Jesus as Lord of our Lives

Just as we grow from being children to adults physically, so we are to grow in maturity in Christ.

To a Mature Attitude - vs. 15-16

What is the attitude?

That we aren’t there yet, but by God’s grace we are pressing on.

Maturity takes this stance.

Immaturity takes other stances

That we are already perfect

That there is no use in trying

Illustration:

A young man I was working with, thought he had it all figured out.

Thought he could carry a box of siding by himself. Hilarious results.

Another case, a young man needed to carry shingles up a ladder to a roof.

Thought there was no way he could do it. Wanted to be given a different task altogether.

We can have this attitude not just about our whole lives - but about areas of our lives as well.

I’ll never have a really good marriage because...

There is nothing I need to work on in my marriage.

I’ll never be a good student of the Bible because...

I really don’t need any Bible study

I’ll never be able to control my tongue because...

I never say anything I shouldn’t!

Now what promise does this scripture give to us when we think wrongly in these ways?

God will reveal it to us!

How?

Through His Word

Applied by His Spirit

Through means

Preaching/Teaching

Scripture reading

relationships with other believers

real-world examples

To a Mature Imitation - vs. 17-19

Real-world examples can be

lessons that we learn the hard way

lessons that we learn from observing and making the connection to truth in our minds.

Lessons we learn from other people, as God’s word is shown to be true in their lives.

Negative Examples - vs. 18-19

Paul gives a reverse-order playbook for this negative example.

Mind set on Earthly Things

not simple-minded, but narrow-minded. Only seeing what they can see and reasoning outward from there.

Not able to see the bigger picture, what do they miss?

That there is a God

That he created with purpose

That he has a plan and intention

Glory in their Shame

When this is the case, what should be shameful becomes glorious in people’s thinking. Do we see this example?

God is their belly

Belly as a picture of desire - appetite. Which can be insatiable.

Like being addicted to sugar - you never get enough.

So it is when we run after all the things of this world, we are never satisfied.

Augustine - “O God, our hearts were made for you, and they are restless until they find their rest in you.

Psalm 90:14 ESV

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Psalm 23:1 ESV

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Their end is Destruction

John 10:10 ESV

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Positive Examples - vs. 17

Paul - Join in imitating me

Keep your eyes on those who follow the example

Two ways to think of this

You are an example, whether you like it or not.

It is not prideful to think of yourself as an example.

Thinking of yourself as an example doesn’t mean you think you are perfect! Paul just stated otherwise.

It is good to look at others as examples.

When God reveals to you that you are immature in an area of your life, you do well to look to those who are.

We learn in our hobbies and professions by watching those ahead of us. So it is in life.

Who are those examples in your life that you can look ahead to? Do you have any?

If not, you should seek to get close to those that can serve as examples.

Caveat - examples can and will fail. And if and when they do, we must not allow our faith to be destroyed. But we must remember our ultimate aim.

To a Mature Aim

To be like Jesus, and to see Jesus as Lord

What is the promise?

He will transform us.

How can he do that?

He is able to subject all things to himself.

To the extreme

Ever knee will bow, every tongue confess. Every sworn enemy and the most evil beings you can imagine and ones you can’t imagine will be subject to Christ.

To bring it close

This Jesus has called you, if you are a believer, his friend.

This all-powerful Lord has wielded his staff for love and correction in your life.

The work is already begun

Our citizenship is in heaven.

The work is in the waiting

From it, we await a Savior

Romans 8:19–21 ESV

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

All of creation in a process of redemption.

There is God’s purpose to be seen even in what seems now to be empty, chaotic, and futile - that it will be full, peaceful, and purposeful.

Romans 8:22–23 ESV

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

All creation groans - God’s word admits, life is painful. It tells us “this is not finished yet!”

Examples, in our own church, in life.

Romans 8:26–28 ESV

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

In moments like these, we don’t even know how to pray.

We fall back on God’s Spirit, who intercedes for us. Taking our cries and our groans, and bringing them to God as a plea for his will to be done.

And that is best, because God is good, his purpose is good, and all things will work for good for those who love God.

Part of knowing Jesus as Lord is knowing that He has power and purpose. That doesn’t immediately take away the pain, but it gives the pain a trajectory.

that trajectory is redemption.

Of our bodies - frail, weak, sinful

Of all creation - groaning, suffering, chaotic, to peace.