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Date Posted	January 20, 2008
Article Title	Christian Maturity
Posted By	Streator Open Bible
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Christian Maturity Hebrews 6:1-6 CJB Therefore, leaving behind the initial lessons about the Messiah, let us go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of turning from works that lead to death, trusting God, 2 and instruction about washings, s'mikhah, the resurrection of the dead and eternal punishment. 3 And, God willing, this is what we will do. 4 For when people have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become sharers in the Ruach HaKodesh, 5 and tasted the goodness of God's Word and the powers of the 'olam haba - 6 and then have fallen away - it is impossible to renew them so that they turn from their sin, as long as for themselves they keep executing the Son of God on the stake all over again and keep holding him up to public contempt. “Let us go on to maturity,” that is the desire of the Lord God that we as people that are renewed or born again by the shed blood of the lamb, Jesus Christ, should go on to become a mature Christian, not remaining in our beginning state of Christianity. For me there seems to be a conflict of strange in light of the warning in: Revelation 2:4-5 4 "Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place -- unless you repent. And when I remember in my own Christian walk that when I first was filled with the Ruach HaKodesh the Holy Spirit, I recall the elation, the intense presence of the Lord, and desire to be in that presence. Isn’t that is what we all desire to be in that presence of God. Because in the presence of God our concerns, our desires, our needs are being fulfilled. For those of you who have been touched by the Holy Spirit you know that all desires are satisfied, we lack nothing. But strangely the Lord wants to go on to maturity? So what is Christian maturity? That has been the question of many in the history of the church and many within the church have received a revelation of what the means…the question remains, “Who is correct?” Of all the great disciples in the history of the church that have answered this question with a variety of answers who is correct? Today we turn to the guide that we are turn to when we have doubt…the Bible which is open to us when we are baptized with the Holy Spirit. Stumbling Blocks of Maturity How many times have you said or thought, “If they were only mature in the Lord, they would understand?” I agree if they, or more correctly if “I” were only mature enough then I would understand. There are some stumbling blocks that we have in our life that keep us from going on to maturity. Here are several stumbling blocks but let us go over two (2) stumbling blocks that lead us away from the Lord. 1. Spiritual Pride 2. Scriptural Pride You may notice that all of these stumbling blocks start with pride, as the scriptures say in CJB Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and arrogance before failure. Pride and arrogance are some of the largest problems within the body of Christ. Let us begin with the probably the worst form of sinful pride within the church, and that is spiritual pride. This particular form of pride does a great deal to divide the church. 1. Spiritual Pride This is a pride of I am more spiritual than you, or you think that they are need of the Spirit or they do not have the spirit of God. Let us remember the Holy Spirit as written by Paul: 1 Corinthians 12:11-12 11 One and the same Spirit is at work in all these things, distributing to each person as he chooses. 12 For just as the body is one but has many parts; and all the parts of the body, though many, constitute one body; so it is with the Messiah. God distributes the Spirit as He desires, not as we think, not as we may have it, but as He desires. This sin is deep within the heart of us because we know how special we are to the Lord and when the Lord reveals something to us personally, why it must be that way for everybody. The worst form of spiritual pride was revealed by Simon the sorcerer in Acts. Simon believed that the gift of apostleship could be purchased with money. As told in Acts 8 there was a sorcerer named Simon who had great powers. Acts 8:9-11 9 But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10 to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, "This man is the great power of God." 11 And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. Today people are just as smitten or elated by miraculous works, people flock from miles when there is a reported miracle of God. In our town when there have been reported healings, miraculous gifts, visions, tears flowing from a stone statue. We are all fascinated by the power of God. The people that watched Simon where no different than us…they were captivated by miracles. But let us go on to verse 12. Acts 8:12-13 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13 Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done. So Simon heard the word of truth as presented by Philip. Philip did not perform great miracles as Simon had already done, but the power of the Spirit in Philip was in the spoken word. The spoken word was enough for Simon to believe and be baptized. But as we go on we read how spiritual pride welled up within Simon. Acts 8:18-23 18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit." 20 But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 "You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 "Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 "For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity." Spiritual pride took over…Simon wanted to be the center of attention or a leader…Simon desired the gifts rather than the giver. There is spiritual pride when we think that we are more spiritual than another, we have spiritual pride when we think that the Spirit is speaking to us only, we have spiritual pride when we think that another is not hearing from the Spirit of God. We have spiritual pride when a spirit attacks another person and deceives someone into sin, and we stand by and comment about their weakness. Let us not forget the devil is coming to devour all of us, not just those he attacks directly, but Satan desires pride to well up within the heart of the onlookers and think “they” are spiritually superior. Just as Peter urged Simon to repent…let us repent of our Spiritual pride that wells up within us. 2. Scriptural Pride Scriptural pride is a pride that our interpretation of the scriptures is superior to another, or scriptural pride is when we over-spiritualize scripture to the point of which we contradict the Bible itself. For me personally this is a big problem I am quick to think in my own heart that “They are wrong, they are WAY OFF BASE…WOOO I can not believe they could be so wrong.” I mean the Lord God has shown me personally in my devotional time what a scripture means, and by golly it means that for everybody. This problem is certainly not new by any stretch of the imagination; it has been going on from the beginning of the church. The Roman Catholic Church has said for years their interpretation is correct…end of story and the rest of you are just wrong. Now don’t go getting proud again, because every denomination goes around saying “we are the only ones right” about some particular doctrine. Here a couple… Church Scriptural Interpretations Roman Catholic Church Luke 1:28 Mary is Co-equal with God Methodist Church Acts 16:15 Infant Baptism Southern Baptist Proverbs 16:9 Man has no freedom of Will Lutheran