The sign of human maturity:
“Delaying Gratification” – for example . . .
3 YEAR OLD begins to understand he can’t have EVERYTHING now, but asks WHY?
KINDERGARTNER learns how to share – I’ll delay a little bit, but soon it is going to be MY TURN
BECOMING THE OLDER BROTHER OR SISTER teaches us that the baby MOST OFTEN gets things first
THE TEENAGER FALLS IN LOVE WITH LOVE and wants to give his/her new love ANYTHING they want – my needs after the needs of MY LOVE
THE COLLEGE STUDENT realizes that he/she must but study ABOVE personal needs if he/she wants to graduate
THE YOUNG MARRIED MOTHER OR FATHER when the baby cries learns to say, “I did it LAST time”
NO Seriously, coming full circle back to the baby, young mothers and fathers learn to delay gratification so that their son or daughters needs can be met
NOW – TODAY – I need to lead you on BEYOND John 3:16 to the 3
Signposts of Spiritual Maturity -
THESE are the 3 “signposts” that tell you that you are on the way to Christian maturity.
#1) Knowing who YOU are in Christ . . .
#2) Knowing what CHRIST is NOW . . .
#3) Knowing what HE is doing NOW >>>
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#1) Knowing who YOU are in Christ . . .
What do YOU know about who you are in Christ .. give me SCRIPTURES if you can .
. .
In Christ, you are . . .
. . . A NEW CREATION 2 Cor 5:17-18 NKJV
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
In Christ You Are . . .
. . . THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM 2 Cor 5:21 (KJV)
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM.
. . . MORE THAN CONQUERORS Rom 8:37 (NIV)
37 No, in all these things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through him who loved us.
. . . CHILDREN OF GOD I Jn 3:2 (NIV)
2 Dear friends, NOW WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, and what we will be has not yet been
made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
. . . HIS WORKMANSHIP Eph 2:10 (KJV)
10 For WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
. . . COMPLETE IN HIM Col 2:10 (KJV)
10 And YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power:
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Signpost #2) Knowing who CHRIST (Jesus) is NOW . . .
He is NO LONGER the baby in a manger in Bethlehem
He is NO LONGER the substitute on the cross HE NO LONGER HANGS THERE .. GO BEYOND to see what He is TODAY
Jesus is NOW our HIGH PRIEST Heb 4:14-16 RSV
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
He is our High Priest TODAY, He will be our High Priest TOMORROW, AND HE WILL BE OUR HIGH PRIEST FOREVER !!! Heb 7:21-28 NIV
21 but he became a priest with an oath when God said to him:
"The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
'You are a priest forever.'" (KJV adds) after the order of Melkezidek
22 Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.
23 Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24 but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
26 Such a high priest meets our need-one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. 27 Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.
In Psalm 22, He was the SUFFERING SAVIOR, in Psalm 23,
He is NOW THE GOOD SHEPHERD .
. . but in Psalm 24, HE IS THE KING OF KINGS, and LORD OF LORDS ! !
HIGH PRIEST
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#3) Knowing what HE is doing NOW >>>
We start by remembering what He is NOW .. REMEMBER, HE IS 2 THINGS
OUR HIGH PRIEST & OUR SHEPHERD
WHAT DOES A HIGH PRIEST DO? Heb 7:25-8:2 (NIV)
25 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him,
because HE ALWAYS LIVES TO INTERCEDE FOR THEM. What does that MEAN?
When we sin He reminds the Father that He DIED for us .. that He poured out His Blood for us .. then He turns to US and says, “You are forgiven .. get up .. YOU CAN MAKE IT .. I AM WITH YOU !!!”
He PRAYS for us . . . you thought He did something great on the earth … HE IS CONTINUING TO WORK FOR YOU .. TO PRAY FOR YOU .. TO SPEAK TO YOU .. TO SEND HIS HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP YOU !!!
Last thing for today . .
SINCE JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, & FOREVER, AT TIMES HE WEEPS OVER JERUSALEM or one of US .. He is SHEPHERDING YOU . . . Read Psalm 23