MATURING LIKE CHRIST
Luke 2:40-52
Rev. Todd G Leupold Perth Bible Church 6/8/08 AM “Academy Sunday”
SCRIPTURE: LUKE 2:40-52
PRAYER
INRODUCTION:
From this passage we are examining this morning with help from the Holy Spirit, God the Father communicates and Jesus the Son demonstrates that as we move on in our lives, God Almighty expects
us to grow in maturity as Jesus, our Savior, exemplified! In this specific and historical example Scripture testifies to how Jesus Incarnate appeared to mature as he grew from a young child to a young adult.
As we celebrate “Academy Sunday” this morning, it is especially poignant that our young people learn from and heed Jesus’ example. Just as important, as parents, grandparents and family in Christ Scripture here summarizes what ’product’ (if you will forgive the analogy) God desires us to “produce” out of the “raw material” that is our young people!
And as significant and awesome as all of that is, it is also essential that we understand that, while the example Jesus is providing here may literally apply to his maturity as He physically grows from a child to an adult, the greater context of Jesus’ teachings and Scripture remind us that this is equally true of our spiritual growth from ’baby Christians’ to ’mature Christians.’
With all of this in mind, and the understanding that it relevantly applies to each and every one of us in more than one way, let us take special note to recognize and study the two great expectations God has of all of His children (even and especially His ’adopted’ ones):
I.) SUBJECTION TO AUTHORITY
1.Heavenly Father
Even as what we would call a pre-teen, Jesus recognizes and conforms to the fact that His real identity and purpose is to relentlessly pursue to better know, understand and follow His Heavenly Father.
Thus, there is nothing more urgent or important in this process of growing up and maturing, then a devotion to be in God’s house in order to read, study, dissect and greater understand God’s Word! THIS is the key that unlocks the process that produces Christian maturity!
Thus, we learn here first and foremost the necessity of a life of learning and obedience under the authority of our Heavenly Father. Even still, this is the beginning, not the whole story.
In my experience, most of the time when someone (including myself) reads, hears, or talks about this highlighted event in Jesus’ life, the focus gets stuck on this point that Jesus freely and with no hesitation or guilt put the authority, call and purpose of His Heavenly Father over those of His earthly father and mother.
Sadly, this is then staunchly and wrongly held onto as an excuse and justification for our own choices to not listen to, obey, or respect our parents or others in authority since – as far as we’re concerned – we’re still following God the Father.
We fail to accept this greater truth of God’s authority without understanding it within its greater context, as shown in v. 51.
2.Earthly Parents
After greater searching and understanding of God’s Word, Jesus then submits to God’s authority by applying and living them out. But, how does a young many do this?
BY BEING OBEDIENT TO YOUR PARENTS.
Like it or not, this is a very direct and unmistakable connection.
Still, even earlier context shows us this is not all. Jesus demonstrates submission to yet another form of authority.
3.Teaching Christians
Reread verse 46.
In seeking the keys to His transformation from a child to a fully mature adult, Jesus did not just “go” to church (the Temple) or read and study the Scriptures by Himself.
He sought out those who were teachers and sat under them eagerly listening and asking questions!
If even Jesus sought out other Christians equipped to teach, should not we who are so much weaker, more ignorant and immature?
Btw., a “teacher” does not have to be someone with a special position or title. It can be anyone who has the experience, knowledge and/or wisdom to positively and accurately help us in our process of maturing in Christ!
II.) POSITIVE GROWTH
Hebrews 5:11-14
1 Corinthians 3:1-3
HOW?
- The two ’parts’ are interconnected. The fact that “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people” was a direct result of His having willfully submitted to these spiritual authorities in His life. So too may we mature if we choose to regularly . . .
1.Feed on Word of God
The first change I made in my life the very night of my salvation as a 20-year-old college student, I opened up a (borrowed) Bible and confidently read for understanding. From that day forward, it didn’t matter how many hundreds of pages of assigned reading or tens of pages of papers loomed before me, I committed to read, study and meditate upon God’s Word every day.
2.Communion with God
For me by God’s grace, reading and studying the Word came rather easily. Praying and relating to Him – especially out loud in the presence of others - was a whole different matter. You don’t even want to hear what my first public prayer sounded like. It was so terrible that I actually had to later explain to my small group leader “what on earth I was doing.” Sorry, I can’t repeat it for you now either – my mind has completely blocked that memory out!
Now, however, prayer is the most precious time on earth!
3.Commune & Learn from Others
When we’re brand-new “just born again” Christians this is usually pretty easy for people – at least in learning ’the basics.’
But, sooner or later, it seems that at least once in their life with God, every Christian gets infected with the virus of “false maturity.”
It’s a weird virus in that it’s symptoms are often easily seen and felt by others, but invisible and unfelt by the infected one!
Once infected, the poor soul suddenly experiences a profound shift in the perception of reality in which he/she believes that full maturity is automatically attained by said individual simply being a Christian “x” years, going to church or listening to messages of various preachers “x” times a week, proven accomplishment in their career, an ability to find a Scripture reference in under 30 seconds, exceeding a certain number of marks & highlights in their personal Bible, and/or simply by obviously not being as immature or sinful as that person next to them.
As I mentioned before, I was saved my Sophomore year in college. Somewhere, sometime in the few months after I graduated I picked up this virus. At first, I thought it was a special gift from God. Eventually, I learned it was a curse from my old nature. By the time I had been a truly saved Christian less than two years, I had become a leader in campus ministry, led other students to the Lord, taught Bible Studies, was used as a special speaker, invited to debates, co-hosted a Christian radio program with a loyal following of saved & unsaved, etc. When God first called me to vocational ministry, I had to be dragged into it as I felt I was too young in the faith. But then I went to a specialized training for youth ministry and found myself being praised for being bolder, understanding theology, giving good counsel much more so than most others – most of whom had been Christians since children and raised in Bible churches. Then I took my first position as an Associate Pastor – Youth. My first week I got baptized & became a church member for the first time anywhere. It was a small, troubled church in a very small, very dysfunctional and very rural community in MN. The Sr. Pastor was clinically depressed and about as energetic & inspiring as Eyore. He was also a good & godly man, but few ever realized it. Within 6 months I was declared a savior & told that I should be the Sr. Pastor. Within 14 mos. I got ’infected’ & started to believe it might be so – blind to my own faults & sin. Before my 2-yr. Anniversary, the Holy Spirit cured me & showed me that I really was still just a juvenile who had MUCH to learn. The next day I resigned. Many of the deacons & congregates tried to get me to stay. But God had already made it clear I had much I needed to learn from Him & others before I could further fulfill my call.
What is your story? Who are you allowing to be your spiritual teachers?
WHERE? In What Areas?
1.Mentally “in wisdom”
2.Physically “in stature”
3.Spiritually “in favor with God”
4.Socially “and people”
All of these areas are interconnected and integral parts to whom God created us to be and how He created us to function!
MATURITY IN MOTION:
