3 Marks of Maturity

3 Marks of Maturity

Intro

Don’t go with the flow…fight.  Rafting (Otterslide walk against current…Going to Big Smokey)

Life is a war…a constant raging war.  To get anywhere you have to walk against the currents, you have to go against the flow.  As you fight you will be growing and learning. 

1 John 2:12-14(NKJV)  

Babies

I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake…. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father…

Those who have just come into relationship with Christ you can celebrate because your sins are forgiven and you have a new life.  You have been invited to intimacy with Daddy God who has nothing but your best interests in mind and the power to make it happen!

Teenagers

I write to you, young men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. ..I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one…

To those who have walked with Jesus for a little while, you still rejoice in knowing Him, but have a greater understanding of what it means to serve Him.  We are in hostile territory.  Not only are our own desires against us, but the world, as well as a powerful enemy.  But young men and women of God you have overcome those things, and are still fighting.

One thing to remember in the midst of the fight is this:  We have already won the war!  We cannot be defeated, we cannot be overcome if we don’t permanently give up. 

Overcomers of Self

Probably the hardest and most consistent battle in life is the fight within your soul (mind)

To govern yourself and your thoughts

“well I’m Italian, I’m Puerto Rican, I’m this, I’m that” like it explains your immature out of control behavior…no Sucker!  You are a child of God separated unto Him to give Him glory and honor with your life…live like it!

So many get discouraged because they think that there is no way they can win…that there is just too much sin too much defeat.  Listen increase you faith tonight “with God all things are possible.”  “Nothing is impossible with God”  “If God is for you, who can be against you.”  All you have to do is fight the battle that’s right in front of you.

Talking to a friend of mine last week who was discouraged.  Don’t fight the “war,” fight the battle in front of you.  Realize in a war you will gain AND lose ground.  War is made up of a bunch of battles at different times.

Cool thing is that even when we lose a battle…we still win.  Not only have we already won the war, but even we lose a battle we learn lessons, we grow and get stronger.  We cannot lose or be overcome if we hold on!

Overcomers of the World

1 John 5:4(NKJV) "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith."

That’s how we are supposed to be living…like overcomers.

Romans 8:37(NKJV) "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

1 Peter 2:9(NKJV) "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;"

now more than ever is this verse true!

Adults

I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.

Each level builds on the previous one and incorporates it.  Though you may be an adult spiritually you never stop rejoicing that you are a new creation, and the simple fact that you know Him.  You never stop fighting and overcoming…life is a battle.  But there is a strength and a peace that comes with faithfulness.

You have the ability to say with passion, conviction AND TRUTH that no matter what comes your way you will bless the Lord because you have seen His goodness in the storms of life

You have stood, your foundation has proved true, though other houses have washed away with the storms…there you are, and not an ounce of pride within you.  The storms took that away.

Listen to me people you will get there.  Dig deep, fight the battle in front of you, not the whole war at once, just the battle in front of you.

Altar/Summary

Some have come back from rafting only to find Satan sitting on their front porch with a bunch of grenades. 

1 Peter 4:12(NLT) "Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you."

Understand this that when you suffer a defeat or the battle wounds are just too much, you can run and hide in Him…He is your refuge in times of trouble.  And it isn’t a sign of weakness, because we have no strength of our own.  Don’t let pride keep you in the path of a semi-truck barreling down on you.