Growing Up Spiritually
Hinderances To Spiritual Maturity
Introduction
Text
Luke 6 : 39-49
39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. ?
41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. ?
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
I Introduction
Jesus here says 3 things ….. He that …….
1. Comes to me
2. Hears my sayings
3. Does them ……. Or does not do them
He compares the wise and foolish man.
The things that hinder most Christians from maturing are things they know but do not do.
This is 99% of Christian maturity.
Too many Christians are looking for some big key that God is going to give them to straighten out everything in their life.
God has done something to straighten out our lives.
The scripture says he sent his Word and healed them.
Many Christians often shoot themselves in the foot because of the choices they make.
It is God's desire and God's will that every believer mature.
Read James 1: 22-25
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.?
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
It is possible to be self deceived.
Most people think Satan is doing all of the deceiving.
How many of you think you know what your face looks like?
How many know how long your nose is?
If you've never measured it you probably don't know.
If you measure it you will probably never forget it.
Most people just look in the mirror but never act on what the face really looks like.
The perfect law of liberty is the Word of God.
Continue therein ……. then become a doer ……. then comes the blessing.
Look at what the first thing he mentions right after being a doer of the Word.
Bridling the tongue…….
I believe this is the first area a man must conquer before he can move on to other areas of being a doer of the Word.
Notice in our text this morning that the storms of life come on both houses.
It did not say that one of the men was a sinner that is not born again and the other was born again.
It says that one was a doer of the Word.
The other was not a doer of the Word.
What are the storms of life?
Anything that would keep you from fulfilling God's will in your life.
Anything that would keep you from being an Overcomer.
I think one of the biggest storms is false teaching which denies the power of the Word of God.
2nd Corinthians 11:22–30 defines the storms of life.
22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
30 If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
31 The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me:
33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.
2nd Timothy 3:10–13 gives the answer for dealing with the storms of life.
10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,?
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.?
II Let me give you some common hindrances to spiritual maturity.
#1 NO REAL VISION OF CHRIST WORK
John 3:8 ….. For this purpose the son of God was manifested, THAT HE MIGHT DESTROY the works of the devil.
Most Christians have not had their hearts enlightened to the fact that Satan's works are destroyed and can continue to be destroyed.
If Christians really believed this, they would have victory in all areas of their life.
Jesus defeated the devil.
The only power he has is in deceiving the believer in his thinking.
He does that through those who deny the power of the Word of God.
Through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit of the living God you are able to conquer, overcome and defeat any attack and any circumstance the enemy may bring against you.
Paul …. “THE LORD DELIVERED ME OUT OF THEM ALL.”
#2 NO REAL VISION OF GOD’S PLAN FOR HIS CHILDREN.
John 14:12 ….. Verily verily I say unto you HE THAT BELIEVE IN ME, THE WORKS THAT I DO SHALL HE DO ALSO.
The plan of Jesus is for YOU AS A BELIEVER and the church to destroy the works of the devil now and in the future.
To do it just like He did ….. A MAN ANOINTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
I have a mighty Alien being living inside of me.
He created the world yet he lives inside of me in order for me to be an example of what God is like.
That’s not wishful thinking that’s Gods plan.
#3 RESERVE COMMITMENT
Luke 6:46 …. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
This means there are those who don't really want to sell out to the Lord.
This will hinder maturity.
Do not make reserve commitments with….
Your life
Your praising
Your witnessing
Your giving
Or anything else in your life.
The song “I surrender all is scriptural”.
Make a total commitment to follow the Lord Jesus Christ fully and totally.
#4 IGNORANCE OF THE SCRIPTURES
2 Tim 2:15 …Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Every Christian must spend time studying and meditating in the word of God for himself.
Every believer must pay the price to come to maturity.
Study the strong faith books.
Learn how to believe God.
Listen to scriptural teachings that have been recorded.
Study your Bible.
#5 SOUL DOMINATED
Many Christians cannot control their……..
Mind
Will
Emotions and
Appetites drugs etc.
They are soul dominated.
A soul dominated Christian will not be a consistent doer of the word.
#6 EASILY OFFENDED
If you are easily offended be assured you will reap what you sow.
Paul … “whose offended and I’m not”
A mature Christian is not easily offended;
His life is based upon the Word of God.
Not what someone might say to him or about him.
#7 CRITICAL SPIRIT
Mark 11: 23 says you will have what you say.
If you are critical of other people, you will receive the same in return.
A critical spirit will interfere with your maturity.
The root of a critical spirit is usually………
Bitterness.
Resentment.
Jealousy.
Envy.
They come out of disappointment.
#8 EVIL SPIRITS OR DEMONS
2 Cor 10:15 …. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Evil spirits will load your mind with evil thoughts.
You must cast them down and submit your mind to the word of God.
#9 MATERIALISM
2 Timothy 4:10 …. Demas has forsaken me having loved this present world.
Hobbies
Jobs
Fast cars
Wine
Women
Song
Religion
The world has deceiving powers to draw you from the Lord.
Recognize each of the previous things mentioned as hindrances to maturity and make a quality decision to grow into spiritual maturity.
