Everyone Is To Eventually Mature.
But Especially The Born Again Christian
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
The Lost Have A Good Excuse For Childish Behaviour
1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
Everyone Matures At Their Own Time
Luke 15:17 "And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!"
Determinded By Their Training And Upbringing
Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
Determinded How They Were Disciplined
Proverbs 22:15 "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him."
Let`s Look At Several Areas Of Maturity
1. We Need To Mature Physically
A. This Is The Most Basic
Luke 2:52 "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."
It Is A Matter Of Proper Diet
Genises 2:16 " And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:"
It Is A Matter Of Proper Exercise
1 Timothy 4:8 "For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."
It Is A Matter Of Proper Rest
Psalms 127:2 "It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep."
B. How You Mature Physically Is Up To God
Your Physical Stature Is Predetermined By God
Psalm 139:14-17 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
There Is Nothing You Can Do To Naturally Change It
Matthew 6:27 "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?"
Unless You Decide To Change What God Has Made
Romans 9:20 "Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?"
Philipians 2:5 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"
The Mind Needs To Be Programmed Through Proper Education And Training
Luke 2:52
Luke 2:46 "And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions."
B. Beginning With The Word Of God
Matthew 4:4 "But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
God Wrote A Book And Expects Us To Read It
Revalation 1:3 "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."
C. A Student Must Have A Teacher
2 Timothy 2:2 "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also."
D. Our Minds Are To be Transformed
Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
3. We Need To Mature Spiritually
A. Which Comes By The Word
1 Peter 2:2 "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:"
Babies Start On milk But Muture To Meat
B. Are You Ready For Strong Meat?
Hebrews 5:12 "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat."
If You Are Carnal Your Not Ready
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
4. We Need To Mature Emotionally
Hebrew 5:14 "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
A. Ways To Be In Control Of Your Senses
Put On Christ And Dont Feed The Flesh
Romans 13:14 "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."
Walk In Spirit
Galations 5:16 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Be The Athority Of Your Body
1 Corinthians 9:27 "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
Have A Gaurd Of Prayer
Philipians 4:6-7 "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.