THE GOAL FOR FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY
MATTHEW 5:43-48 (NIV) "Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
We will continue our series on the Sermon on the Mount.
We will talk about the goal for spiritual maturity.
One of the most important thing in life is to have a goal, a purpose, an aim, a target.
A goal is where you need to put all your energy and effort in life.
It is something you want to achieve and attempt to accomplish.
It is something that you exert and work hard to pursue in life.
But some of you have not yet determined your goal in life.
Let me suggest to you some goals that you must consider worth having.
For instance, if you are not yet a Christian, your primary goal should be to know Christ and His Word.
To commit your life to Christ, to be forgiven from sin and letting Him take control.
But if you are already a Christian, your goal should be to grow into spiritual maturity.
To develop your spiritual muscles.
To learn more about God.
To widen your spiritual perspective in life.
To crave and cultivate your love for others.
To devote your life to become more like Christ.
To yearn for more of God.
It is good to have such goals in life.
Everyone who calls himself a Christian should mature.
He must advance further, fully blossom, expand his understanding and produce more fruits.
There is no reason for a Christian to decline, to contract, to diminish and to compress.
No way.
If you belong to Christ, you have to grow in spiritual maturity.
That is our new Christian DNA, our new cell nature, our genetic make-up.
Spiritual growth is irresistible.
It is inevitable.
It is compelling.
It is unavoidable.
We have to grow or we die.
That is why this goal of spiritual maturity should be understood clearly and pursued further.
This spiritual maturity should be appreciated and fully realized.
We must not rest until we accomplish this aim.
We must not pause until we succeed in this endeavor.
We must not take a break until we produce results.
We must not become idle until we reach our goal.
And so, we must ask ourselves:
Why is spiritual maturity important?
What should we do in order to mature?
How can we know that we have already matured spiritually?
The apostle Peter admonishes us: 2 Peter 3:18 (NIV) "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen."
The word "grow" here is from the Gr "Auxano" which means to augment, to increase, to become greater as of plants, infants and people.
It also means the inward spiritual growth happening to a Christian.
Notice that this growth is two-fold: in the GRACE and in the KNOWLEDGE of God.
It is by grace that people turn to Christ.
It is by grace that people's faith are strengthened because of Christ.
It is by grace that we grow in Christian character and virtues.
We need the grace of God to grow.
Yet, we must also grow in the knowledge of Christ.
Knowledge refers to growth in intelligence and Christian understanding.
It refers to the development of moral wisdom.
Your spiritual faculties.
Your learning abilities.
These are the areas that we need to grow as Christians.
And if we pursue these further, we can accomplish this in due time.
And so, in our study for today in the book of Matthew 5, we will look at these aspects of growth.
Our ability to comprehend the truth.
Our ambition to obey God.
Our eagerness to know the character of God.
Our motivation to Grow in Love.
And our Christian Perfection.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CHRISTIAN MATURITY:
1. A MATURE PERSON HAS THE ABILITY TO FULLY COMPREHEND THE TRUTH.
Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy."
The word "heard" is from the Gr "Akouo" which means a person endowed with the faculty of hearing.
It also refers to a person who is able to perceive, to comprehend and fully understand what is being said particularly from a teacher.
That same word "heard" is used in I John 1:1 "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life."
The verse says that the apostle John and other disciples have heard and fully understood the truth about Christ the Messiah.
In fact, they have seen Him with their own eyes.
They have touched Him with their own hands.
Hence, they now proclaim the message with their own mouth concerning Him.
And so, comprehending the truth will give us the ability to proclaim the truth.
When you fully understand the truth about Christ, you will automatically make it known to others.
When you have grasped the full significance of His death, you will be compelled to declare His goodness.
This is what Christian maturity is all about.
The message of salvation is becoming more clearer and understandable.
Every truth you read all fits in to each other.
There is a logical theme and purpose.
They are all coherent, reasonable and all point to Christ.
You have heard the message and you have received it fully.
But there are people who have difficulty hearing, accepting and grasping for the truth.
They have been hearing for a long time, but still, they could not fully comprehend.
They could not figure out and fully assimilate any teachings they have heard.
