Meeting for Turnhout Congregation, Belgium
Friday, 24 March 2006

Introduction:

It is important to understand God and know the nature of God. Unfortunately many today refuse to accept the God which is revealed in Scriptures and create their own God. This is not a new concept or idea. The people in Rome did this in the first century. 

Romans 1.20-32
v. 21 A people who changed did not glorify God because they become futile in their own thoughts.
v.22 Claiming to be wise.
v.23 changed the glory of God into an image they made.
v. 24 They negative effect this had on their lives.
v.25 exchanged the truth of God for a lie. 

First thing man must understand who God is!
An unchanging God: his nature, his character, his goals and his desires concerning that which he has created!

Malachi 3.6
“For I am the Lord, I do not change.”

James 1.17
“Every good and perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is not variation or shadow of turning.”

Hebrews 13.8
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

Since the nature of deity does not change, the character, the goals and desires are the same we can assume that what Gods expects and wants of us is also unchanging. We will look closer at what this “unchanging God” wants of us….of YOU and ME!!!

Lesson:

1.GODS ETERNAL DESIRE OF MAN!

A complete man! Is this not what God started with in the beginning?
What did he want of Adam, a man who loved God totally, and through that love for God, Adam would mature, grow and accomplish a maturity (perfection) in becoming a true son of God reflecting the nature, qualities, characteristics and goals of God.

Deuteronomy 6.5-7
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might! And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart and you hall teach them diligently wo your children and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise up.”

Matthew 22.27
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.”

Mark 12.29-30
“The first of all the commandments is: Hear O Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment.”

2.GODS DESIRE FOR PERFECTION IN US!

We the children of God need to reflect our Father.
So many scriptures teach this so the question should be….am I reflecting the nature, characteristics and goals of my Father … and if NOT… then WHY not?

PERFECTION:
A word we do not like!
A word that is very challenging and demanding!
A word we want to excuse ourselves from!
Yet a word God uses on many occasions!

Our love perfected:
1.John 2.5 
“But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him.”
1.John 4.12
“Nor one has seen God at any time. If we love on another, God abides in us and His love has been perfected in us.”
1.John 4.16-17
“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness I the day of judgement, because as He is, so are we in this world!”

Other ideas of perfection!
Matthew 5.48
“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Matthew 19.21
“If you want to be perfect…go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come follow me.”
Luke 6.40
“A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.”

Greek word study:
KATARTSIS: Noun form: perfection, perfecting or perfectness.
A making fit, used figuratively in an ethical sense.
A process leading to consummation.
Preparing fully, completion, fulfilment, an end accomplished as the effect of a process.

TELEIOO: Verb: to bring to an end by completing or perfecting.
Accomplishing.
Bring to completeness.

TELEIOS: Adjective and verb form.
Signifies having reached its end, finished, complete, perfect
Used of persons, in physical development and with ethical import, mature spiritually.

We may say God desires “maturity”… perfection in all of us.
A process in which we are made “fit”, complete, a fulfilment of a process.
Reminds me at Philippians 1.6 “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

3. HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE? 

One must have the “desire”, the “will” to please God!
An attitude to please. A mind set!
Without this one will NEVER accomplish this. It is based upon love!

Deuteronomy 6.5-7 Love the Lord your God.
Joshua 24.15 Choose you this day whom you will serve.
Same principle in New Testament times.

Pleasing God.
John 8.29 Jesus our example:
“And He who sent Me is with Me. The father ha not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”
1.Thessalonians 4.1
“Finally then brethren we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus, that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk to please God.

Colossians 1.10
“..that you may have a walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God…”

Some do not want to please God!
1.Thessalonians 2.15
“…and they do not please God and are contrary to all men.”

1.Corinthians 10.5
“But with most of them God was not well pleased…..”

Romans 16.18
“those that do such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly…..”

4. PERFECTION IN WHAT WAY AND IN WHAT AREAS?

Perfection = maturity.
We need to be willing to evaluate our own spiritual development and maturity.
How would you score on your level of spirituality? Spiritual maturity?

Some may feel inadequate as they have be Christians only a short time.
Not much biblical knowledge.
Some may feel inadequate and frustrated because they do not seem to making much progress 
They have made attempt to grown and improve but still a long way to go.
Some may believe they are mature because they have been Christians a long time, know most of 
what is being taught and very little challenges us to change.
Others may believe they are mature because they are doing things. Busy in the Lords service and 
are doing more that those around them.

What is Gods view of maturity?
To answer this we will look briefly at 1.Thessalonians chapter 5.
Being a Christian means a relationship with God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is friendship with God through Jesus Christ, Romans 5.1.

