WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.520 Okay, I'm going to preach this morning again. 00:00:01.780 --> 00:00:05.419 My topic is biblical maturity and giftedness. 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:06.400 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:39.039 By way of just framing this, I want to read from Ephesians chapter 4, starting in verse 7. 00:00:43.480 --> 00:00:44.799 Ephesians 4, verse 7. 00:00:46.700 --> 00:00:48.379 And this is going to speak of both. 00:00:48.400 --> 00:00:51.000 This is going to speak of both maturity and giftedness. 00:00:52.379 --> 00:00:53.620 Ephesians 4, verse 7. 00:00:53.700 --> 00:00:57.480 But to each one of us, grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 00:00:57.479 --> 00:00:58.479 Ephesians 4, verse 7. 00:00:58.479 --> 00:00:59.500 This is why it says, 00:00:59.739 --> 00:01:03.939 When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train, and he gave gifts to men. 00:01:08.599 --> 00:01:09.739 I didn't start the recording. 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:14.699 When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train, and he gave gifts to men. 00:01:16.060 --> 00:01:21.000 What does he ascended mean, except that he also descended to the lower earthly regions? 00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:26.280 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens in order to fill the whole universe. 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:34.159 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:40.079 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. 00:01:40.740 --> 00:01:45.719 Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, 00:01:46.420 --> 00:01:51.939 and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 00:01:51.939 --> 00:01:59.459 Then, when we are mature, we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, 00:01:59.560 --> 00:02:05.099 and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men and their deceitful scheming. 00:02:05.980 --> 00:02:12.819 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head, that is, Christ. 00:02:12.819 --> 00:02:20.900 From him, the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, 00:02:21.400 --> 00:02:23.139 as each part does its work. 00:02:23.139 --> 00:02:32.279 So, you see here, you have this insight into Jesus giving gifts to the body. 00:02:32.419 --> 00:02:34.839 He ascended to heaven, and he sent the Spirit. 00:02:35.379 --> 00:02:41.579 And by the Holy Spirit, coming into the hearts of people who have put their trust in Jesus, 00:02:42.179 --> 00:02:45.479 in the context of the local church, he gives gifts. 00:02:45.479 --> 00:02:47.359 For what purpose? 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:50.439 To build us up into Christ. 00:02:50.859 --> 00:02:53.979 To take us from infancy to maturity. 00:02:54.419 --> 00:02:54.939 That's why. 00:02:55.560 --> 00:02:57.399 That's the purpose of gifts. 00:02:58.099 --> 00:02:59.899 But they're not the same thing. 00:03:01.019 --> 00:03:09.319 Gifts are God's equipping dispensation of grace to do the work of ministry. 00:03:10.039 --> 00:03:11.560 What is the work of ministry? 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:17.080 Growing us up into maturity, into becoming like Jesus. 00:03:17.640 --> 00:03:18.460 That's the endgame. 00:03:18.539 --> 00:03:19.000 That's the goal. 00:03:19.539 --> 00:03:20.240 Romans 8 says, 00:03:21.420 --> 00:03:30.039 Those who he foreknew, he predestined to become conformed to the image of his Son. 00:03:31.259 --> 00:03:32.080 That's the endgame. 00:03:32.159 --> 00:03:32.599 That's the goal. 00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:34.640 So, you already know your destination. 00:03:34.800 --> 00:03:38.000 If you're in Christ, what's God's goal for me? 00:03:38.900 --> 00:03:39.900 Become like Jesus. 00:03:39.900 --> 00:03:41.599 What is maturity? 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:42.920 Jesus. 00:03:43.379 --> 00:03:44.900 Jesus is the standard of maturity. 00:03:45.680 --> 00:03:49.340 And he's bringing us through the work of the Holy Spirit and the administrative gifts, 00:03:49.740 --> 00:03:51.560 the administration of gifts in the church. 00:03:51.560 --> 00:03:54.400 He's bringing us into conforming with Jesus. 00:03:56.080 --> 00:03:58.240 But, anyway, I'm beating a dead horse here. 00:03:58.300 --> 00:04:03.780 But the point is, the gift itself, though, is not a mark of maturity. 00:04:04.500 --> 00:04:06.159 It's given for maturity. 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:11.259 So, anyway, why is this meaningful? 00:04:11.939 --> 00:04:19.139 You can have big gifts from God that are very impactful to other people and still be an immature believer. 00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:20.939 It's just true. 00:04:20.939 --> 00:04:28.639 And the deception comes in where you think, wow, man, I am really good at evangelism. 00:04:29.879 --> 00:04:32.500 I must be an extra mature believer. 00:04:33.220 --> 00:04:33.439 You know? 00:04:33.740 --> 00:04:34.899 I'm really good at preaching. 00:04:36.279 --> 00:04:38.079 It must be because I'm mature. 00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:41.659 I must have matured to the point where God has given me this wonderful gift. 00:04:42.060 --> 00:04:43.560 And so many people are blessed by it. 00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:44.139 Wow. 00:04:44.759 --> 00:04:45.540 But it's not true. 00:04:46.259 --> 00:04:47.040 It's not true. 00:04:47.040 --> 00:04:50.980 It's actually our immaturity that thinks that way. 00:04:51.860 --> 00:04:59.360 Jesus says, like, in fact, like, getting an awesome gift is not a sign of maturity. 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:02.420 You can be an immature believer and have an awesome gift from God. 00:05:02.760 --> 00:05:03.540 That's for others. 00:05:03.600 --> 00:05:04.000 That's awesome. 00:05:04.740 --> 00:05:07.060 You can even be reprobate. 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:09.439 And this is crazy. 00:05:09.520 --> 00:05:10.860 I don't know how this even works. 00:05:10.860 --> 00:05:15.060 But all throughout the scripture, you have people who are getting these awesome gifts. 00:05:16.139 --> 00:05:17.520 And they're not even believers. 00:05:18.520 --> 00:05:22.759 Jesus says this, actually, in Matthew chapter 7, verse 21 through 23. 00:05:22.900 --> 00:05:27.199 He says, many will come to me in that day, meaning the day of judgment. 00:05:27.960 --> 00:05:35.220 And they'll say, like, in a state of shock, Lord, like, didn't we do miracles in your name? 00:05:35.220 --> 00:05:39.800 Didn't we cast out demons in your name? 00:05:40.800 --> 00:05:44.520 Did not we do many mighty works in your name? 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:45.080 Which name? 00:05:45.140 --> 00:05:45.740 The name of Jesus. 00:05:47.280 --> 00:05:51.860 Powerful, impactful, fruitful, visible, tangible fruit ministry. 00:05:53.020 --> 00:05:55.300 And he said, away from me. 00:05:56.100 --> 00:05:58.540 I never knew you. 00:06:00.180 --> 00:06:01.880 So it's a sobering thing. 00:06:01.879 --> 00:06:06.879 And it's not only applies to us as believers and trying to understand where we're at in our spiritual life. 00:06:07.319 --> 00:06:11.259 Like, there's this reality that you could actually have gifts. 00:06:12.259 --> 00:06:19.680 And in God's mysterious, I don't know how this even works, but at least the appearance of gifts that are very impactful to people. 00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:22.959 And you yourself aren't even right with God. 00:06:24.040 --> 00:06:25.439 And it's important to know this. 00:06:25.439 --> 00:06:35.360 Because if we're looking at our gifts as a measure of our maturity and the impact we have on other people as a measure of our maturity and maybe even our standing with God, we are way off. 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:39.160 That is not the measure that God is using to judge our maturity. 00:06:40.420 --> 00:06:43.680 So I think a good example of this is the church in Corinth. 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:48.040 So the church in Corinth had this dynamic going on. 00:06:48.220 --> 00:06:51.340 So if you turn with me to 1 Corinthians 1, verse 7. 00:06:54.939 --> 00:06:57.920 1 Corinthians 1, verse 7. 00:06:58.400 --> 00:06:59.899 Paul's starting off his introduction. 00:07:00.100 --> 00:07:00.560 He says, 00:07:01.060 --> 00:07:06.600 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 00:07:06.860 --> 00:07:11.000 So this church had zero spiritual gifts missing. 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:13.480 They had the whole gamut. 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:14.259 All of it. 00:07:15.139 --> 00:07:16.160 That is pretty wild. 00:07:17.019 --> 00:07:19.120 I don't think I've ever met a church that has all of it. 00:07:19.339 --> 00:07:20.720 And they had all of it. 00:07:21.399 --> 00:07:24.959 That must be a pretty mature, healthy, high-functioning church. 00:07:27.300 --> 00:07:28.439 Well, we'll see. 00:07:32.060 --> 00:07:32.839 We'll see here. 00:07:33.199 --> 00:07:34.120 We'll go on a little bit further. 