Jesus called them as "calloused"
Matthew 13:15 (NIV) "15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’"
The word "callous" is translated "waxed gross" which is from the Gr "Pachuno" meaning to make thick, to make fat, or to fatten.
It is like a person who has been regularly eating food but only producing more fat in his body.
The food and its nutrients have not been assimilated by the entire body to produce energy.
Instead of spiritual maturity, that person is full of fat in his body.
Instead of productive activity, his soul is dull and unintelligent.
He is sluggish, tedious, dumb and boring.
He is sensitive, uninteresting and not sharp.
That is not God's desire for Christians.
God wants us to fully mature in the faith.
He wants us to fully grasp and comprehend the truth we received.
We must therefor assimilate the things we have learned from the Bible.
Otherwise, these will just be like unused fat in our system.
Don't just store the knowledge in your head, do something about it.
Pray that you will fully comprehend the truth about God.
Then share the message to others.
Aim for spiritual maturity.
Going back to Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy."
The word "love" here is from the Gr "agapao" which means to welcome and to entertain.
It also means to be fond of, to be well pleased or to love dearly.
The idea here is that you want to express your love to your neighbor.
One way to do that is to welcome him in your home.
That is when the gift of hospitality comes in.
If we love our neighbor, we express our hospitality to them.
But who is our neighbor?
That word neighbor is a friend or any person you are concerned with.
That means, it could be any other man irrespective of nation or religion with whom you have a chance to live nearby.
A neighbor is somebody you care for.
You are concerned about their spiritual welfare.
You take interest about their souls and well-being.
You take responsibility in sharing the Good news to them.
You are alarmed, burdened, anguished and disturbed with the state of their souls.
You love them.
That is the mark of spiritual maturity.
You have received the truth.
You were able to comprehend the truth and
You are eager to share the truth to your neighbor.
Aim for spiritual maturity.
Going further in that verse, "‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy."
The word "hate" means hostile, to oppose another person.
It means extreme dislike, antagonist, enmity.
The word "enemy" on the other hand refers to a person who is opposing God in his mind and heart.
It could also refer to the devil who is the most bitter enemy of divine government.
That same word "enemy" is used in James 4:4 (NIV) "You adulterous people,[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."
That word refers to a person who has embraced the things of this world.
He has chosen materials things, popularity, pleasure, personal achievements and worldly success over the things of God.
It says that he is in enmity with God.
There is a conflict, a hostility, a war, a battle, a struggle, an aggression, an opposition between him and God.
And because we are on God's side, we hate the enemy of God.
That is the sign of spiritual maturity.
You do not find pleasure in worldly things.
You find pleasure in God's work.
You love what He loves.
You hate what he hates.
You do that because you have the ability to comprehend the truth.
You are able to communicate that truth.
And you are able to resist those who try to divert you from the truth.
Aim for spiritual maturity.
That is what spiritual maturity is all about.
He has the ability to fully comprehend the truth.
2. A MATURE PERSON HAS THE AMBITION TO OBEY GOD.
Matthew 5:44-45 "But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven."
The scripture is telling us how to love our enemies.
Jesus admonishes us to offer prayers in behalf of those who persecute us.
To intercede in behalf of those who abuse us.
Those who misuse us, those who misjudge us.
Those who threaten or falsely accuse us.
Those people who curse us and hate us.
These are the very people who needs our prayers.
We need to appeal for God's mercy in their behalf.
We need to petition God's deliverance in their behalf from the clutches of the enemy.
We need to request for God's salvation in their behalf.
We need to claim for God's transformation in their behalf.
This is the character of a mature person.
He has the ambition to obey God.
Aim for spiritual maturity.
Then, the next word we will study is the word "persecute".
This word is from the Gr "Dioko" which means to put to flight, to drive away.
So, if you are being persecuted, you are being put to flight or they are driving you away from their sight.
They want you to run away.
But it can also mean the opposite: to pursue or to run after in order to harass or molest.
And so, if you are being persecuted, you are being harassed or intimidated.
This difficult situation can happen to every one of us.
There will be people who will drive us away, ostracize us, get rid of us, dismiss us, banish us.
There will also be people who will harass us, pursue us, attack us, tease us, torment us.
