GROWING IN MATURITY

INTRODUCTION

Are you growing as a Christian? Is your behavior in line with Christian maturity?

A group of tourists visiting a small village walked by an old man sitting under a tree. One of the tourists asked him, “Were any great men born in this village?” The old man replied, “Nope, only babies.”

Every person who is a born-again believer starts life as a baby in Christ. Whether the new believer is six or sixty, that person is still a new Christian and needs to grow in the Lord. A baby Christian who has been saved for forty years is a tragedy. God intends for us to grow and mature so that we can be a positive influence in the lives of others.

1 Peter 5:5-14

⁵In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” ⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. ⁷Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. ⁸Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

⁹Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. ¹⁰And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. ¹¹To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

CPT: Peter in this text concludes his first letter to the persecuted Roman believers by giving some virtues of a mature, strong Christian.

CPS: A believer must grow in spiritual maturity with every passing day of his/her life.

Peter in this passage gives us nine areas where we can grow in spiritual maturity. We will look 3 today and the others in the weeks to come.

1. Submission

1 Peter 5:5a

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders.

Peter has been talking about submission in this epistle and it has covered almost all areas.

1 Peter 2:13

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority..

1 Peter 2:18

Slaves, in reverent fear of God submit yourselves to your masters, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh.

1 Peter 3:1

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husband so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives.

Starting in chapter 5 Peter talks about the responsibility of pastors and elders at church and then as a response Peter says: 1 Peter 5:5a In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders.

Two areas to submit are hinted at in this passage:

1. Submit to your spiritual leadership.

Believers are to submit to your spiritual leadership, mainly pastors who are directly overseeing you. The quality of the pastor is given in v1-4: Eager to serve, not lording over people, not greedy for money, who is an example to the flock.

I must submit to my spiritual leader.

To submit means to get under the leadership of that person. It is the same word as submarine, sub here is to get under water. So, where you have a responsible godly and mature spiritual leadership, you are to give honor, respect and submission to those. That is a fundamental attitude of spiritual maturity.

God always works through human leaders to accomplish his mission. When people rebel against godly leadership God treats it seriously.

ILLUSTRATION

In the Book of Numbers Chapter 16 Korah conspired with Dathan and Abiram, gathered 250 Israelite leaders and opposed Moses. See how Moses responded:

Numbers 16:12

It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have branded together.

Numbers 16:35

Fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men.

Numbers 16:41

The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the Lord’s people,” they said.

God sent a plague and

Number 16:49

14,700 people died from the plague.

The next time we are frustrated with your spiritual leader or tempted to go alongside someone who is criticizing them, remember God hates it and non-submission is a sign of spiritual immaturity.

Hebrews 3:7

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.

Hebrews 13:17

Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

The people of God must learn to submit themselves to those in spiritual leadership. And it is not a question of perfection on our part. We’re not perfect. It is a question of maturity that you submit. What if the leader makes a mistake? Talk directly to that person in love because leaders also need correction.

2. Young people submit to their elders.

Young people, respect your elders. Parents teach their children to respect elders. We live in India and our country has a strong culture of respecting elders. We need to respect elders because the Bible says so and our culture demands it.

Example: Talk of some practical ways respect is given (standing up when elders come. Wishing them. Taking the initiative to talk to elders. Not sitting with a leg over the other when elders are around).

I must respect elders.

I must teach my children to respect elders.

2. Humility

1 Peter 5:5b-6

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” ⁶Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Clothe yourselves with humility. It is like putting on an apron to do some kitchen work so that you can keep your clothes clean. Humility is the garment that we put on.

Humility means low mindedness.

It was not a virtue in Peter’s time nor is it a virtue today in this developed world. In Peter’s time humility was for weak people. The only humility they tolerated was the involuntary humility of slavery. And so Peter is saying you need to put on the garment of a slave and take on a voluntary humility, a lowliness of mind.

Peter is talking about humility in two directions

1. Towards one another

1 Peter 5:5b

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another…

Peter might have been thinking about his Lord. You remember the incident recorded in John 13 in the upper room. Jesus looked and the disciples’ feet were not washed and no one was there to do it. And so Jesus got up and He girded himself and He stooped and washed their filthy feet. This is the Son of God who put that garment of humility bent down and washed their dirty feet. Peter probably remembered when the Lord put that on. And he says you need to put it on, too. You need to clothe yourself with the attitude of a slave, the attitude of a foot washer, the attitude of a servant toward one another.

Why humility?

1 Peter 5:5b

All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

You say, “Why is He opposed to the proud?” Very simply, God hates pride. Humility is an OT virtue that Peter just brings out in his writings.

Proverbs 6:16-17

¹⁶There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: ¹⁷haughty eye…

Proverbs 8:13

To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Isaiah 57:15

For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Isaiah 66:2

These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.

So we ought to be humble toward each other so that you can know the grace of God and not the opposition of God.

ILLUSTRATION

Booker T. Washington, the renowned educator, founder president Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he was walking in an exclusive section of town when he was stopped by a wealthy white woman. Not knowing the famous Mr. Washington by sight, she asked if he would like to earn a few dollars by chopping wood for her.

Because he had no pressing business at the moment, Professor Washington smiled, rolled up his sleeves, and proceeded to do the humble chore she had requested. When he was finished, he carried the logs into the house and stacked them by the fireplace. A little girl recognized him and later revealed his identity to the lady.

