VICTORY STRATEGIES: 7 – Maturity (Notes)
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 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. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 5:11 (NIV)
We have much to say about this topic although it is difficult to explain, because you have become too dull and sluggish to understand. 12 For you should already be professors instructing others by now; but instead, you need to be taught from the beginning the basics of God’s prophetic oracles! You’re like children still needing milk and not yet ready to digest solid food. 13 For every spiritual infant who lives on milk is not yet pierced by the revelation of righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, whose spiritual senses perceive heavenly matters. And they have been adequately trained by what they’ve experienced to emerge with understanding of the difference between what is truly excellent and what is evil and harmful.
Hebrews 5:11 (TPT)
“Children” – still unfit to bear arms
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Mark 4:35-41 (NIV)
You have authority over any storm you can sleep in.
Adversity works the same way favor does. Both should drive me to the Word of the Lord.
What He has spoken is the key to breakthrough in the next season.
God is obligated to keep HIs promises, not our potential.
Our biggest battle is between our ears.
Sometimes God would rather do something THROUGH us than FOR us. But first He must do something IN us.
You cannot multitask in worship. You either have a heart of worship or you have a divided heart that feeds on distraction.
Jesus wasn’t controlled by the demands of the crowd but by the words of the Father.
The most necessary place to experience triumph and victory is in your own heart.
Evidence of immaturity –
- Uncontrolled tongue
- Self-focused
- Unstable
- Panicky
- Undisciplined
Evidence of maturity –
- Controlled tongue
- Others-focused
- Steadfast
- At peace despite the circumstances
- Disciplined
Way to grow!
- Be a learner.
- Be a faithful follower.
- Come to prayer.
- Participate in a small group.
- Volunteer to serve.
- Get God’s Word inside you.
- Respond with truth.
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV)
