MAKE MATURITY YOUR GOAL…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
IN EVERY FAMILY, CHURCH AND SOCIETY THERE SHOULD BE SEVERAL GOALS.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
Every momma bird is that the baby bird learns to flex its wings. “LEAVE THE NEST” and GET YOUR OWN WORMS.
THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF DISCIPLINE:
*1. DISCIPLINE BY OTHERS: A baby and a child depends on the correction and training of others. Other adults enforce code of behavior and uses punishment to correct.
*2. The main goal of MATURITY IS SELF-DISCIPLINE. We grow the ability to control our own feelings. We learn to overcome our weaknesses to think and act right. We must learn to make ourselves work and do what needs to be done without the need of anyone else to tell us what to do.
MANY NEVER LEARN WHAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR IS OR IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
*MATURE: state of being fully developed; to develop spiritually, personally, mentally and emotionally; the art of being responsible for your moods, words, behavior and actions, to be considerate and sensitive to others, to manage self in adverse conditions, to be thought out, fully developed, the ability to communicate well (talk,listen.)
BIBLICAL MATURITY IS TO HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST, BEING LIKE JESUS. We need to be spiritually sound in our knowledge and experience.
WE FACE A DISEASES THAT ARE PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL “FAILURE TO THRIVE!”
1. PROPER DIET: WE ARE ADDICTED TO JUNK FOOD…
1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 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.
Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
OFTEN IN RELATIONSHIPS PEOPLE FACE TOUGH SITUATIONS AND THEN THEY ALLOW NEGATIVE WORDS AND NEGATIVE FEELING TO GIVE BIRTH TO IMMATURE WORDS AND BEHAVIOR.
2. WE GO WITH THE FLOW? LAZINESS AND FAILURE TO EXERCISE PROPERLY AND REGULARLY. THE YOUNG SALMON SWIMS DOWN STREAM. THE ADULT SALMONS LEARNS TO FIGHT THE CURRENT.
Ephesians 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. MANY NEVER TRY TO IMPROVE THEIR UNDERSTANDING.
1 Corinthians 14:20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
IMMATURITY ALLOWS ANGER TO TRY TO GAIN AN UPPER HAND AND CONTROL OTHERS.
There is a real lesson to learn: ANGRY PEOPLE WERE ALREADY ANGRY BEFORE THEY LASH OUT AT YOU. People carry their resentments to attack others.
Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
MANY WORRY ABOUT THE MARK OF THE 666. JOB WARNS US:
Job 10:14 If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity.
LET US CONSIDER SOME OF THE MARKS OF IMMATURITY AND MATURITY:
1 WASILY HURT AND OFFENDED --- NOTHING SHALL OFFEND ME…
Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
2 BIG MOUTH VS SOFT WORDS.
Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
3 SELFISH, MINE, MINE ATTITUDE, JEALOUS, STINGY… SHARES AND GIVES.
Philippians 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
4 MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY? WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO!
5 TATTLETAIL --- LOVE COVERS A MULTITUDE OF SIN.
6 MOODY, CRIES A LOT --- KEEPS EMOTIONS IN CHECK.
7 COMPLAINS AND GRIPES ALL THE TIME ---- PRAISES AND EDIFIES.
8 PRCRASTINATES: LAST MINUTE --- MAKES PLANS AND SCHEDULES.
9 WANTS TO PLAY AND SEEK ENETERTAINMENT --- KNOWS HOW TO WORK AND DOES IT.
10 CAN BE MEAN,CRUEL --- KINDS AND TENDERHEARTED.
MATURITY HAS LEARNED A VALUE SYSTEM. (Mark 9) if it offends.
1. HAND --- CUT IT OFF: WHAT YOU DO.
2. FOOT --- CUT IT OFF: WHERE YOU GO.
3. EYE --- PLUCK IT OUT: WHAT YOU SEE AND WHAT YOU THINK!
CONCLUSION: ARE WE WILLING TO CORRECT OUR WORDS, ATTITUDES AND DEEDS AND FOCUS ON MATURITY. Are you a perpetual baby trapped in babyhood? What are you doing to try to mature in Jesus… have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
