STUDIES//SPIRITUAL MATURITY


Spiritual Maturity
I. We must apply what we hear! A. Mark 4:23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. (Mark 4:23 AV) B. Isaiah 6:9 And he said, Go, and say to this people, You will go on hearing, but learning nothing; you will go on seeing, but without getting wiser. C. Hebrews 5:11 Of whom we have much to say which it is hard to make clear, because you are slow of hearing. 1. SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY is the result of failing to hear Hebrews 5:12-14 12 And though by this time it would be right for you to be teachers, you still have need of someone to give you teaching about the first simple rules of God's revelation; you have become like babies who have need of milk, and not of solid food. 13 For everyone who takes milk is without experience of the word of righteousness: he is a child. 14 (NIV) But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 6:1 (NIV) Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God. II. We must be constantly building Christian character. Many think maturity is moving in the gifts, prophesy, healings etc. Jesus said: 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Galations 4: 19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, II Peter 1:5-7 (NIV) For this very cause, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. You start with your faith in God that led you to salvation, then add: A. goodness- moral goodness, purity B. knowledge- knowing God as well as His ways C. self-control- master your desires & passions, especially sensual appetites D. perseverance- patient and loyal to God even in great trials and suffering E. Godliness- reverence & respect to God F. brotherly kindness (philadelphia)- treating others as brothers and sisters G. love (agape) Godly love and affection II Peter 1:8-9 If you possess these qualities in increasing measure they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 but if anyone does not have them he is nearsighted and blind , and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sin. H. Increasing measure- It never ends. We’re either going up or down. I. If you don’t develop Christian character, you are nearsighted nearsighted-can only see up close, no vision for the future or for eternal and spiritual things J. You forget you have been cleansed—constantly in a state of fear-full of guilt-never confident of your salvation. K. ineffective and unproductive 1. unproductive is failing to bear fruit 2. What happens to the unproductive? They get cut off. John 15:1-2 (NIV) I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3. What kind of fruit must we bear? Fruit of the spirit Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. 4. Notice in John 15:2 that in order to bear fruit, we must allow God to prune some things out of our lives. CONCLUSION: Allow God to develop in you character. Allow Him to prune things out of your life. Work on growing mature in the Lord!

I. We must apply what we hear!
A. Mark 4:23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. (Mark 4:23
AV)

B. Isaiah 6:9 And he said, Go, and say to this people, You will go on hearing, but learning nothing; you will go on seeing, but without getting wiser.

C. Hebrews 5:11 Of whom we have much to say which it is hard to make clear, because you are slow of hearing.

1. SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY is the result of failing to hear

Hebrews 5:12-14 12 And though by this time it would be right for you to be teachers, you still have need of someone to give you teaching about the first simple rules of God's revelation; you have become like babies who have need of milk, and not of solid food.
13 For everyone who takes milk is without experience of the word of righteousness: he is a child.
14 (NIV) But solid food is for the mature, who by constant
use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 6:1 (NIV) Therefore let us leave the elementary
teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying
again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God.

II. We must be constantly building Christian character.

Many think maturity is moving in the gifts, prophesy, healings etc.

Jesus said: 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Galations 4: 19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

II Peter 1:5-7 (NIV) For this very cause, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

You start with your faith in God that led you to salvation, then add:
A. goodness- moral goodness, purity
B. knowledge- knowing God as well as His ways
C. self-control- master your desires & passions, especially
sensual appetites
D. perseverance- patient and loyal to God even in great trials
and suffering
E. Godliness- reverence & respect to God
F. brotherly kindness (philadelphia)- treating others as brothers
and sisters
G. love (agape) Godly love and affection

II Peter 1:8-9 If you possess these qualities in increasing measure they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your
knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 but if anyone does not have them
he is nearsighted and blind , and has forgotten that he has been
cleansed from his past sin.

H. Increasing measure- It never ends. We’re either going up or
down.

I. If you don’t develop Christian character, you are nearsighted
nearsighted-can only see up close, no vision for the future
or for eternal and spiritual things

J. You forget you have been cleansed—constantly in a state of
fear-full of guilt-never confident of your salvation.

K. ineffective and unproductive
1. unproductive is failing to bear fruit
2. What happens to the unproductive? They get cut off.

John 15:1-2 (NIV) I am the true vine and my Father
is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

3. What kind of fruit must we bear? Fruit of the spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.

4. Notice in John 15:2 that in order to bear fruit, we must allow God to prune some things out of our lives.

CONCLUSION: Allow God to develop in you character. Allow Him to prune things out of your life. Work on growing mature in the Lord!