Where Are You?
Pt. 2 - Baby Talk
I. Introduction
We have talked before about the importance of order and the Law of First Mention. First things, first fruits, first statements all matter. They are highly important and worth paying attention to. This should cause us to pay particular attention to the very first question God ever asked. This initial, primary question is recorded in . . .
Text: Genesis 3:9 (NIV)
But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
I remind you that God is omniscient. In other words, He is all knowing. The question wasn't asked because Adam was the greatest, hall of fame, undisputed champion of all time hide and seek contestant and been able to find some God proof hiding place where even God couldn't locate Him. THE question WASN'T posed so that God could gain information He didn't already have. It was a question asked to force Adam to come to grips with information that Adam needed. He had gone from walking openly, transparently and shamelessly before gone to hiding from God's presence and the question forces him to evaluate his new condition and position. God asks Adam this question to force him to come face to face with Adam! God knew where Adam was. The question is did Adam? That is why this is THE question that we must answer.
We are trying to help you answer that question this year. In fact, at the end of this series we will take a test that will help us, if we answer honestly, determine where we are. There are basically 4 stages in our journey of spiritual maturity. Infant, Teen, Adult, Parent. Each stage is a necessary part of the journey. Each stage has some characteristics about them that we need to use to evaluate where we are in this journey. There is also an essential skill that is needed in each stage that enables us to move to the next stage. Until we develop, hone and operate in that skill we cannot move forward.
So, let's start this journey together!
Everyone starts a walk with Jesus at the same place. It starts at birth. You can't skip this step. So, hear me carefully. I am not against you being an infant. We have to start here.
This is what Jesus says about it.
Text: John 3:3 (ICB)?“I tell you the truth. Unless one is born again, he cannot be in God’s kingdom.”
John 3:6-7 (ICB)
A person’s body is born from his human parents. But a person’s spiritual life is born from the Spirit. Don’t be surprised when I tell you, “You must all be born again.”
This is the essential stop! You can't complete the journey without starting here. (SLIDES 7-9) Being born again is the most important step. But it isn't supposed to be the last one.
So, when Jesus says, "You must be born again" we must understand what He is saying. He is saying we have to come that place where we put our faith in what HE did – not on what WE can do. So, this journey starts with what Jesus does for us. It is by His grace alone that we are saved. Not by works. Not by name. Not by church attendance. Not by Bible reading. Not by anything except the grace of Jesus and the power of the blood He shed on calvary for us. When we embrace that grace, we are born again. We become an infant in Christ. Once, we are saved, then we have a part to play to grow in maturity. If we stop at what He did for us, then we remain infants.
Here is the danger and what has also become a great tragedy in the body of Christ. Someone comes to new faith in Christ and as an infant believer they often look at those around them and the Devil tells them everybody else has got it all together. So, in order to fit in, they pretend they’ve got it all together too. They pretend they are mature rather than embracing the journey of becoming mature! This is why people get saved and years go by and they don't actually mature. They stay at baby base and never grow up. We see this happen in the natural, don't we? In the natural we want to grow up quickly!
Ask a 4 yr. old how old he is… I’m almost 5!
Ask a 12 yr. old… I’ll be 13 soon!
Ask a 45 yr. old woman how old she is . . . oh wait she will lie and say 30.
So, I want you to hear me today. If you are new in your walk with Christ, then don't be embarrassed by that – embrace it. You don't have to lie about it. Despise it. You don't have to pretend you are something else. You don't have to duck your head if you don't know what someone who has been on this journey 45 years knows.
So, before we go any further it is crucial to remember what I stated last week. Spiritual maturity is not a calendar issue. Time doesn't mature you. Intentional steps to grow is what produces growth. I remind you of that because some people, maybe even some under the sound of my voice, have been born again for decades, but that doesn't mean they have taken any steps towards maturity. I want you to hear that because if you don't you will assume that because you were saved in 1990 you are mature and when I mention the characteristics of an infant and you are exhibiting those characteristics you will give yourself a pass because you will think have arrived. If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck then it is a duck. So, as difficult as it may be let's be honest with ourselves and about our own actions and behaviors.
The natural tendencies of an infant are revelatory when it comes to the tendencies and characteristics we exhibit spiritually as an infant. If you are acting, thinking, behaving in these ways, then you must also realize that you are in the infant stage. If you are new Christian, great we understand. If you have been saved, several years it is time to grow up. This not acceptable consistent behavior for those of us who should be mature. We may retreat to this occasionally, but if this is consistent behavior then we aren't as mature as we believe or that we would like others to believe! Therefore, we must be willing to go back and embrace the skill necessary to move on into maturity.
Characteristics of an Infant:
1. Only concerned/ focused about/on own needs. Everything revolves around them.
2. Cries/upset easily. An infant will cry until they get what they want or their way. Controlled and control by emotions. Babies are not complicated because they only have three moods: crying, finished crying, and just about to cry.
3. Needs change, but wants someone else to do it.
4. Dependent on someone to feed them.
5. Desires and thrives on milk.
6. Hungry! Has an insatiable appetite.
7. Can’t rest/easily bothered.
8. Must learn to talk/walk. Falls frequently.
9. Infants are messy!
Little Johnny’s new baby brother was screaming up a storm. He asked his mom, “Where’d we get him?”
His mother replied, “He came from heaven, Johnny.”
Johnny exclaimed, “Wow… I can see why they threw him out!”
So, how do we move on from infancy in Jesus?
The skill we must embrace is an infant must LEARN!
1 Peter 2:2-3 (NIV)?Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
Here is our part. Once born again we must learn a new way to think, live, behave, act. We do this by learning the basics. Milk. You can't handle steak yet. Got milk? Once you are born again it is your responsibility to get to the milk.
Don’t rush your growth BUT do commit to growth!
2 Peter 3:18 (NIV) - makes it clear that this is our responsibility. Peter says, "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (But grow in spiritual strength and become better acquainted with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.)
Does that sound like a suggestion? Or a command?
As an infant you must learn because although spiritual babes are forgiven, get fresh start, new life they bring the baggage of their former life w/ them. Part of their journey includes breaking free from it… This part of the walking and falling stage!
This is where those who are mature must come into the mix. Natural babies fall a lot learning to walk, but we don’t yell at them for it or disown them. Instead, we help them up, brush off and encourage them to go again. In time, as they learn and as we help, they develop balance and the strength to walk and even run.
So, infants must learn. You do this by trusting the
people God sends you to help you. Some of you here that are mature are saying I should have skipped today because this isn't for me. WRONG! During infancy we need mature believers to find new believers and hold their hand as take their next steps. Cheer as they take their first steps. We don't just leave them to their own devices. Paul tells us in his letter to Titus that those who are mature should be committed to teaching those who are younger how to live out this life in Christ. We are called to affirm and encourage them. We are supposed to be there for them. Someone has to come along side and non-judgmentally and patiently restore them to their feet when they fall.
The reason it isn't right for "mature" believers to behave as infants is that the true infants are learning how to talk and walk from us! The reason some never mature is because they are left to figure it out on their own. Mature believer we need you to adopt!
Harvard did a study – concluded: People who had bad health habits (such as smoking, poor eating, obesity) but strong social ties lived significantly longer than people who had great health habits but were isolated. Conclusion: ‘It is better to eat Twinkies with good friends than to eat broccoli alone.’
So, again being an infant is alright and it is fine. But you can't stay there. In order, to take the next steps you must learn. Get connected to the right people who can help you learn! Don't eat broccoli alone. Get with a mentor, a person of wisdom, a small group, an accountability group and grow so you can mature in this walk with Christ.
