What's the Big Deal about Spiritual Maturity?!?
No doubt about it, there are a lot of blogs. Go to the Christian Bookstore, there are a lot of books. Hang out every Sunday in your church and there are a lot of messages. You can go Wednesday night in some places as well if that's not enough. Even in this community, there are groups, discussions and private conversations. WOW! That's a lot of communication!
What's the point of all of this?
Jesus' words are listed in Matthew 7:24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock."
I might point out that the man was not out putting plywood on his windows during the storm. Whatever preparations that had been made prior to the storm had to be sufficient.
Isaiah 30: 20-21 promises "Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more, with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it."
The Apostle Paul sighs in Galatians 4:18-20 " It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always and not just when I am with you. My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!"
Hey, this stuff is important. If God says "So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty,but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." And there's all this communication, it's all meant to do something! Corithians 4:20 "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."
Christianity is alot more than just sitting in a pew, standing, sitting, singing, clapping, listening, tithing, communing, fellowshipping and then going home. Don't get complacent. If you've been coasting - watch out! The storms of life have gotten fiercer in these latter days.
If you would like to know more about meat and potatos Christianity, let's share it here. Jesus said, "It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me."
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Citizen Tom on -
The problem with answering your own question is that it leaves little room for replies. ;-)
We begin in earnest by constantly studying God's word. We sustain ourselves in fellowship. We bear fruit by setting a good example for others. We gain our reward at the end by knowing the love of God.
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Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on -
Wellllll, in a sense maybe. I like your response. Thanks for writing :) You touched on HOW., I didn't really go into that yet.
Here are the two big points mentioned to this point: emotional survival and personal growth.
I could think of a few more.
Discernment
Placement for opportunities
I think there is still a lot of room in the process area for further remarks. What I do want to convey is the urgency. How well did I do that?
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Permalink Reply by Nathan Haddock on -
Isaiah 55:6
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Some people called it a miracle an act of God. I didn't see it that way. I believe in miracles, I believe that God can move in extraordinary ways beyond our comprehension. However, in this instance I think this wasn't the case. One man had the lives of hundreds in his hands. It looked like a certain disaster with the loss of many lives. All power was gone. All hope seemed to disappear as well. A plane with no engines, in a built up city, with no runway within reach. The odds weren't good and the outlook looked worse. Yet one Chesley Sullenberger was at the controls. He coolly and calmly landed his plane, it's crew and 148 passengers safely, not on a nearby runway or open road but on the Hudson River. People called it the "Miracle on the Hudson", but as I said before I don't think it was. Did the passengers on that plane pray for a miracle. my guess is many of them did. Could God have performed a miracle, I know he could. So, why didn't he? Because Captain Chesley Sullenberger was in control. I guess he had about 2 minutes from realising they were going down until they hit the river. Mr Sullenberger didn't have time to refer to the manual, I guess even if he had have done there wouldn't have been much info on how to land with no engines in a river. However, Captain Chesley Sullenberger had been a fighter pilot and he had been a commercial pilot for 29years. All his training, all his experience pointed to this one event. He knew how to fly this plane, he had flown in every weather condition and had flown for thousands of miles. He had trained, he had prepared, he had practise and because of that, he was ready! He got that plane down safely and saved the lives of those 148 passengers and his crew. It wasn't because of some miracle it was one man was trained, experienced, ready and willing.
Now most of us won't be called on in our lives to land a plane on water or to do anything so dramatic. However, as Christians, we are called day in and day out to make decisions for Christ. If we are trained, willing, practised, experienced and ready we will make wise, discerning decisions. If we are not, the chances are our decisions will be far more touch and go. We need to put in the hours to train ourselves in godliness and righteousness in order, not only to be ready when Christ comes or we are called home, but in order to live the lives God has in store for us.
1 Corinthians 13: 11
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.
Hebrew 5: 11-14
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 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.
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Permalink Reply by Tami on -
Mom calls me a "baby Christian" and while that bothers me a little, it is the truth. I have to take in God's word in small doses, so as to understand it better. I also need someone like Max to help get thru many of the points that I cannot seem to get into my own head by myself. I am learning that there is nothing wrong with this. Walking starts with stops and starts and baby steps, so why should my walk with my Creator be any different?!?
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Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on
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I agree, Nathan. The weird part for me is that much of Paul's teaching made sense after I had gotten certain basic ideas first. LIke God lives inside of you. And my time belongs to Him. Stuff like that. What I liked about your response is that who knows at what point in Captain Sullenberger's 29 years of experience that he became capable of landing a commerical jet in the Hudson. It might have been year 28.5 that he suddenly 'got it'.
