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*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.
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