sf676 - HOW TO MEASURE YOUR MATURITY (James 1 2-4)
SF676
How to Measure Your Maturity
Introduction
The Problem of Immaturity
Without a doubt, probably the number one cause of problems in the world is immaturity
The number one marriage problem is people just need to grow up. They are acting immature.
God's will for every person is that we grow.
Hebrews 6:1, "Let us go on to maturity."
That is one of the purposes of our church.
What Maturity is Not…
Maturity is not how old you are.
Maturity is not how you look.
Maturity has nothing to do with what you accomplish
Maturity has nothing to do with education.
God says maturity is attitude
It is your character.
D. L. Moody said, "Character is what you are in the dark." Reputation is what people say about you, character is what God knows about you
How do you measure spiritual maturity?
The book of James is a manual on maturity.
"mature" = "teleaos" -- complete, perfect.
James uses this word five times in five chapters
1A. A MATURE PERSON IS POSITIVE UNDER PRESSURE (1:2-4)
1B. A Mature Person does not get Blown Away by Problems
Do problems blow you away?
Do you get nervous, uptight, and negative?
Do you grumble and gripe?
2B. A Mature Person understands that Problems are a Part of Life
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10 NIV)
Life means problems.
Ø Part of life means solving problems and facing them with the right attitude.
3B. A Mature Person will not allow His Problems to determine His Attitude
What is your natural bent when things do not go right and you're irritated?
Are you negative or are you positive?
Are you a supportive person or are you a skeptical person?
Is your life filled with gratitude or grumbling?
Are you affirmative or are you angry most of the time?
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12 NIV)
2A A Mature Person is Considerate and Concerned about Others (2:8)
1B. A Mature Person will put the needs of Others First
He does not have to be the center of his universe
He sees and understands the needs and hurts of others.
2B. A Mature Person does not Play Favorites (2:1-7)
Don't show favoritism - Don't be a snob
Don't look down on people - Don't judge by appearance
3B. A Mature Person treats others as He would treat Jesus!
Matthew 25, Jesus says, `I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and in prison and you visited me.' We'll say, `When, Lord, when did we do that? When were you sick and we visited you? When were you in prison and when were you thirsty and we gave you drink?' Jesus said, `Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these, my brethren, you have done it unto Me.'"
In the Matthew 25 judgement, the one thing we will be judged for is how we treated other people.
Not how many Bible verses we knew, how many times we were in church, not what great a reputation we had
But how we treated other people.
3A. A Mature Person has Mastered His Mouth (3:2)
1B. A Mature Person Knows when to Keep His Mouth Shut!
The first thing a doctor will say when you go for a check up is "Stick out your tongue." He uses your tongue to check your health. God does that spiritually, too.
In World War II, "Loose lips, sink ships."
Definition of gossip: hearing something you like about somebody you don't
2B. A Mature Person Knows that Self-control Begins with Tongue Control. (3:3-12)
Often we get ourselves in trouble when we say things without thinking
We get ourselves in trouble when we say what we are thinking
3B. A Mature Person Uses His Tongue to Build Others Up not to Tear Them Down
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, …." (Ephesians 4:29 NIV)
"People who think they are religious but say things they should not say are just fooling themselves. Their "religion" is worth nothing." (James 1:26 NCV)
4B. A Mature Person Reflects a Christ-like Attitude in Everything He Says!
"… speaking the truth in love..." (Ephesians 4:15 NIV)
Means to speak with the right attitude, at the right timing, in the right place, with the right motive.
4A. A Mature Person is a Peacemaker not a Trouble Maker (4:1)
1A. A Mature Person's Life is not Filled with Conflict
Am I a peacemaker? Am I a troublemaker?
Ø Do I like to argue? Am I a contentious person? Do I get my feelings hurt? Do I get defensive easily? Do I hurt other people's feelings
The mark of a mature person is the lack of conflict in his own life.
