Indications of Infancy

1 Corinthians 3:1–4 NKJV

1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?

Indications of Infancy

Series on Growth

There is a necessity of the New Birth

Jesus expounded on this to Nicodemus:

o The Necessity of the New Birth

§ Nicodemus and his search for eternal life

without this a man cannot even see the kingdom of heaven

§ Our Lord’s startling revelation on the new birth

Explaining the new birth to a religious man ()

This cannot be understood through “religion” and ritual.

Must be received through faith, and belief.

§ Explaining the new birth to a religious man (John 3)

God’s Plan is Birth, Growth, and Maturity

If there is a New birth, it follows that there should also be growth, and a coming to maturity.

o God’s Plan is Birth, Growth, and Maturity

We recognize this immediately in the physical realm

This was even true of Jesus:

§ We recognize this immediately in the physical realm

;

He was born, He grew, He came to maturity.

· This was even true of Christ

We see it in our children. We expect growth and development.

We provide vitamins … utmost care … trips to the doctor

· We see it in our children. We expect growth and development. Vitamins … utmost care … trips to the doctor

But spiritual growth is so often neglected

So much attention until conversion … then neglect

§ But spiritual growth is often neglected

· Much attention until conversion … then neglect

Some Christians remain infants for many years

The Corinthians were like this: They had not grown

· Some remain infants for many years

Paul wanted to speak to them as spiritual adults, but he couldn’t

He said instead that they were still babes.

§ The Corinthian catastrophe: They had not grown

How Can we Recognize Spiritual Infancy?

o How Can we Recognize Spiritual Infancy?

· Body

And, I should ask: Do we want to recognize it?

o The Spiritual Infant is Concerned with Self Rather than Service

The Spiritual Infant is Concerned with Self Rather than Service

for many spiritual infants, Christianity beyond self has not even come to mind.

§ The time of great rejoicing at birth … or salvation

There is a time of great rejoicing at birth … or salvation

· In heaven and here … snatched from the burning

In heaven and here … snatched from the burning

· Delivered from destruction so all attention is on him

Delivered from destruction so all attention is on him

Same is true with natural birth: all eyes on the baby

§ Same is true with natural birth: all eyes on the baby

§ Getting accustomed to attention

Babies get accustomed to attention

· Pampering the baby and the results

Pampering the baby and the results

· Walking the floor night after night

Walking the floor night after night

An infant is upset over the smallest things

§ An infant is upset over the smallest things

· Some Christians have to be handled with kid gloves

Some Christians have to be handled with kid gloves

They become aggravated, or even enraged at the simplest “perceived sleight”

You can lose their fellowship and respect at the drop of a hat

they can’t be told anything they don’t want to hear

have to be coddled and pampered all the time, or they have a tantrum

If you can be easily upset by others, you are probably a spiritual baby.

If you are getting upset regularly by others, then you are probably a spiritual baby

As Christians, it should be difficult to upset us.

· They wear their feelings on their sleeves

Spiritual Babies wear their feelings on their sleeves

· They are like bombs … always ready to explode

They are like bombs … always ready to explode

o At church extra nice, but at home explosive

At church extra nice, but at home explosive

At church she’s ideal, but at home impossible

o At church she’s ideal, but at home impossible

At church he’s always praising, but at home pouting

o At church he’s always praising, but at home pouting

At church he’s Mr. Good, but at home Mr. Grouch

o At church he’s Mr. Good, but at home Mr. Grouch

At church she’s an example, but at home exasperating

o At church she’s an example, but at home exasperating

The infant is a receiver … not a giver

§ The infant is a receiver … not a giver

The spiritual infant examines everything as a receiver

· The spiritual infant examines everything as a receiver

· Fussing over rights

Fussing over rights

The Spiritual Infant is Concerned with Argument Rather than Action

o The Spiritual Infant is Concerned with Argument Rather than Action

Envying, strife, divisions are his occupation

§ Envying, strife, divisions are his occupation

Perhaps the most underestimated sin in our lives is strife

§ Perhaps the most underestimated sin in our lives is strife

· Galatians 5:19–21; Philippians 1:27; 2:1–4

a. ; ;

· Colossians 3:8–13; 1 Thessalonians 3:12; 2 Thessalonians 1:3–4

b. ; ;

Philippians 1:27 NKJV

27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

Galatians 5:19–21 NKJV

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Philippians 2:1–4 NKJV

1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

phil2.1-4

2 Thessalonians 1:3–4 NKJV

3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, 4 so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,

§ Have you ever watched children fight?

Have you ever watched children fight?

They always think they are right -

and its always over things that just don’t matter anyway

how much like bickering children are so many Christians - imagine the Lord looking on ...

§ It is always easier to be part of the faction than to get into the action

It is always easier to be part of the faction than to get into the action

Its easier to be part of the strife that to rise above it

Think about this for a moment:

How many “striving” situations have you been involved in this year? Last year?

Was it really worth it?

How would a grown up Spiritual person have responded? How would Jesus?

§ Easier to grumble than to go, easier to argue than to act

Easier to grumble than to go, easier to argue than to act

o The Spiritual Infant Looks to People Rather than to the Master

The Spiritual Infant Looks to People Rather than to the Master

“I am of Paul …”

§ “I am of Paul …”

§ The infant’s world: mother, father, baby sitter

The infant’s world: mother, father, baby sitter

§ If mother and father do not respond, he despairs and screams

If mother and father do not respond, he despairs and screams

§ The spiritual infant looks to human resources

The spiritual infant looks to human resources

The person who led him to Christ

· The person who led him to Christ

· The evangelist who preached a special sermon

The evangelist who preached a special sermon

· Many miles to hear a singer, a preacher, a program … but can’t get to an evening service or prayer meeting

Many miles to hear a singer, a preacher, a program … but can’t get to an evening service or prayer meeting

We have been Born Again, now we should Grow Up

· Conclusion

1 Corinthians 13:11 NKJV

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

1 Corinthians 13:11 NKJV

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

1 Corinthians 13:11–12 NKJV

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

1 Corinthians 13:9 NKJV

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

Ephesians 4:14–15 NKJV

14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

eph4.

III. Conclusion

o What Does the Spiritual Infant Need?

§ To look to Christ

What Does the Spiritual Infant Need?

§ To begin building

To look to Christ

§ To remember the judgment seat of Christ

To begin building

To remember the judgment seat of Christ

o Isn’t it Time to Grow Up?

Isn’t it Time to Grow Up?