Are you growing up? Children are meant to grow up. Children of God are meant to grow up in Him. In this message, Pastor Jamie Nunnally encourages us to make the effort to grow up spiritually.
Make Room – When you are full of one thing, you cannot be full of something else.
Spiritual maturity is the process of acting like, talking like, and looking like Jesus. The idea that we can accept Christ as our savior and not see any sort of change in our lives is not found in the Bible.
Ephesians 4:17-24
You will be tempted to think that since God loves you, you can live however you
want without consequence. But God wants to mature you because He loves you.
The Purity Progression
How to we mature spiritually?
- Practice Repentance.
Repentance is a change of mind, resulting in a change of direction.
Acts 3:19 “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.”
If you feel bad about your sin, but haven’t taken steps to address your sin, you have not repented.
Matthew 4:17 “From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
Not repenting of your sins, is like mowing weeds instead of pulling weeds: they’ll just keep coming back. - Receive righteousness.
Righteousness is the state of being in acceptable condition to God.
Romans 3:22- “And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction.” - Start sanctification.
Sanctification is gradual growth thru God’s empowerment and your effort.
1 Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification.”
Philippians 2:12-13 “Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Training in sanctification comes from
- The word of God John 17:17 “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
- The Spirit of God 1 Peter 1:2 “…the sanctifying work of the Spirit”
- Have holiness.
Holiness is righteousness in action. Sanctification is the process, holiness is the result.
1 Peter 1:14-15
Holiness is the result of understanding your righteous identity – living in light of God’s approval.
2 Tim 2:21 “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.”
A holy Christian is a helpful Christian, and a holy Christian is a happy Christian.
God is not nearly concerned with your happiness as He is your holiness.
Are you making room for maturity?