We ought to grow up

Introduction

A friend of mine was asked back to his forty-year high school reunion. For months he saved to take his wife back to the place and the people he’d left four decades before. The closer the time came for the reunion, the more excited he became, thinking of all the wonderful stories he would hear about the changes and the accomplishments these old friends would tell him.

One night before he left he even pulled out his old yearbooks, read the silly statements and the good wishes for the future that students write to each other. He wondered what ol’ Number 86 from his football team had done. He wondered if any others had encountered this Christ who had changed him so profoundly. He even tried to guess what some of his friends would look like, and what kind of jobs and families some of these special friends had.

The day came to leave and I drove them to the airport. Their energy was almost contagious. “I’ll pick you up on Sunday evening, and you can tell me all about it,” I said. “Have a great time.”

Sunday evening arrived. As I watched them get off the plane, my friend seemed almost despondent. I almost didn’t want to ask, but finally I said, “Well, how was the reunion?” “Tim,” the man said, “it was one of the saddest experiences of my life.” “Good grief,” I said, more than a little surprised. “What happened?” “It wasn’t what happened but what didn’t happen. It has been forty years, forty years—and they haven’t changed. They had simply gained weight, changed clothes, gotten jobs…but they hadn’t really changed. And what I experienced was maybe one of the most tragic things I could ever imagine about life. For reasons I can’t fully understand, it seems as though some people choose not to change or grow”

There was a long silence as we walked back to the car. On the drive home, he turned to me and said, “I never, never want that to be said of me, Tim. Life is too precious, too sacred, too important. If you ever see me go stagnant like that, I hope you give me a quick, swift kick where I need it—for Christ’s sake. I hope you’ll love me enough to challenge me to keep growing.”

And we as followers of Jesus Christ should always strive to keep growing in Christ.....

Holy Sweat, Tim Hansel, 1987, Word Books Publisher, pp. 54-55[1]

[1]Galaxie Software, 10,000 Sermon Illustrations (Biblical Studies Press, 2002).

Scripture (NASB)

1 Peter 2: 1-3 “Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.”

Title: We ought to grow up

And who better to tell the story about growing in Christ Jesus, than Peter, the beloved follower of Jesus. Peter was perhaps the very first disciple called along with his brother Andrew by Jesus, “to follow him” although he was Galilean fisherman, Peter and his brother dropped everything to follow Jesus, and Jesus told them that He would make them fishers of men. The assignment was already given but Peter didn’t quite understand completely.

I want to point you to a few of the other highlights of Peter’s life: Peter witnessed Jesus teachings, healings, and miracles, Peter got out of the boat and walked on water, Peter told Jesus he would die for Jesus even though he denied Jesus three times, Peter also witnessed the Glory of the Lord during the transfiguration, Peter was the first one to express Jesus identity as “the Son of the living God- the Messiah. Peter was a disciples, then an apostle (sent forth) of Jesus, to one of the most outspoken leaders of the early church spreading the gospel message.

Now before we get to our passage, We see in the book of Acts where Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit, now Peter understood what has happened and He was the first one to preach on the day of Pentecost and 3000 came to repentance and believers of Jesus Christ.

The lowly fisherman became a mighty fisherman of men and one who helped turn the world upside down by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ!!!!!

As we examine the the text that Peter has written to those believers scattered throughout Asia Minor (modern day Turkey)

First, We must understand what God has done for us through Jesus Christ. Our text of scripture today starts with the word “Therefore-”--which is a transitional conjunction which informs us that something took place or was stated prior that needs to be resumed. Listen to (1 Peter 1: 3-5 )“

3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4. to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5. who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Drop down to verse 22 for sake of time

22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,

23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

24 For,

“All flesh is like grass,

And all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

And the flower falls off,

25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

And this is the word which was preached to you.

We need to understand that because of God’s great mercy, he has called you and I to be born again. We didn’t do anything to deserve it, it was by God’s great mercy. He didn’t have to call you or I. For that very reason, you should be humbled because you and I could still be lost in our sins and on our way to destruction. What does it mean to be born again? Born from up above, it is a rebirth in the spirit. Our spirit is alive to God, so we can be obedient to God, and have fellowship with God. We can only worship God in Spirit and in truth. We are only born again when we believe that the only true and living God sent his only begotten son into the world to die and be resurrected for the remission of our sins. Now, we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit for the Glory of God. Do all things for the Glory of God. We were brought with a price, y the precious blood of Jesus that will never, ever loose it’s power. We ought to shout right there!!! Understanding what God has done for us through Jesus Christ is the first step in spiritual growth. We ought to grow up

Our scripture Text

1. Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit, and hypocrisy, and envy, and all slander.

2. Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

3. If you have tasted the kindness of the Lord

Lets break this down

[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Pe 1:22–25.

