Why Do We Need To Grow Up?
Foundation Statement: Why do we want to
grow up? The perfecting of the saints is for the work of the ministry. Every
believer has a ministry; something the Lord has called them to do in the
earth that benefits the Kingdom of God. We got to grow up so that we can do all
the things God has called us to do. Your
spiritual growth and development affects the scope, the reach, the influence
and the effectiveness of your ministry. Immaturity will affect the work of your ministry and it
will keep you from doing all that God has called you to do. There are
just certain things that spiritual babies, spiritual children, and spiritual
teenagers can’t do. As you grow spiritually the potential,
the gifting, the anointings inside of you will flow more mightily.
I.
Ephesians 4:12-The
perfecting of the saints is for the work of the ministry (Service, Of those who
execute the commands of others)
A. Why do you want to grow
up? Perfecting the saints is for
the work of the ministry; Immaturity will effect the work of your ministry
1.
MSG-He handed out gifts of
apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ’s followers
in skilled servant work
2.
ERV-His gifts were made that Christians might be properly
equipped for their service
3.
TLB-Why is it that he gives us these special
abilities to do certain things best? It is that God’s people will be
equipped to do better work for him
4.
VOICE-It was the risen One who handed down to us such gifted leaders—some emissaries, some prophets,
some evangelists, as well as some pastor-teachers— so that God’s people would be thoroughly equipped to minister
B. Ministry means service;
Every believer has a ministry unto the Lord, something the Lord has called them
to do that benefits the Kingdom of God
1.
You
got to grow up because you got stuff that God has called you to do that a
spiritual baby can’t do
2.
You
grow up for the work of the ministry and that’s for the benefit of others, not
for the benefit of yourself; Why you need to grow up is not so you can be
blessed and be fat and happy and enjoy your life? You’re blessedness and
happiness and good life is connected to the work of your ministry and if you
grow up for the work of your ministry you’ll get the rest of that
C. Your spiritual growth and
development effects the scope, the reach, the influence and the effectiveness
of your ministry; Your spiritual growth effects how well and how fully you do
what the Lord has called you to do – Spiritual babies can’t do great
exploits
1.
If
you’re limited in your spiritual development it will limit the work of your
ministry; If I don’t press towards the mark of spiritual maturity and being
like Jesus I want be able to fulfill the work of my ministry – There’s
some things that you can’t get into if you don’t grow up
2.
I
need to grow up so I can get out and do all that God has called me to do; Immaturity
will keep you from fully fulfilling the work of your ministry
3.
My
spiritual growth enhances my ministry – It makes me a better father,
mother, employee, business man, pastor-1 Timothy 4:7-8
4.
As
you grow spiritually the potential and gifting’s and anointings in you begin to
flow more mightily; As you grow spiritually the potential in you begins to flow
out more mightily
5.
If
the saints aren’t being perfected the work of their ministry is going to be
limited – The more limited one’s development is the more limited their
work of ministry will be and the more limited their contribution will be to the
overall building of the Body of Christ will be; Our capacities and abilities
can increase as we grow spiritually
a. 11-12-This is developing
mature believers to do the work of the ministry so that the body of Christ will
be built up