00:07:36.060 --> 00:07:37.439 Tell me what you really think, Paul. 00:07:38.040 --> 00:07:39.560 1 Corinthians 3, verse 1. 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:43.480 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly. 00:07:44.500 --> 00:07:47.139 Mere infants in Christ. 00:07:47.800 --> 00:07:48.139 All right. 00:07:48.220 --> 00:07:52.019 So they have all the gifts, but they're babies. 00:07:55.139 --> 00:07:58.279 Giftedness does not equal maturity. 00:07:59.699 --> 00:08:02.399 Giftedness does not equal maturity. 00:08:02.680 --> 00:08:03.819 You can see this other places. 00:08:04.019 --> 00:08:05.459 There's actually a lot of examples of this. 00:08:05.459 --> 00:08:07.519 I think Saul and David are a great example of this. 00:08:08.339 --> 00:08:09.659 Saul, very gifted. 00:08:10.500 --> 00:08:11.339 Filled the Holy Spirit. 00:08:12.159 --> 00:08:12.519 Prophecied. 00:08:12.699 --> 00:08:13.500 Anointed by God. 00:08:13.739 --> 00:08:14.779 Had the appearance of humility. 00:08:14.899 --> 00:08:20.759 He actually went and hid from the responsibility that he was called to as a king. 00:08:20.859 --> 00:08:21.779 And it seemed really humble. 00:08:22.620 --> 00:08:23.620 He's a humble guy, right? 00:08:23.620 --> 00:08:25.459 I don't want to put myself forward. 00:08:25.579 --> 00:08:26.660 You know, I'm going to go hide over here. 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:28.439 And, you know, they'd bring him out. 00:08:28.519 --> 00:08:29.340 And he eventually is king. 00:08:30.939 --> 00:08:31.939 But he was a politician. 00:08:33.379 --> 00:08:41.840 So always trying to figure out, how can I get the most of God's blessing and still have everybody like me? 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:42.920 And that was his downfall. 00:08:43.160 --> 00:08:44.960 He was not willing to obey God. 00:08:45.139 --> 00:08:48.879 When the rubber hit the road, he loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. 00:08:49.620 --> 00:08:53.840 And you see there, I mean, I don't know if he was a believer or not, but it doesn't seem like it how he ended his life. 00:08:54.480 --> 00:08:55.800 But he was anointed by God. 00:08:56.060 --> 00:08:56.940 Filled with the Holy Spirit. 00:08:57.320 --> 00:08:57.680 Prophesied. 00:08:59.720 --> 00:09:00.399 Lots of gifting. 00:09:01.200 --> 00:09:02.960 At minimum, very low matured. 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:04.420 And you see David. 00:09:05.160 --> 00:09:06.360 A man after God's own heart. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:07.400 Gifted. 00:09:08.160 --> 00:09:09.879 And obviously the guy fell. 00:09:10.220 --> 00:09:10.360 Okay? 00:09:10.400 --> 00:09:11.780 He did stuff that was bad. 00:09:12.500 --> 00:09:14.840 But God restored him and he knew God. 00:09:14.940 --> 00:09:16.180 And God knew him. 00:09:17.320 --> 00:09:19.300 He counted David among his friends. 00:09:19.840 --> 00:09:21.100 He was a man after God's own heart. 00:09:22.019 --> 00:09:22.560 And then Satan. 00:09:22.900 --> 00:09:24.700 So Satan, most gifted angel. 00:09:24.780 --> 00:09:26.740 I mean, he's almost like a case in point. 00:09:27.580 --> 00:09:29.040 Gifting and maturity. 00:09:30.300 --> 00:09:30.460 Okay. 00:09:31.180 --> 00:09:32.580 Who was the most gifted angel? 00:09:32.960 --> 00:09:33.220 Satan. 00:09:34.420 --> 00:09:35.860 Who's the most immature angel? 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:38.620 That's hyperbole. 00:09:39.180 --> 00:09:39.440 Satan. 00:09:40.639 --> 00:09:40.879 All right? 00:09:41.500 --> 00:09:43.100 Again, I didn't keep my point. 00:09:43.400 --> 00:09:44.440 So why is this important? 00:09:45.660 --> 00:09:54.900 Our maturity, there can be an obstacle to our maturity if you think you're more mature than you actually are. 00:09:55.240 --> 00:09:57.120 When you don't have self-awareness. 00:09:57.680 --> 00:10:01.560 And if you're always looking at your gifts and your ministry impact, 00:10:01.559 --> 00:10:03.919 and you're putting confidence in that, 00:10:04.479 --> 00:10:05.779 it's like you've got these blinders on. 00:10:06.299 --> 00:10:06.479 You know? 00:10:07.219 --> 00:10:08.419 You can't understand. 00:10:08.519 --> 00:10:10.819 Because you're grading using the wrong criteria. 00:10:11.659 --> 00:10:15.399 You're trying to judge your maturity on how impactful your ministry and your gifting is. 00:10:16.519 --> 00:10:22.439 Versus a different set of criteria entirely that the Bible gives us to assess the maturity. 00:10:22.440 --> 00:10:24.020 That's what I want to talk about. 00:10:24.760 --> 00:10:26.400 Romans 12, 3 says, 00:10:27.120 --> 00:10:29.480 For by the grace given to me, I say to everyone among you, 00:10:29.800 --> 00:10:32.940 not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:36.240 but to think with sober judgment. 00:10:37.900 --> 00:10:41.840 Think about ourselves with sober judgment, 00:10:42.380 --> 00:10:46.500 each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 00:10:46.500 --> 00:10:50.340 So, this is important. 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:54.000 He says, hey, don't think of yourself highly than you ought to. 00:10:54.220 --> 00:10:55.799 Think of yourself with sober judgment. 00:10:56.639 --> 00:10:57.179 You want to mature? 00:10:57.279 --> 00:10:58.259 You really want to become like Jesus? 00:10:59.019 --> 00:11:04.720 You want to hear the Spirit causing you to put off the old man and put on the new man 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:08.259 and become conformed to the image of my Son, which is my will for you? 00:11:08.600 --> 00:11:10.580 Do you really want to participate in that work? 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:12.720 Just have some humility. 00:11:13.240 --> 00:11:14.500 Think of yourself soberly. 00:11:14.500 --> 00:11:16.860 You know, there's an insecurity. 00:11:17.000 --> 00:11:18.919 It just likes to think about all the good things in our life. 00:11:19.179 --> 00:11:19.360 Okay. 00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:22.299 All of, you know, all my positive attributes. 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:25.220 So, when I think about my negative attributes, I can get depressed. 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:27.879 Well, that's why we have Jesus. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:29.460 Christ is our righteousness. 00:11:31.080 --> 00:11:35.720 Because Jesus stands in my place, I can face my faults head on. 00:11:35.879 --> 00:11:36.879 I don't have to hide from it anymore. 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:40.159 I'm not justified by perfection any longer. 00:11:41.100 --> 00:11:42.279 Now I'm free just to be honest. 00:11:42.279 --> 00:11:44.500 And think of myself with sober judgment. 00:11:45.100 --> 00:11:49.839 And to not distract myself with this perpetual narrative of, how's God using me? 00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:51.100 How am I being effective? 00:11:51.519 --> 00:11:54.639 Because if I am, maybe then God likes me more. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:55.279 You know. 00:11:56.139 --> 00:11:57.059 We don't need that anymore. 00:11:57.059 --> 00:12:01.039 So, how do we accurately judge where we're at? 00:12:01.079 --> 00:12:02.379 We're going to read through a few passages. 00:12:02.539 --> 00:12:03.619 I'm just going to read these all together. 00:12:03.759 --> 00:12:05.039 And I'm going to do a little commentary on them. 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:08.579 First one is 1 Corinthians 1, verse 10 through 12. 00:12:09.259 --> 00:12:09.679 Paul says, 00:12:09.679 --> 00:12:29.739 My brothers, some from Chloe's household have been before me that there are quarrels among you. 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:31.419 What I mean is this. 00:12:31.560 --> 00:12:33.019 One of you says, I follow Paul. 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:35.000 Another, I follow Apollos. 00:12:35.320 --> 00:12:37.500 Another, I follow Cephas, which means Peter. 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:39.820 And still another, I follow Christ. 00:12:40.279 --> 00:12:41.460 It's almost like the worst one. 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:42.060 You know. 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:45.240 Think like, well, all these other people are following men. 00:12:45.299 --> 00:12:46.399 I follow Christ. 00:12:46.899 --> 00:12:47.159 You know. 00:12:47.159 --> 00:12:53.399 That's not like that category is the good category and all the rest of them are bad categories. 00:12:53.500 --> 00:12:58.120 I've seen one of these people is immature in their divisive mentality towards other people. 00:12:58.639 --> 00:13:01.980 And Paul unpacks this a little bit more starting in chapter 3. 00:13:02.779 --> 00:13:04.839 I started reading this, but I'll read it again. 00:13:04.839 --> 00:13:08.819 Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual, but as worldly, mere infants in Christ. 00:13:09.199 --> 00:13:12.339 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you are still not ready for it. 00:13:12.699 --> 00:13:14.439 Indeed, you are still not ready. 00:13:15.139 --> 00:13:16.659 You are still worldly. 00:13:17.159 --> 00:13:19.699 Worldly equals immature. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:20.459 Same thing. 00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:25.360 For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? 00:13:25.919 --> 00:13:28.500 Are you not acting like mere men? 00:13:29.079 --> 00:13:35.740 For when one says, I follow Paul, and another, I follow Apollos, are you not mere men? 00:13:36.919 --> 00:13:38.579 What after all is Apollos? 00:13:38.699 --> 00:13:39.500 And what is Paul? 00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:45.159 Only servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 00:13:45.159 --> 00:13:46.980 I planted the seed. 00:13:47.699 --> 00:13:48.620 Apollos watered it. 00:13:49.120 --> 00:13:50.559 But God made it grow. 00:13:51.360 --> 00:13:57.559 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow. 00:13:57.559 --> 00:14:00.899 Turn to 1 Corinthians 13. 00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:00.939 Turn to 1 Corinthians 13. 00:14:05.459 --> 00:14:08.739 Starts off right at the end of chapter 12. 00:14:08.819 --> 00:14:09.759 He's talking about gifts. 00:14:09.899 --> 00:14:11.519 All of chapter 12, he's talking about gifts. 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:12.679 And he finishes and says, 00:14:12.679 --> 00:14:16.079 And now I will show you the most excellent way. 00:14:18.219 --> 00:14:19.139 Start in verse 1. 00:14:19.139 --> 00:14:44.039 Love is patient. 00:14:44.039 --> 00:14:45.620 Love is kind. 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:46.919 It does not envy. 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:48.240 It does not boast. 00:14:48.579 --> 00:14:49.439 It is not proud. 00:14:50.199 --> 00:14:51.000 It is not rude. 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:52.860 It is not self-seeking. 00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:54.799 It is not easily angered. 00:14:54.839 --> 00:14:56.459 And it keeps no record of wrongs. 00:14:57.279 --> 00:15:01.379 Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. 00:15:02.179 --> 00:15:07.120 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:09.240 Love never fails. 00:15:09.799 --> 00:15:11.820 But where there are prophecies, they will cease. 00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:14.379 Where there are tongues, they will be stilled. 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:16.320 Where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:19.600 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 00:15:20.299 --> 00:15:22.519 But when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 00:15:23.620 --> 00:15:25.799 When I was a child, I talked like a child. 00:15:25.919 --> 00:15:26.820 I thought like a child. 00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:27.940 I reasoned like a child. 00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:31.360 But when I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:34.820 Now we see, but a poor reflection is in a mirror. 00:15:34.820 --> 00:15:37.840 Then we shall see face to face. 00:15:38.780 --> 00:15:41.200 Now I know in part, and then I shall know fully. 00:15:41.640 --> 00:15:43.460 Even as I am fully known. 00:15:44.520 --> 00:15:45.760 And now these three remain. 00:15:45.980 --> 00:15:47.160 Faith, hope, and love. 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:50.000 But the greatest of these is love. 00:15:50.660 --> 00:15:51.820 So you see Paul here. 00:15:52.200 --> 00:15:54.040 He doesn't use the word gift, so that's the context. 00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:56.240 And he contrasts these two things. 00:15:57.960 --> 00:16:00.480 Giftedness, if you have the whole, like all of it. 00:16:01.220 --> 00:16:02.720 To the ultimate degree. 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:05.639 Every spiritual gift in one person. 00:16:05.940 --> 00:16:07.899 Which has never existed except for Christ, by the way. 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:09.279 But it's to say you did. 00:16:10.160 --> 00:16:11.540 And you didn't have love. 00:16:12.360 --> 00:16:12.800 Nothing. 00:16:13.660 --> 00:16:14.100 Zero. 00:16:14.259 --> 00:16:15.779 It would profit you nothing. 00:16:17.580 --> 00:16:20.980 Love and maturity are the same thing. 00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:22.940 Jesus is love. 00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:23.740 Okay? 00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:26.879 When we're talking about maturity, what are we talking about growing up in? 00:16:26.980 --> 00:16:27.920 Into love. 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:32.559 To be the measure of the standard of Christ. 00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:34.479 The full measure of Jesus. 00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:40.500 And what he's saying here at the end of this chapter is, listen, all these spiritual gifts, they're temporary. 00:16:41.659 --> 00:16:42.379 They're temporary. 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:43.539 They're for now. 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:45.439 Someday they're going to pass away. 00:16:45.719 --> 00:16:46.559 When are they going to pass away? 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:48.500 When we see him. 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:50.679 When the perfect comes, Jesus. 00:16:51.620 --> 00:16:53.759 The imperfect will pass away. 00:16:58.919 --> 00:17:01.879 And each one of us only can see in part. 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:15.099 Even with like the maximal mass spiritual gifts that someone has, you're only allowed by God a sliver of the necessary knowledge to contribute to the full picture of whatever that gifting is intended. 00:17:15.099 --> 00:17:17.740 So you know something, you see part of a thing. 00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:19.719 Like, and that's all you did. 00:17:20.159 --> 00:17:21.759 There's no single person on the planet. 00:17:22.199 --> 00:17:28.319 And this is important even for discipleship and for having insight into people's lives and stuff. 00:17:28.799 --> 00:17:31.959 You can 100% see something, but you don't get to see all of it. 00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:32.759 You don't get to. 00:17:33.059 --> 00:17:34.679 God has not ordained that you get to. 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:37.719 We, at best, see in part. 00:17:38.179 --> 00:17:39.039 You know who sees in full? 00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.179 Jesus does. 00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:41.639 He sees it in full. 00:17:42.639 --> 00:17:44.539 And it starts to speak to our need for each other. 00:17:45.099 --> 00:17:55.639 He's distributed these gifts in the body so that through the multivariate grace of God, the manifold grace of God, all together we can start to represent Jesus more accurately. 00:17:56.419 --> 00:17:56.559 Right? 00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:59.159 People with all these gifts, they're going to go away. 00:17:59.199 --> 00:18:00.679 When Jesus comes back, it's all gone. 00:18:01.959 --> 00:18:03.519 What do you get at the end? 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:04.639 Maturity. 00:18:05.319 --> 00:18:06.299 Perfect maturity. 00:18:06.439 --> 00:18:08.099 When we see him, we will be like him. 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:12.519 And then the purpose of the gifts, it won't be needed anymore. 00:18:12.980 --> 00:18:13.579 What's the purpose? 00:18:14.279 --> 00:18:14.639 Maturity. 00:18:14.639 --> 00:18:14.679 Maturity. 00:18:15.099 --> 00:18:15.259 Right? 00:18:16.699 --> 00:18:17.859 Let me digress a little bit. 00:18:18.019 --> 00:18:20.079 The last one I want to read here is in Hebrews 5. 00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:21.879 Hebrews chapter 5. 00:18:25.539 --> 00:18:26.699 Verse 11 through 14. 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:29.419 Hebrews 5, starting in verse 11. 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:31.119 We have much to say about this. 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:33.539 Some translations say him. 00:18:34.199 --> 00:18:35.439 Of him, we have much to say. 00:18:35.500 --> 00:18:36.259 It's speaking of Jesus. 00:18:36.259 --> 00:18:40.019 But it's hard to explain because you're slow to learn. 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:48.759 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. 00:18:48.759 --> 00:18:51.500 You need milk, not solid food. 00:18:51.500 --> 00:19:01.119 Anyone who lives on milk being still an infant is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 00:19:01.119 --> 00:19:05.440 By constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:09.880 So it speaks of another aspect of immaturity, which is you just don't read the Bible. 