The next morning the embarrassed woman went to see Mr. Washington in his office at the Institute and apologized profusely. “It’s perfectly all right, Madam,” he replied. “Occasionally I enjoy a little manual labor. Besides, it’s always a delight to do something for a friend.” She shook his hand warmly and assured him that his meek and gracious attitude had endeared him and his work to her heart. Not long afterward she showed her admiration by persuading some wealthy acquaintances to join her in donating thousands of dollars to the Tuskegee Institute.

2. Be humble toward God.

1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

No matter what God brings in our life, better be humble before God. Don’t fight with God.

Micah 6:8

And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with you God.

Walk humbly with God means “walk under God’s mighty hand.” Walk under God’s control and power.

The mighty hand of God means different things at different times. Sometimes the mighty hand of God is used to deliver the believer from trouble. Sometimes the mighty hand of God is used to protect the believer through a time of testing. It’s a shelter, rather than a deliverance. Sometimes the mighty hand of God is used as a chastening hand, bringing blows against the believer. But always it is the sovereign mighty hand of God, whether for deliverance, for testing, for chastening, always God’s mighty hand. Therefore, be submissive under whatever God is doing in your life.

Example 1: In Exodus 3, Moses had the great confrontation of the burning bush in the wilderness. God is speaking to him about using Moses to delivering the Hebrews out of Egypt.

Exodus 3:19-20

I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go unless a mighty hand compels him. I will stretch out my hand and strike the Egyptians with all the wonders that I will perform among them. After that, he will get you go. Here, God’s hand is a delivering hand, a hand of deliverance. So humble yourself when God is giving you success and victory.

Example 2:

Job 30:20-21

I cry out to you, O God, but you do not answer; I stand up but you merely look at me. You turn on me ruthlessly; with the might of your hand you attack me.

Job is pouring out his heart because he’s going through a terrible test. Here the mighty hand of God is not the hand of deliverance, here the mighty hand of God is the hand of testing, of perfection, of maturing, so that he can come out as gold.

Here is the mighty hand of God seen judgment and restoration which leads to purification.

So we see the mighty hand of God in deliverance, in trials, and the judgement of God upon Israel. Therefore, as a believer we just humble before God so that he will lift us up at the proper time.

What’s the proper time? His time, not our time. God’s perfect time for God to lift you up. He knows when it is.

Warren Weirsbe said, “One of the evidences of our pride is our impatience with God. And one of the reasons for our suffering is that we might learn patience.”

Humility, what does it require?

Three ways to develop humility.

1. Prayer. Pray for the death of pride.
2. Rejection of Praise.
3. Confession of sin.
4. Confidence in a caring God.

3. Trust

1 Peter 5:7

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

And so Peter says you have to have an attitude of trust. Trust in what? Trust in God’s care so that you cast all your anxiety on Him because you know He cares for you. And so you’re able to say, “Lord, I know it’s difficult, I can’t handle this situation, I am anxious but I’m going to give You the whole deal because I know You care for me.”

The word “casting,” it’s used of throwing something on something. For example, throwing a blanket over a horse or a donkey as in Luke 19:35.

Peter says, “Just cast your anxiety on God. Just throw it on Him all your anxiety.”

What’s the anxiety? All of the discontent, discouragement, despair, questioning, wondering, pain, feelings, tears, loneliness, rejection suffering that you’re going through, just give it all to Him, turn it in for trust in the God who really cares about you.

I can give my burden to God because God cares for me.

Do you remember that Hannah did not have children. For a Jewish mother not to have a child was a real problem.

1 Samuel 1:12-18

¹²As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. ¹³Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk ¹⁴and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.” ¹⁵“Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.

¹⁶Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” ¹⁷Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” ¹⁸She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

What happened to her? Her face was no longer sad. How was it no longer sad? Nothing had changed? But what had she done with the burden? She gave her burden to the Lord.

We can give our burdens to God because he cares for us.

Psalm 55:22

Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.

He cares for you. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount:

Matthew 6:28-34

28“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

ILLUSTRATION

Charles Spurgeon told this story of his grandfather James and his faith in God. “He had a large family and a very small income, but he loved his Lord, and he would not have given up his preaching of the gospel for anything.” One day the cow on which the family relied for milk for the children suddenly died. James Spurgeon’s wife was greatly concerned, but he said, “God said He would provide, and I believe He could send us fifty cows if He pleased.”

On that same day, a group met in London—a group James Spurgeon did not know—that wanted to help meet the needs of poor pastors. They raised a large sum of money, and began sending it to different pastors in need to help their families. When they reached the end of the list, there were still five pounds left. One man suggested sending it to James Spurgeon. Another said, “No, let’s not send just five pounds. Let me add five more to go with it.” Others joined in, and the day after his cow died, James Spurgeon received twenty pounds in the mail!

You can trust God to keep His promises and provide for your needs.

Philippians 4:19 My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

CONCLUSION

Spiritual maturity begins with some fundamentals: An attitude of submission to those in spiritual authority, an attitude of humility toward others, toward God under His mighty hand, and an attitude of trust that says I can humble myself because I’m going to give this whole burden to the God who really cares. Those are the fundamental attitudes that produce spiritual maturity. Without them, it doesn’t happen.