QUALITIES OF MATURITY AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST
HOSEA 11:1-7
Hosea 11:1-7 "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. 3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. 4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. 5 "Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? 6 Swords will flash in their cities, will destroy the bars of their gates and put an end to their plans. 7 My people are determined to turn from me. Even if they call to the Most High, he will by no means exalt them.
INTRODUCTION: LAST WEEK, AS WE LOOKED TOGETHER AT HOSEA 10, WE DEVELOPED THE THOUGHT OF DEALING WITH HARDHEARTEDNESS IN OUR LIVES. TODAY, I WOULD LIKE US TO GO BEYOND THIS INTO THE NEXT STEP IN WHAT SHOULD BE OUR PROGRESSIVE CHRIST-LIKENESS. THE AREA WE WILL BE LOOKING AT IS THE QUALITIES OF MATURING IN CHRIST. ONCE WE HAVE DEALT WITH THE CAUSES OF HARDHEARTEDNESS IN OUR LIVES, WE ARE THEN ABLE TO TAKE THE STEPS OR EMBRACE THE QUALITIES THAT WILL PERMIT US TO MATURE IN OUR WALK AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST.
I. QUALITY #1 – DON’T RUN AWAY FROM GOD
Hosea 11:2 But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images.
A. SIMPLY PUT – IT IS HARD TO GET TO KNOW SOMEONE WHEN YOU ARE ALWAYS RUNNING AWAY FROM THEM
B. CHRIST TOLD US TO WALK IN RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
Matthew 11:29-30 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
1. YOKES ARE ALL ABOUT LEARNING. ONE OX LEARNS FROM ANOTHER BY BEING YOKED TOGETHER. WE LEARN/MATURE IN CHRIST AS WE MAINTAIN A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM.
2. YOKES ARE ALL ABOUT ATTITUDE. ONE OX LEARNS TO BE GENTLE FROM THE OTHER OX. ARE ASSOCIATION WITH CHRIST ALLOWS US TO JETTISON OLD HABITS, THOUGHTS, AND ACTIONS; REPLACING THEM WITH ONE FAR BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAD; REPLACING THEM WITH ONE FAR BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAD.
3. YOKES ARE ABOUT REST. WE WOULD NOT HAVE ALL OF THE STUFF WE HAVE IN THIS WORLD TO ASSIST US IN DE- STRESSING, WINDING DOWN, LOOSENING UP, ETC. IF WE WOULD JUST LET JESUS DO IT.
4. THERE WOULD BE NO NEED FOR PSYCHOLOGIST, PROZAC, OR HAPPY HOURS.
5. WHEN MAN CHOOSES TO WALK AWAY FROM THE YOKE JESUS OFFERS THEM, THEY HAVE A NEED TO ACCOMPLISH THE SAME BENEFITS IN INFERIOR WAYS!
6. ULTIMATELY, THE YOKE/RELATIONSHIP THAT CHRIST OFFERS TO US (EVEN AS BELIEVES) IS MUCH EASIER THAN WHAT WE WOULD BE PUTTING OURSELVES THROUGH WITHOUT HIM!
C. NOTICE THE OPPOSITE OF FOLLOWING CHRIST IN RELATIONSHIP – IT IS FOLLOWING AFTER OTHER THINGS. WE COULD SAY, NOT FOLLOWING JESUS CHRIST IS A FORM OF IDOLATRY, BECAUSE SOMETHING HAS TO BE TAKING UP THE TIME I SHOULD BE DEVOTING TO CHRIST!
D. “THE FURTHER THEY WENT FROM ME” CARRIES WITH IT THE SENSE OF TRAVELING WITH NO SENSE OF DIRECTION OR PURPOSE. ALL PATHS AWAY FROM CHRIST ARE JUST A DEVASTATING AS ANY OTHER. ANY DIRECTION AWAY FROM CHRIST IS WITHOUT PURPOSE.
WE FIND OUR PURPOSE IN LIFE, NOT AVOIDING A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, BUT EMBRACING A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. THE CLOSER OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR SAVIOR AND CREATOR, THE MORE MATURE OUR WALK AS BELIEVERS IN CHRIST.
II. QUALITY #2 -- MAINTAIN A GRATEFUL ATTITUDE
Hosea 11:2 But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images.
A. WE DEALT WITH THIS IN DEPTH LAST WEEK, SO JUST A FEW COMMENTS TODAY.
B. A LACK OF GRATITUDE IS SEEN IN THE SIMPLE FACT THAT INSPITE OF ALL THA GOD HAD DONE FOR THEM (AND ISRAEL HAD A RICH PAST OF HISTORY CONCERNING GOD’S DEALINGS WITH THE NATION), THEY CHOSE TO WORSHIP AND ASCRIBE TO IDOLS THE WORKS OF GOD.
C. THIS IS THE ATTITUDE OF SPOILED CHILDREN, NOT MATURE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST.
D. THE SCRIPTURE IS FULL OF GRATEFUL PEOPLE, THE DEMONIAC JESUS HEALED, THE ACTIONS OF DAVID, WHEN HE TOOK CARE OF THE FAMILY OF JONATHAN, THE WOMAN WHO CRIED AT THE FEET OF JESUS, AND WASHED HIS FEET WITH HER TEARS.
