THE MARKS OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY
INTRODUCTION
WHAT IS SPIRITUAL MATURITY?
- Not automatic
- not mental understanding of spiritual things
ABILITY TO MEET THE DEMANDS, CIRCUMSTANCES, AND EMERGENCIES OF LIFE IN A MATURE AND NOT CHILDISH WAY. - Meet them from God's perspective.
* Spiritual maturity or immaturity is seen in the manner in which we react to the changing circumstances of life.
I. A DESIRE TO BE HOLY RATHER THAN HAPPY - Isa. 35:8
Holiness attractive only to mature.
* Child more interested in being happy than in being good.
- must learn true happiness comes by being good.
* Christ happier than all because He "loved righteousness and hated iniquity" (Heb. 1:9).
II. AN ATTITUDE OF GIVING RATHER THAN RECEIVING Acts 20:35
* Child prefers receiving to giving.
- Has to be taught the joy of giving and sharing.
Illustrate: Little boy and girl were sitting at the family table. When the pie came, there were only two pieces. The little boy grabbed for the largest piece of pie. Dad, seeing an opportunity to teach a powerful lesson about sharing, spoke up. "Son," he said, "What do you think Jesus would do if He were here? Don’t you think he would offer the big piece. Let’s pretend we’re like Jesus." The little guy thought for a moment and then said happily to his sister, "Okay, Sara, you be Jesus."
* Christ's life was a life of self-giving.
III. A PREFERENCE FOR SERVING RATHER THAN BEING SERVED
Mark 10:45* A child wants all the attention. Rarely thinks of serving others unless prompted.
IV. A JOYOUS PERSONALITY John 14:9-11
* Melancholy person indicates spiritual immaturity.
- Gloom is evidence of inner conflict.
* Christ said, "My joy I give unto you." Joy in the midst of circumstances.
V. A FRUITFUL LIFE AS OPPOSED TO A BARREN LIFE
John 12:24; John 15:5
* Mature tree reproduces itself.
* Only a mature Christian is willing to die, (give self) and thus produce fruit.
VI. ACCEPTANCE RATHER THAN EVASION OF DISCIPLINE
I Cor. 9:25-27
* Child hates discipline because he doesn't realize it is for his best. Child is not interested in building character.
* Mature Christian does not run from God's chastening.
VII. A LIFE OF LOVE
* Highest manifestation of spiritual maturity is unconditional love.
- WE are only as mature as we are mature in love.
"There is no fear in love ... but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear outdoors." I John 4:18
CONCLUSION
HOW ARE WE DOING? ARE WE MAKING SPIRITUAL PROGRESS?
