Go on to Spiritual Maturity
Philippians 1:9-11 (NLT)
In this passage of scripture the Apostle Paul gives the admonition: “Keep on growing.” During the past year have you grown in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ? 2 Peter 3:18, “But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Paul in his letter to the Christians in Philippi praises them for their faithful partnership with Paul and Timothy in spreading the Good News of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul also prays for all in Philippi who believe in Christ Jesus. “I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more; and that you will keep on growing in your knowledge and understanding.” Philippians 1:9
Paul prays that the Christians in Philippi will grow in three specific areas.
First of all he prays that their
I. Love Will Overflow
“I pray that your love for each other will overflow more and more…” Verse 9a
The word used here for love is not describing human love, “philia” but “agape” divine love. He is praying that “God’s love in you” will overflow.
Human love is self-serving. Godly love is directed toward others.
“Agape” love is active, flowing out to others, rather than selfish love that flows inward. “God so loved that He gave his only begotten Son.” John 3:16 “Agape” love is sacrificial love. Godly love is more concerned about giving than getting, going than sending, and serving than being served.
When you abound in love you will reach out in service to others. Jesus demonstrated love in action in John 13:1-5, when he took on the role of a servant and washed the feet of the disciples.
When we go on to spiritual mature we begin to practice “agape” love more than inwardly focused love. Love that overflows in our life looks more like a servant than a master. Jesus said in Mark 10:43-45 “...Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.”
Mark 12:29-31 Jesus described love as the greatest commandment: “The most important commandment is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength. The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Love is meaningless unless it is lived out in our actions and attitudes. In the first session of study for 40 Days of Community five radical statements were made about love.
If I don’t live a life of love,
1. Nothing I say will matter.
2. Nothing I know will matter.
3. Nothing I believe will matter.
4. Nothing I give will matter.
5. Nothing I accomplish will matter.
The Message gives this translation of I Corinthians 13:3 “No matter what I say, what I believe, or what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.”
Love is described in our relationships. The depth of your love is revealed when you are under pressure. When things don’t go your way do you become belligerent and angry? Do you become mean spirited when someone challenges your opinions?
Christian love is described in our relationships. I John 4:20, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates another Christian, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we have not seen?”
I Corinthians 13 - describes how love is lived out in our relationships: verse 4-5 “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud, or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.”
Christian love is lived out in our relationships. The classic convertible moved briskly through the afternoon traffic. The driver enjoyed the quick response of the small high powered engine. After driving her station wagon, this red corvette was exciting. Driving along with the wind in her hair, she tried to look casual and at ease, but inside she was a bit tense since she didn’t often drive this car – her husband’s pride and joy.
She saw only a blur of color out of the corner of her eye. Before she could consciously consider her actions, she swerved to miss the small boy on the bicycle and veered into the side of a large gray pickup truck. The car stopped with a loud crash and the sound of breaking glass. They she heard, “Hey, lady. You okay?” Strong arms lifted her from the vehicle and helped her to the curb. “I’m fine,” she said, “just let me sit here for a moment.”
All she could think was, “I’m fine now, but Jim’s going to kill me when I get home.” As she waited for the police to arrive, she recalled how excited he was when he found this corvette. He wanted one ever since he was a boy. This one was a real treasure, and he had spent countless Saturdays fixing and polishing it. He knew every bolt and spot of chrome. It wasn’t really his wrath she feared-he was actually a gentle and loving husband. But she dreaded the hurt and anguish she would see in his face when he heard the news. That, for her, would be worse than if he were to get angry and yell. “Thank God, I’m not hurt,” she thought, “but I’m sure worried about telling Jim.”
The policeman arrived and asked, “May I see your driver’s license and registration papers?” The officer felt sorry for her. He thought, “What a great car that was.” She walked to the car, got her purse, and grabbed the registration packet from the glove compartment. She gave the officer her license and opened the plastic package that contained the papers. To her surprise, there on top of the documents was a white envelope with her name on it.
She opened it and began to read, “Dear Beth, If you are reading this, you have probably been in an accident. Don’t worry. I pray that you are all right, and just remember it’s you that I love. Jim
God says to you, “regardless of how many mistakes and times you have failed, it’s you that I love. Romans 5:8 - “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. “
Paul prayed that as Christians love would overflow in our lives. He also prayed that we would
II. Grow in Knowledge and Understanding (Phil. 1:9b)
As Christians we are not to be satisfied to remain as baby Christians we are to keep growing in knowledge and understanding of the things of God.
