Sermon for 9/13/2009 on Ephesians 4:13-14
Introduction:
300 pound Mark McGuinness as a baby. Wouldn’t it be interesting if God would somehow dress believers according to their progress in spiritual growth? How many of us would be dressed like infants, or perhaps like toddlers?
Today is Grandparents Day. How many grandparents really act their age?
Second childhood. We need to act like children- Jesus said, (Mat 18:3 NIV) “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus was not talking about the negative aspects of childhood, he was talking about the positive aspects of childhood- (Mat 18:4 NIV) Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
WBTU:
A. The New Testament is very clear that God’s will for every believer is spiritual maturity. He wants us to grow up. Vs. 14.
B. Just grow up already. Why are you so immature?
Thesis: Let’s start by dispelling some misconceptions about spiritual maturity and then talk about 5 things we can do to develop spiritual maturity
For instances:
I. Misconceptions about spiritual maturity
1. Spiritual growth is automatic once you are baptized, saved.
A. (Heb 5:12 NIV) In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
B. (Phil 2:12 NIV) Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Notice that it says “Work out”, not “work on”, your salvation.
C. In one of his books, James Emery White tells of the Russian-American comic, Yakov Smirnoff’s, initial response to the incredible variety of instant products available in American grocery stores. He said, "On my first shopping trip, I saw powdered milk--you just add water, and you get milk. Then I saw powdered orange juice--you just add water, and you get orange juice. And then I saw baby powder, and I thought to my self, what a country!" Wouldn’t it be great if conception and childbirth were that easy? Maybe not. Wouldn’t it be great to just add water to our spiritual births and voila instant spiritual maturity! However, it isn’t that easy, is it?
2. Spiritual growth is mystical, and maturity is attainable by only a few.
A. Must become a monk or nun. Maturity is only for the super saints.
B. (1 Tim 4:7 NIV) Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. (1 Tim 4:8 NIV) For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
3. Spiritual maturity can occur instantly if we can find the right “key.”
A. No magic bullet. We have instant everything but there is no instant spiritual maturity.
B. Ephesians 4:13. This verse implies a journey. It is a journey that last a lifetime.
C. Vs. 14 talks about those who are looking for the right key.
4. Spiritual maturity is measured by what you know
A. Man at the post office. He was drunk and preached the best sermon I have ever heard. This man had a lot of knowledge but was he really living out the message?
B. Spiritual formation- (James 1:22 NIV) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
D. (1 Cor 8:1 NIV) Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.
C. (James 3:13 NIV) Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
E. Gene Getz said, “Bible study by itself will not produce spirituality. In fact, it will produce carnality if it isn’t applied and practiced.” Study without service produces Christians with judgmental attitudes and spiritual pride.
F. There is the old illustration of a pond that becomes stagnant because it takes in water but doesn’t give any out.
G. Our young people know some of the Word but they are not even doing what they know. Know the right answers but it is not all about knowing the right answers.
5. Spiritual maturity is a personal and private matter.
A. We need relationships to grow. We cannot grow on our own. We must have mentors and examples to follow
B. (Heb 10:24-25) And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
II. 5 Things We Can Do to Develop Spiritual Maturity
With my children- they need a "Time Out."
1. Take time out for prayer
A. (Mark 1:35 NIV) Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
B. Prayer lists, prayer calendar, prayer journal
C. Participate in a prayer group. (Acts 4:31 NIV) After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
D. Start where you are and improve prayer life gradually.
2. Take time out for the Bible
A. (Mat 4:3 NIV) The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."(Mat 4:4 NIV) Jesus answered, "It is written: ’Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’"
B. (Psa 119:15 NIV) I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. (Psa 119:16 NIV) I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.
C. On his sixteenth birthday a son approached his father and said, "Dad, I’m sixteen now. When I get my license, can I drive the family car?" His dad looked at him and said, "Son, driving the car takes maturity, and first, you must prove that you are responsible enough. And one way you must do that is to bring up your grades. They are not acceptable. Second, you must read the Bible every day. And finally, you must get that hair cut; it looks outrageous." The son began the task of fulfilling his father’s requirements. When his grades came out he went to his dad with a big smile. "Look, Dad, all A’s and B’s on my report card. Now can I drive the family car?" "Very good, son. You are one-third of the way there, but have you been reading the Bible?" the father replied. "Yes, Dad, every day," said the son. "Very good son. You are two-thirds of the way there. Now when are you going to get that hair cut?" The son, thinking that he could out smart the father, responded, "Well, I don’t see why I should get my hair cut to drive the car. Jesus had long hair, didn’t he?" The father looked at his boy and said, "That’s right, son and Jesus walked everywhere he went."
3. Take time out for worship
A. Our personal worship will affect our public worship. Get out what you put into it.
B. It is a duty rather than a joy. Another worship service.
C. (Psa 122:1) I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord."
4. Take time out for fellowship
A. (Acts 2:46 NIV) Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, (Acts 2:47 NIV) praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
B. Need more of these as a church. However, we can invite others to events.
5. Take time out for giving
A. We have been talking a lot about service lately, but really it is about giving.
B. Money, yes. Give a tithe. (1 Cor 16:2 NIV) On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.
C. Another way to give is through time. Think about the Good Samaritan. It cost him money, yes, but also his time.
D. Maturity begins to grow when you can sense your concern for others outweighing your concern for yourself.
E. Talk to a child about "It is better to give than to receive," and they will look at you like you are crazy. That is a child but an adult should have a better understanding.
Conclusion and invitation:
A. Children are eager to grow.
B. There are many Christians who don’t want to grow up. They want to go to Neverland. Neverland is the fantasy island in the story of Peter Pan, where children never grow up.
C. Neverland is not heaven. (1 Cor 13:11) When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.(1 Cor 13:12) Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
D. We would hate for you to get to heaven and the Lord take you to your room (John 14) and it would be a nursery because you never grew up.
