If the work someone has built on the
foundation survives, he will receive a reward; [It is the responsibility
of God’s servants to promote works which will resist the fiery trials
which are coming. It is the responsibility of the whole church to be
mature enough to be able to grow from the teachings of these teachers.]
15 if it is burned up, he will have to bear the loss: he will still
escape with his life, but it will be like escaping through a fire. 16
Don’t you know that you people are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit
lives in you? 17 So if anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy
him. For God’s temple is holy, and you yourselves are that temple.
In actuality, we are all being tested by fire. If we find
that our faith is being eroded each time trials or troubles come along,
perhaps we, like weak Servants, are not building with gold or silver or
precious stones. Perhaps we are building with destructible materials
because we are not mature enough to use the food that our pastors and
teachers and Bible Studies give us. Instead we succumb to our greedy
desires and worldly evil practices.
Why does God give us pastors and teachers? What is their
purpose? What are Church leader’s responsibilities to us and to God? Is it
not, as Paul said, to be able to present to Christ every man who is
complete or mature in Christian living?
Eph 4:11-16 (NASB) And He gave some <as> apostles, and some
<as> prophets, and some <as> evangelists, and some <as> pastors and
teachers, {12} for the equipping of the saints for the work of
service, to the building up of the body of Christ [the church]; {13}
until we all attain to the unity of the faith [i.e. we all
believe the same thing], and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a
mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the
fullness of Christ. {14} As a result, we are no longer to be children,
tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of
doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful
scheming; {15} but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all
<aspects> into Him, who is the head, <even> Christ, {16} from whom the
whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint
supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part,
causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.
Let’s read that again.
How many of us are still spiritual babes? And as spiritual
babes are influenced by every doctrine we hear coming from the TV,
friends, relatives, pamphlets, books, our own watered down rationale or
whatever. Remember 1 John 2:4?
(1 John 2:4-6 NASB) The one who says, "I have come to know
Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is
not in him; {5} but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has
truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: {6} the one
who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He
walked.
Do we allow ourselves to be influenced by the winds of
doctrine coming from ministers or teachers who are liars - who do not heed
God’s commandments and judgments?
Do we sway with everything we read or what we hear on TV by
television preachers? If they (the television preachers or authors) do not
even keep the commandments of God, how much of His Holy Spirit can they
have? If they are deceived, they can deceive us. Do we swallow everything
they say? What spirit might they have?
(Col 2:8 NKJV) Beware lest anyone cheat you through
philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men,
according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to
Christ.
(Heb 5:14 NASB) But solid food is for the mature, who
because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and
evil.
Can we discern good and evil? If not, we have not grown
enough; we are not mature Christians. After discernment, do we follow what
is good and reject what is evil?
Hebrews 6 lists seven doctrines of the Church of God. Notice
that the first verse and first doctrine admonishes us to press on to
maturity.
(Heb 6:1-2 NASB) Therefore leaving the elementary teaching
about the Messiah, let us press on to maturity, not laying again
a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward
God, {2} of instruction about washings, and laying on of
hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal
judgment.
Why does verse 2 refer to washings or baptisms plural? Let's
turn to Mat 3 to see where John the baptizer or immerser describes three
types of baptisms:
(Mat 3:11 NASB) "As for me, I baptize you with water for
(1) repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I,
and I am not fit to remove [i.e. carry] His sandals; He will baptize you
with (2) the Holy Spirit and (3) fire. [We just
talked about how fire is used to test our works.]
How close are we to spiritual maturity? It was a lack of
maturity that plagued the church in Sardis. Would we be classified like a
member of that church?
(Rev 3:1-6 NASB) "And to the angel of the church in Sardis
write: He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, says
this: 'I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive,
but you are dead. {2} 'Wake up, and strengthen the things that
remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds
completed in the sight of My God. [They were not mature Christians]
{3} 'Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep
<it>,and repent. If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a
thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you. {4} 'But
you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and
they will walk with Me in white; for they are worthy. {5} 'He who
overcomes shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not
erase his name from the book of life [so it must have been written
there at one time, but notice that the name can be erased], and I will
confess his name before My Father, and before His angels. {6} 'He who
has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
But, as verse 5 points out, even the church of Sardis was
admonished to overcome...and a reward was promised for them if they did:
Christ would represent them before the heavenly court of the heavenly
angels and God the Father if they’d overcome. Isn’t this incentive enough
to overcome the sins that ensnare us day after day, month after month,
year after year?
God makes the same offer to the church in Laodicea:
(Rev 3:14-20 NASB) "And to the angel of the church in
Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning
of the creation of God, says this: {15} 'I know your deeds, that you
are neither cold nor hot; I would [prefer] that you were cold or
hot. {16} 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will
spit you out of My mouth. {17} 'Because you say, "I am rich, and have
become wealthy, and have need of nothing," ["I've got the truth and
belong to the right church so what else matters?" Know any church
members who say that?] and you do not know that you are wretched and
miserable and poor and blind and naked, {18} I advise you to buy from Me
gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white
garments, that you may clothe yourself, and <that> the shame of your
nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that
you may see. {19} 'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be
zealous therefore, and repent. {20} 'Behold , I stand at the door and
knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come
in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me.
Here again, God encourages people to do things His way
and be saved at their death - or to continue on as they are and be lost.
Perhaps the correct degree of maturity can best be described
by:
(1Cor 14:20 ESV) Brothers, do not be children in your
thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature
[be grown up].
To assist you in measuring your maturity, let me give 12
marks of Spiritual Maturity:
1. We must base our lives and decisions on our personal
relationship with God, Christ, and His Word.
2. We must listen to and seriously consider the suggestions
and admonishment of our church leaders.
3. We must not adopt a self-righteous attitude toward others
with a Talmud of "thou shalts" and "thou shalt nots".
4. We should assist the Church with acts of love and concern
toward everyone. Love includes patience and understanding. We must
constantly apply the Golden Rule.
5. We should not become spiritually dependent. We should make
an attempt to solve our own problems before seeking guidance from our
church leaders, but at the same time not avoid seeking council when we
need it.
6. We should strive to implant the intent of God's law from
the heart. Judaism describes it as the "eating of God's Word".
7. We should learn to discern between good and evil
and conduct ourselves accordingly. We must not allow ourselves to be
swayed by the evil and deceptive influences of the society around us. If
our surroundings contradict or violate our Christian values, remove
yourself from those surroundings.
8. We should not blame every problem on Satan. Most problems
come from ourselves.
9. We should respect all authority. We should not sever human
relationships just because there is a conflict with our leaders or those
in civil authority.
10. We should remember that church leaders can not get us
into the Kingdom. We are dependent upon God's mercy for that. Many
seemingly good people will be turned away at the gate. Be sure you're not
one of them.
11. We need to make good decisions by exercising wisdom and
balance. A multitude of counselors will help (Prov 11:14, 12:15).
12. We should press for the good while not evaluating life
solely on present conditions. Many standards, both modern day and ancient,
are not God's standards. This is increasingly true as these last days wind
down.
Brethren, let's walk the walk of Christian maturity.
Sermon
given by Wayne Bedwell
January 30, 2010
Copyright 2010, Wayne Bedwell