Spiritual Maturity. (Video & TEXT)

Given the size of this bible study even in text, I choose instead to upload it to youtube. It is a 100MB upload so dial up users will have a hard time.
Im working on making the text version posted, I will have them posted late tonight as two post. God bless and I hope your encouraged by this bible study.


This Video is in Two Parts... Part one is below...

Alert: Welcome to Footsteps of the Carpenter. Where every one is someone and Jesus is Lord. This is an open mic room.Godly music only. feel free to raise your hand to use the mic Please visit our new forum, https://footsteps.forumotion.com/

SquirrelPotPie: soooo what time is the bible study starting?
joshuajared200: gonna start it in just a second.

joshuajared200: Heavenly Father.. I thank you that you are growing in us. I thank you that you have so much in store for us.. I ask father that as we seek your wisdom.. as we dive into your word, that the spirit would cover us, and keep this room clean and remove disstractions..Father We welcome your spirit to surround every person who comes in tonight. and Father as we press on to the goal, we thank you that your word is not void..

joshuajared200: I was going to try and do this on the mic... But as i thought and prayed on it, i believe that i need to allow the spirit to work as the music is playing.. so Squirrel if you dont mind. as we start, will you please continue this wonderful worship ?

joshuajared200: Tonight were talking about Spiritual Maturity…
One thing I like about this topic is what its about.. Growth!
If things are not growing there is a problem some where
joshuajared200:
So …Tonights opening Verse, in our Spiritual maturity topic, is about putting away childish things. I Corinthians 13:11, NIV. "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me."

joshuajared200: So we see from that verse..there is always growth. its all arround us.. The animals, the trees, mankind.. Every thing has more in store then what it starts out with.] Now , with this maturity , as I said comes growth. To quote a star wars film,“the teacher , has the student become.” We are not ment to be “just ok” or to have “just enough” with God.. There is more in store. Lets take a look at a scripture. one that shows this growth, and that there is a problem with it not happening..

(Hebrews 5:12-14 NIV) 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! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
<-- you see often we wonder "well how to i test the spirits. " or "how do you know its GOD " well look at the word.. "MATURity" is a prequisit to knowing. 8-)

joshuajared200: God has MORE for us.. not just the basics and the Milk. But the Meat, The OTHER foods.
Now check out what Paul said about this Maturity and Growth of the Believer.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:12-14).

joshuajared200: Paul, Didnt have to admit that.. but he did.. He pointed out that he didnt Obtaine it all, yet... then he added he wasnt perfect yet... and again said "I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it"

joshuajared200: So First I want to point out that in our Growth towards Christian Maturity, we need to realize some things..
First,Admit we dont know it all, have it all. We havnt takin hold of it all yet. And Were not perfect yet, But like Paul we press on to getting it.

joshuajared200: we woudlnt quit our jobs bc we didnt get the raise we wanted.. we would press on showing our bosses why we deserve that raise. why we are worth it.. so too with God do we press on wanting all that he is willing to offer.

joshuajared200: So how do we press on??? well...Be Aware. Be Aware , You need to change some things…you must make a choice to learn God's Word, allow God to renew your mind, and then be obedient to what you learn.
victory_31: can I tell you all the exprience I had with the Lord at work yesterday

joshuajared200: Romans 12:1-2 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world
joshuajared200: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." Its God's desire that we Grow.. WE need to Want that Desire. it needs to be Our Desire.

"Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." Hebrews 5:13-14 :

joshuajared200: Growing is going to take TRAINING!! Training to pray when we dont pray often.. Training to read the word every chance we get.. Training will build us up

joshuajared200: 2) Be Involved.. Man oh man do we miss this one.. WE GOTTA GET INVOLVED!!!

joshuajared200: People seek involvement when they want to experience something first hand. Involvement implies the fact that one is willing to invest time, talents, resources, and energies into something outside of their own . Sharing experiences with Godly people may be the first step to great involvement with Christ, His body, and Christian service.

joshuajared200: Get into a Church, into Christian Friendships. ask the pastors if there is any thing you can do in the church.. we can ask the Lord to move while we sit and play chess... wheres he gonna move? the rook to the Knights 3?

joshuajared200: Prove to people from your own life the advantages of being involved in the following aspects of Christian maturity.
We become like the people we associate with. My Father in law has a saying... "show me who your friends are... i will show you who you are"


joshuajared200: LOL Check out what God says about the people we are involved with.. Proverbs 13:20, NIV.
"He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm."
joshuajared200: I dont know about you but i want to be wise!! lol iv already been the fool

victory_31: this is so bizar you are saying almost word for word what I have said in the last two days. God is in this message praise the Lord

joshuajared200: 3) Be committed.. The lord has alot for us.. He has a STOREHOUSE that hes willing to open.. But we need to be committed.. check out what James says about us being committed.

joshuajared200: Jam 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves. < its not enough to read the word.. we gotta Commit to it. when God says TURN from sin, we Gotta.. we God said MEN!! KEEP YOUR WORD... we gotta keep it.

joshuajared200: Can you image the commitment of Abraham? he was soo committed to GOd.. that when God said "Take up Issac" he went.. and when God sent the angel to stop him guess what.. the angel had to say it three times..

joshuajared200: STOP!!! ABRAHAM STOP!!! STOP ABRAHAM!!! are we that commited that when God says MOVE hes gotta tell us thee times to stop? man i hope we end up like that.