00:19:09.880 --> 00:19:15.680 Or you're content with a certain level of Bible understanding. 00:19:15.820 --> 00:19:17.900 Maybe you're just content just hearing sermons all the time. 00:19:17.900 --> 00:19:18.660 I don't know. 00:19:18.740 --> 00:19:18.960 I don't know. 00:19:19.900 --> 00:19:21.880 Just a, you know, I don't know. 00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:22.259 I don't know. 00:19:22.320 --> 00:19:25.000 But it's a content with immaturity. 00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:29.100 A contentment with immaturity that's not befitting a child of God. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:30.280 Okay? 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:38.160 Because as we grow in the Lord, we are to be growing such that we can start to help other people. 00:19:39.300 --> 00:19:40.680 And you don't know God's word yourself. 00:19:40.759 --> 00:19:41.620 You can't help other people. 00:19:42.120 --> 00:19:42.320 Okay? 00:19:42.380 --> 00:19:43.120 You really can't. 00:19:43.120 --> 00:19:47.180 Or there's a limit to how helpful you can be. 00:19:48.440 --> 00:19:50.700 And God cares about this. 00:19:50.960 --> 00:19:51.880 God cares about this. 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:59.540 And the other thing is, it says about the mature, that they've been able to, by constant use, discern good and evil. 00:20:00.340 --> 00:20:05.759 I heard an old preacher say one time, if you don't read your Bible, you deserve to be deceived. 00:20:07.540 --> 00:20:09.900 I think it's hard to argue with that. 00:20:10.800 --> 00:20:15.519 I think probably a more appropriate way of putting it is if you don't read your Bible, you will be deceived. 00:20:16.259 --> 00:20:17.660 We all deserve to be deceived. 00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:18.580 You know? 00:20:18.820 --> 00:20:20.560 Not a single one of us doesn't deserve to be deceived. 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:21.480 We all deserve it. 00:20:21.540 --> 00:20:24.140 In God's mercy, he's opened our eyes to the truth. 00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:28.019 And he's helped us escape, to a certain degree, deception. 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:30.860 And he's constantly doing that for all of his children. 00:20:30.859 --> 00:20:35.699 And he's renewing our minds and bringing us out of a state of just, you know, being deceived, right? 00:20:37.119 --> 00:20:43.059 But if we don't read our Bibles, like, the entrance of your word gives light, the Bible says. 00:20:43.139 --> 00:20:47.759 The Bible shines light and shows us God's will for our life. 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:52.019 And the Spirit takes that word and he applies it to our heart and he brings conviction. 00:20:52.579 --> 00:20:53.819 That's how he does it. 00:20:53.819 --> 00:20:59.319 And over time, we start to be able to discern what's truth and what's a lie. 00:21:00.019 --> 00:21:01.919 What's good and what's evil. 00:21:02.619 --> 00:21:05.119 You know, immature people don't, they don't, they don't get all that, right? 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:07.019 But we ought to be maturing. 00:21:08.079 --> 00:21:10.559 So anyway, those are three passages. 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:14.419 And I think there's a lot more to be said about immaturity. 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:25.479 But I think these, the reason I think these are pertinent is because this speaks to people who have a lot of gifts and have some time under their belt. 00:21:26.639 --> 00:21:30.939 And between those two things, they ought to be more mature than they currently are. 00:21:30.940 --> 00:21:36.840 And when I think of Christchurch, I think of a very gifted bunch of people, okay? 00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:39.299 I think there's a lot of gifts. 00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:47.240 I think of it as just like, man, there's a lot of very unique and honestly very impactful gifts represented in our midst. 00:21:48.440 --> 00:21:49.680 I've been very affected by it. 00:21:49.740 --> 00:21:50.299 It's been awesome. 00:21:50.380 --> 00:21:51.180 It's been awesome for our family. 00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:53.420 I've seen other people's lives transform and stuff. 00:21:54.820 --> 00:21:56.240 The question is, are we mature? 00:21:57.840 --> 00:21:58.160 All right? 00:21:58.720 --> 00:22:00.740 Are our giftings outstripping our maturity? 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:10.180 Are we maybe got a little bit of gifting blinders on where we're not able to kind of come to terms with what the Bible says is going on in reality in our lives? 00:22:11.559 --> 00:22:14.360 And if that's true, the Lord wants to say, you know what? 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:17.340 I want you to share my perspective on you so that you can grow. 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:20.320 Not for your condemnation, but so you can grow. 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:24.019 So towards that end, I want to share 20 points. 00:22:24.919 --> 00:22:25.700 20 points. 00:22:25.879 --> 00:22:26.819 Let me try to burn through these. 00:22:26.879 --> 00:22:28.299 I realize I'm going a little long here. 00:22:28.359 --> 00:22:28.619 20. 00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:34.240 20 points that are 20 evidences of immaturity. 00:22:34.579 --> 00:22:36.919 These all basically come from the passages I just read, okay? 00:22:37.939 --> 00:22:39.399 Number one, jealousy and envy. 00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:44.779 Jealousy and envy in the life of a believer is evidence of immaturity. 00:22:44.779 --> 00:22:48.740 You get that from 1 Corinthians 3.3 and 1 Corinthians 13, verse 4. 00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:50.180 Both those passages just read. 00:22:51.299 --> 00:22:52.319 Number two, quarreling. 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:54.579 1 Corinthians 3.3. 00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:56.680 There's quarreling in your life? 00:22:57.200 --> 00:22:57.740 You're immature. 00:22:58.379 --> 00:22:59.500 There's jealousy and envy? 00:22:59.899 --> 00:23:00.279 You're immature. 00:23:00.920 --> 00:23:01.019 Okay? 00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:02.420 Divisions. 00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.559 Number three, divisions. 00:23:03.700 --> 00:23:05.480 1 Corinthians 3, verse 1 through 4. 00:23:05.480 --> 00:23:10.799 Paul says, hey, because there's division in your midst, it's proof of something. 00:23:11.640 --> 00:23:12.240 You're babies. 00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:15.380 You might think you're so awesome. 00:23:15.460 --> 00:23:16.420 You got all these awesome gifts. 00:23:16.539 --> 00:23:17.460 Surely you must be mature. 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:18.480 I beg to differ. 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:20.099 I beg to differ. 00:23:21.019 --> 00:23:21.559 You're babies. 00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:26.000 So, and I think it's important to think about this a little bit. 00:23:26.120 --> 00:23:28.079 Division runs on gossip and slander, okay? 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:30.019 Division means division. 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:34.099 I have a different vision than other people in my midst or than my leaders. 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:37.000 That's okay. 00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:40.240 Like, we can think differently about things, but there's a way to handle it. 00:23:40.639 --> 00:23:44.899 Where that actually turns into real division in the church is gossip and slander. 00:23:45.480 --> 00:23:48.059 You do something about it, but it's not what God wants you to do about it. 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:50.679 You go start talking to other people, okay? 00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:56.559 You start saying things that you ought not say to get people on your side to see the error 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:58.939 of these ways of these other people, you know? 00:23:59.699 --> 00:24:01.099 Proverbs 16, 28 said, 00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:12.899 That was going on, okay? 00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:13.899 What's the fruit? 00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:14.279 Division. 00:24:15.240 --> 00:24:16.179 How did it get there? 00:24:16.679 --> 00:24:18.199 Gossip and slander, okay? 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:21.000 Titus 3, verse 10 through 11 says, 00:24:21.120 --> 00:24:26.759 As for a person who stirs up division after warning him once and then twice, have nothing 00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:27.580 more to do with him. 00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:32.340 Knowing that such a person is warped and sinful, he is self-condemned. 