06AM October 8 Psalm 92 12
October 8, 2006—Morning Worship
Growing More Godly Every Day – Part 2
What Does Spiritual Maturity Look Like?
The Characteristics of Spiritually Mature Believers
Psalm 92:12
Intro: READ Psalm 92 12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
You may be asking yourself, “What does this have to do w/me today? How could this verse possibly apply to my life?” It’s helpful when studying the Bible to look at the various words you don’t understand & to intensely study subjects w/which you are not familiar. This comparison of the righteous to trees that grow in Palestine is a perfect example.
The palm tree is a tree w/which you may be familiar b/c they do grow in America in the warmer climates. But the palm trees of which the Psalmist speaks grow in abundance in what we call the Middle East.
1. They grow to heights of 60-100 feet; their feathery like branches grow 6-8 feet long.
2. Its not uncommon for these palm trees to live between 100-200 years.
3. & all that time they are “flourishing.” That word means, “to bud, to sprout, to send out shoots, to blossom.”
4. & the original language is written in such a way to mean that as long as the tree exists it’s going to flourish; it’s going to sprout; it’s going to grow.
The cedar tree is a tree that’s known for its fragrant wood. But that’s not necessarily why the Psalmist chose to use it as an example here.
1. The cedar trees of Lebanon grow to reach heights of 100 feet & have trunks that measure as much as 50 feet in circumference!
2. The wood of the cedar tree is insect & rot-resistant & is knot free & perfect for building.
This comparison becomes even more meaningful when you look back at (READ) v. 7 When the wicked spring up like grass, & when all the workers of iniquity flourish, it is that they may be destroyed forever. The word of God compares the wicked to the flimsy, unstable, weak, short-lived grass of the field. But it compares the righteous to the big, strong, stable, long-lived trees.
IOW, the righteous, those who place their trust in God & walk in obedience to Him, continually grow like trees. They are strong, resistant to the ways & consequences of sin. & they influence the world around them by changing the environment from harsh to peaceful.
& that’s what spiritual growth is all about! It’s progress toward that which is pleasing to God!
If you’re going to experience spiritual growth, you need to know what Christian maturity looks like according to God’s design.
So we want to build on this idea from the Psalmist, about the righteous growing like the trees of the East, so that we may get a handle on what God expects from His children.
In the book, Spiritual Leadership, J. Oswald Sanders makes this observation: “Spiritual maturity is not easy to define, but you can tell when it is present. It is the fragrance of the garden of the Lord, the power to change the atmosphere around you, the influence that makes Christ real to others.” Sanders, goes on to say, that there is a difference between the characteristics of spiritually mature believers & natural maturity.
Natural Maturity Spiritual Maturity
1. Self-confident- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Confident in God
2. Knows men- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Knows God
3. Makes own decisions- - - - - - - - - - - - Seeks God’s will
4. Ambitious- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Humble
5. Follows own desires- - - - - - - - - - - - - Follows Jesus’ example
6. Delights in commanding others- - - - - Delights in obeying God
7. Motivated by personal preferences- - -Motivated by love for God & others
8. Independent- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -God-dependent
So briefly today from examples in the Bible, we want to see these characteristics & learn how they should be developed & displayed in our daily lives.
1. Turn to Psalm 37 where we will find an example from the OT in the life of David.
Notice…
A. David’s Confidence in God (READ v. 7 & v. 34a).
Rest=be still, silent; Wait=wait for longingly; Wait=look for eagerly; all imperatives
B. David’s Intimate knowledge of God (READ vv. 18-19).
He knows his wisdom; ability; plan—His care; Satisfied=filled & excess; provision
C. David’s Seeking the will of God (READ v. 23).
Lord is in control; God delights in obedience & his desire please God (man after)
D. David’s Humility before God (READ vv. 5-6 & vv. 39-40).
Man’s nothing—God is everything; power; grace; salvation; will deliver b/c of faith
E. David’s Following the example of the Son of God (READ vv. 30-31).
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks—good heart; good talk
F. David’s Joy in obeying God (READ vv. 3-4).
No greater joy than to delight yourself in the Lord—He fills heart w/joy; peace
G. David’s Motivation by the love of God (READ vv. 16-17).
God’s love is so great it motivates us to seek/satisfied/love Him & others as He
H. David’s Being dependent on God (READ vv. 9-11).
Little/nothing we can do about the wicked—so we live for/by/in God; all in all
2. Turn to Philippians 3 where we will find an example from the NT in the life of Paul.
Notice…
A. Paul’s Confidence in God (READ v. 7).
Paul’s pedigree produced a Pharisee—Savior’s sacrifice secured a saint
B. Paul’s Intimate knowledge of God (READ v. 8 & v. 10).
His supreme desire was to know God thru Jesus more & more
C. Paul’s Seeking the will of God (READ v. 12b & v. 13b).
“I’m pressing on! I’m making progress! I’m trusting Him! I’m seeking His way!”
