Spiritual maturity

The pursuit of spiritual maturity should be the goal of all Christians. We must be transformed as we learn to walk in Christ (Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:1).

As preachers and teachers, we must help our fellow Christians grow spiritually by guiding them through God's Word and teaching them to learn on their own.

Spiritual growth is only possible through Christ. His grace, mercy and longsuffering empower us to endure and the Word guides us through the darkness (John 8:12).

Immersing ourselves in the power of Scripture, we learn the dangerous methods of Satan and how to overcome them (2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 5:8; Ephesians 6:10-17). Christianity is about learning to make sound decisions as we apply God's Word in the small and large moments of life.

The Holy Spirit lays out in the Bible the perpetual conflict between the spiritual and the fleshly (1 Corinthians 2:13-16). For example, the spiritual will have us love our enemies while the fleshly has us pursuing vengeance (Matthew 5:44).

Jesus consistently exposed this dichotomy. While Jesus taught spiritual lessons, the crowds heard only the fleshly and misunderstood what he was saying (John 6:26-67). The apostles were not immune to this weakness, either (Acts 1:6).

• Will we do God's will or our own?
• Will we follow the flesh or walk in the spirit?
• Will we pursue the spiritual or the pleasurable?
• Will we invest in the spiritual or the fleshly world?

Scripture is filled with teachings on how to discern between the spiritual and the fleshly (John 13; Romans 7:11-25; 14:1-8; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, et al). We learn to place a greater emphasis on our soul and less on our earthly possessions (Matthew 6:19-21).

"When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, 'Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me'" (Mark 8:34, NKJV).

The Gospel of John is saturated with this teaching, and we should do a diligent study of the text because our soul is far more important than anything else we have (Matthew 16:26).

by Richard Mansel, managing editor - http://forthright.net/2013/03/26/spiritual-maturity/

 

Proverbs 20:15

"There is gold, and an abundance of jewels; But the lips of knowledge are a
more precious thing" (Proverbs 20:15 NASB). There are many things that are
valuable in this world, but wisdom is above them all. Yet, people in general
are more eager to obtain earthly riches that spiritual wisdom. Our
priorities should be hearing and speaking wise words rather than laying up
treasures on earth.

by Jeremy Sprouse

Proverbs 20:14

"'Bad, bad,' says the buyer, But when he goes his way, then he boasts"
(Proverbs 20:14 NASB). People are especially prone to lying and
misrepresenting the facts when it comes to money. This proverb is an
observation or a warning to an inexperienced trader on what happens when
people trade and haggle over items. The buyer obviously wants to get a lower
price so he makes the product out to be no good, but secretly he is pleased
with the deal and lets all his friends know about it. Even today, when we
find a good deal we often like to talk about it. Since we do not haggle much
today, we normally face the reverse of this proverb--the sellers claiming
their products are better than they are in reality. I'm continually amazed
how every single car is receiving some kind of best in class award from
somebody or other. There are bottles marked fresh mountain spring water that
come from tap water. Many products have unverified and falsified claim. When
it comes down to it, almost every commercial is a lie because it is trying
to convince us we need something we don't really need. Often, we would like
to have it, but we don't need it. Don't let commercials make you discontent
with what you have. Their products aren't as good as they say they are
anyways.

Jeremy Sprouse

Proverbs 20:11

"It is by his deeds that a lad distinguishes himself If his conduct is pure
and right" (Proverbs 20:11 NASB). It it not our fashion sense or our ability
to brag that distinguishes ourselves, but what we do. Just as hearing the
word without obeying it is useless (cf. Matthew 7:24-27, James 1:22-25), so
is professing what you are going to do without actually doing it. It isn't
just action that we need to be paying attention to, however, but what
actions we are doing. Doing what is pure and right is what will distinguish
us from the rest of the world. Anything else will show us to be following
the crowd.

Jeremy Sprouse

Proverbs 20:8

"A king who sits on the throne of justice disperses all evil with his eyes"
(Proverbs 20:8 NASB). Governments are intended to be God's ministers to
punish and discourage evil practices (cf. Romans 13:3-4). A person who does
wrong should be afraid when they are examined and a person who is innocent
should not have to fear justice. It may be that we are unjustly accused and
suffer for it (whether in the legal court or the social one), but we should
make certain we are suffering for what is right and not for wrong doing (cf.
1 Peter 2:19-20, 3:17, 4:15-16).

Jeremy Sprouse

Proverbs 20:4

"The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, so he begs during the harvest
and has nothing" (Proverbs 20:4 NASB). If you don't work when you are
supposed to, you won't get paid when you need it. The sluggard is one who
does not work when he should, but still wants to reap the benefits. The
autumn was when they harvested so there was an abundance at this time.
Whenever we have an abundance our tendency is to kick our heels back and
relax, and that is exactly what the sluggard does. This was the best time,
however, to start plowing and preparing for the next year. Since he didn't
see the need to work or want to go through the effort, he will not bring in
a good harvest the next year. This is a definite danger today, many do not
work or set aside for the future. Even worse, many compound this problem
racking up debt which will one day have to be paid. The future is grim if we
don't use our time and resources wisely now.

Jeremy Sprouse

Alabama versus Notre Dame Brent Musburger

Alabama was handling Notre Dame handily.  There was not much to notice on the field, so Brent Musburger observed the Tide signal-caller's girlfriend in the stands, saying, "You quarterbacks, you get all the good-looking women.  What a beautiful woman."  Kirk Herbstreit agreed, and the cameramen could not show her enough.  By now, many have heard that her Twitter followers jumped from 2,300 that morning to 96,000 by night's end.  She's a celebrity favorite, and she will appear in a reality show, perhaps on "Dancing With The Stars," and the ever-lascivious Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition this year (via http://www.ibtimes.com).  I mention this certainly not to endorse a woman whose prior greatest claim to fame, besides her attachment to A.J. McCarron, being finishing sixth in the Miss Alabama contest.  She epitomizes our culture's obsession with sexuality and the body (Paul urges the godly woman to accentuate the inward, spiritual self in 1 Timothy 2:9-10).

 

My point in bringing her up is to show the power of the "right" word spoken at the "right" time.  Musburger had a national audience and he had something to talk about that was of interest to many of those listeners.  Certainly, Ms. Webb, as she assesses from a carnal standpoint, would consider herself a winner.

 

You and I have the most vital message the world could ever hear, the heart of which is the eternal salvation of the soul.  We may never have a forum like Mr. Musburger did on the night of the BCS National Championship, but we have daily opportunities to share this good news.  The Bible says, "Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances" (Prov. 25:11). A timely word is "delightful" (Prov. 15:23).  In the context of evangelism, Paul says, "Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person" (Col. 4:6). Repeatedly, God conveys the power of the "right" word being spoken at the "right" time.

 

How can we do this?  Pray. Be discerning.  Open your eyes.  Have courage. Genuinely care about souls.  Keep Ephesians 4:15 dear.  

 

Consider that what you are after is infinitely more noble than any earthly ambition.  Do well in this and heaven's population will grow.  What is more, you add fruit to your own account and are in position to have the acclaim of heaven on the greatest day of notoriety and infamy that will ever be (Prov. 11:30; 1 Cor. 3:11ff).

 

--Neal Pollard