Psalm 40:4-5Blessed is the man who makes the

LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! You have multiplied, O LORD my God, your wondrous

deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they

are more than can be told.

Blessed Be the Lord God God Almighty 1x / All Creatures of Our God and King vs, 1,4,5

62 / 63

1 Chronicles 16:29

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring

an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of

holiness;

Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us vs. 1,2,3 # 688

Hebrews

The Superiority of Christ

“Spiritual Immaturity”

Hebrews 5:11-14

Part 2 of 2

Hebrews 5:11-14 (ESV)11About this we have

much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you

have become dull of hearing. 12For 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,

Hebrews 5:11-14 (ESV)13for everyone who lives

on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14But

solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of

discernment trained by constant practice to

distinguish good from evil.

4 topics the writer discusses

1) The PRESENCE of Spiritual Immaturity

2) The PERIL of Spiritual Immaturity

3) The PROBLEM of Spiritual Immaturity

vs. 11 ...About this we have much to say...

vs. 12 ...you ought to be teachers...

vs. 13 ...unskilled in the word of righteousness...

3) The PROBLEM of Spiritual Immaturity

A) It HINDERS the church

So many Christians are frozen in spiritual immaturity. They are easily

offended, often distracted and without prayer or spiritual

discipline. We think God is requiring of us simply to hang on, yet the

Lord is looking for mature Christlikeness to emerge within us.

He feeds us with His Spirit and Word that we might have every

resource we need to obtain His very life and character. He baptizes us in

fire that He might create proven character within us. He is relentless with His goal, expecting we should

be also. - Francis Frangipane

Forgiveness

Compassion

Unconditional Love

Edifying Conversation

Knowledge of the Scriptures

Sacrificial Service

Victory

Unforgiveness / Grudges

Harshness and Unkindness

Conditional Love

Gossip

Ignorance of the Scriptures

Self Serving Service

Defeat

3) The PROBLEM of Spiritual Immaturity

A) It HINDERS the church

B) It HELPS the enemy

1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)Be sober-minded; be

watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Lions are not afraid of children they are weary of

warriors

An immature church filled with immature Christians is one of the greatest allies of

the devil because they do his work for him

3) The PROBLEM of Spiritual Immaturity

A) It HINDERS the church

B) It HELPS the enemy

C) It HURTS the lost

“...you ought to be teachers...”

There are people in this world that need to be taught

“...unskilled in the word of righteousness...”

A word of truth is needed in this world of lies

A Question for Our Age

Are we losing the battle for the souls of men because the enemy has a better

message, a better way, or a better hope or is it that we

are simply unskilled, immature, and unwilling to

grow in our faith to accomplish the plan God has

for our life?

4) The PRIVILEGES of Spiritual Maturity

vs 12 “…teachers...”

vs 14 “…have the powers of discernment trained by

constant practice to distinguish good from

evil...”

4) The PRIVILEGES of Spiritual Maturity

A) We are able to INSTRUCT others in the

ways of God

I believe that if an angel were to wing his way from earth up

to Heaven, and were to say that there was one poor, ragged

boy, without father or mother, with no one to care for him and teach him the way of life; and if

God were to ask who among them were willing to come

down to this earth and live here for fifty years and lead that one to Jesus Christ, every angel in Heaven would volunteer to go.

Even Gabriel, who stands in the presence of the Almighty,

would say, "Let me leave my high and lofty position, and let me have the luxury of leading one soul to Jesus Christ." There is no greater honor than to be the instrument in God's hands of leading one person out of

the kingdom of Satan into the glorious light of Heaven.

Dwight L. Moody

4) The PRIVILEGES of Spiritual Maturity

A) We are able to INSTRUCT others in the

ways of GodB) We can IDENTIFY

both harmful and helpful things

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.

(Psalm 119:9 ESV)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every

good work.(2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)

Things we can do when we are mature in Christ

→ We can confidently and compassionately witness to

others

→ We can avoid the deceptions of the devil

Things we can do when we are mature in Christ

→ We can train other Christians in the faith

→ We can counsel others effectively who are in need

of help

Things we can do when we are mature in Christ

→ We can and will deal with problems in a Christlike

manner

→ We will visibly show the love of Christ through the

actions of our lives

Maturity doesn't come with age; it comes with

acceptance of responsibility.

Ed Cole

Perhaps the Spirit of God is saying to many of us today, "I want to minister through you. But before I can ever minister

through you, I must minister to you." Don't despise the

educational experience of your drying brook. Don't throw in the towel... Let patience have her perfect work, that you may be

mature and complete. He wants to make you just like His Son.

-- Howard G. Hendricks

It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg. We

must be hatched or go bad. 

C. S. Lewis

Steps to Spiritual Maturity

Pray for guidance, passion, maturity, purpose, and

patienceRead and listen to grow and

learn about God and His Word

Move out of your comfort zone

Challenge yourself

Not until we have become humble and teachable,

standing in awe of God's holiness and sovereignty...

acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting our

own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned

upside down, can divine wisdom become ours.

J. I. Packer

Numbers 6:24-26

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be

gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you

and give you peace.

Just as I am vs. 1,2,4 488