joshuajared200: Be firm as you stand true to God and refuse to compromise. II Corinthians 6:8, TLB. "We stand true to the Lord whether others honor us or despise us, whether they criticize us or commend us. We are honest, but they call us liars."

joshuajared200: i dont care if the world says Josh is smart, and wise.. i dont care if the world says Josh does alot for the poor. All i know is this..


joshuajared200: If i fail.. if i fail at every thing.... but succeed in any thing.. i wanna know that my commitment to Christ was this.. i was SOLD OUT FOR CHRIST... and that i DIDNT SELL OUT CHRIST

joshuajared200: Because it does not matter what men think my friends.. Men's philosophies and ideas can ruin your faith. God shows us this.. --> Colossians 2:8, TLB. "Don't let others spoil your faith and joy with their philosophies, their wrong and shallow answers built on men's thoughts and ideas, instead of on what Christ has said."

joshuajared200: 4) Walk in the spirit

joshuajared200:
(1 Corinthians 3:1-3 NIV) Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?

joshuajared200: We wanna grow? then lets Grow as Godly men and Godly women.. there are things that stop us from Acting the way we need.. Jealousy, Quarreling over things that dont matter.

joshuajared200: It is making the choice to live by God's viewpoint rather than your human viewpoint. Galatians 5:16 and 25 give the key,

joshuajared200: Gal 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

joshuajared200: Gal 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.



joshuajared200: now check out how cool God is... The word "walk" in verse 16 is from the Greek word peripateo, which means "to walk with a purpose in view." The word "walk" in verse 25 is translated from another Greek word stoicheo and it means "step by step, one step at a time."

joshuajared200: WALK WITH A GOAL IN MIND!!! That goal is Godly Maturity, A deeper Relationship with Christ. .. and to take it One step at a time.. God knows your not perfect..

joshuajared200: its so much easier to walk to the mailbox then it is the corner store right? well same with God .. walk with a goal. once step at a time.. and soon. you will look back and see you have not stopped at the corner store. but you have walked the disstance of a lifetime with jesus Christ your savior


joshuajared200: So how do we do this? You study God's Word! 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17 tells us

joshuajared200: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth…All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

joshuajared200: Its the Scriptures that Teach, That Rebuke, that correct, That TRAIN in RIGHTEOUSNESS..
joshuajared200:[/color] NOT US BUT CHRIST IN US!!!!
joshuajared200:[/color] thats why its important to Read the Word.!!

joshuajared200: This is good practical instruction on how you become spiritually mature. It is not done by osmosis, but it is done by choosing to apply God's Word in everyday circumstances. As you walk step-by-step, applying God's Word to your life, you will grow spiritually.

joshuajared200: "Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil" (Hebrews 5:13-14).

joshuajared200: Discover God's truth by in-depth Bible study and feed yourself spiritually. Then apply that sustenance to your life as you walk in the Holy Spirit.

joshuajared200: we need to Get hungry for the Spirit, Hungry for the Word. Hungry enough to Walk in the spirit. To cry out to the lord FILL ME!!! ITS NOT ENOUGH TO BE OK! ITS NOT ENOUGH TO JUST TASTE IT!!! .

joshuajared200: Finally 5) Live in Christ.
joshuajared200: 2 Peter 1:3-9 reminds you that God is the source.
joshuajared200: . "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

joshuajared200: Its not my own ! its not our own. Were bought with blood of the lamb!!! its him.. if we wanna walk like Christ we Gotta know who our power comes from!!!

joshuajared200: 2nd peter continues

joshuajared200: For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love
joshuajared200: Christ Has a plan there it is..

joshuajared200: hes not going to just stop when you have Goodness. he wants that Goodness to lead to some thing more.! Knowledge! and from there to self control!! hes got a plan for you.. and you can live that plan..

joshuajared200: 2nd peter ends with "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."

joshuajared200: Thats living the life of Christ!! He doesnt want you ineffective or unproductive! he wants you to be effective at prayer, Productive in helping your brothers and sisters in christ. I DONT CARE IF ITS PASTORING A MEGA CHURCH OR WASHING FEET!! walk in Footsteps of the Carpenter! his plan is better then any of ours

joshuajared200: When you became a child of God, you were given all you need "in Christ" to become a spiritually maturing believer.

joshuajared200: However, you are responsible to make a choice! Will you choose to use and apply God's principles to your life?

joshuajared200: The wonderful thing about being in submission to God's maturing process is that you will be changed! You don't have to worry about becoming mature. God does the changing! He will conform you to the image of Jesus Christ as you humbly surrender to His Holy Spirit and learn His Word.

joshuajared200: I pray,, Deeply.. and at length that we would see a move.. I used to pray for revivals all the time.. truth is.. If God is going to start a revival.. I have to let him start with me..

joshuajared200: so to close this up tonight.. The Spirit is calling.. Can we be aware? That were not perfect or have it all, but pressing on to get it?
joshuajared200: can we be involved? that people dont have to question if we know God but can see it in what we do? That we so hunger for the lord were willing to sweep the church up just to be a blessing to another?

joshuajared200: Can we become committed? to resist and stand unchanging in our faith? Lord i dont know it all, but i wont let go of this.. i am saved and bought by your blood and your going to change me!

joshuajared200: Can we walk in the spirit? Walking in his plan one day at a time one step at a time? we dont have to look at people like Duplantis or Dobson or Any other pastor who may have it all. Bc God has a plan for us and its higher then any of those men or even what we think of ourselfs..

joshuajared200: Can we live in Christ?!! letting God conform us? letting God change us? Can we be..... mature