It Time to Grow Up
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Introduction
There is nothing cuter than having a baby in the house. (Picture of baby on the screen). There is no telling what they will do.
In all their cuteness they can also be “Messy.” Especially when they get mobile and start discovering the world around them. You better have a camera around so you can catch them in the act.
These are all things we expect from babies. But one of the biggest blessing about babies is when they grow up. They begin to understand what is right and what is wrong.
We say things like, “Your getting so big!” “Your growing up so fast.” And it is a joy to watch them go through all the stages of growth.
What’s not cool is to see a grown baby. It’s not fun anymore to change their diaper or pick up their messes. For a healthy individual this is unacceptable.
We have been walking through the book of 1Corinthians and have entitled the study “Messy.” Because even as adults we can be messy if we don’t learn how to grow up.
1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,
1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, 3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,
I want to read you a quote from John Phillips commentary on our passage this morning.
I want to read you a quote from John Phillips commentary on our passage this morning.
“Babes are attractive enough so long as they grow up, but a babe who remains a babe for twenty years is a tragedy. Babes are self-centered. They are dependent on others for all their needs. They have short attention spans, they go for things that glitter, and they have no sense of values. They are illiterate and ignorant of much they need to know. Their own wants are predominant. They are ruled by their appetites and move fitfully from one thing to another. They are unable to feed themselves, or to protect themselves, or to defend themselves. They cannot see beyond their own little world. They enjoy being the center of attention and soon learn how to get their share of it. They have no thought for the needs and concerns of others. They are demanding. They get themselves in the most frightful messes and seem blissfully unaware of it. They demand a great deal of care. But, in time, they grow up. The trouble with the Corinthians was that they did not grow up. Paul found them to be still babes.” (John Phillips, Exploring 1 Corinthians, p.65-66)
1 Cor 3:
1 But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ.
So what does it take for us to grow up in the Spirit? What does it take to go from a babe in Christ to a mature believer.
Scriptural Message:
Your struggle between the flesh and the Spirit is always a battle of the mind.
Your struggle between the flesh and the Spirit is always a battle of the mind.
Gal 5:
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
The Fleshly Mind
The Fleshly Mind
Wars against the Spirit.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
Can’t handle spiritual wisdom
2 I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,
1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
1 Cor
Jame
7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot.
1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
3. Carnality produces envy and strife (3:3; )
4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?
James 4:1-3
Produces hostility toward God.
7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans
Produces fleshly works.
3 for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?
1 Cor 3:3
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.
James 3:
The Spiritual Mind
The Spiritual Mind
Set on the things of God.
5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Romans 8:5
Roma
Produces Life and Peace.
Becomes a teacher of Spiritual things.
Heb
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
A teacher of the principles of God
Exercised in the scriptures
Able to discern both good and evil
It’s Time to Grow Up
It’s Time to Grow Up
11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
1 Cor 13:
Spiritual Maturity only comes through a transformation of the mind.
Spiritual Maturity only comes through a transformation of the mind.
Rom 12:2
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
4 Ways to Renew your Mind.
Wage war on your mind to obey Christ.
5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
Set your affection on Heaven.
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Change your thought patterns.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Be a doer of the work of God.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Spiritual maturity is marked with the mind of Christ.
Spiritual maturity is marked with the mind of Christ.
16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
Phil 2:5
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Ph
A mind of Love
A mind of Humility
A mind of Compassion
Conclusion
What stage of spiritual life are you in?
The Unborn Stage.
God is not in your equation.
Your thought are just about yourself or what is important to you.
Worldly wisdom is getting you no where fast.
The Infant Stage.
You are just learning the real meaning of life.
You find yourself still getting jealous, hurt, and discouraged about the things of this world.
You throw fits to get your way or to get attention.
You care more about our needs than the needs of others.
The Adolescent Stage.
You know the right thing but you are rebelling against it.
You are fighting for your own identity and no one is going to tell you what to do, believe, or become.
The Mature Stage.
Loving other with the love of Christ
Walking in humility before God and Man
Showing compassion to others
What would it take for you to begin to mature in your walk with Christ?
Are you actively renewing your mind in God’s Word?
Are you waging war on your thoughts to obey Christ?
Are you setting your affections on heavenly things and not worldly things?