E. GRATEFUL PEOPLE SHOW GRATEFULNESS.
F. GRATEFULNESS RECOGNIZES GOD’S DETAILED CONTROL OF OUR LIVES IN ORDER TO MAKE US MORE LIKE CHRIST.
G. HOW A LACK OF GRATEFULNESS REVEALS ITSELF
1. WE REWARD GOOD FOR EVIL – REMEMBER JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS
2. WE RUIN OUR TESTIMONY AND EXAMPLE TO OTHERS
3. WE REFUSE TO BE CONTENT WITH WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US. -- Jeremiah 5:8 They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for another man's wife.
4. WE RESIST GIVING TO GOD WHAT BELONGS TO HIM. THIS IS WHY OUR ATTITUDE IN GIVING IS SO IMPORTANT. WRONG ATTITUDE GIVING EITHER DOES NOT GIVE, OR GIVES BEGRUDGINGLY. SO GIVING THEN CEASES TO BE WORSHIP AND BECOMES A CHORE AT BEST AND A BURDEN AT WORST.
A SIGN OF A MATURE WALK IS THE VISIBLE EXPRESSION OF GRATEFULNESS AS SEEN IN OUR ACTIONS TOWARDS OTHERS.
III. QUALITY #3 – RECOGNIZE THE LOVE OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE
Hosea 11:3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them.
A. WHAT WE SEE IN THIS VERSE IS THE PATIENCE OF GOD EXPRESSED IN THE PICTURE OF A FATHER WHO LOVINGLY TEACHES HIS CHILDREN TO WALK AND TENDS TO THEM WHEN THEY ARE SICK, INJURED, OR HURT
B. IMMATURITY CANNOT SEE OR REFUSES TO SEE THE CARE, CONCERN, AND LOVE FROM GOD EVIDENT IN OUR LIVES.
C. IMMATURITY FOCUSES ON THE TANGIBLE, NOT THE INTANGIBLE.
D. AS WE TAUGHT THIS PAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT, A MAN’S WORTH IS NOT IN THE ABUNDANCE OF HIS POSSESSIONS. RATHER IT IS HIS SPIRITUAL (INTANGIBLE) RICHNESS THAT TRULY DEFINES US.
E. TO SEE, ACCEPT, AND UNDERSTAND THIS IS A SIGN OF MATURITY.
F. DANIEL WEBSTER SAID THAT IF WE REALLY WANT TO KNOW OUR WORTH, COUNT ALL THAT THINGS YOU HAVE THAT MONEY CANNOT BUY!
SPIRITUAL MATURITY IS MARKED BY THE DISTINCT ABILITY TO SEE THE HIDDEN ACTS OF GOD’S LOVE IN OUR LIVES, NOT JUST THE TOUCHABLE ONES!
IV. QUALITY #4 – REPENT WHEN YOU NEED TO.
Hosea 11:5 "Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent?
A. MY DEAR FRIEND DR. SPARLING HAS OFTEN SAIF THAT THE CAN’T IS THE WON’T OF THOSE WHO DON’T!
B. INCLUDED IN THIS VERSE IS THE DISTINCT SITUATION THAT A LIFE UNREPENTANT IS A LIFE OF HARDSHIP AND LACK OF BLESSING.
C. HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY THE LEAVES CHANGE THEIR COLOR IN THE FALL? SOME FOLKS FEEL THAT THE CHANGE IN TEMPERATURE OR THE COLD CHANGES THE COLOR. ACCORDING TO THE WEATHER CHANNEL ON TELEVISION, THIS IS NOT THE CASE. THEY REPORTED THAT THE LIGHT OF THE SUN PRODUCES CHLOROPHYLL WHICH PRODUCES THE GREEN COLOR IN THE LEAVES. THE CHLOROPHYLL ACTS AS A MASK AND COVERS THE TRUE OR REAL COLOR OF THE LEAVES. AS SUNLIGHT IS DIMINISHED DURING THE FALL SEASON, LESS CHLOROPHYLL IS PRODUCED AND THE TRUE COLOR OF THE LEAVES COMES FORTH. IF A LEAF IS RED, THAT IS ITS TRUE COLOR.
D. OUR EXPOSURE TO THE LIGHT OF GOD, SO TO SPEAK, MASKS OUR TRUE NATURE.
E. WHEN WE FALL INTO A POSITION OF NOT REPENTING, OUR TRUE NATURE COMES OUT FOR ALL TO SEE
F. REPENTANCE IS SUBMISSION, OBEDIENCE, YIELDEDNESS TO THE LORD ALL ROLLED UP INTO ONE SUPREME ACT.
G. WHAT MAKES THIS SUCH A STUNNING MARK OF MATURITY IS THAT WHEN WE REPENT, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE HEADSHIP OF GOD IN OUR LIVES.