Church John 6:55 Communion is the body and blood of Christ Presbyterian Church John 15:12 Believers are expressly chosen by God Open Bible Church What is your favorite Doctrine???? Let us be reminded that the Holy Spirit is the only teacher. Jesus Christ said it as recorded in: John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Ruach HaKodesh, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything; that is, he will remind you of everything I have said to you. The scripture does not say Martin Luther, or John Calvin, or Paul, or Peter, or John Wesley, Jack Hayford, or Billy Graham, Pope Paul, or Pastor Bill, and especially Greg Richardson, will teach you. No Jesus Christ the living God said the Comforter, Counselor; the Holy Spirit, the Power of God, the Ruach HaKodesh will be our teacher, teaching us everything. Did you hear that, the Holy Spirit will teach us about Himself, and that is sufficient, that is complete. Remember then that just as you receive your complete knowledge about Jesus from the Holy Spirit, the person sitting in front of you, and to the right of you, and behind you will also be taught everything they need to know about Jesus. This is not to say that we are not to be a mouth piece for the Lord, encouraging with scripture after being prompted by the Spirit to speak to another, and listening to the Spirit to know what to say. For as it says in: 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. And most importantly as Jesus directed us: Matthew 28:19-20 19 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. The word of God is this…Jesus Christ is Lord of all!!!! But be warned about not reading your beliefs into scripture or reading additional meaning into the words. Just this past week during devotion at Salem I was reading and explaining Proverbs to the boys. I read: Proverbs 17:11 11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him. I explained to the boys that messengers to men are angels sent from God. Here the scripture clearly says that a “cruel messenger” will be sent against an evil man who seeks rebellion. I started to say “God allowed and cruel messenger or demon to come against an evil person who is rebellious.” My friend in the Lord reminded me that the scripture says that God “sent” a cruel messenger. I am quickly reminded that we should not read into scripture our beliefs but our beliefs should come from the word of God. How many times have you heard pastors and teachers all across the spectrum add their own interpretation rather than letting the scripture read as written? There are obviously prophetic scripture that has not been fulfilled and it is beyond our ability to know the exactly how the prophecy will be fulfilled in light of man’s ability to affect the world that we live in. A good example of a prophetic scripture that was fulfilled but it was not known by anyone until the very time of the fulfillment. In Isaiah where the Messiah was prophesied about, and His name was given, however at the actual time of His birth, the name of Jesus was given to the Lord. This was not known until the season of Christ. Isaiah 7:14 14 "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Immanuel is Jesus and it is plain to see with hindsight but with foresight even given by the Lord, not all things are revealed…be warned that prophetic scripture that is not fulfilled should be treaded upon lightly. So why does all this pride and arrogance happen within the church…one reason is that we hold Christian people to a level of accountability that we ourselves can not meet. Or Jesus said it: Matthew 7:3-5 3 Why do you see the splinter in your brother's eye but not notice the log in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the splinter out of your eye,' when you have the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite! First, take the log out of your own eye; then you will see clearly, so that you can remove the splinter from your brother's eye! How many of you have lied but expect your children not to lie to you? How many of you have stolen something, maybe by being undercharged at a store and not telling the clerk, but then we complain why the price of goods and services rise? Have you ever complained at your spouse for looking at another person, but yet your eyes wonder at every attractive person that crosses your path. Do you complain about the money in your home but spend money on stuff that you do not need? Are you puzzled why the church is not doing better financially but you tithe the way you feel instead of the way God expects of you? We are very good at holding each other accountable for something that we can not even do for ourselves. This week I urge you to ask yourself every time you complain about somebody, could you hold yourself to the same level of accountability? Christian Maturity So what does it mean to be a mature Christian? The Bible is our answer, and Jesus is our example of how to live it out. Jesus taught: Matthew 22:37-39 37 Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 "This is the first and great commandment. 39 "And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love is the key…as Paul said in: 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NKJ Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. We are to love each other, and we are told how in: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. Love is the key…if we are loving each other than truly the fruits of the Spirit will be present in our lives. Christian maturity is serving others to the point of which it cost you something, like your time, your money, your last possessions, and your life. Why because that is what Jesus said we are to do…serve each other even when we have something else to do for ourselves. Peter could have continued fishing and not listened to the call of Jesus. Paul could have continued down the road feeling sorry for himself after being blinded, and just not answered the call and the Bible would have been written by another. These men like us obviously had something better to do…I mean making a prosperous living for yourself is much more important than serving others to the point of death. I am sure Jesus had something better to do than to be beaten beyond recognition, and have His flesh torn off of His body. I am sure Jesus had something better to do than to come to this earth leaving His glory behind to come and make the ultimate sacrifice. I am sure you have something better to do than serving our Lord with all your heart. I am sure you have something better to do than showing agape love for your family and friends. I am sure you have something better to do than to give your last two pennies to someone that has a need? I am sure you have something better to do than talking to someone about Jesus… I just pray that Jesus doesn’t have something better to do on our judgment day instead of defend us before God and the Angels… Christian maturity is this, when a person comes to your mind in the day or night, which is the Lord telling us to pray for them. Christian maturity is this to show agape love for each other especially those in your family. Christian Maturity is this, to live your life as a willing servant for everybody but yourself, in the name of Jesus Christ, and know the joy that comes from being a bondservant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Real joy comes when you give of yourself to the point of not being able to give anymore!!!! Just like Jesus did, He gave it all, every last drop of blood, so that you could be with Him forever.
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