Spiritual Maturity

Be Filled With Spiritual Wisdom

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 1

For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the cknowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding

Paul prayed that the church at Colossia would be filled with the knowledge of His will. The greek word for filled is (pleroo) to be filled (supplied) v. — to be or become generously supplied with; also in a metaphorical sense. It is like a ship that is about to go on a journey and is filled with the supplies necessary to make the voyage. We are on a voyage of life and must be adequately supplied with the knowledge of God’s will in order to complete the voyage.

The only way to get supplied is to get in His Word. God reveals His will in His Word. He has a general will that one will discover as you read the Bible holistically. This means that you begin to understand the theme of the Bible from the Old and New Testament. His will is to receive glory from His creation. This comes through Understanding the Character of God. He is loving and He is Just. He demonstrates His love by giving us mercy and grace form our sin through His Son Jesus Christ.

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

God created all things perfectly. They were not tainted by sin. Man chose to rebel against God and everything was affected by sin. God sent Jesus to redeem and reconcile man back to God and restore all things back to their original state of perfection. Those that are willing to receive the God’s gift are to share the gift of reconciliation with others.

17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,

5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7 He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. 8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Another will of God is His specific will. This is how His will is accomplished in certain situations. In order to know how to affect a certain situation with the will of God you must know the will of God. This can only be found by studying God’s Word. God’s Word has absolute principles for every situation you will face. You discover these as you spend time in His word. Tell story about time Colonial was about to crash. I had a lot of stock and options with Colonial. I saw the danger of holding the stock, but told myself that everything would be okay. It was not and I lost everything. The Lord showed me in the middle of what should I do with the stock. A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, The naive proceed and pay the penalty. The danger that I faced was thinking that this would not happen to me. It did and I paid the price. This is a danger that we all face. God’s Word is absolute and true!

Walk In A Manner Worthy Of The Lord

It is not enough to know the will of God, it is equally important to do the will of God

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 1

so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, bto please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 1

so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, bto please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

What you know about the will of God is of no value if you fail to do the will of God. The general perception in religion, typically is the more you know the more religious you are. This might be the case with religion but it is not the case in being a follower of Christ.

It is only when you follow Christ that you are able to please the Father. Jesus states that it is only by abiding in Him that we can please the Father. God said about his Son, “ and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” If we are to follow Jesus, we must do what He says. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

So what are the commands of Jesus

Love - A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Repent - From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Put God First - But seek first is kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Forgive - Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.

Deny Yourself - Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

Good Works -Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

By following the commands of Jesus you will bear fruit for God.

Mature In Your Character.

Steadfastness

This means long-suffering. It typically deals with people. Another connotation is that it is self-restraint. Are you able to deal with people without losing your temper. It is the idea of remaining calm with people that tend to get on your nerves.

It also means that you are able to stay with someone that is struggling. You don’t give up no matter how bad it gets. I am afraid too many couples give up on their marriage too soon. They are not willing to long suffer with each other. Divorce is the easier option.

Patience

Patience is more situational where steadfastness deals with people. Patience is enduring a situation without giving up. Dr. V Raymond Edman, late president of Wheaton College said , “It is always too soon to quit.” We must keep going when the going gets tough.

Some people may give up on a job because it is too hard. Some people may quit school because it was more difficult than they anticipated. Some people will quit a team if someone better than them gets more playing time.

Joy

A mature Christians joy is not dictated by external forces or situations. A mature Christian finds joy in every situation because their joy is rooted in their relationship with Christ.

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

3 what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.

Thankfulness

Our thankfulness is rooted in our humbleness. We are owed nothing in life, but God chooses to richly bless us. It is when we have an entitlement mentality that we lose our thankfulness. The fact that God gives common grace to all is something to be thankful for. The fact that God gives saving grace is something to be ecstatic about. The very fact that Jesus offers forgiveness of sin and eternal life trumps everything that we don’t have. A mature christian can be thankful in every situation.

18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.