2B. A Mature Person is not Selfish (4:3)
When I want what I want then I'm going to have conflict with somebody. - The issue is pride.
How do you know if a person is immature?
Listen to their prayers.
Ø If their prayers are always self centered, if this is the only kind of prayer you pray, that's immature.
Do you pray for other people?
"Pride only leads to arguments…." (Proverbs 13:10 NCV)
3B. A Mature Person is not Judgmental (4:11-12)
Why I should not judge?
Ø I am not God. When you judge somebody it's playing God
Ø Only God has all the facts, you do not and neither do I. When I judge you, I do not have all the facts.
Ø I don't know the motives
5A. A Mature Person is Patient and Prayerful
(James 5:7,11, 16) "Be patient then, brothers, until the Lord's coming... (11) As you know, we consider blessed those who persevere." (16) "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
Circle "patient" and "prayer".
Those are the two key words in chapter five.
Ø "Patient" is used four times
Ø "Prayer" is used seven times
Ø Those two go together. They express an attitude of dependence upon God.
1B. A Mature Person is willing to Wait on God! (5:7-9)
He gives the illustration of the farmer.
Ø There are no overnight crops.
Just as a farmer has to wait, sometimes we have to wait.
Ø We have to wait on God in answer to prayer.
Ø We have to wait on God for a miracle.
Ø We have to wait on God to work in our lives
We need to learn the difference between "no" and "not yet."
2B. A Mature Person will not Give Up! (5:16-18)
Elijah never gave up!
Victory finally came!
Action Points
1. How do you handle problems? Do you get uptight, negative, grumble, grip, and complain? Or are you positive under pressure?
2. Are you considerate and concerned about other people? Are you concerned about their needs, desires, cares, hurts, or do you only see yourself? Do you only pray for yourself or do you pray for others?
3. Can you manage your mouth? Have you learned to put a muzzle on it sometimes and just not speak? When you have a juicy tidbit of gossip and it is tempting because knowledge is power, do you share it -- "... so you can pray about it." You can damage people just by innuendo. Managing your mouth is a mark of maturity.
4. Are you a troublemaker or are you a peacemaker? Do you have a tendency to stir things up? Do you have a hair trigger temper where someone can tick you off quickly? Do you carry a grudge? Do you find yourself nursing bitterness? Or are you a peacemaker? Have you learned, like Ephesians says, "Let no corrupt communication, no corrupt talk come out of your mouth, but only that which builds up for the edification of others according to their needs."
5. How long can you wait for an answer to prayer without giving up? Maybe God has every intention of giving it but He's waiting to teach you maturity.
How To Measure Your Maturity
Developing a Faith That Works
April 6, 1997 p.m.- Tim McGhee
1A. A Mature Person is __________________________
"Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance and perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything." James 1:2-4
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." James 1;12
2A A Mature Person is ____________________ and _____________________ about Others (2:8)
"If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, `Love your neighbor as yourself' you are doing right." James 2:8
See James 2:1-6, 14-16
3A. A Mature Person has ______________ His Mouth (3:2)
"We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." James 3:2
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, …." (Ephesians 4:29 NIV)
"People who think they are religious but say things they should not say are just fooling themselves. Their "religion" is worth nothing." (James 1:26 NCV)
4A. A Mature Person is a ___________ not a ______________________ (4:1)
"What causes fight and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?" James 4:1
A Mature Person's Life is not ______ with _______
A Mature Person is not ____________ (4:3)
"Pride only leads to arguments…." (Proverbs 13:10 NCV)
A Mature Person is not _______________ (4:11-12)
5A. A Mature Person is __________ and _____________
(James 5:7,11, 16) "Be patient then, brothers, until the Lord's coming... (11) As you know, we consider blessed those who persevere." (16) "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
1B. A Mature Person is willing to ______ on God! (5:7-9)
2B. A Mature Person will not ________! (5:16-18)
How do you rate your maturity?