Marks of Spiritual Maturity

(Signs) Marks of Spiritual Maturity

1Cor 3:1-9

Faith Baptist Church/22 Aug 04/pm – FBCW/23 July 2023/am

INTRO: Last week I spoke on the “Marks of a Biblical church”. We must be aware of the changing times we are in, by recognizing the true Need of mankind, that we must be motivated by shortness of time (till Jesus comes), that we must be Christ centered in all things, we must be willing to modify/change, we must be willing to train and send out people from our church, and we must be of one purpose/mind.  Those things and more are marks of a Biblical church. It is important here at FBCW can continue to have God’s blessing on us. It is necessary that everyone can see the vision we have for fulfilling the great commission of our Lord Jesus Christ to His churches to further His kingdom before He returns. The Bible is clear “without a vision the people parish” Today, I would like to spend some time on a more personal/individual aspect of the Lords’ churches. W/o spiritual members of the Lord’s churches we cannot have a spiritual church. So, what are“The Marks (signs) of Spiritual Maturity” first of all, what is spiritual maturity? Simply put, It is Christ/Jesus-likeness! In our text, we see that the church at Corinth had some problemsin that area, and those problems occurred because of several issues in their personal lives. But, the most troublesome issue is that the members of the church were baby/new Christians, that should have already matured to some degree. Hopefully there will always be baby/new Christians in our churches, but they should not stay that way. The Lord’s churches need mature Christians to accomplish all that He would have them to do. Many of our churches today have this same problem, too many babies who still need milk when they should be wanting and eating a good spiritual steak. They seem to want to stay on milk/baby food, it’s easy to eat and doesn’t require anything from themselves, it motivates them to live like they did before they got saved. That is not helpful to the Lord’s churches and not for themselves either, as God expects more from a believer because they are new in-Christ, with a new nature, mind and heart. A spiritually mature Christian is one who desires some meat that they can grow, mature and become all that God would have for them to become, and it should be their determination to do so. A spiritually mature Christian can be characterized by:

1.  A desire to be HOLY rather than an emotion/happiness. To be holy is to be consecrated, set apart and sacred in their new life and being part of a local church. Holiness is a mark of a mature Christian which often is accompanied by hardship, physically and spiritually.

Heb 11:24-25 Moses would rather suffer affliction w/God’s people than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. He could have stayed in Egypt and live in luxury, but his desires were for others, God’s people even though it came with a cost. He had to leave his home and go into the wilderness so that God could mature, raise him up to a very important task. To lead a bunch of baby/stiff-necked believers (though not all believed). We must remember that; 

The pleasures of this world and of our flesh are temporary and fleeting. But our new life is eternal. We have a new Father and belong to a new family residing in a new country/heaven. A holy country, family and father.

1.  God calls each of us to “be Holy, for He is Holy”. 1Pet 1:16 To live a

     consecrated life for the Lord, because it is who we now are in-Christ. 

It is much more important to be holy than happy, true happiness is not 

in things, or others, it is in Christ and a right relationship with God.

A Spiritually mature Christ can also be characterized by:

2.  An attitude of GIVING rather than receiving. God is our example: He gave us His best and still does yet today, He is a giver, not a getter! There are too many getters/takers today in our country and in our churches. Those who only want something and give little back to others or their church. God/Jesus us all about giving. 

Act 20:35 “It is more blessed/happy to give than receive”. (Gift of giving) Not just at Christmas or BDs, but each day to anyone God places in our hearts, including the Lord’s churches, in Tithes and offerings, missions and anywhere the Lord directs. We have many examples in the Bible, but Jesus is the best.

Jesus gave his life a ransom for many. Mk 10:45, Mat 20:28 What an attitude of giving.

God loves a cheerful (favorably inclined-merry) giver. 2Cor 9:7 Don’t be stingy with God when you give, be content with what you give and do it with the right attitude.

3.  A preference for SERVING rather than being served. Rom 14:18 “For he that in these thing s(vs 17 righteousness, peace and joy in H.S.) serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.”

Nehemiah desired to serve and taught others to do the same. Neh 8:9,10-12

The apostle Paul called himself a servant of God, Rom 1:9 a bond slave to Jesus.  Rom 1:1

Phil 2:5-7 By the will of God, Jesus took on the form of a servant and humbled himself and was obedient unto death.

Jesus washed his disciple's feet for that purpose Jn 13:4-17

Service to God/Christ is accepted by God and completed in serving others. 

Acts 6. We see that one church neglected the daily ministration or service of the widows. So, the 12 apostles, exhorted the disciples that it was not their responsibility, theirs was service in the Word of God and ministry. They were to appoint others to see people are not neglected. And do it from the heart. Eph 6:6, master's and servants alike.

4.  A JOYFUL/calm delight-peaceful personality. God wants us to have joy in our hearts that it spills over into our daily lives.

So much so that Jesus said Jn 15:11 “…that your joy might/may be full”, Abide in Him that His joy will remain in you. Our joy is not in the world or things, or even people, but in Christ. His joy is perfect. In Jesus’ prayer for His disciples that they be filled with joy, His joy Jn 17:13

1Jn 1:3,4 Have fellowship, in Lord’s supper, in prayer, in social interaction, and you will have full joy, not partial joy Vs3

Joy is a part of the fruit of the Spirit in the life of the believer. Gal 5:22

It is a joy that cannot be taken away. (w/o our permission) Jn 16:22 It is an everlasting joy in the heart of the believer. Let it be revealed every day! The apostle Paul said: “Rejoice in the Lord (not ourselves) and again I say rejoice” Phil 4:4. We are to rejoice evermore! 1Thes 5:16

A Spiritually Mature Christian can also be characterized by:

5.  A FRUITFULL life as opposed to a barren/unfruitful life, useless to the Lord. 2Pet 1:8

Gal 5:23 The graces of the fruit of the Spirit. (we have the H.S. therefore we can be fruitful)

Jn 15:2,4-5,8: Bearing the fruit of the H.S. as we live abiding in Jesus.

