Yeah. We talked about the "M" word during Saturday's cell group meeting. And yes, we went overtime again. But it was a nice time sharing this with the guys. And as I said before, the "M" was not exactly what most had in mind. It was something else. Something that needed immediate attention. Maturity.
+ Definition of Maturity
The state or quality of being fully grown or developed; the state or quality of being mature; adulthood; coming of age; fullness; full bloom; full growth; manhood; the age at which persons are considered competent to manage their own affairs
God has designed you to grow and mature physically, emotionally and spiritually. He created your body and mind to change from infancy to childhood, childhood to adolescence, adolescence into the fullness of your manhood. Throughout your life, there needs to be a constant putting off of the old and the wrong, and the putting on of the new and the right.
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” [1 Corinthians 13:11-12]
+ What Is Spiritual Maturity?
Spiritual maturity is a process that begins when a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior.
He or she is born again of the Holy Spirit and then chooses to live "in Christ." The Apostle Paul said that spiritual growth is an ongoing process.
"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:12-14).
Even the Apostle Paul had not arrived, yet he continually pressed toward the prize.
+ What Spiritual Maturity is NOT
Being baptized a long time ago.
Intimate knowledge of and belief in your denomination's doctrines.
Going to church services every week.
Being old.
Having a loud voice and domineering personality.
Being a "high ranking" minister.
Being a deacon or deaconess.
Having gray hair and dressing well.
Being a master of the putdown.
Being a great preacher.
Spiritual pedigree.
Hanging out with ecclesiastical big shots.
Being excessively righteous (as in having a religious spirit).
Being wealthy.
Being highly placed in a church hierarchy.
Knowing a lot.
Maturity is marked by a progression in your knowledge and understanding of God, and in your relationship with Him. You are to grow in learning and applying biblical truths in your life and in your intimacy with the Lord.
“So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.” [Hebrew 6:1 NLT]
Therefore, in order for Christian maturity to develop in your life, you must:
1. make a choice to learn God's Word
2. allow God to renew your mind
3. be obedient to what you learn
Romans 12:1-2 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. 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."
+ What Does Spiritual Maturity Look Like?
Maturity is evidenced by the manifestation of Christ-likeness in your life.
“And it is he who gifted some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, and still others to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints, to do the work of ministry, and to build up the body of the Messiah until all of us are united in the faith and in the full knowledge of God's Son, and until we attain mature adulthood and the full standard of development in the Messiah. Then we will no longer be little children, tossed like waves and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, or by clever strategies that would lead us astray. Instead, by speaking the truth in love, we will grow up completely and become one with the head, that is, one with the Messiah, in whom the whole body is united and held together by every ligament with which it is supplied. As each individual part does its job, the body builds itself up in love.” [Ephesians 4:11-16 ISV]
Spiritual growth is indicated by the appearance of the fruit of the Spirit in your character.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” [Galatians 5:22-23]
Spiritual maturity is learning how to walk in obedience to God. It is making the choice to live by God's viewpoint rather than your human viewpoint.
Galatians 5:16 and 25 give the key, "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature…Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."
The word "walk" in verse 16 is from the Greek word peripateo, which means, "to walk with a purpose in view." The word "walk" in verse 25 is translated from another Greek word stoicheo and it means "step by step, one step at a time." It is learning to walk under the instruction of another. That person is the Holy Spirit. Since believers are indwelt by the Spirit, they should also walk under His control.
+ How Do I Accomplish Maturity in the Spirit?
How can you learn to walk in the Holy Spirit's control? You study God's Word!
2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17 instructs us, "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth…All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
This is a good practical instruction on how you become spiritually mature. Achieving spiritual maturity is done by choosing to apply God's Word in everyday circumstances. As you walk step-by-step, applying God's Word to your life, you will grow spiritually.
Just as you feed your body daily to make it grow stronger, you also need to feed your spirit to make it grow equally strong, or even stronger. Just as a maturing person progresses in his dietary intake – from milk to solid foods – to cope with the increasing energy needs of his growing body, your spirit also needs a progressive diet to supply nourishment and sustain spiritual growth.
“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.” [1 Peter 2:1-3]
But as a growing Christian, you are not to be milk-fed forever. Instead, you are called to chew on the "meat" of God's Word. Discover God's truth by in-depth Bible study and feed yourself spiritually. Then apply that sustenance to your life as you walk in the Holy Spirit.
"Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil" [Hebrews 5:13-14].
+ Spiritual Maturity in Christ
In order to experience spiritual maturity, you must also understand that growth comes by grace and it is God alone who is your Source.
2 Peter 1:3-9 reminds you that God is the source. "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."
When you became a child of God, you were given all you need "in Christ" to become a spiritually maturing believer. However, you are responsible to make a choice! Will you choose to use and apply God's principles to your life?
The wonderful thing about being in submission to God's maturing process is that you will be changed! You don't have to worry about becoming mature. God does the changing! He will conform you to the image of Jesus Christ as you humbly surrender to His Holy Spirit and learn His Word.
Hebrews 13:20-21 says, "May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."
+ Spiritual maturity should be a priority for you.
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an amalgamation of this article and God's download to me.
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