In I Corinthians 3: Paul challenges the Christians in Corinth to stop acting like infants. He said, “I had to feed you with milk and not with solid food, because you couldn’t handle anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready, for you are still controlled by your own sinful desires. You are jealous of one another and quarrel with each other. You are acting like people who don’t belong to the Lord.” Verse 2-3
Paul was telling the Christians in Corinth that they had been crawling long enough. It was time to stand up and walk and run as strong Christians.
Infants have common characteristics.
• They can’t feed themselves
• They sleep most of the time
• They make a lot of noise to get attention
• Growth is usually gradual
The goal for our children is for them to have slow steady growth in all areas of their lives.
For Christian, if we aren’t growing we’re drifting toward stagnation and indifference. Our mandate is to grow in knowledge and understanding. It’s not just head knowledge but applying in practical ways what we have learned and know, to our daily lives.
How do you grow in knowledge and understanding? By getting into the Word of God and studying to equip yourself so you know what you believe. We learn best in small group studies – where we can ask questions and discuss Biblical truths.
I Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everybody who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”
Ephesians 4:11-16, Paul makes it clear that it is up to each individual Christian to take advantage of various opportunities to grow. The purpose of learning and growing in the Christian faith is found in verses 14-15: “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blow here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
The word “Disciple” means one involved in learning and training. Robert Raines in his book, “New Life in Christ” speaks to new Christians when he says: “All spiritual fat must be cut off. We must get in shape and stay in shape. The fact that a man was physically strong ten years ago does not guarantee his continuing strength today. The fact that once he was living a disciplined life in fellowship with Christ matters nothing at all for the present unless he has stayed in this training and continued to grow into Christ.”
Everyone who accepts Jesus as Savior and Lord we encourage to get involved in a small group and also go through a one-on-one discipleship study. WE use the little booklet on “Basic Christianity” called GROW. There are four Bible studies in the book:
Getting into the Word
Relating to God through prayer
Obeying God brings freedom
Worshipping God Through the Church
We have a team of Christians willing to meet one on one for four studies in Basic Christianity. If you are interested put a note on the back of the “Welcome Card” stating that you would like to have a one-on-one discipleship study. Write the word “GROW.”
The Apostle Paul said we grow on toward maturity by living a life that
Overflows in Love and
Applies Biblical knowledge and understanding to our
daily life.
III. Live a Life of Holiness
The third way we go on to spiritual maturity is to “Live a Life of Holiness.”
Paul prayed for the Christians in Philippi, Philippians 1:10-11, “For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation – those good things that are produced in your life by Jesus Christ – for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”
When Paul talked about living a “pure and blameless life” he is talking about living a holy and righteous life. Living a life of holiness is living more and more like Jesus.
Several words are used in scripture to describe the victorious Christian life.
“Walk or March in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:16, “So I say, walk/march by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
The Apostle Paul called the Christians in Corinth infant and baby Christians because they were yielding to the desires of their sinful nature. The answer to temptation and the pull of the evil system of this world; is to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Hebrew writer put it this way, Hebrews 5:12-14, “Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy,; without holiness o one will see the Lord.”
How do you live a life of holiness? By practicing spiritual disciplines. Moral flabbiness has no place in the life of the committed Christian disciple.
The mature Christian becomes a master of his/her moods rather than a slave to his/her feelings and moods.
Practicing spiritual disciplines is a life-long process. Spiritual maturity is spelled GROW. The Apostle Peter underscores this truth in 2 Peter 1:5-7, ”Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self control, and to self control, perseverance, and to perseverance, godliness and to godliness, brotherly kindness and to brotherly kindness, love.”
Growing Christians will give this testimony: “I’ve learned over the years this important lesson. If I discipline myself to spend ten or fifteen minutes early in the morning in a quiet place getting a proper perspective on my walk with the Lord – writing down some of my thoughts, reading my Bible, listening to a tape, praying, the whole rest of my day seems much more satisfying. Is it worth it to roll out of bed early in the morning and invest time and energy on something worthwhile, then have the rest of the day go better?
It takes about 30 days to develop healthy habits. This week plan to daily read God’s Word. Get into a small Bible study group – grow on toward spiritual maturity.