Well, Tami, it's not so much where you start that matters, it's where you end up that counts. I like your gentleness with yourself. So many people talk so harshly to themselves when they would never use those words with another. And I learn from Max all the time too. What's weird is that after I've read his remarks with an eye towards those verses, I wonder why I hadn't seen those thoughts in there earlier. Keep on walking.. baby steps.. crawl if you have to! Just keep moving towards God! You're on your way!
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Permalink Reply by Desiree on -
Hi Juline, great discussion topic!
Spiritual Maturity is essential as we continue to grow in our relationship with God. The problem that seems to occur is that people tend to approach spiritual maturity the same way they do in every other aspect of their lives: half way, partially, or not at all. The moment something is no longer easy or fun and becomes difficult or requires work then we get into the half effort, partial effort, or no effort at all rather than giving or at least attempting to give 100%.
If we think about it isn’t that what Jesus did for us all? He gave everything and we didn’t deserve it.
This is why continuing to grow and become spiritually mature is such a necessity because without it all the other aspects of our lives will fail.
This topic reminds me of King David and Solomon. Before David passed away he gave his son sound advice:
1 Kings 2:3
And keep the charge of the LORD your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn;
Solomon did exactly that and God was pleased:
1 Kings 3:9-14
9 Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
10 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 Then God said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. 13 And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. 14 So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”
God answered and is letting us know that if we seek Him all other things within in our lives will come together. He didn’t promise there wouldn’t be stormy times but He does provide a safe harbor in the midst of the storm.
So we should continue growing in God's word and doing what we all have been commanded to do which is spread the Gospel and let people know why we have the Hope we have in our Father. What does our Father do in return? He brings our flaws to the forefront, He causes our Fruits of the Spirit to grow, and He builds us from the inside out so our "light" will shine for others to see.
To me that is a "win", "win", "win" outcome... through all these things we become a better person and that applies to work, home, relationships, church, among other things.
So, without Spiritual maturity we don't grow and if we don't grow then we're stagnate.
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Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on
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Hey there Desiree!
Please don't let the lapsed time on this reply mean anything. I've been more than busy for the last few days! And spiritual maturity for me meant not saying what I was thinking at the time. Letting God determine a response for me because otherwise I'd really make it worse. The one time I decided to handle things myself went very, very badly wrong.
There is so much to agree with in your response. The casual approach that some take to the most permanent part of their existence gives me pause because, as you say, the rest of your life does fail without this piece in place.
If God is using this gathering of Saints to His glory,as you, Gentle Reader, must make your own measurements-- who are we to walk away from Him? Desiree, you mentioned "We have all been commanded to do -which is spread the Gospel and let people knwo why we have the Hope in our Father". I hear that hope in every post that you write. My Dear Reader who is reading along with Desiree and me, we need to hear your Hope.
This sharing is part of the win, win, win that Desiree talks about. In the Kingdom of Heaven, silence has a place, but among friends? among family? We all know what it means. Come, come my Sisters and Brothers! Be encouraged - as Desiree says.. we become a better person as we share what God is doing in our lives!
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Permalink Reply by Desiree on
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Hi Juline, thank you for the kind words and I agree with what you stated as well... I pray that others too will share their experiences and the "hope" they have in our Father. We weren't meant to stay silent but, to share the Gospel and spread the Good News to others just as Jesus did during His ministry and His disciples continued after His Resurrection. We are the body of Christ with a variety of spiritual gifts to use to bring people to our Father and to help expand His Kingdom. This step in our Christian lives is what I believe your discussion topic on Spiritual Maturity is about and it reflects the parable on the "talents" found in Matthew 25:20-28. I'm certain we want to be either the person who was givien the 10 talents or 5 talents and hear our Father say to us one day "...Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!"
I have the same hope as you, Juline and I pray that everyone who reads this will be encouraged and begin to share their experiences. You just never know who this may touch and/or help strengthen their walk or bring them closer to God!
Have a blessed one!
Juline Bruck said:Hey there Desiree!
Please don't let the lapsed time on this reply mean anything. I've been more than busy for the last few days! And spiritual maturity for me meant not saying what I was thinking at the time. Letting God determine a response for me because otherwise I'd really make it worse. The one time I decided to handle things myself went very, very badly wrong.
There is so much to agree with in your response. The casual approach that some take to the most permanent part of their existence gives me pause because, as you say, the rest of your life does fail without this piece in place.
If God is using this gathering of Saints to His glory,as you, Gentle Reader, must make your own measurements-- who are we to walk away from Him? Desiree, you mentioned "We have all been commanded to do -which is spread the Gospel and let people knwo why we have the Hope in our Father". I hear that hope in every post that you write. My Dear Reader who is reading along with Desiree and me, we need to hear your Hope.