Second, God requires us to stop living life according to our flesh

Our flesh is in opposition to the love of God and His character. Its self examination time...

Putting aside (rid yourself of these things) all malice (ill-will, hateful feelings, wickedness), all deceit (lying, stop trying to fool people)-don’t we realize that nothing is hidden from God, your very thoughts are on display to God.. hypocrisy (start being sincere, stop play acting), envies (don’t be jealous of others, stop it), and all slander (every type, every kind of evil speech, belittling, insulting, or abusive language, stop it—no exceptions). These characteristics are like dirty clothes, would you keep putting on filthy clothes. When you were a child, your momma probably would have spanked your behind for putting on dirty clothes over and over again, after awhile you start to stink. Stop putting on dirty clothes, you aren’t representing your citizenship accurately.

When we are born again, we have a new citizenship in Christ Jesus. We have a home not made with human hands. We are just passing through this earth but my hope and my desire is to strive to represent God by the power of the Holy Spirit here on earth. I am in Christ Jesus. If we know this then why are we continually putting on these dirty clothes. We ought to grow up.....

Be like newborn babies or children of God. Babies and children are dependent on their parents for food, shelter, and safety. We should be dependent on God, just like babies. Looking to him for all our needs.

Long for the pure milk of the word, meaning we should be craving, the unadulterated word of God, You and I should want the word of God without gimmicks, free from fraud, free from deceit, free from any evil motives, we should want it true and most of all genuine. This is our spiritual nourishment. Have you ever seen a baby that wasn’t feed, or given the nourishment to grow? See the best milk for a baby is breast milk, if that is not available then Similac or Enfamil, milk that is replicated to provide the nourishment like a mother’s breast milk. But it is never quite the same, it is missing some of the nutrients needed for proper cell function, brain function, organ function, etc. If a baby is not feed properly, then we see a medical diagnosis of failure to thrive and this can effect them for the rest of their life. Some of the symptoms include: lack of weight gain, learning disabilities. lack of emotions, irritability, delays in reaching developmental milestones ; such as rolling over, crawling, talking, and walking. And if we are honest, some people in the church have developmental delays from improper nutrition and wearing dirty clothes. We ought to grow up.........

t’s important to get the proper nourishment from the pure word of God which is Jesus Christ and the gospel message which has been given by the Grace of God. It is in this that transformation takes place.

This is how we grow in respect to salvation. That we thrive spiritually which is an ongoing process from deliverance from sin and increasing in love. Growing and understanding that our salvation includes death, judgment and our final deliverance from this evil world.

Lastly, We need to have a personal experience with God

Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”

See Peter had an experience with Jesus Christ for Himself. He didn’t get any second hand knowledge because he was a witness to a relationship showered with the love of God. He understood what price Jesus had paid for his sins. Have you tasted the goodness of God for yourself. Have you amazed at creation? Have you ever stood on the seashore and took in the goodness of GOD, Have you been to any of the seven wonders of the world and knew that only God could create something so beautiful.

Have you ever looked in the mirror and said that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. God knows me and loves me. Have you been in tears or in awe of what God has done for you through Jesus Christ. Have thought about the passion of Christ and all he endured for you? Have you ever looked over your life and stood in amazement that you are still here by the Grace of God. Have you had an experience with Almighty God. I tell you if you have, it will change your life. Have you experienced the goodness of God.

When we look back at Peter the author of this passage. I think about how Jesus after his resurrection, met Peter and asked him if he loved him three times and Peter replied, I love you Lord, I love you, no a little irritated at the third time replies, You know, I love you. He told Peter to “Feed My Sheep” Tend to My Sheep, Feed My Sheep. Well, we see that Peter is doing just that. Feeding and Tending to Jesus Sheep.

Just like the man who went to the reunion, I never want to become stagnant but to seek growth, and always crave the pure milk of God’s word, and stop putting on dirty clothes. Why would anyone in their right mind, think that we could get away with living any kind of way, we decide when God requires otherwise. We would call that mental illness but it really is being led by Satan. Matthew 12:36 ““But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.”

Remember, Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” 2 Cor. 10:5 “We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. God has given us power to control or thoughts.

We ought to grow up.

I going to take my seat, but let me remind you that Jesus nailed it all to the cross, it is finished. You can overcome sin if you desire. One fruit of the Spirit is self-control. We are to have the mind of Christ. We have a duty to live as followers of Jesus Christ.

I leave you with this. Psalm 25:5 “Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.”

Over 2000 years ago, Jesus gave his life so we may have life forever with God. It was not a pretty death, but the brutal death of crucifixion, a crown of thrones was placed on his head. He didn’t say a mumbling word. He was the sheep led to the slaughter for you. God in His Mercy loved you that much.