MATURITY Colossians 2:4-8
HOW DO WE GROW INTO SPIRITUAL MATURITY?
KEY THOUGHT: If we want to be protected against false teachers, we must grow into spiritual maturity.
COLOSSIANS 2:4,8 4 I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments 8 Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition, based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ.
EPHESIANS 4:13-15 13 This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with
lies so clever they sound like the truth. 15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.
GROW INTO SPIRITUAL MATURITY? 1. We need discipline and faith in Christ.
COLOSSIANS 2:4-5 4 I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with persuasive arguments. 5 For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.
COLOSSIANS 2:5 (NASB) 5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.
COLOSSIANS 2:5 (NIV) 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.
BENEFITS OF DISCIPLINE A. Spiritual disciplines are steps that take you from point A to point B.
1 TIMOTHY 4:7-8 7 Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. 8 Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.
1 CORINTHIANS 9:24-27 24 Don t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like
an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.
BENEFITS OF DISCIPLINE A. Spiritual disciplines are steps that take you from point A to point B. B. Spiritual disciplines help you make decisions in advance.
DANGERS OF DISCIPLINE Discipline can replace your faith.
DANGERS OF DISCIPLINE Discipline can replace your faith. Discipline can become legalistic.
Without love, discipleship would be a cold, legalistic asceticism - William McDonald
BIG IDEA: - Faith without discipline leaves you vulnerable to the flesh
BIG IDEA: - Faith without discipline leaves you vulnerable to the flesh - Discipline without faith leaves you vulnerable to legalism.
COLOSSIANS 2:5 5 For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.
COLOSSIANS 2:6-7 6 Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude.
HOW DO WE GROW INTO SPIRITUAL MATURITY? 1. We need discipline and faith in Christ. 2. We need to overflow with gratitude.
COLOSSIANS 2:6-7 6 Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude.
Gratitude is the proper response of a heart that has received grace.
Gratitude is the proper response of a heart that has received grace. Ungrateful hearts open the door to all kinds of sin.
ROMANS 1:21-23 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles.
LUKE 17:11-19 11 While traveling to Jerusalem, He passed between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As He entered a village, 10 men with serious skin diseases met Him. They stood at a distance 13 and raised their voices, saying, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! 14 When He saw them, He told them, Go and show yourselves to the priests. And while they were going, they were healed. 15 But
one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God. 16 He fell facedown at His feet, thanking Him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus said, Were not 10 cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Didn t any return to give glory to God except this foreigner? 19 And He told him, Get up and go on your way. Your faith has made you well.