1) MATURE IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS. (5.12-15)
2) MATURE IN OUR PERSONAL LIFE. (5.16-22)
3) OPEN TO GODS HELP. (5.23)
4) REASSURE THAT WE WANT GODS FAVOR TO BE WITH US. (5.25-28)

MATURE IN OUR RELATIONSHIPS.

 TREAT LEADERS WITH RESPECT AND HONOR.
Recognise them who labour among you, over you and admonish you.
Esteem them highly.
1.Timothy 5.17 Elders: be counted worthy of double honor.

PEACE AMOUNG YOURSELVES.
Romans 14.19 purse things which make peace and things that edify.
2.Corinthians 16.11 be of good comfort, be of one mine, live in peace
1.Peter 3.11 seek peace and purse it

CONCERN FOR ONE ANOTHER.
Disruptive people
Titus 1.10-11
Insubordinate, idle talkers, deceivers, mouths must be stopped
2.Thessalonians 3.6-15
Brother who walks disorderly.
Those that need comfort.
1.Thessalonians 4.18 Comfort one another with these words.
Matthew 6.25.34 Do not worry about your life (v. 25)
The weak.
2.Corinthians 2.3-4
Hebrews 12.3 lets you become weary and discouraged in your souls
Romans 15.14 filled with knowledge…be able to admonish one another
1.Corinthians 8.10-12 treatment of the weak brother in matters of faith
Be patient.
2.Corinthians 6.4 servants of God … in much patience
Colossians 1.10-11 walk worthy of the Lord
All patience and longsuffering with joy
No evil for evil.
Romans 12.17-21 repay no one evil for evil, have regard for good things
James 4.11 do not speak evil of a brother

Purse what is good for others.
Galatians 6.10 have opportunity…do good to all… especially .. of faith
Colossians 1.10 walk worthy… fruitful in every good word

MATURE IN OUR PERSONAL LIFE. (5.16-22)

Rejoice always.
Romans 5.2 Access by faith into grace…..rejoice in hope!
Romans 12.15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those that weep.
Philippians 4.10 Rejoiced in the Lord that your care for me flourished.

Pray without ceasing.
Colossians 1.9 from that day do not cease to pray for you.
1.Timothy 2.8 Desire holy men pray everywhere.

Being thankful in all situations.
Philippians 4.6 No reason to be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication 
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.
Colossians 2.7 Rooted and grounded in faith…..abounding in it with thanksgiving!

Quench not the spirit.
1.Corinthians 11.30 the weak in faith…or quenched spirit
We can choke the spirit!
Squeeze the spirit.
Luke 8.7/14 choked with cares, riches, pleasures of life, no fruit to maturity

Do not despise prophecies.
Nothing that indicates miraculous prophecy but even if it is, it must be listened to.
Hebrews 2.1 Take heed to the things that are taught!

Examine everything carefully.
1.John 4.1 Beloved do not believe every spirit but try the spirits 
Acts 17.11 In Berea, searched the scriptues to find out whether the things were so.
Romans 12.2 that you might “prove” that which is good

Hold fast to what is good.
1.Timothy 5.10 diligently follow every good work
Romans 12.9 Cleave to that which is good.

Abstain from every form of evil.
1.Peter 2.11 abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul
1.Peter 3.11-12 let him eschew evil and do good
3.John 11 follow not that which is evil, but what is good.

NOTHING NEW!!!!!!!!!!!!1
First, must be convinced such things are important and essential.
Secondly, start doing them.
Thirdly, persevere in doing them. Plan for them, provide time for doing them.

BE OPEN TO GODS HELP. (5.23)

Perfection or maturity is only found in God through Jesus Christ.
God will help us with the challenge of being mature. (ref. V. 23)
God is the one who makes us complete and pure.
Perfection or maturity is only found in God through Jesus Christ.
God will help us with the challenge of being mature. (ref. V. 23)
God is the one who makes us complete and pure.

Do well based on our own good.
The Pharisee in Luke 18.11-12
Did good works.
But forgot to depend on God.
The Tax collector in Luke 18.13
Realised his dependence on God.
He wanted Gods help and God was glad to help.

Why was Paul in some much difficulty and trouble?
2.Corinthians 1.8-11
Had the sentence of death upon him.
That we should not trust in ourselves but in God!

REASURRANCE AMOUNG US. (5.25-28)

Closeness among us… the family of God is extremely important.
How would you bid farewell to brethren?
How could we give each other valuable encouragement in parting.

Ask for the prayers of our brethren.
Show our love and compassion for each other. V. 26
Encourae each other to read Gods word. V.27
Reasure each other that you want God favor (grace) to be with them always. V.28

What a great way to depart, whether a week, a year or a lifetime!
This is the best way… because it is Gods way.
A demonstration of maturity.

Vorige