HANDOUT FOR SERMON: PRESSING ON TOWARDS SPIRITUAL MATURITY.              Manchester, TN. March 27th, 2022. Scriptural text: Hebrews 5-6.

INTRODUCTION: God has expectations of His people. God has a purpose and a will for each ONE of us. No one in this audience today is excused from fulfilling God’s purpose for them. The God who made the world and everything in it, wants YOU to seek Him, grope after Him and find Him. Because it is IN HIM that we live and moved and have our very being Acts 17:24-28. We must press on towards maturity.

Scripture: Philippians 3:12-15, 1 Corinthians 14:20.

How do we measure our spiritual growth and maturity?  Is it just by taking a test on Biblical facts or rules & laws of Jesus?  It is measure by the number of times I attend a religious service or how much money I sacrifice to God?

Key text for our study: Hebrews 5 & 6.                                                                                           Hebrews 5 starts out with the teachings of Melchizedek as a forerunner of Jesus Christ, our high priest.  These Christians had a problem their lack of spiritual maturity that would inhibit them from easily understand the comparison of Melchizedek & Jesus Christ.  They were “dull of hearing” 5:11. Then comes the criticism of believers for their lack of spiritual growing and maturity, 5:12-14.  There is a sense of disappointment, yet they were encouraged to do something about it! Consider the benefit of spiritual maturity – “ability to discern both good and evil.”

Read: Hebrews 5:13-14 Are we still on the bottle? What does it mean to still be on the bottle? What is the difference in milk and meat?  What are the elementary principles? What is solid food?  Let us study Hebrews 6 and let God give us the answers!

1.THE ELEMENTARY THINGS OF THE WORD. (7 Things). Hebrews 6:1-3

What does it mean to “leave” these things? We must learn & study these items but once we have understood them, we are to move on to deeper teachings.

REPENTANCE, Matthew 4:17, Acts 2:38, Acts 20:21.
FAITH TOWARD GOD. John 3:16, Hebrews 11:1 & 6
BAPTISM OR WASHINGS. Matthew 28:19, Romans 6:3-11
LAYING ON OF HANDS (Spiritual gifts) Acts 8:17-18, 1 Timothy 4:1
RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, John 5:29, 1 Corinthians 15.
JUDGMENT, Matthew 25:31-46, 2 Corinthians 10:5, Hebrews 9:27
FEAR OF FALLING AWAY. 2 Peter 2:20, 1 Tim, 4:12. MATURE TEACHINGS OF THE WORD, Hebrews 6:9-20. (3 concepts)When God speaks of spiritual maturity it might surprise you that His description is very different from what “men” might say!

Read: Hebrews 6:9-20.

SPIRITUAL MATURITY IN DILIGENCE, Hebrews 6:11

Definition: earnestness in accomplishing something, striving, PASSION, excitement, and energy. A diligent person is a doer, an excited doer. A person on fire! Do you want a test of your maturity? Subject yourself to the “need of diligence.”  Romans 12:10-13                                                            Take note of Abraham and His maturity in reference to “diligence!”

God said pack up and leave-He did so immediately. Genesis 12
God said circumcise the men- He did it the same day, Genesis 16:23
God said sacrifice your only son-He did it within 24 hours, Genesis 22.

2.SPIRITUL MATURITY IN PATIENCE, Hebrews 6:12-15

Patience means endurance, constancy, steadfastness, preservation. Patience is holding “diligence” over a very long time. Patience is the finisher! A patient person is totally in! I mean REALLY in! Take note of Abraham, an example of patience.

How long did He wait for the land? (Fulfilled in the days of Joshua)
How long did He wait for the nation? (Fulfilled in Joseph)
How long did He wait for “the seed?” (Fulfilled in Jesus)
How long did He wait for “an heir?” (Fulfilled in Isaac)

Scripture: Hebrews 6:15, James 5:1-6 & 7

SPIRITUAL MATURITY IN HOPE, Hebrews 6:11 & 17-20                                                               Hope means: joyful, confident expectation, glee. Excited about it, Joyful about it. Rejoice in hope. Hope until the end, v.11. Hope as an anchor for the soul, v.19.

Scripture: Romans 4:16-21, Romans 5:1-6                                                                           Similar scripture for deep spiritual maturity:                                                                                                Galatians 5:22-26, Ephesians 4:31-32, Colossians 3;12-17

CONCLUSION: HAVE YOU REACHED SPIRITUAL MATURITY?                                            Strive towards spiritual maturity in the areas of diligence, patience, and hope.              Do you dare test yourself in the areas of diligence and patience and hope? What about the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22-25? What about having the mind of Christ, Philippians 2:5-7? What about spiritual maturity in being “anxious for NOTHING?” Philippians 4:6-9 Don’t forget what Jesus said about the weightier things of the law such as “justice, mercy and faith?” Matthew 23:23