H. IMMATURE CHILDREN WANT TO BE THE BOSS, MATURE BELIEVERS DESIRE CHRIST TO BE LORD OF THEIR LIFE!
WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT FOR THE FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST, SIN IS NOT THE ISSUE. JESUS PAID IT ALL. HE COVERED EVERY SIN. YOUR FAITH IN HIM ALLOWED THE APPLICATION OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST TO YOUR SINFUL LIFE. THE ISSUE IS, NOW AS A BELIEER, WILL I CHOOSE THROUGH REPENTANCE, TO LIVE A LIFE PLEASING TO CHRIST, OR IN IMMATURITY CHOOSE TO LIVE A LIFE PLEASING TO MYSELF (AND THOSE AROUND ME)?
V. QUALITY #5 – CONSIDER WISE COUNCIL
Hosea 11:6 Swords will flash in their cities, will destroy the bars of their gates and put an end to their plans.
A. OK, THIS IS A TOUGH VERSE TO GET THIS PRINCIPLE OUT OF, BUT LET ME EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT.
B. THE EVENTS OF THIS VERSE ARE A TESTIMONY TO THE TRUTH THAT ISRAEL WILL NOT HEED GOD’S COUNSEL AND CALL TO RETURN, RATHER, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM HIM.
C. THIS VERSE PICTURES THE FURY AT WHICH THE ASSYRIAN ARMY WILL COME AN TAKE THE NATION CAPTIVE (FLASHING SWORDS – WHIRLING SWORDS).
D. BILLY GRAHAM TELLS THIS STORY OF A WOMAN WHO CAME TO CHRIST –
"I recently heard the story of a mother in an African nation who came to Christ and grew strong in her commitment and devotion to the Lord. As so often happens, however, this alienated her from her husband, and over the years he grew to despise and hate her new devotion to the Lord. His anger and bitterness reached their climax when he decided to kill his wife, their two children and himself, unable to live in such self-inflicted misery, but he needed a motive. He decided that he would accuse her of stealing his precious keys. These keys were to the bank, the house, and the car. Early one afternoon he left his bank and headed for the tavern. His route took him across a footbridge extended over the headwaters of the Nile River. He paused above the river and dropped the keys into the water. He then spent all afternoon drinking and carousing. "Later that afternoon, his wife went to the fish market to buy the evening meal. She purchased a large Nile perch. As she was gutting the fish, to her astonishment, in its belly were her husband's keys. How had they gotten there? What were the circumstances? She did not know; but she cleaned them up and hung them on the hook. Sufficiently drunk, the young banker came home that night and pounded open the front door shouting, "Woman, where are my keys?" Already in bed, she got up, picked them off the hook in the bedroom, and handed them to her husband. When he saw the keys, by his own testimony he immediately sobered up and was instantly converted. He fell on his knees sobbing, asked for forgiveness, and confessed Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior." God took this man in his own craftiness, showing that He could overcome and counter his schemes. He can do the same with us if we are living by our own counsel that contradicts God's Word.
A MATURE WALK WITH CHRIST IS EVIDENCED BY SEEKING AND FOLLOWING GODLY COUNSEL
VI. QUALITY #6 – RESOLVE TO LIVE APART FROM SIN
Hosea 11:7 My people are determined to turn from me. Even if they call to the Most High, he will by no means exalt them.
A. HOSEA SAYS THAT THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL ARE BENT TO BACKSLIDING.
B. THAT IS A TRUE ASSESSMENT TODAY, WE ARE BENT TO BACKSLIDING.
C. FOLLOWING CHRIST IS AN UPHILL, UPSTREAM BATTLE.
D. INACTIVITY IS ACTUALLY DETRIMENTAL TO OUR CHRISTIAN WALK.
E. TO DO NOTHING IS TO SURRENDER, IF ONLY FOR A MOMENT.
F. HE WORD DETERMINED HERE MEANS TO BE HUNG UP.
G. WHEN WE ARE HUNG ON SOMETHING WE CAN MOVE BACK AND FORTH (LIKE ON A SWING), BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN UNMOVABLE LIMITS.
H. WE ARE LIMITED BEINGS IN OUR WALK RIGHT NOW. WE ARE LIMITED BY OUR FALLEN NATURE, BY OR LOVE OF DARKNESS AND BY THE BATTLE FOR OUR VIABILITY FOR CHRIST WAGES ALL AROUND US.
I. EVERY TIME WE TRY TO COMPROMISE OUR CHRISTIAN WALK WITH SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT GOD WOULD HAVE FOR US, ALLOWS A STRONGHOLD AGAINST HIM TO BE BUILT IN OUR LIVES.
2 Corinthians 10:4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
J. THESE STRONGHOLDS, AS LONG AS THEY REMAIN, KEEP US FROM A MATURE WALK WITH CHRIST. EVERY TIME WE WANT TO GO FURTHER FOR GOD, THE DEVIL POPS THE STRONG HOLD UP AND SAYS, “YOU CAN’T DO THAT, LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE DOING, HIDING, OR DID.”
K. THE MATURE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST PURPOSES TO AVOID THEE AREAS, SO THAT THEY WILL NOT AFFECT THEIR ABILITY TO WALK AS A MATURE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST!
MATURITY IN CHRIST IS WATCHING OUR PERSONAL WALK SO THAT WE MAY WALK CLOSER TO OUR SAVIOR.
