What is our goal NOT? To compare ourselves and measure ourselves by one another.

• Our goal is not reached by following men – Some choose “mentors” or other people that they hold up and try to emulate, and many encourage us to do so.   (English dictionary definition of mentor: advisor, counsellor, a wise and trusted teacher or guide)
• To justify this, many misuse the scripture 1 Cor. 11:1 The encouragement in this scripture is not to help us follow a Paul, as the man himself, but as he was following Christ. Consider all Paul endured as an apostle of Christ, shipwreck, imprisonment, fighting with beasts at Ephesus, and ultimately death for the cause of Christ, etc., – Is there anyone we know of today that has a record more like Christ Himself? God inspired Paul to write those words in 1 Cor. 11:1. For us to assume that someone today is worthy to be followed in the same way would be to go beyond what is written, and to assume divine knowledge of another’s heart.
• Another misused scripture: 13:7-8 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. àààà 8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. NOTE again, the direction we are aiming toward is CHRIST, not the man himself.
• Even when there were very obvious good examples that men could have followed, such as Phebe in Rom. 16:2, or the household of Stephanas in 1 Cor. 16:15, God did not instruct the NT Christians to follow those people, only to help them, or at most to submit to them.
• Would we want to follow a man? Some encourage us to follow them, and inspire our confidence. Rom 2:17-24 confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes)
• Matt 23:24-25, 28

24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Matt 23:25

25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Matt 23:28

28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

• It would be highly presumptuous to assume that we or any other man are as worthy of being followed as Paul, the only man whom God Himself commended for that purpose. John 5:44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
• 2 Cor. 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
• 1 Cor. 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
• But 1 Cor. 1:12-13 and 3:1-7 reminds us that we are to be disciples of Christ, not any man.
• 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi (G4461- my master) for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
• 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
• 23:1-28 Many would have followed the Pharisees in their day, because they appeared righteous outwardly unto men, but inwardly they were full dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Those who did follow them became twofold sons of hell more than themselves Matt. 23:15 (the Pharisees). What if I do not accurately discern the heart of the one I choose to follow? I can become trapped.
• We must be careful to have the RIGHT measure, as God has chosen, Christ himself: Eph. 4: 13, Rom 8: 28-29

 

What spiritual maturity (going on to perfection—becoming complete) is not:

• It is not based on age. (old and foolish king who will no more be admonished, hoary head crown of glory IF it be found in the way of righteousness, let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of – speaking to Timothy,
• It is not focused on carnal, earthly things – Phil. 3:18-20, Rom. 14:1-3, 2 Tim. 2: 1-4; Col. 2:20-3:4
• It is often not exhibited by those in positions of leadership (Pharisees, Sadducees, rulers of synagogue) Rom. 2:17-24
• It is not often those who are rich or physically impressive – Paul said my bodily presence is weak, and my speech contemptible. Also 2 Cor. 12:7-10 my strength is made perfect in weakness
• It is not those who are jokesters – Eph. 5:4 or covetous Eph. 5:3
• It is not those who lack the qualities of heart outlined in 2 Pet. 1:5-9
• Out of the heart the mouth speaketh Matt. 12: 33-37
• 7: 20-23 How are my thoughts? Pro. 23:7, God has given us spiritual weapons to take every thought captive, 2 Cor. 10:4, and expects us to use them.
• Ye shall know them by their fruits Matt. 7:16
• James 1:26 seem to be religious, bridleth not his tongue but deceiveth his own self, religion vain

How do I know how mature (complete) I am spiritually? What are some indicators as shown by God?

 

HOW do I go about growing spiritually?

• Recognize my growth does not depend on myself any more than a baby’s growth is completely in his own power.
  • Can a baby just decide to become 6 ft tall and then instantly do it himself?
  • Likewise, God is the one who works in us to will and to do his good pleasure
  • 12:6 We must take the chastening /rebukes of the Lord patiently for it to yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness when we are exercised by these things
• However, the baby must be hungry and eat. 2 Pet. 2:1. Spiritually, we must seek Luke 11:9 , knock Matt. 7:7-8, hunger and thirst after righteousness, Matt. 5:6
• We must seek to be transformed – Rom. 10 by the renewing of our minds
• James 1 ASK for wisdom in faith, ASK for
• Humble ourselves because God resists the proud and gives grace (favor) to the humble
• Start by showing mercy to others
• Begin to study, since our new man is renewed in knowledge Col. 3:9;
• Begin to put off the qualities of the Old Man, and renew our minds to find the qualities God says should be in the New Man, Eph. 4: 22-24
• Search for the individual parts of Christ’s love, the specific qualities of heart,
• STUDY individual qualities of heart that God wants us to grow in, such as
  • Righteousness – How do I grow in it?
    • Understand what it is – equity, fairness, RIGHTness, He that DOETH righteousness IS righteous 1 John 3:7, Psa. 119:172 God’s commandments are righteous
    • 2: 1-9 Shows the earnestness with which we should seek if we want to understand righteousness. Also Hosea 10: 12
    • Rom 1: 17 righteousness is revealed in the understanding that it is BY faith, of faith , and faith comes by hearing the word of God, Rom. 10:17
    • 26: 9 If I want to learn righteousness, I must learn God’s judgments, and not make up my own righteousness – Rom. 10:3, 2 Tim. 3:16
    • Christ is our example for how to become righteous, 1 Cor. 1:30
    • 8: 20 Wisdom leads in the way of righteousness, so we need to ask for wisdom if we want to grow in righteousness.
    • 5:13-14 We must grow skillful in the word of righteousness in order to learn to discern between good and evil.
    • 12: Chastening yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby
    • The just shall live by faith
    • 18:21-22 Doing God’s commandments is righteousness; Rom. 6: 16, 20
    • 8: 4 God’s righteousness is fulfilled in us IF we walk after the spirit and not after the flesh (see Gal. 5 for how to do that.)
    • If we don’t speak of ourselves, but of the oracles of God, then John 7:18 God’s righteousness will dwell in us.
    • Acts 10: 35 righteousness is TOIL. Heb. 11:33
    • 1 Cor. 15: 33-34 avoid traps that stop us from becoming righteous, such as evil communication and sin, 2 Cor. 6:14, wrath, James 1:20,
    • Eph 4: 17-32 To be righteous, we must put off our former conversation (old actions) and put on the new man with its good conversation, by cleansing first the inside of the cup and platter, that the outside may be clean also.
    • 2 Thes 2:10-12 In order to become righteous, we must LOVE the truth, and not have pleasure in unrighteousness (sin.) 2 Tim 2:22 We must flee lusts, and follow after righteousness.
    • We must be willing to suffer in order to do right, 1 Pet 3:14, 1 Pet 2:20-24
    • God can remove our unrighteousness, and create in us a clean heart 1 Jn 5:17; 1:9, Ps

Examine our own selves often, at least during the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11)

We should pray often for specifics—such as that the Word of Christ would dwell in us richly in all wisdom, or that we would grow in faith, or virtue or knowledge, etc.

 

Eph 6:10-18

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

–Beth Johnson