Title: Growing Up Spiritually - (Pt. 3)
Manhood
Text: 1 Corinthians 13:11 - When I was a child, I used to speak as a child, think as a child, reason as a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.
By: Pastor Rick MacDonald
Date: February 2, 1992
Introduction:
The apostle Paul tells us part of the process he endured in Growing Up Spiritually. He said when he was a child, he spoke, thought and reasoned as a child; but when he became a man, he put away childish things. The last two weeks as we’ve examined growing up spiritually, we’ve addressed those things which attribute to spiritual babyhood and childhood. They are Innocence, Ignorance and Irritability for babyhood, and being Irresponsible, Inquisitive and Incessant in childhood. In spiritual manhood, we are to put these things behind us and press on toward those things which relate to being responsible adults in Christ Jesus.
I. P E R S O N A L P R E F E R E N C E S
Hebrews 11:24-26 - By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; (25) choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin; (26) considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking to the reward.
A. Fruitfulness: Too often we measure fruitfulness by what we have, instead of by what God will provide.
1. Moses gave up everything he had as the grandson to the Pharaoh.
2. He saw a difference between the people of God, and the people of the world. (Egypt is a type of the world).
3. One aspect of growing up is to esteem the things of the world lightly. God will make us fruitful (prosperous) if we are obedient to his ways.
3 John 2 - Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.
* God will make you fruitful in all areas of your life:
1. Prosper: Material needs
2. Health: Physical needs
3. Soul: Spiritual needs
Psalm 1:1-3 - How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! (2) But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. (3) And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.
* God wants to meet every one of our needs. It is our perspective to needs, however, that determines how fruitful we really become.
1. Esteem earthly things lightly - Just as Moses did.
2. Esteem the things of God highly - Just as Moses did.
B. Faithfulness: One of the greatest possessions we have is one another. To reflect the passing from childhood to manhood, our relationship with one another becomes a very visible, necessary yard marker.
Hebrews 10:25 - not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.
* One of the major areas in our life which keep us away from "our own assembling together", is that we esteem others things higher than each other.
1. We need to esteem our preferences lightly, and the things of God, which include our gathering together, higher than anything else.
2. We need to hold on to our training as children, and apply it in manhood.
Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
II. P E R S O N A L P R A I S E
1 Corinthians 4:3-4 - But to me it is a very small thing that I should be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself. (4) For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord.
A. Dignity: Paul had grown to the place where personal praise was of no value to him.
1. He was in complete accountability to the God. He wasn’t interested in people patting Him on the back. Everything he did was for God and God alone.
Example: Thank you / praise from recent endeavor.
* The Lord spoke to me and asked me why it was so important. What was my motivation for doing what I did?
* In that situation I lacked the spiritual dignity that Paul possessed.
B. Deadness: Babyhood says we are self-conscious. Manhood says we are God-conscious.
1 Corinthians 13:5 - does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered,
The Amplified Bible says it this way:
He is not conceited - arrogant and inflated with pride. He is not touchy or fretful or resentful. He takes no account of the evil done to him - pays no attention to a wrong suffered.
In short: He is dead to everything save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
III. P E R S O N A L P E R C E P T I O N
A. Patient: No greater example of patience is shown in scripture that the life of Joseph. Receiving a promise in two dreams that he would one day be in a place of rulership, he endured 12 years of prison in order that he might preserve his family. His PERSONAL PERCEPTION was that he saw God at work.
Genesis 45:5 - "And now do not be grieved or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
Genesis 45:7 - "And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.
B. Prayerful: No greater example in scripture than that of Daniel. He fasted and prayed for Israel for three weeks, because he recognized the hand of God at work.
Daniel 10:3 - I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all, until the entire three weeks were completed.
Daniel 10:11-14 - And he said to me, "O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you." And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. (12) Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. (13) "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. (14) "Now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future."
1. Fasting and Prayer, true signs of spiritual manhood. Recognizing what it takes to see God at work.
Conclusion
Spiritual manhood - it is not an issue of gender; it is an issue of maturity. It is "growing up in all aspects into Him". How? By seeing our Personal Preferences as belonging to our heavenly Father; by diverting our Personal Praise toward our heavenly Father; and by using our Personal Perception to recognize God at work in our lives. These are the qualities that show we’ve put away childish things.
Ephesians 4:14-15 - 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,
