Sermon Central
-
Understanding Spiritual Maturity
Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on Apr 26, 2004 (message contributor)
Summary: This sermon describes the evidences of spiritual maturiy and emphasises the following areas of spiritual growth namely 1. THOUGHTS 2. WORDS 3. ACTIONS 4. ATTITUDES 5. REACTIONS 6. DESIRES 7. RELATIONSHIPS
UNDERSTANDING SPIRITUAL MATURITY
********************************
OUTLINE
1. THOUGHTS
2. WORDS
3. ACTIONS
4. ATTITUDES
5. REACTIONS
6. DESIRES
7. RELATIONSHIPS
THE MESSAGE
UNDERSTANDING SPIRITUAL MATURITY
*******************************
1.THOUGHTS
Spiritual Maturity begins with our thoughts . When our thinking process is in line with God’s word we begin to grow into spiritual maturity. We must discipline our minds to think those things which are true , pure , just , lovely , of good report , virtuous and praiseworthy . As our minds are renewed we find that our life is getting transformed . We can never experience transformation in our lives as long as our minds are still unrenewed and unregenerate. We must meditate on the word of God and fill our minds with divine revelation .This would cause a deep transformation in our lives and enable us to be successful and fruitful in our lives.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
**********************************
Philippians 4 : 8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
"I’m going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We’ll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
He called out to them, "Friends, haven’t you any fish?" "No," they answered.
He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
2.WORDS
Spiritual Maturity is revealed by the words that we speak. If we do not control our words and continue to speak words of evil and carelessness then all our spirituality becomes vain . Death and life are in the power of the tongue .Therefore a spiritually mature person will be careful to speak only life giving words . Our words are powerful and can control the direction and the destiny of our life . Our words can either bless others or cause pain and suffering to them. We must avoid speaking vain and idle words as we would have to give an account of our words on the Day of Judgement . Our prayer should be that the words of our mouth and the meditations of our hearts are found acceptable in the sight of God.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
**********************************
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,
but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
Matthew 12 :34-37
You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
