Spiritual maturity and development, in essence, is to develop an awareness of realities beyond the confines of time and space.
Acts 17:28 NKJV for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’
Spiritual maturity is a process that begins when a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior and they are born again of the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus spoke about growth, He used the vine and the branches as an illustration of how we are to abide in Him.
John 15:1-8 NKJV “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
I believe that the fruit is the fruit of Christian character, Christian growth, rather than just evangelistic fruit.
Our essence, belonging, search for meaning, and purpose originate from the Lord as transformed through the person of Jesus Christ and God’s infallible and unchanging Word.
Romans 12:2 NKJV And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Everything we have, including our knowledge, skills, talents, and abilities, are to be stewarded to God. Spiritual development is increasingly aligning God’s purposes for the world with our story.
Simply put, spiritual maturity and development is becoming more like Jesus everyday. The Bible portrays it as a journey.
Matthew 6:33 NKJV But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Philippians 1:6 NKJV being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Ephesians 4:11-12 NKJV And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
As Christians, our purpose is to strive for the prize of righteousness in Christ Jesus because God promises spiritual fulfillment through an eternal relationship with Him. Satisfaction in God’s righteousness and His desires for creation is the ultimate purpose and mission of Christ followers.
Matthew 5:6 NKJV Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
The Christian enjoys striving for the prize of righteousness in Jesus because God’s love compels them.
Philippians 3:14 NKJV I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
We have a responsibility to work on our spiritual maturity and development.
Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
This is not working for our salvation, but working it out, growing, maturing, and developing in our salvation because God’s Spirit is at work in us. The wonderful thing is that you will be changed! You don't have to worry about becoming mature. God does the changing!
Hebrews 13:20-21 NKJV Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
You’re not on your own.
Acts 17:28 NKJV for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’
Spiritual maturity is a process that begins when a person accepts Jesus Christ as Savior and they are born again of the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus spoke about growth, He used the vine and the branches as an illustration of how we are to abide in Him.
John 15:1-8 NKJV “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
I believe that the fruit is the fruit of Christian character, Christian growth, rather than just evangelistic fruit.
Our essence, belonging, search for meaning, and purpose originate from the Lord as transformed through the person of Jesus Christ and God’s infallible and unchanging Word.
Romans 12:2 NKJV And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Everything we have, including our knowledge, skills, talents, and abilities, are to be stewarded to God. Spiritual development is increasingly aligning God’s purposes for the world with our story.
Simply put, spiritual maturity and development is becoming more like Jesus everyday. The Bible portrays it as a journey.
Matthew 6:33 NKJV But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Philippians 1:6 NKJV being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Ephesians 4:11-12 NKJV And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
As Christians, our purpose is to strive for the prize of righteousness in Christ Jesus because God promises spiritual fulfillment through an eternal relationship with Him. Satisfaction in God’s righteousness and His desires for creation is the ultimate purpose and mission of Christ followers.
Matthew 5:6 NKJV Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
The Christian enjoys striving for the prize of righteousness in Jesus because God’s love compels them.
Philippians 3:14 NKJV I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
We have a responsibility to work on our spiritual maturity and development.
Philippians 2:12-13 NKJV Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
This is not working for our salvation, but working it out, growing, maturing, and developing in our salvation because God’s Spirit is at work in us. The wonderful thing is that you will be changed! You don't have to worry about becoming mature. God does the changing!
Hebrews 13:20-21 NKJV Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
You’re not on your own.
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