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Maturing in the Lord

Why Still on Earth?

❖ To get more people to Heaven (Matt. 18: 18-20)

❖ To become more like Jesus. (Col. 1:28)

Saints & Kids

❖ Begin life as infants. Parents/God love them first

❖ Need lots of nurture by parents (God)

❖ Both need to consistently respond to parents/God to mature into their full destiny & identity

Major NT Theme❖ “I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is

formed in you!” (Gal. 4:19)

❖ “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation. “(1 Peter 2:2)

❖ “Consider it all joy…so that you may be perfect [telios) and complete. (James.1:2-4)

❖ “…warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect (telios)in Christ Jesus. “ (Col. 1:28)

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The Two Steps of the Maturity Dance

1. God Always Takes the First Step

God’s Love Starts All

❖ He chooses us before time began (Eph. 1:4-5)

❖ “We love, because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)

❖ “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him…” (John 6:44, 65)

❖ “You have not chosen Me, I have chosen you.” (John 15:16)

God Seeks Sinners

❖ Romans 3:10-12: “As it is written,there is none righteous, not even one;

❖ There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless;

❖ There is none who does good, there is not even one.”

God Seeks Saints

❖ As the Good Shepherd seeks lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7)

❖ As a loving Father: “FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.” (Heb. 12:6)

❖ As the Merciful God: “Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him. (Is. 30:18)

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The Two Steps of Maturity Dance

2. God Waits for Us To Respond

What God Wants From Us as His Children

❖ To love Him > anything

❖ To abide in Him daily

❖ To live mainly for Him

❖ To obey His commands

❖ To mature

Just Like Raising Kids

❖ We initiate the love

❖ We set boundaries & expectations

❖ Kids must respond well to us to mature

God’s Invitation to Maturity

❖ “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8a)

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Who Moves First? How blessed are all those who long for Him. (Is. 30:18)

Drawing Near Means

❖ Giving God whatever He wants

❖ Letting Him be our greatest treasure, our deepest satisfaction, the supreme joy of our life

❖ Spending lots of quality time with Him

❖ Seeking to obey Him always

❖ Allowing God to mature us moment by moment

Drawing Near Happens When We…

❖ Admit to ourselves that we need more from God

❖ Ask God to help us draw near to Him

❖ Meditate on the scriptures (15-30 Minutes/day)

❖ Talk and listen to God ( 30 minutes/day)

❖ Are quick to obey, confess and forgive

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The Benefits of Drawing near to God

For All of Us

What this Story Teaches

❖ God loves all of His children but He has to treat them differently depending on how they respond to Him.

❖ There is always more of God’s love and blessings for those who draw near to Him

❖ “The Lord longs to be gracious to us.” He waits for us to draw near so he can pour out His love on us.

What Is Our Far Country?

❖ Fears we think we have to keep

❖ Anger we feel we need

❖ Sins we don’t think we can live without

❖ Distractions that leave little room for God in our lives

❖ Work, TV, friends, video games, sports, possessions, the pursuit of money

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He Longs to Be Gracious to Us

But He is Waiting on Our Response