00:24:33.059 --> 00:24:36.340 Point being, swift church discipline, okay? 00:24:36.339 --> 00:24:40.439 There are certain things where we give a lot of rope for, okay? 00:24:41.059 --> 00:24:44.759 Say, you know, someone's maybe stuck in sexual immorality, they're just having a hard time 00:24:44.759 --> 00:24:45.539 overcoming lust. 00:24:46.179 --> 00:24:50.879 We're going to give way more grace and work through that over a longer season of time 00:24:50.879 --> 00:24:53.939 because their sin is impacting a much smaller circle. 00:24:54.119 --> 00:24:57.279 It's mainly just them, maybe, you know, spouses and things like that. 00:24:57.659 --> 00:25:01.099 It doesn't mean we don't need to do church discipline and take it seriously. 00:25:01.099 --> 00:25:05.299 It's just the blast radius is smaller for that particular sin. 00:25:06.459 --> 00:25:07.659 For division, it's different, though. 00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:12.839 The blast radius is very big and it happens really quick. 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:18.359 James talks about the tongue, how such a huge fire is set off by a little thing, a little 00:25:18.359 --> 00:25:19.480 word, a little spark. 00:25:20.679 --> 00:25:27.039 Well, Paul says basically, listen, man, this was one that you escalate really quick, okay? 00:25:27.219 --> 00:25:27.839 Two warnings. 00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:31.399 And I'm not, this is not my, this is not my opinion here. 00:25:31.419 --> 00:25:32.419 This is what the Bible says. 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:36.579 Don't give this one much room at all. 00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:38.220 And so we should think about that. 00:25:38.299 --> 00:25:41.240 You know, we all have a lust to say things we ought not say. 00:25:41.319 --> 00:25:43.639 So this is, this ought to help us rein our own tongues in. 00:25:43.959 --> 00:25:46.879 But even help our brothers and sisters, you see them kind of in frustration. 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:48.379 Maybe they see a difference about something. 00:25:48.459 --> 00:25:49.959 They're just venting, you know? 00:25:50.819 --> 00:25:51.439 Shut that down. 00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.879 It's like, no, we don't talk like that. 00:25:53.419 --> 00:25:55.539 There's a way to deal with this and that's not it, okay? 00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:59.259 Number four, favoritism and sectarianism. 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:03.159 This comes from 1 Corinthians 1 verse 10 through 12 and 3 verse 4. 00:26:03.460 --> 00:26:07.539 This is the whole I'm of Paul, I'm of Apollos deal. 00:26:08.059 --> 00:26:10.299 You hear something that's a common thread through all that. 00:26:10.379 --> 00:26:11.339 There's a word, I. 00:26:11.339 --> 00:26:18.299 Me, me, me, my, my convictions, my thoughts, me. 00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:24.319 And what you're really saying is, this person, I love me and I love my own thoughts. 00:26:24.379 --> 00:26:26.019 I love my own convictions about stuff. 00:26:26.099 --> 00:26:29.039 And this person most aligns with those things. 00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:30.720 And so I'm going to identify with them. 00:26:31.220 --> 00:26:36.019 They're a leader and I'm going to identify with that particular leader and their particular perspective. 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:38.900 Which, again, remember, how much does anyone get? 00:26:40.000 --> 00:26:41.779 A sliver, right? 00:26:42.240 --> 00:26:43.980 But I like that one the best. 00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:46.519 And I don't like all those other ones. 00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:48.579 And so I'm going to identify with that guy. 00:26:49.720 --> 00:26:51.420 It's immaturity, okay? 00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:55.259 This is like, immature people are very individualistic. 00:26:55.379 --> 00:26:58.099 We're being saved out of this individualistic mindset, okay? 00:26:59.079 --> 00:27:01.779 And individualism is self-worship. 00:27:01.879 --> 00:27:03.639 I love me, okay? 00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:05.800 And so it's actually a tell. 00:27:06.620 --> 00:27:07.700 You get to know where someone's at. 00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:11.540 You know, and I think, I've talked to elders of Bellicose. 00:27:11.600 --> 00:27:12.460 They've dealt with this for years. 00:27:12.560 --> 00:27:16.440 There's always people who are like, you know, they're Brian and Josh and Kurt. 00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:17.240 These are elders. 00:27:17.400 --> 00:27:18.380 And Sean, when he was an elder. 00:27:18.800 --> 00:27:20.700 And people always just had their preferences. 00:27:20.940 --> 00:27:25.680 And they would want to basically say, this particular elder is the right kind. 00:27:28.340 --> 00:27:31.080 And these aren't, to some degree. 00:27:31.360 --> 00:27:32.620 I'm not saying they shouldn't be elders. 00:27:32.619 --> 00:27:34.919 But, you know, I wish they were just more like this guy. 00:27:36.099 --> 00:27:36.919 You're just immature. 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:42.299 You see things through your narrow, you know, little window. 00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:43.459 And you love yourself. 00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:44.799 And you just like people who are like you. 00:27:45.959 --> 00:27:46.719 It's just the truth. 00:27:48.599 --> 00:27:49.139 Number five. 00:27:49.279 --> 00:27:51.039 Big leader, small God worldview. 00:27:51.459 --> 00:27:52.779 1 Corinthians 3.21. 00:27:52.899 --> 00:27:55.419 This is where Paul's saying, you know, the leader's nothing, okay? 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.719 It's God who's in control of everything. 00:27:56.720 --> 00:27:58.980 And we have this kind of carnal mindset. 00:27:59.720 --> 00:28:05.059 We think men are in control of my life in some fashion, okay? 00:28:06.059 --> 00:28:06.779 Not God. 00:28:08.720 --> 00:28:09.500 God's in control. 00:28:10.660 --> 00:28:14.980 But if that person, you know, is a leader, then I'm going to get my life going to screw it up. 00:28:15.100 --> 00:28:17.700 And, I mean, anyone who's under authority knows this tension. 00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:18.240 I know it. 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:20.539 But, wives especially know it. 00:28:20.579 --> 00:28:22.319 They have to submit to an imperfect husband. 00:28:22.940 --> 00:28:24.259 How do you do that? 00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:29.079 If we're all sinners, no one's perfect. 00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:32.099 That means that person is going to make mistakes. 00:28:32.460 --> 00:28:35.660 And it's going to make my life more difficult than I think it ought to be. 00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:37.819 What do you do? 00:28:38.700 --> 00:28:41.480 How do you obey God when he says, wives, submit to your husbands? 00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:43.359 Even unbelieving husbands. 00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:45.220 And not only that, win them without a word. 00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:47.180 Or, oh my goodness, how do you do that? 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:48.440 There's only one way. 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:50.779 You've got to see a big God. 00:28:51.620 --> 00:28:54.319 Big God behind that weak man. 00:28:55.059 --> 00:28:58.079 My God will not suffer my foot to be moved. 00:28:58.940 --> 00:28:59.180 You know? 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:01.259 He never slumbers or sleeps. 00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:03.519 But the reverse. 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:06.500 We've got to grow in that confidence, right? 00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:07.480 We don't start off like that. 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:10.460 We see all the people who've hurt us and all the people who've done bad things. 00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:12.480 And it's just like men are in control of everything, right? 00:29:12.940 --> 00:29:15.220 That's kind of your baseline starting point as an immature believer. 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:18.839 Well, that manifests in kind of some of these behaviors. 00:29:19.700 --> 00:29:20.380 And I've got to go faster. 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:23.360 Number six, identity and spiritual gifts. 00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.640 We kind of talked about this already. 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:28.440 Just putting your identity in your own spiritual gift. 00:29:28.539 --> 00:29:32.839 I think a lot of the maybe insecurity, anxiety we get into is like, how am I gifted? 