This sharing is part of the win, win, win that Desiree talks about. In the Kingdom of Heaven, silence has a place, but among friends? among family? We all know what it means. Come, come my Sisters and Brothers! Be encouraged - as Desiree says.. we become a better person as we share what God is doing in our lives!
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Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on
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One of my favorite books is very old. It's a theological book (meant for those studying and preparing to pastor). It was originally written in German and translated into English in 1853 or so. A multi-volume set called "The Words of the Lord Jesus" It really focuses on the "Red Letter Text".. those things that Christ said.
In volume 3, page 22, is a discussion about the Rich Young Ruler who approached Christ asking "What must I do to attain eternal life?" While my book is an antique dating back to the original printing, this series has been picked up and is available in newer, less brittle versions.
Dr. Stier writes...
"The following of Jesus and the renunciation which that requires, is the subject of the discourse upon which we now enter. The young man, rich in possesions and good works, who offers himself as a follower of CHrist, and yet cannot make up his mind to the necessary conditions, affords occasion for showing that, in order to take the first step in following CHrist, all riches and possesions (what is outward to be understood as the expression and figure for the inward) must be renounced. In order to complete this testimony, the question of Peter makes it necessary to show that, in continuing to follow Him, there is required a further renunciation of all eager seeking after reward, of all self-willed striving after future possession, and all views of compensation for what has been forsaken. The introductory conversation with the rich young man consists of three questions and their corresponding answers. The first question and answer contains only the preparatory test applied to him; in teh second the test is more definitely applied; the third contains, on the other hand, the decisive disclosure of the real state of the case. To the first, partly improper, question (so far improper as it makes the attainment of life to depend on DOING in the false sense of merit) our Lord replies in a testing answer: "Be it so! only seriously attempt it in this way and keep the commandments of a good God concerning doing good! On the second question, in which he foolishly betrays himself, the more definitely testing answer presses more closely home: The old commandments with which thou art familiar - art thou really perfect wtih these?
And now, when the error of the young man comes to full expression (all these have I kept!) Christ also decisively discloses (although still figuratively proving him) what is implied in emptying himself of all of his possessions, of all outward and inward riches, as a poor man will enter into the Kingdom of HEaven - what is implied in following Him, receiving grace from Him and retaining that grace under the cross. That the rich young man goes away gives further occasion to CHrist to open up more fully to the disciples who were then present, the true significance of this incident and what He had already said.
He affirms by way of warning that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven; and in such a manner the disciples must have understood the general and far reaching meaning of the words. Therefore, by the general question at verse 25, they elicit the following declaration "The being saved, with all that belongs thereto, is for men generally (rich and poor) possible only through the omnipotent grace of God." But upon this Peter leaps again from the first and more intelligent question to the other side of the error; he thinks they had done what was required of the young man, and thus appropriates to himself again as a possession the (not yet inwardly true) renunciation which they had made. For he claims the reward of this as a thing due to him and meritoriously earned. Upon this our Lord declares, finally, that an inconceivable reward of grace is (in future and even now) assuredly prepared, as for the Apostles, so for every disciple who forsakes and renounces all in order to follow Christ; but yet that there is a great danger of losing what is the main element and consumnation of the reward, eternal life, if an eager desire for reward should mar and inwardly cancel the act of renunciation. "
This passage has really pruned my life.
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Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on
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Interesting. I'm coming back this discussion after over two weeks being sucked into other life stuff.
Interesting that this discussion has about an inch of undisturbed dust on it. Running my finger along the edge, I see this topic seems to be mothballed.
Children of the Most High God, let me know if just ignoring something gets the Holy Spirit to stop bringing it up. Let me know how that works out for 'ya. I personally encounter experience after experience in increasing measure until I say 'Uncle"..and start applying myself to the topic at hand. Just writing and responding to a discussion online is way easier and less stressful than having something go *SPROING* in your life. But you know best. I can see that. I wish you every success with this strategy and ..well.. good luck.
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Permalink Reply by gary bob scott on -
Very well spoken, ( or written)...How have you been...lost track of a few people in the last month....hope your day is nothing short of wonderful....gary
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Permalink Reply by Juline Bruck on
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HI Gary!
Your well wishes will speedily be applied to today. Thank you :) For me, one of the principles of spiritual maturity is a quick reaction to life that categorizes situations to be meant for God to handle. And I've had a lot of life situations that are all in that size. Um, God? Yeah. This one.. this thing's for You too.
And the peace that comes after that thought is mixed because truth to tell, that muscle in the back of my neck that cramps up from tension tattles on me. It says that I'm still in some ways looking at life from an earthly perspective. I'm looking forward to the day when my shoulders don't bunch up into knots when an occasion for God to intervene comes along. In part, I wrote this post because while I have some progress, I am still progressing.
Thanks for askign.
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