In either way, you can feel the emotional trauma behind the persecution and intense hostility.
And what happens next?
The normal reaction of a human person being persecuted is to be overcome by fears, anxieties and depression.
We all know that.
Most of us have gone through this before.
We have been alarmed and apprehensive in life because of the threat.
We have been in despair, doubtful and full of dread because of the danger.
We have been in panic, jittery and in horror because of the intimidation.
We have been scared to death and completely agitated because of the blackmail.
But the Bible says that a spiritually mature person does not act that way.
He will be completely different.
God commands us to pray for our enemies.
His desire is to obey God, to have peace in his heart.
Because of his love for God, he offers prayers for these kinds of people.
Because he knows his identity in Christ, he is calm and confident.
Because of the knowledge of the truth, he guards his heart and mind.
Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV) "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Such is the picture of spiritually mature person.
Are you such a one?
If not, have a goal in life.
Aim for spiritual maturity.
The reason behind all these is found in the next verse: Matthew 5:45 "that you may be children of your Father in heaven."
This word "children" or "son" is the Gr "Huios" is the term used to describe those who have been born again.
These are the people whom God loves, esteems and protects.
In the Old Testament, it used to be the Jews.
But in the New Testament, these are the Christians - You and I.
These are God's children because they have the character of God shaped by chastisement.
They revere God as their father.
They are pious worshipers of God.
They are governed by the Spirit of God.
They have calm and joyful trust in God.
They are obedient to their Fathers' will and in all His acts.
These are the character of God's children.
Are you such a one?
Have you trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior?
Have you been born again?
Are you pursuing spiritual maturity?
That should be our aim or goal in life.
That is what Christian maturity is all about.
He has the ambition to obey God.
3. A MATURE CHRISTIAN HAS THE EAGERNESS TO KNOW THE CHARACTER OF GOD.
Matthew 5:45 "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
There are two things that this verse tells us about God the Father.
Firstly, God CAUSES the sun to rise on the evil and good.
Secondly, God SENDS rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
Let us dig deeper.
The word "cause to rise" also means to accelerate, to increase, to improve, to advance, to boost.
The idea here is that there is the existence of both evil and good in the land.
They co-exist, co-habitate, and co-inhabit the earth.
We know that God hates sin and loves what is good.
He should have destroyed evil and allowed good to flourish.
Yet, this verse tells us that He allowed the sun to shine on both the evil and the good.
That means both good and evil receive the same blessings from God.
They obtain the same light of the day.
They draw the same rays from the sun.
Everyone is benefited.
No one is left out nor isolated.
This is the kind of God we have.
There is no discrimination.
There is no bias.
There is no favoritism.
There is no bigotry.
There is no injustice with God.
Every one is given the chance to thrive and flourish from the sun's energy.
A mature person desires to know that kind of godly character.
A mature person aims to have godly character.
If you are a spiritually mature person, you want to give every one the chance to prosper and develop.
You want them to shine and succeed in life.
You want them to do well, bloom and blossom.
Are you such a one?
If not, are you pursuing spiritual maturity?
That same idea is followed when God sends forth rain on he earth.
Both the righteous and the unrighteous are benefited.
The word "rain" means to moisten with water, to pour the rain, to send down.
The situation here is that the earth has been dry for so long and in need of refreshing water from heaven.
The land was dusty, arid, bare and barren.
The people have parched lips, dehydrated and drained out.
They are exhausted and impoverished.
Then, because of the mercy and grace of God, He sends rain to benefit everyone.
Everyone will be benefited by the rain.
No one is left out.
He sends spiritual water to those who are thirsty.
He sends the living water to those who have parched hearts.
Isaiah 55:1 (NIV) ""Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost."
The invitation is open for everyone.
God wants us to come to Him.
If you are spiritually thirsty, come to the water.
Even if you have no money, you can come anyway.
You can come buy wine and eat even without cost.
That means spiritual life is free for those who want to drink of the living water.
Come just as you are.
Regardless of your past.
Regardless of your struggles.
Regardless of your pain and difficulties.
Drink from the water of life.
Be refreshed.
Quench your thirst.
Receive Jesus in your hearts.
