PREACHER: REV. FIIFI FOH ARKHURST
Every parent expects his child to grow and not be a liability on him. So does GOD also expect from us. Maturity is a gradual process that takes time. It has nothing to do with age. To be matured is to turn your back to the world and live as Christ expects of you, living as if the things of this world are of no importance and refusing to be weighed down by material concerns.
The message in Heb 6:1 is meant for Christians and not unbelievers. The writer of Hebrews wrote to Christians about what the writer refers to as elementary doctrine.
For they were arguing about;
1. When one should be baptized (infant baptism v adult)
2. Which mode of baptism was acceptable (immersion or sprinkling)
3. Where one should be baptized (by the riverside or the chapel)
4. What posture of prayer is suitable (standing, kneeling, prostrating or sitting)
5. Which mode of worship was acceptable and so on.
The writer complains that his reader’s knowledge of the bible is inadequate to follow the rest of his argument. He insists that they must become more biblically informed if they wish to persevere. They had to get past the basics to biblical maturity.
From Heb. 5:11-6:3 it could be declared that Christians although truly born into God’s family were not matured. The writer observed that the Jewish Christians were not growing up in their understanding because he found it tough to teach them anything more than their spiritual ABC which he termed elementary basics hence the command to grow into maturity. (Heb 6:1)
Beloved in the Lord I want you to draw your attention to the fact that it is possible to acquire much knowledge in the word of God, praying in spiritual language, casting out demons but still not be matured. Signs of immaturity (as outlined in the scripture reading) are;
1. Laying again the foundation of repentance (5:11) here the Christian life is likened to a building under construction which from time to time they have to dig up the foundation and lay it again. Thus after a long time there is still no progress in the building. The same sins tempt most of us day in and day out which makes us repent over and over again. Let’s learn from Paul in Cor. 13:11 saying “when I was a child I talked like a child but now I am an adult i behave as one”
2. Our inability to share with others. Let’s grow into maturity by sharing with others. (Heb 5:12)
3. How much we know is how much we absorb we need to go past the little truth we knew long when we became Christians. That Jesus died on the cross for your sin, that you have eternal life and that he has gone to prepare a place you, e.tc We are in perilous times so let us go on to maturity. When people do things against us are we ready to reconcile and forgive them.
4. Inability to use the word of righteousness (Heb 5:13) the spiritual weapon the bible should be handled properly as we fight with the Devil. We should feed on the word of God in order to grow into maturity. Do we meditate on God’s word?
5. Can you tell the difference between the correct use of scripture and mistaken one? Heb. 5:14 the people were unable to tell between good and evil. The immature Christian is easily led astray, can you recognise temptation before it traps you? For the author the ability to differentiate critically bad and truth was very important.
Certain elementary teachings are essential for all believers to understand. These basics include;
1. Importance of faith
2. The Foolishness of trying to be saved by good deeds.
3. The meaning of baptism and spiritual gifts.
4. The facts of resurrection and eternal life.
To be matured we need to move beyond and not away from elementary teachings to a more complete understanding of it. For the writer they had to get past the basics of biblical Maturity this is what he intends for them to do. Matured Christians should be teaching new Christians the basics.
What should fully matured Christians look like? People who are matured are;
1. Secured in their relationship with Christ. They know they have eternal life (1 john 5:11-13)
2. Rooted and built up in the spirit
3. Victorious over sin. Come back from their senses after sin.
4. Understands the words of the scripture and can apply it effectively in their lives.
5. Has an effective Prayer. Phil 4: 6-7
6. The fruit of the spirit is seen in their lives
7. Obedient in service to the Lord. Doesn’t think about what people say. Jn 14:15,23
8. Actively share their faith with others. 1 pt 3:15
9. Actively participate in Christian fellowship. Heb 10:24-25
10. They have compassion on Christians and are wailing to give to others. Col 3:12-14
Are you prepared to grow into maturity? Then we have to be;
Actively involved in church the church, attend programs
Sensitive to the holy spirits promptings
Realise your inadequacies anytime you go to God in prayer.
Read and search in scriptures
Cultivate the habit of fasting
GOD wants us to mature, what we know is good but we need to know more.
Our prayer at any point in time should be that we grow into maturity.
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