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.720 What's God called me to? 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:34.240 All this stuff. 00:29:34.660 --> 00:29:36.120 It's really just an identity thing. 00:29:36.599 --> 00:29:38.339 For eyes around Jesus, we just want to love people. 00:29:38.420 --> 00:29:39.160 You know what's going to happen? 00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:41.180 It'll become clear. 00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:46.220 We pursue love and we desire gifts, not the other way around. 00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:49.519 Number seven, impatience. 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:51.600 1 Corinthians 13.4. 00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:53.180 I mean, this is so convicting to me. 00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:57.320 To be honest, I am not free from this shit. 00:29:58.019 --> 00:29:58.200 Okay? 00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:59.220 I'm just not. 00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:00.680 I still get into it. 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.660 Got to do it this morning. 00:30:03.160 --> 00:30:04.320 I just... 00:30:04.320 --> 00:30:05.880 Love is patient. 00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:07.180 Love is patient. 00:30:07.180 --> 00:30:08.580 It's not impulsive. 00:30:08.700 --> 00:30:09.560 It's not reactionary. 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:12.320 And this is something the Lord has convicted me about. 00:30:12.380 --> 00:30:12.960 I want to grow in. 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.240 Number eight, unkind. 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:15.560 1 Corinthians 13.4. 00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:17.259 Speaking harshly to others. 00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:18.900 That's an evidence of immaturity. 00:30:19.060 --> 00:30:19.980 Number eight, boasting. 00:30:20.759 --> 00:30:22.120 1 Corinthians 13.4. 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:24.100 Boasting about gifts, wisdom, insight. 00:30:26.160 --> 00:30:26.560 Pride. 00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:27.720 Number 10, pride. 00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:29.799 1 Corinthians 13.4. 00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:34.299 Again, assumes you know best that you see everything instead of, maybe I know. 00:30:34.299 --> 00:30:36.180 I see in part. 00:30:37.159 --> 00:30:37.819 That's humility. 00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:38.819 Pride says, no, I know. 00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:39.579 I know. 00:30:39.700 --> 00:30:40.279 Not that's the whole thing. 00:30:41.200 --> 00:30:41.599 Not true. 00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:42.779 11. 00:30:42.940 --> 00:30:43.319 Rude. 00:30:44.259 --> 00:30:45.819 1 Corinthians 13.5. 00:30:46.619 --> 00:30:49.180 Lacking basic politeness and consideration for other people. 00:30:49.299 --> 00:30:49.919 Love's not rude. 00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:50.339 Okay? 00:30:51.599 --> 00:30:52.899 Number 12, self-seeking. 00:30:53.639 --> 00:30:54.940 1 Corinthians 13.5. 00:30:55.039 --> 00:30:55.680 You're in it for you. 00:30:55.740 --> 00:30:57.220 An immature person is in it for them. 00:30:57.940 --> 00:31:01.159 Yeah, I want to serve God, but most importantly, I'm actually in it for me. 00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:01.600 Okay? 00:31:02.660 --> 00:31:04.259 Number 13, easily angered. 00:31:04.279 --> 00:31:05.500 1 Corinthians 13.5. 00:31:05.620 --> 00:31:08.400 Number 14, keeps a record of other people's sin. 00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.800 1 Corinthians 13. 00:31:10.440 --> 00:31:12.320 Number 15, delights in evil. 00:31:12.680 --> 00:31:13.600 1 Corinthians 13. 00:31:14.019 --> 00:31:15.980 Do you love hearing about other people's sin? 00:31:16.900 --> 00:31:17.600 Do you like that? 00:31:17.660 --> 00:31:18.259 Do you enjoy that? 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:21.120 Do you enjoy finding out about other people's failings? 00:31:21.960 --> 00:31:22.600 You delight in evil. 00:31:23.540 --> 00:31:24.480 That's what that means. 00:31:24.800 --> 00:31:25.540 You delight in evil. 00:31:25.660 --> 00:31:29.360 It's not only do you like doing things you ought not do, which includes that too. 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:35.979 You get excited when you hear about someone, you know, kind of falling short and got to knock them down a few notches. 00:31:36.059 --> 00:31:36.599 They needed that. 00:31:37.979 --> 00:31:38.459 No. 00:31:39.719 --> 00:31:41.039 At best, you're immature. 00:31:41.399 --> 00:31:41.559 Okay? 00:31:44.639 --> 00:31:46.599 Number 16, doesn't protect. 00:31:47.179 --> 00:31:48.740 1 Corinthians 13.7. 00:31:49.559 --> 00:31:51.299 Immature people don't protect other people. 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:53.719 They don't protect people's reputations. 00:31:54.419 --> 00:31:56.159 They don't protect people's confidences. 00:31:56.160 --> 00:31:56.660 Okay? 00:31:58.820 --> 00:32:01.800 Number 17, immature people don't trust. 00:32:02.600 --> 00:32:02.880 Okay? 00:32:03.240 --> 00:32:04.620 They don't trust people's intentions. 00:32:06.380 --> 00:32:09.900 They don't trust God's goodness and authority over everything. 00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:12.460 Distrustful. 00:32:12.779 --> 00:32:14.320 Number 18, they don't hope. 00:32:14.700 --> 00:32:15.779 Immature people don't hope. 00:32:16.040 --> 00:32:17.540 1 Corinthians 13.7. 00:32:17.860 --> 00:32:18.500 They're cynical. 00:32:18.680 --> 00:32:19.460 They're pessimistic. 00:32:19.840 --> 00:32:22.180 They have pessimistic expectations of the future. 00:32:23.920 --> 00:32:24.360 Immaturity. 00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:25.619 Okay? 00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:30.819 Number 19, immature people don't persevere. 00:32:31.459 --> 00:32:32.139 They don't persevere. 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:34.059 This comes from 1 Corinthians 13.7. 00:32:34.240 --> 00:32:36.359 There's a lot in 1 Corinthians 13 here. 00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:36.659 Okay? 00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:40.439 Immature people give up quickly when things are hard. 00:32:41.719 --> 00:32:42.699 I know someone's immature. 00:32:43.059 --> 00:32:43.699 They give up real quick. 00:32:44.699 --> 00:32:46.259 And they blame their circumstances. 00:32:46.479 --> 00:32:47.599 They say, it's impossible. 00:32:47.819 --> 00:32:48.539 No one can do that. 00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:53.059 And if someone else is actually persevering, they try to cut them down. 00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:57.059 Because they're a living testimony that you're not right. 00:32:57.159 --> 00:32:58.159 You're actually wrong. 00:32:58.940 --> 00:33:01.659 There is grace to persevere and be thankful. 00:33:01.660 --> 00:33:05.400 Number 20, last one. 00:33:05.540 --> 00:33:07.019 Can't discern good and evil. 00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:09.560 This comes from that last passage in Hebrews I read. 00:33:10.400 --> 00:33:12.420 It means that they're easily tricked and deceived. 00:33:13.120 --> 00:33:15.440 We should not be easily tricked and deceived. 00:33:17.019 --> 00:33:22.060 And, again, if we don't have a hunger for God's word, if we're not growing in God's word, we will be. 00:33:22.120 --> 00:33:22.680 It's just easy. 00:33:22.680 --> 00:33:26.920 We'll see people who are really gifted and assume they're mature. 00:33:28.060 --> 00:33:29.120 That's not good either. 00:33:29.920 --> 00:33:30.120 Okay? 00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:30.720 That's not good. 00:33:31.880 --> 00:33:35.680 We'll see our own gifting and how people are impacted positively. 00:33:36.380 --> 00:33:37.759 We'll start drinking our own Kool-Aid. 00:33:39.019 --> 00:33:39.259 Okay? 00:33:40.019 --> 00:33:43.360 Start smoking a little of our stuff and start to get kind of full of ourselves. 00:33:43.519 --> 00:33:45.120 And what's the corrective? 00:33:46.240 --> 00:33:46.980 Read the Bible. 00:33:48.220 --> 00:33:49.299 It's very humbling. 00:33:49.299 --> 00:33:54.539 If the spirit is in us and we're reading God's word, he takes that word and he convicts. 00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:56.859 And he knocks us down some notches. 00:33:57.019 --> 00:33:57.119 You know? 00:33:57.159 --> 00:33:58.099 And he uses the body, too. 00:33:58.159 --> 00:33:59.460 But this is important. 00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:05.139 And then we can be a little bit more discerning about our own temptations, our own weaknesses. 00:34:06.440 --> 00:34:07.240 And, you know what? 00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:09.519 We can have a healthy grain of salt with other people, too. 00:34:09.840 --> 00:34:13.559 And say, yeah, but, like, are you walking with Christ? 