In the Spirit: Maturity

Happy Mother’s Day!

thank you moms for being you

you are so important in the lives of your family

take it from someone who has not always appreciated his mom the way she deserves

What do you love most about your mom?

We’re going to read Proverbs 31

if you grew up in church, you already know what this passage is about

if you’re confused because I said we are going to be focusing on Eph 4, don’t worry we’ll swing back around, your bookmark is still needed

Proverbs 31:10–31 ESV

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet. She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is known in the gates when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them; she delivers sashes to the merchant. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Different responses to the passage

Some will find encouragement

Some will feel guilty

Some will believe that they will never measure up

What stood out to you in this passage?

There are a couple of things I want every woman to know this morning

1. You are that woman

You have the potential within you

your family sees it in you, even when you don’t see it in yourself

men, we need to be better at speaking these truths into the women in our lives.

Often use our words for the opposite effect

what your mom or wife is being held back from all she can be because you don’t believe in her? If you do believe in her, are you communicating it?

If no one else sees it, your heavenly father sees it in you

2. You can be that woman

Ephesians 4:12–15 ESV

to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

We are all in this togther

we need to be strong in unity so that we can all grow to maturity together

verse 13 talks about mature manhood. Most translations drop the manhood and talk about growing to maturity.

the Proverbs 31 woman isn’t a place you arrive at, it is a lifelong journey that you grow into

in the same way that Paul committed his life to become more like Christ

the goral is maturity and true maturity comes through the empower and constant connection with the Spirit of God

When Spirit led people come together, recognizing we are all on this path of maturity, we are more inclined to share our victories and encourage each other with what we’ve learned

Maturity protects us from being deceived

Ephesians 4:14–15 ESV

so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Hebrews and Romans repeats

Hebrews 5 talks about moving past spiritual milk and consuming the meat of our faith

Hebrews 13 follows by encouraging us not to deceived, but that the heart grows through grace given to us

Romans says that there are scales on the eyes of people so that they can’t see the truth, even when it is right in front of them.

We grow in spiritual maturity together, and as we do, we become less susceptible to the lies of this world and the lies of the enemy.

we must not complacenet in our faith

Ladies, you are the Proverbs 31 woman

church, let us be eager for unity, and let us be great at building one another up to spiritual maturity.