Growing To Maturity

When we accept Jesus into our life, he is our savior. Jesus saved us from our sins, he made us new creations in Christ. We begin on our journey to know Jesus and other believers by the spirit, not after the flesh. There is a vast difference in knowing about God, and knowing God. All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctorine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be prefect, thouroughly furnished for every good work. The word of God is spirit, and it is life. Jesus went away that he might send the comporter, (the Holy Spirit) to lead and guide us into all truth. The same Holy Spirit that gave gifts to the church, that it might be edified, is also the teacher of truth. The church may operate in all the gifts, but still not know the spirit of truth. 1st. Corinthians 13 - 31 says: Covet earnestly the best gifts and yet show I unto you a more excellent way. I want to know what this more excellent way is! 1st. Corinthians 13 - 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or tinkling cymbal. I can have the gift of prophecy, understand all mysteries, and all knowledge, and have faith to remove mountains, though I give my goods to feed the poor, and give my body to be burned, and have not Charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind, charity envieth not vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, , seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity; but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies they shall fail; whether there be tongues they shall cease; whether there be knowledge it shall vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. Why will prophesy be done away with? And what is perfect? The word declares that prophecy is in part, it’s not complete. We as a church can operate in the part relm or we can grow up and be mature Christians. Now the more excellent way is to operate in the spiritual gifts, but also develop the fruit of love. The believer operating in the spiritual gifts don’t make him a mature Christian, unless he develops in the love of God also. The same Holy Spirit that gives the gifts to the church, is also the teacher of truth. So I see I can operate in the gifts of the Holy Ghost and still be a child. A child’s understanding is limited or fragmented. The mature Christian who recieves truth by the Holy Spirit is unlimited in understanding because the Holy Spirit is unlimited.

As long as the church operates on a child’s level of understanding it is immature. Galatians 4 - 1 An heir as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he Lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

So we miss out on much of our inheritance because of a child’s understanding and being taught by others and not the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4- 11 God gave the Apostle, the prophet, the evangelist, the pastor, the teacher; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: til we all come to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That we henseforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctorine, by the slight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to decieve; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him i all things, which is the head even Christ. So we see all the ministry gifts were given unto the church, that it may grow up into Christ in all things. That the church may be stable, not carried about by false doctorines, but mature, and rooted and grounded in God. The new covenant that God gave to the church is relationship with truth This new covenant is revealed by the Holy Spirit.

As Jesus told Paul on the road to Damascus, when Jesus commissioned Paul and called him to be a wittness and a minister to the things which he seen, and of those things in which I will appear unto thee. Acts 26 - 18 To open the church’s eyes, to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of saton unto God, that they may recieve forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith which is in me. There is an anointing to recieve the revealation of Jesus Christ. This will be an awsome time of demonstration of God’s power to the world. We can never have too much of God’s anointed power in our lives