Then, you will be strong again ready for each day.
That is what spiritual maturity is all about.
He has the eagerness to know the character of God.
4. A MATURE CHRISTIAN HAS THE MOTIVATION TO GROW IN LOVE.
Matthew 5:46-47 "46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
The word "tax collectors" is translated "publicans in the KJV which refers to people who have been detested not just by the Jews but by other nations also because of their employment.
They collect taxes with harshness, with selfishness, with greed and with deception.
They have the overwhelming desire for more.
That is why people hate them and despise them.
Yet, they have something good in them.
They know how to love.
But their love is focused on people who love them.
They love those who obey them.
They love those who will give them what they want.
It was a selfish kind of love.
And so, the verse says that if you love people who love you, that is no big deal.
Everyone does that.
Even tax collectors do that.
There is no growth in your love.
There is no improvement in your love.
But a sure mark of a Mature Christian is the motivation to grow in love.
You love them even though they don't love you in return.
You love them even though they don't follow your wishes.
You love them even though you cannot get anything from them.
You love them even though it is a one-way street.
You love them even though you are the only one giving.
That is the most difficult kind of love to express.
That is the mark of a mature Christian.
You should aim this kind of love in life.
The apostle Paul described this kind of love this way:
I Corinthians 13;4-7 (NIV) "4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."
This is something we all fall short of.
We all grew up with the selfish kind of love.
It is very difficult for us to love people who don't love us in return.
Our human nature is not engineered for that.
That is why we must again come to Christ.
Receive Him in your hearts.
Only Christ can give us that kind of love.
He will help you grow your love.
2 Corinthians 5:14 (NIV) "For Christ's love compels us."
Christ's love urges us, force us to act, constrains us and obliges us to act in love.
This is what Christian maturity is all about.
He has the motivation to grow in love.
Let us review.
The character of a mature Christian are as follows:
He has the ability to fully comprehend the truth.
He has the ambition to obey God.
He has the eagerness to know the character of God.
He has the motivation to grow in love.
Are you such a one?
THE CONCLUSION:
Matthew 5:48 "48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
That word "perfect" is from the Gr "Teleios" which refers to something finished or brought to an end.
It also means that there is nothing more needed to complete it because it is already perfect.
The human virtue, dignity and integrity has been consummated.
A person has grown into full adulthood.
Christian maturity has been fully realized and achieved.
What a joy that would be.
What glory that would be.
What satisfaction that would be for all of us.
Perfection because our heavenly Father is perfect.
Of course, no one is perfect while we are on this earth.
There will always be sin in us while living on this earth.
We will only be perfect when we will be in heaven with God for all eternity.
And so, because our Heavenly Father is perfect, we will also be perfect someday.
That is why it is a good goal to work with in life.
Let us therefore aim for more of Christian maturity one step at a time.
Someday, we will achieve the goal and be rewarded for it.
CLOSING STORY: A YOUNG OAK
A large family with several children had just moved to a home in the country.
The children were delighted to discover that on the property there was a pond suitable for swimming.
On a bank at the side of the pond a young oak tree was growing.
The tree was so young that its trunk and branches were thin and quite flexible--not capable of supporting much weight.
The children discovered that with a running start they could make the thin branches swing and arc over the pond enough to drop in with a satisfying splash.
They spent many happy summer hours playing in the pond and swinging from the tree.
But after a few years they outgrew the pond and the tree was no longer used.
There was damage to the small tree, however.
The branches and trunk had been bent and twisted and strained so much they were no longer straight as they had been before.
The tree looked like it was crippled forever.
Time passed and 35 years later, the long-since grown children came together for a reunion in the area of their childhood. They asked the new owners of the property if they could explore once more the place they had grown up.
And of course, they walked out to the pond.
In their mind's eye, they expected to see a spindly young oak at the side of the pond.
But things had changed.
What they saw was a large mature oak tree whose trunk and branches had become thick and massive.
But through the solid branches they could still see the unnatural bend in the trunk they themselves had created--it had become part of the tree's character.
What was weakened and damaged before had been strengthened and became stable.
In the same manner, in Christ, God will give you the stability and rest you need in life when you are stressed.