00:34:14.300 --> 00:34:14.519 You know? 00:34:14.519 --> 00:34:20.860 So, when you hear a baby's cry from the other room, you know it's a baby. 00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:22.500 It's not an adult. 00:34:23.300 --> 00:34:23.659 Okay? 00:34:23.719 --> 00:34:24.619 You hear those cries out there? 00:34:24.940 --> 00:34:28.000 I'm not tempted to think that that's an adult in the other room. 00:34:28.000 --> 00:34:43.219 So, in the same way, the presence of unrepentant envy-fighting divisiveness and favoritism or any of these other things that is read here in the life of a believer is an indication of spiritual infancy. 00:34:44.239 --> 00:34:44.480 Okay? 00:34:44.480 --> 00:34:54.480 If I hear these things in my life and in other people's lives, if this is the pattern, guess what? 00:34:55.340 --> 00:34:55.659 Baby. 00:34:57.059 --> 00:34:58.099 They're so gifted, though. 00:34:58.119 --> 00:34:58.760 They've been so powerful. 00:34:58.840 --> 00:34:59.300 They're using my life. 00:34:59.360 --> 00:34:59.800 Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. 00:35:00.300 --> 00:35:00.699 Baby. 00:35:02.059 --> 00:35:02.460 Okay? 00:35:03.159 --> 00:35:04.760 And don't, like, apply this to other people. 00:35:04.840 --> 00:35:05.619 Just think of yourself. 00:35:05.740 --> 00:35:09.539 Just let's have a little bit of that humility, like, Lord, you search me. 00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:10.000 Okay? 00:35:10.000 --> 00:35:10.099 Okay? 00:35:11.360 --> 00:35:13.500 And this is why this is so serious. 00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:16.460 It could also mean you're not saved. 00:35:17.760 --> 00:35:17.900 Okay? 00:35:19.679 --> 00:35:26.219 A very immature Christian and an unbeliever are a lot of times real close. 00:35:26.800 --> 00:35:26.960 Okay? 00:35:28.039 --> 00:35:28.800 I mean, the Lord knows. 00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:33.119 But if we stay in that state, it's very dangerous. 00:35:33.639 --> 00:35:34.539 It's very dangerous. 00:35:34.639 --> 00:35:36.280 The warnings in Hebrew, that's the context. 00:35:38.340 --> 00:35:41.980 And so, anyway, that's why it's important. 00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:48.400 But it is important to recognize, if we're babies, Hebrews says, you're not ready to be teachers. 00:35:49.599 --> 00:35:49.960 Okay? 00:35:50.440 --> 00:35:51.639 You won't do ministry stuff. 00:35:51.699 --> 00:35:52.659 You won't be used in people's life. 00:35:52.780 --> 00:35:53.219 Guess what? 00:35:54.199 --> 00:35:54.920 Don't pass go. 00:35:55.539 --> 00:35:56.320 You're not ready. 00:35:56.840 --> 00:36:02.760 You ought to be ready, given the amount of time, and given the amount of ministry and things that have been poured into you. 00:36:02.800 --> 00:36:03.440 But you're not yet. 00:36:04.000 --> 00:36:04.740 You're still a baby. 00:36:05.399 --> 00:36:07.079 You're not ready for strong food. 00:36:07.239 --> 00:36:08.219 You need milk. 00:36:08.399 --> 00:36:09.239 You need to be taught. 00:36:10.799 --> 00:36:22.519 And I think the real danger is, if we don't get these categories right, our self-image will be so inflated that we'll outstrip our maturity. 00:36:24.079 --> 00:36:25.619 And it probably comes before a fall. 00:36:26.279 --> 00:36:26.440 You know? 00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:27.960 The Lord loves us too much for that. 00:36:28.019 --> 00:36:29.319 He's not going to let us get away with that. 00:36:30.179 --> 00:36:32.980 But we have an opportunity now to have a little bit of self-awareness. 00:36:33.739 --> 00:36:33.940 Okay. 00:36:34.119 --> 00:36:36.099 So, that's on the negative end of things. 00:36:36.259 --> 00:36:37.339 I'm just going to read through these. 00:36:37.559 --> 00:36:38.779 Try to go a little faster here. 00:36:39.440 --> 00:36:41.519 There are counterpoints. 00:36:42.279 --> 00:36:42.559 Okay? 00:36:42.599 --> 00:36:44.559 What are the evidences of maturity? 00:36:45.559 --> 00:36:46.019 All right? 00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:48.599 Basically, just the opposite of all the other stuff. 00:36:48.900 --> 00:36:49.179 Okay? 00:36:49.179 --> 00:36:50.159 I'm going to read them. 00:36:50.859 --> 00:36:52.119 Evidence of maturity. 00:36:53.199 --> 00:36:54.339 Isn't jealous or envious? 00:36:54.340 --> 00:36:55.980 Same passages. 00:36:56.600 --> 00:36:58.460 That means you're excited when other people are honored. 00:36:58.579 --> 00:37:00.180 Do you get excited when other people are honored? 00:37:00.280 --> 00:37:01.280 Or does it frustrate you? 00:37:02.120 --> 00:37:03.320 If you get excited, guess what? 00:37:03.680 --> 00:37:04.220 Good news. 00:37:05.140 --> 00:37:05.740 You're matured. 00:37:07.079 --> 00:37:07.460 Number two. 00:37:07.579 --> 00:37:09.400 Sees other parts of the body as indispensable. 00:37:11.240 --> 00:37:12.000 Number three. 00:37:12.180 --> 00:37:13.500 Honors others with their speech. 00:37:14.820 --> 00:37:15.380 Number four. 00:37:15.820 --> 00:37:16.519 Big God. 00:37:16.900 --> 00:37:18.059 Small leader worldview. 00:37:19.280 --> 00:37:19.440 Okay? 00:37:19.800 --> 00:37:20.760 The servant is nothing. 00:37:21.100 --> 00:37:21.820 God is everything. 00:37:21.820 --> 00:37:24.380 A mature believer sees that. 00:37:24.440 --> 00:37:25.220 That's why they're relaxed. 00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:26.059 Okay? 00:37:27.220 --> 00:37:27.800 Number five. 00:37:27.980 --> 00:37:31.860 No favoritism and equal concern for each member of the body. 00:37:31.940 --> 00:37:33.440 That means they recognize the body. 00:37:35.420 --> 00:37:36.180 Number six. 00:37:36.280 --> 00:37:38.320 Their identity is in Christ, not their spiritual gifts. 00:37:38.380 --> 00:37:40.900 They see that the end goal is the gifts are going to go away. 00:37:41.760 --> 00:37:42.500 But Christ won't. 00:37:43.180 --> 00:37:43.600 Forever. 00:37:44.280 --> 00:37:45.000 I'll be with him. 00:37:48.140 --> 00:37:48.840 Number seven. 00:37:48.920 --> 00:37:49.340 They're patient. 00:37:49.340 --> 00:37:52.220 They know people take time to change. 00:37:52.559 --> 00:37:52.720 Okay? 00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:54.920 So they're ready to go at God's pace. 00:37:55.039 --> 00:37:55.780 They're patient people. 00:37:56.760 --> 00:37:57.059 Number eight. 00:37:57.140 --> 00:37:57.620 It's kind. 00:37:58.300 --> 00:37:58.519 You know? 00:37:58.840 --> 00:38:01.340 If you don't have patience for people, it's hard to be kind to people. 00:38:01.460 --> 00:38:01.940 Like, come on. 00:38:03.360 --> 00:38:04.059 Change already. 00:38:04.360 --> 00:38:04.559 Right? 00:38:06.059 --> 00:38:06.980 But they are kind. 00:38:07.180 --> 00:38:08.220 A mature person is kind. 00:38:08.720 --> 00:38:09.079 Kindness. 00:38:09.940 --> 00:38:11.700 Kindness is the evidence of a mature believer. 00:38:11.820 --> 00:38:12.840 They're consistently kind. 00:38:13.380 --> 00:38:15.380 They can say really hard things, but they're so kind. 00:38:15.760 --> 00:38:15.980 You know? 00:38:17.519 --> 00:38:18.160 Number nine. 00:38:18.159 --> 00:38:18.940 Man, they don't boast. 00:38:19.159 --> 00:38:21.339 They realize all gifts are gifts. 00:38:21.659 --> 00:38:22.139 They're gifts. 00:38:23.739 --> 00:38:24.539 Like, what do you? 00:38:24.679 --> 00:38:26.819 You can't boast about something that somebody else gave you. 00:38:27.679 --> 00:38:29.379 It just shows we really think we did it. 00:38:29.440 --> 00:38:29.599 Right? 00:38:30.579 --> 00:38:31.460 We boast about it. 00:38:31.679 --> 00:38:32.199 Number ten. 00:38:32.480 --> 00:38:33.159 They aren't proud. 00:38:33.579 --> 00:38:34.739 They don't assume you know the best. 00:38:35.039 --> 00:38:37.500 You don't discount God's wisdom and how God's leading you. 00:38:37.500 --> 00:38:40.599 But there's kind of this, like, humility asterisk that says, you know what? 00:38:40.659 --> 00:38:41.440 I see you in part. 00:38:42.400 --> 00:38:42.539 You know? 00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:44.900 I'm going to run this around a little bit. 00:38:44.960 --> 00:38:48.300 Get some feedback from some other godly people and pray, you know? 00:38:49.500 --> 00:38:50.340 Number eleven. 00:38:51.119 --> 00:38:51.840 Is it rude? 00:38:52.960 --> 00:38:53.579 Number twelve. 00:38:53.679 --> 00:38:54.559 Isn't self-seeking? 00:38:55.260 --> 00:38:55.980 Number thirteen. 00:38:56.119 --> 00:38:57.239 Isn't easily angered? 00:38:57.559 --> 00:38:58.199 Number fourteen. 00:38:58.280 --> 00:38:59.900 Doesn't keep a record of wrongs? 00:39:00.239 --> 00:39:00.900 Number fifteen. 00:39:01.219 --> 00:39:03.860 Mature people don't delight in evil, but rejoice with the truth. 00:39:03.860 --> 00:39:05.780 You don't like hearing about other people's sin. 00:39:06.240 --> 00:39:07.400 It bums you out. 00:39:09.559 --> 00:39:10.599 Number sixteen. 00:39:10.820 --> 00:39:11.660 Always protects. 00:39:12.380 --> 00:39:13.160 It always protects. 00:39:13.300 --> 00:39:15.180 It protects other people's best interests. 