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Spiritual Maturity
September 11, 2016
Spiritual infants need to grow into spiritual adults. We do this by feeding on the substantial word of God and allowing His Holy Spirit to bear witness with our spirits as to those truths. As we study the written word and put it into practice in our lives, we are performing spiritual exercise. If we study the teachings of men, our growth will be stunted and improper. The three most important things to help us grow are faith, hope and charity, or a general love for all. - Bernie Parsons
Spiritual Maturity
a sermon by Bernie Parsons
Presented to the Globe church of Christ on 09-11-2016
Presented to the Load church of Christ on 09-18-2016
After discussing spiritual infancy, I follow with some thoughts on
spiritual maturity.
A lack of spiritual growth and progress can be due to an improper
spiritual diet.
Hebrews 5:12 "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have
need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the
oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of
strong meat.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of
righteousness: for he is a babe."
1 Corinthians 3:1 "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto
spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not
able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.”
The remedy is to feed upon the solid food of God’s word.
Jeremiah 3:15 "And I will give you pastors according to mine heart,
which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."
1 Peter 5:1 "The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an
elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of
the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight
thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of
a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the
flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of
glory that fadeth not away."
All of God’s word needs to be considered, read and studied.
2 Timothy 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good
works."
Acts 20:26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from
the blood of all men.
27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.”
Good evangelists, as well as good teachers, pastors and preachers are
necessary.
Ephesians 4:11 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for
the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of
the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of
the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and
carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things,
which is the head, even Christ:"
One must always be aware of those who seek to deceive and mislead.
Acts 20:25 "And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone
preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the
blood of all men.
27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God,
which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter
in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to
draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I
ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his
grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance
among all them which are sanctified."
Spiritual maturity means that we realize the roles of faith, hope and
charity in our lives.
1 Corinthians 13:9 "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part
shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I
thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I
know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest
of these is charity."
1 John 4:17 "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness
in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because
fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for
he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God
whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love
his brother also."
In the above passage, “perfect” is the Greek word
teleios, meaning “complete,
perfect, mature”.
Our spiritual maturity, shaped by suffering, strengthens us.
1 Peter 5:10 "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his
eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make
you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."
Our spiritual maturity establishes our faith, building patience through
our suffering.
James 1:2 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and
entire, wanting nothing."
The spiritually mature person learns to watch his or her tongue.
James 3:2 "For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in
word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole
body."
One who has spiritually matured puts the care of others ahead of
material possessions.
Matthew 19:21 “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell
that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in
heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for
he had great possessions."
For more about this, read Matthew 5:43-48.
Once we achieve spiritual maturity, we must take what we have learned
and live by it.
Philippians 3:15 "Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus
minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal
even this unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the
same rule, let us mind the same thing."
Hebrews 13:20 "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead
our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of
the everlasting covenant,
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you
that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom
be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
Let all who call upon God through our Lord Jesus work to achieve
spiritual maturity.
