“THE MARK OF IMMATURE CHRISTIANS”
Hebrews 5:12-6:3
August 10, 2008
Pastor John L. Harper
Warden Assembly of God
1 Corinthians 11:23-31 (King James Version)
King James Version (KJV)
23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
SERVE COMMUNION:
• Distribute elements
• (Have Worship Team play during this time)
• Serve Deacons
• Have Deacon pray for the bread
• (Partake of bread)
• Have Deacon pray for the cup
• (Partake of the cup)
26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
Introduction: "I met a young man not long ago who dives for exotic fish for aquariums. He told me that one of the most popular aquarium fish is the shark. He explained that if you catch a small shark and confine it, it will stay a size proportionate to the aquarium you put it in. Sharks can be six inches long yet fully matured. But if you turn them loose in the ocean, they grow to their normal length of eight feet.
Eagle’s Nest
Though many of us have seen pictures of a huge eagle’s nest high in the branches of a tree or in the crag of a cliff, few of us have gotten a glimpse inside. When a mother eagle builds her nest she starts with thorns, broken branches, sharp rocks, and a number of other items that seem entirely unsuitable for the project. But then she lines the nest with a thick padding of wool, feathers, and fur from animals she has killed, making it soft and comfortable for the eggs. By the time the growing birds reach flying age, the comfort of the nest and the luxury of free meals make them quite reluctant to leave. That’s when the mother eagle begins ’stirring up the nest.? With her strong talons she begins pulling up the thick carpet of fur and feathers, bringing the sharp rocks and branches to the surface. As more of the bedding gets plucked up, the nest becomes more uncomfortable for the young eagles. Eventually, this and other urgings prompt the growing eagles to leave their once-comfortable abode and move on to more mature behavior."
Today in the Word, June 11, 1989
A college class was graduating on a hot and humid day. As graduates walked across the outdoor platform and received their diplomas from the college president, he smiled, shook their hands, and said loudly, "Congratulations!" Then, in a much lower voice that could be heard only by the graduate, he’d say, "KEEP MOVING."
Now, the president was only trying to speed up the ceremony, but his words are good advice for a lifetime: "Keep moving." After every achievement-- growing up, graduating, getting married, getting promoted, even retiring-- the best advice is, "Keep moving! Don’t stop. Don’t stagnate. There is still MORE to life yet to be lived.!"
Source: "Sermon Illustrations for Holidays and Special Occasions"
I. LACK OF PROGRESS (vs. 12)
A. This is the time you should be teachers
You have heard the Word of God, but you didn’t act on the Word
B. You need someone to teach you again the basics
1. You need milk
Maturity, Spiritual: Embarrassed By Imitating
"To have unquestioning reliance upon a pastor or other spiritual leader can lead to embarrassment and even bitter disillusionment. I was reminded of this recently when I came across an interesting item about President Coolidge. Once he invited some friends from Vermont to dine at the White House. They were worried about their table manners, so they decided to do everything their host did. All went well until coffee was served. Coolidge poured his into the saucer. The guests did the same. The President added sugar and cream. So did the visitors. Then Coolidge leaned over and placed his saucer on the floor for the cat."
(1Pe 2:2) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
2. You can’t stomach meat
(1Co 3:2) 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.
Application: How about you? Are you a mature believer? What is it that you could do to “grow up”?
II. LACK OF SKILL (vs. 13-14 )
A. You must mature and be weaned from the bottle
Excerpt: Growing old is inevitable . Growing up is optional.…
1. If not you will be unskilled in the word of righteousness
2. You will remain a babe waiting for someone else to feed you.
B. You must eat solid food
1. You will become strong
(Luk 2:52) And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
2. You will become full grown
(Eph 4:14) 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;
3. You will discern both good and evil
Application: Are you strong in the Lord? Do you enjoy the favor of God and man?
III. LACK OF UNDERSTANDING (vs. 1-3)
A. Let us go on to perfection
1. We must move on beyond the principles of the doctrine of Christ
2. We must not lay again the foundation of primary principles
B. Let us go beyond
The word leave is the same word that is used when the fishermen dropped their nets to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:20)
a. Foundation of repentance from dead works
b. Faith toward God
(Eph 2:8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
(Eph 2:9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
c. Doctrine of baptisms
(Act 19:3) And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism.
(Act 19:4) Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
(Act 19:5) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
d. Laying on of hands
(Act 19:6) And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
(Act 13:2) As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
(Act 13:3) And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
(2Ti 1:6) Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
e. Resurrection of the dead
f. Eternal judgment
C. We will do this is God permits
1. We will become teachers to others
2. We will mature in our walk with God
Application: How long will you argue or doubt things that are fundamental to being a Christian? The longer you doubt, the less you will be able to accomplish.
CONCLUSION: "A man moved into a house whose former residents had included a number of children. On one of the posts of the back porch he found something very interesting. There were a series of lines drawn on the post, and opposite each line was a name and a date. It was obvious what had been done here. Every year on each child’s birthday, the parents would put the child up against the post, draw a line, and put the name and year, to show how much the child had grown since the preceding year’s birthday."
The man would later declare, ’I looked at that post-- ABSOLUTE PROOF of physical growth-- and I asked myself, ’What if I stood up against the Lord’s post and measured my SPIRITUAL growth year by year. What would it look like? Would my life have any absolute proof of spiritual growth?’
’I went from the porch inside, got down on my knees, and prayed, ’O God, help me to grow.’