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:17.200 It protects confidences. 00:39:18.960 --> 00:39:19.539 Number seventeen. 00:39:19.720 --> 00:39:20.620 You always trust. 00:39:20.760 --> 00:39:23.940 And the mature person always trusts God's goodness. 00:39:24.700 --> 00:39:26.800 Are you required to trust every single person? 00:39:27.019 --> 00:39:27.240 No. 00:39:28.220 --> 00:39:28.960 You trust God. 00:39:30.079 --> 00:39:30.740 And you know what happens? 00:39:31.460 --> 00:39:32.680 You start to trust people more. 00:39:32.679 --> 00:39:34.279 It's a virtuous cycle. 00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:37.239 It's one who's just super distrustful to all people. 00:39:37.960 --> 00:39:39.419 I don't know whether you trust God. 00:39:41.239 --> 00:39:42.519 We already talked about that. 00:39:43.679 --> 00:39:44.079 Number eighteen. 00:39:44.219 --> 00:39:44.940 Always hopes. 00:39:45.819 --> 00:39:46.779 They're optimistic. 00:39:47.099 --> 00:39:49.059 They have optimistic expectations of the future. 00:39:50.179 --> 00:39:52.739 They have optimistic expectations of people's intentions. 00:39:53.219 --> 00:39:56.319 You start off with a basic, I think, I'm just going to assume it's good. 00:39:57.219 --> 00:39:58.359 This one's really convicting me. 00:40:00.619 --> 00:40:01.519 Number nineteen. 00:40:01.519 --> 00:40:02.800 Always perseveres. 00:40:02.880 --> 00:40:04.559 They don't give up when things are hard. 00:40:04.820 --> 00:40:05.840 That's a mature believer. 00:40:06.980 --> 00:40:07.719 Number twenty. 00:40:07.800 --> 00:40:08.960 They can discern good and evil. 00:40:09.199 --> 00:40:10.460 They're not easily tricked and deceived. 00:40:10.940 --> 00:40:13.340 This is an inheritance for those who are mature. 00:40:14.000 --> 00:40:15.179 Been around the block a few times. 00:40:15.259 --> 00:40:16.159 They've read God's word. 00:40:16.579 --> 00:40:17.559 Someone starts saying something. 00:40:17.679 --> 00:40:19.320 You remember, there's a verse about that. 00:40:19.960 --> 00:40:20.179 You know? 00:40:20.179 --> 00:40:28.199 You don't have, like, you need a repository of, like, there's a verse about that to be able to understand and recognize false teaching. 00:40:28.299 --> 00:40:28.819 You need that. 00:40:29.139 --> 00:40:29.299 Okay? 00:40:30.039 --> 00:40:32.359 The Holy Spirit's not, it's not like, you know, the force. 00:40:32.739 --> 00:40:36.239 Where it's just like, because the Holy Spirit lives inside of me, I'm immune. 00:40:36.919 --> 00:40:37.719 Like, no. 00:40:38.279 --> 00:40:40.159 The Holy Spirit applies God's word. 00:40:40.159 --> 00:40:41.019 All right? 00:40:42.199 --> 00:40:46.199 In other words, number twenty-one, there's one more positive point than there are negatives. 00:40:46.379 --> 00:40:47.500 Number twenty-one. 00:40:49.019 --> 00:40:51.119 In other words, maturity is Christ's character. 00:40:52.119 --> 00:40:52.960 It's love. 00:40:52.960 --> 00:40:57.360 Remember, at the end of 1 Corinthians 13, Paul ties those two together. 00:40:57.619 --> 00:41:00.059 When the perfect comes, love. 00:41:00.780 --> 00:41:01.260 Together. 00:41:02.179 --> 00:41:03.220 Christ's love. 00:41:03.760 --> 00:41:05.940 That we would know the love of Christ. 00:41:07.199 --> 00:41:08.900 Christ's love made perfect. 00:41:09.720 --> 00:41:10.679 That is maturity. 00:41:13.179 --> 00:41:17.099 So, in conclusion, 1 Corinthians 3.18 says, 00:41:17.099 --> 00:41:18.900 Let no one deceive himself. 00:41:18.900 --> 00:41:27.420 If any among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool, that he may truly become wise. 00:41:27.480 --> 00:41:28.500 I put the truly in there. 00:41:29.780 --> 00:41:29.940 Okay? 00:41:31.180 --> 00:41:32.380 I'm being upfront about that. 00:41:36.840 --> 00:41:37.280 Paraphrasing. 00:41:37.400 --> 00:41:39.320 Let him become a fool, that he may become wise. 00:41:39.460 --> 00:41:43.119 If anyone thinks he's wise, it speaks to this inflated view. 00:41:43.460 --> 00:41:44.440 I'm so gifted. 00:41:45.019 --> 00:41:45.300 Man. 00:41:46.619 --> 00:41:47.099 Okay. 00:41:48.900 --> 00:41:50.340 Uh, you need to become a fool. 00:41:51.440 --> 00:41:55.900 There's a big mismatch between where you think you're at and maybe other people think you're at and where you're actually at. 00:41:56.480 --> 00:41:57.880 Do you really want to become wise? 00:41:58.920 --> 00:41:59.960 Eat some humble pie. 00:42:00.579 --> 00:42:00.780 Alright? 00:42:01.619 --> 00:42:03.400 Don't confuse giftedness and maturity. 00:42:03.500 --> 00:42:04.119 Be self-aware. 00:42:04.380 --> 00:42:05.220 That's essentially what that's saying. 00:42:06.480 --> 00:42:08.980 Does your opinion of yourself and God's opinion of you match up? 00:42:09.340 --> 00:42:10.920 That's a question we just got to ask ourselves. 00:42:11.880 --> 00:42:14.840 If I've listed those things, like basically it's character. 00:42:15.559 --> 00:42:16.500 It's not gifting. 00:42:16.639 --> 00:42:17.720 It's not ministry impact. 00:42:17.719 --> 00:42:19.480 It's character. 00:42:20.259 --> 00:42:22.459 Most of that stuff is actually in the secret place. 00:42:23.299 --> 00:42:23.559 You know? 00:42:24.319 --> 00:42:25.659 Where only God sees. 00:42:25.659 --> 00:42:29.960 First Peter 2, verse 1 through 3. 00:42:31.460 --> 00:42:32.239 What do we do? 00:42:33.000 --> 00:42:33.699 We're immature. 00:42:33.859 --> 00:42:34.379 What do we do? 00:42:35.019 --> 00:42:36.440 If I'm guilty of these sins. 00:42:38.839 --> 00:42:39.639 He says it. 00:42:39.639 --> 00:42:51.940 Sounds like a definition of immaturity there. 00:42:51.940 --> 00:42:59.039 Like newborn babies long for the pure milk of the word so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation. 00:42:59.740 --> 00:43:02.539 If you have tasted the kindness of the Lord. 00:43:02.539 --> 00:43:04.980 So what do we do? 00:43:05.139 --> 00:43:06.779 We just need to admit where we're really at. 00:43:06.920 --> 00:43:10.179 If we're guilty of that stuff, I need to come to God and I need to say just in real simple terms, 00:43:10.719 --> 00:43:11.519 I'm immature, God. 00:43:11.759 --> 00:43:12.219 I'm immature. 00:43:14.059 --> 00:43:15.259 I need to call it sin. 00:43:15.420 --> 00:43:16.159 I need to confess it. 00:43:16.199 --> 00:43:17.420 I need to be specific about it. 00:43:17.420 --> 00:43:21.659 We should not have general confessions of sin. 00:43:22.460 --> 00:43:25.320 If I'm a slanderer, I need to say I slandered. 00:43:26.500 --> 00:43:26.680 You know? 00:43:27.159 --> 00:43:30.960 If I'm harsh and unkind with people, I need to say I'm harsh and unkind. 00:43:31.300 --> 00:43:36.659 If I'm a quarrelsome person, if I'm constantly fighting and I can't stop, call it that thing. 00:43:37.260 --> 00:43:40.340 The Bible uses very specific language to address our sin. 00:43:40.860 --> 00:43:42.200 To test our humility. 00:43:42.199 --> 00:43:44.879 We don't like to say the yucky one. 00:43:45.259 --> 00:43:47.199 You know, we want to say, general, I'm just not trusting God. 00:43:48.039 --> 00:43:48.699 Going, come on. 00:43:49.179 --> 00:43:50.619 It's like everybody, right? 00:43:51.359 --> 00:43:52.960 But in what specific way? 00:43:56.019 --> 00:43:58.279 I keep speaking to you little people behind your back. 00:44:01.079 --> 00:44:01.759 That's gossip. 00:44:02.939 --> 00:44:03.659 Call it that. 00:44:03.779 --> 00:44:04.779 Confess that to the Lord. 00:44:05.039 --> 00:44:06.019 That's why he's really specific. 00:44:06.179 --> 00:44:08.980 Putting aside malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander. 00:44:09.980 --> 00:44:10.839 Set it aside. 00:44:11.000 --> 00:44:11.779 Confess it to God. 00:44:11.780 --> 00:44:12.300 Repent. 00:44:14.140 --> 00:44:17.060 And then drink this pure milk of the word. 00:44:17.820 --> 00:44:18.840 That you might grow. 00:44:19.740 --> 00:44:22.380 He says that you may grow in respect to salvation. 00:44:22.940 --> 00:44:25.400 This is not justification we're talking about. 00:44:25.640 --> 00:44:26.460 Which it might be, though. 00:44:26.500 --> 00:44:28.440 If you're an unbeliever, yes. 00:44:28.920 --> 00:44:30.240 This is the start. 00:44:30.340 --> 00:44:31.180 You repent of sin. 00:44:31.580 --> 00:44:32.860 You put your trust in Jesus. 00:44:33.060 --> 00:44:35.000 And you grow in salvation. 00:44:35.240 --> 00:44:36.660 But it's speaking to believers here. 00:44:36.780 --> 00:44:38.060 Immature infant believers. 00:44:38.059 --> 00:44:40.059 Receive. 00:44:40.299 --> 00:44:40.699 Receive. 00:44:40.900 --> 00:44:42.299 Long for the pure milk of the word. 00:44:42.380 --> 00:44:45.420 You think your Bible is, this is a chore? 00:44:46.380 --> 00:44:47.880 Ask God to change your heart. 00:44:48.940 --> 00:44:49.159 You know? 00:44:49.159 --> 00:44:53.759 The word of God is effective in maturing us. 00:44:54.059 --> 00:44:55.079 And softening our hearts. 00:44:55.179 --> 00:44:56.579 And breaking these hard hearts. 00:44:57.859 --> 00:44:59.099 So that we grow in sanctification. 00:44:59.279 --> 00:44:59.920 So we grow in maturity. 00:45:00.759 --> 00:45:00.920 You know? 00:45:01.440 --> 00:45:02.639 So that's essentially it. 00:45:02.840 --> 00:45:03.340 That's all I got. 00:45:03.340 --> 00:45:03.340