We are to produce fruit, others like ourselves and we are to bear the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. 

Jn 15 tells us that God wants us to produce and takes whatever measures necessary for that result, purging/chastening, etc. taking away or lifting up, but the dead branches and useless branches will be cut away and burned.

6.  Accepting DISCIPLINE rather than evade/avoiding it. It is a necessary tool for our spiritual growth, maturity and our producing spiritual fruit.

Heb 12:5-6 Chastening proves the love of a father. God loves us so He chastens us. That ought to be encouraging not something to avoid.

b.   Build upon, grow in the Lord 2 Pet 3:18 and bear its fruit. 2Pet 1:6 That we add 

      to our faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance and then patience to godliness, 

      god- likeness. Patience takes discipline, not in chastening, but by being 

      brought under control of our bodies, minds, and souls. 

c.  The best athletes are people of great discipline; Paul speaks often of the races 

     and boxing match practices to become what God has appointed him to do. To

     finish his work in life and await the prize set before Him in heaven. 1Cor

     9:22-27; 2Tim 4:7,8

7.  A life of LOVE. 2Tim 1:7 God does not give us the spirit of fear/cowardice, but He does give us His love and the ability to love. 1Cor 13 the Love chapter, what true love is! And it will never fail us or someone. That is why Jesus told the Pharisee that all the laws of God hang on two commands of God. “Love the Lord thy God with all thy hearts, soul, and mind, (first & foremost) and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Mat 22:40 

Don’t fear loving or being loved. 1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love, Because He first loved us. Love Christ first/best and never leave Him Rev 2:4 (church of Eph) or become luke warm to Him. Rev 3:15 (ch of Laodiceans)

1Jn 14:10-11 We are commanded and therefore should love one another because God loves us. Because God first lived us! And is a God of love and for the believer in his new nature is to be the love of God manifest to everyone all the time.

Jesus said; If you live me, love the brethren, a new commandment “that ye love one another” Jn 15:12 and love the unlovely where you can and they will let you. Rom 12:17,18

Now then, here are some things to help you in your lifelong process of maturing spiritually:

1.  Get to Know JESUS more! Phil 3:10 “That you may know him and the power of His 

      Resurrection...” Having a deeper/intimate relationship as His beloved/dearly loved”

Know him, not merely of Him, but who and what He is.

1. That begins with first knowing you are saved and are assured of it. 

1Jn 5:13 “…that ye may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may 

     believe on the name of the Son of God.”

Know his power and the resurrection. Phil 3:10 And so much more, He is the way, the truth and the life. Jn 14:6

Know the fellowship of his sufferings. 

Be with him, we will fellowship in his presence. Our salvation is free to us, but it cost God the best He had, and Jesus gave his all on the cross of Calvary for us. Salvation is free to us but there is a cost to live the saved person's new life for the Lord. Jesus said: There will trials, tribulations, persecutions. These are the marks of a mature Christian. Gal 6:17

2.  Start teaching the truth you know to OTHERS!  Unto edification, esteeming others first.   God gives his churches men/women gifts for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of ministry, and the edifying of the body of Christ, His churches. Eph 4:11,12

Teach and admonish one another. Col 3:16 Through the Word of God that dwells in you, and through psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, with grace in your heart. Teach and admonish with grace in your heart, no a hammer in your hand.

b. 2Tim 2:2 Teach others so they can be teachers. (let the faithful teach the others, 

     who don’t know much, for them to teach one day)

3.  Exercise your SPIRITUAL faculties!  1Cor 12:1-11 Spiritual gifts, we all have at least on from the same one H.S. (including using your natural talents-also from God)

Heb 5:14 Study, be diligent in laboring in the word, a mature Christian desires and has strong meat. Psa 1:3 Exercise/laboring in what you know of the Word of God, it is a sign of a spiritual person.

Be does of the Word you know/study, not just a hearer of what you know. Jam 1:22 You may have heard, you may know, but if you don’t do them, you only deceive yourself. Others see the transparency of your actions contrasting your words.

4.  Depend on the HELP of the Holy Spirit! The comforter, one like himself, to come along side and help us, comfort us.

Jn 14:26 The comforter has come to teach us and help us to remember. He will guide us into all truth. Jn 16:13

Eph 5:18 Don’t do anything in excess, be filled/controlled by the Spirit not by the world, the flesh, or satan.

God is the God of all comfort. 2Cor 1:3 and the God of consolation 2Thes 2:16 Let Him help, let Him comfort, let Him console, depend on the Lord, and trust Him for all your life’s needs, physical and spiritual.

5.  Begin WITNESSING to lost people!  Have a heart for missions! Fulling the Great Commission to the Lord’s churches.

Let us do our part in winning souls.  Prov 11:30 If you have wisdom you will witness. Support Missions, get involved with outreach ministries, etc.

The Lord commands it, and if somebody didn’t do it where would you be today? Mat 28:19; Acts 1:8

Sow in tears, reap in joy. Psa 126:5 Witness because we are commanded to, but better yet witness because it is the desires of our heart, with a burden for the lost. Go where you can and send where you can’t!

CLOSING:  In closing, it can be said: “The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment, but the manufacture of a saint, is the task of a life time.” Are you spiritual? Do people see the marks of Christ in/on you?