D. Paul’s Humility before God (READ v. 12a & v. 13a).
It’s not me, it’s Him! I’m nothing, He’s everything! W/o Him we can do nothing!
E. Paul’s Following the example of the Son of God (READ v. 9).
He looked to Christ as Christ looked to God—always pleasing Him; His righteous
F. Paul’s Joy in obeying God (READ v. 14).
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “When Christ calls a man He bids him come & die!”
G. Paul’s Motivation by the love of God (READ v. 15a).
As one man; one unit; one body; one mature, powerful, effective believer—love!
H. Paul’s Being dependent on God (READ vv. 1-3).
We are totally dependent on the God of all potential—He can deliver; He’s able!
3. Another example from recent history in the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
1. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was born on Feb. 4, 1906 in Breslau, Germany.
2. The influence of his remarkable personal life & his authorship of several books gained him a place of prominence in 20th century theological history.
3. Bonhoeffer was a young Lutheran pastor who joined the underground convinced it was his duty as a Christian to work for Hitler’s defeat.
4. He was in fact, executed for conspiring to kill Hitler. That execution taking place on April 9th, 1945 in the concentration camp at Flossenberg, just a few days before it was liberated by the allied forces.
5. Bonhoeffer was 39 years old when he died, yet he wrote w/spiritual wisdom far beyond his years.
6. READ highlighted portions on pages 45-48 of The Cost of Discipleship
7. READ highlighted portions on pages 63-64 & 68-69
8. In these brief sections, we can hear of Bonhoeffer’s confidence in God & intimate knowledge of God & humility before God.
9. We can hear him following the example of Jesus & his joy at obeying Him.
10. & we are convinced his motivation is fueled by the love of God & it’s evident that Bonhoeffer depended solely on God to see him through the turmoils of his life.
4. Another example from the present day in the life of Billy Graham.
1. Billy Graham was born Nov. 7, 1918 near Charlotte
2. His parents were members at a local Presbyterian Church & Billy was baptized by sprinkling early in 1919 when he was least than 1 year old.
3. In 1934, when Billy was 16, an evangelist named Mordecai Ham, held a tent revival meeting in Charlotte, stirring up controversy by charging morals were lax at the local high school.
4. Billy attended the meetings partly b/c of the controversy & there God gloriously saved him.
5. In 1936 he attended Bob Jones University but couldn’t adjust to life on campus
6. & in Jan. of 1937 Billy attended the Florida Bible Institute from which he graduated in 1940.
7. While at the FBI, he became convicted that he should be baptized by immersion & the VP of FBI baptized him
8. In Dec. of 1938, while preaching a revival at Peniel Baptist Church in E. Palatka, FL, Graham was baptized again as a member of that church (SBC) & he’s been a SB since.
9. In 1943 Graham took his 1st & only pastorate at the Baptist Church in Western Springs, IL, a suburb of Chicago.
10. That same year he began work w/YFC & served for 4 years as a main speaker.
11. At the end of 1949 Graham suddenly came to national prominence b/c a local underworld figure & prominent DJ came to faith at an evangelistic rally he held in LA.
12. Since its incorporation the BGEA has held evangelistic crusades all over the world, produced religious films, begun radio stations to broadcast the gospel, trained Christians from all walks of life how to share their faith, etc. etc.
13. I believe Billy Graham stands as one who is confident in God, who knows God, who is seeking the will of God; a man of humility who follows Christ & rejoices in obeying Him. He is a man motivated by the love of God & his concern for the souls of men & he is utterly dependant on God.
Conclusion: Do you know someone, even in this church, who has served as an inspiration to you? Someone who is confident in God & knows Him intimately; someone who seeks the will of God in humility & rejoices in obeying Him? Someone who is motivated by the love of God & their love for others & someone who is utterly dependent on God? These are those who are spiritually mature & who are living examples of what God can do & will do in & through the lives of those who surrender to Him.
Could your life serve as that kind of influence for others? Are you truly growing spiritually? Are you really grasping the meaning of the Scriptures & then living out those truths in your life?
Invitation: God has us here today for the purpose of examining our lives in light of His word. He has us here today to make clear to us just where we stand on the road to holiness. Are you making progress toward being more like God? Or are you just the same as you were last year?
If God has shown you areas of your life in which your growth is stagnant, will you come today in repentance & offer yourself in sacrificial surrender to the Savior of your soul?
If God has revealed to you your great need for salvation today, would you come in repentance of sin & place your faith in the only acceptable sacrifice for sin—Jesus Christ. Would you today, stop depending on your own abilities & trust in Christ to save you?
Remember the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “When Christ calls a man He bids him come & die.” & “only he who believes is obedient, & only he who is obedient believes.”
Hymn 288 Where He Leads Me