Growing Up Into Him - Experiencial Maturity

"Chronological Years Do Not Equal Maturity"

In the above statement is an answer to much of the condition of the North American church. Many are the Christians who stand on years of being saved as indicators of maturity. Leaders are also among that company who judge by chronological years, assigning duties, and projects to those who have been "saved" for years. 

How does God see all of this?

Throughout scripture we find men and women who have years of experience even in giftings and ministry referred to at levels that we would equate with immaturity. A very clear example of this is the Corinthians and the Hebrew church. 

1Co 3:1-3  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.  (2)  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  (3)  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

 Heb 5:12-14  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  (13)  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  (14)  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

In both these passages, those who should have been mature, were yet babies. Maturity always  references character and nature in the scriptures. 

God ordered 3 harvest celebrations a year. It is significant that the final one was a fruit harvest rather than some form of wheat or grain. One indication seems to be that fruit takes longer to grow than grains. The progression of God in these harvests was from the food of the poor, barley harvest, through the harvest of the grain of the rich, the wheat harvest, to the harvest of fruit, the harvest of maturity.   

Every one who would grow up to spiritual maturity must experience these in their lives. Most of the Christian world is gathered around the Feast of Passover. It is a glorious feast, but not all that God has for us.

Many suppose they have experienced Pentecost, but have not. What has deceived them is a principle found in Ephesians. It says that we have received the Firstfruits of the Spirit. It is also called the "earnest of our inheritance".

The Feast of Firstfruits was connected with the Feast of Passover. When Jesus rose from the dead, on that first day of His appearance he breathed on them and said received ye the Holy Ghost. It is my understanding that they received it and walked in it from that point on.

This raises the question: What happened on the Day of Pentecost? The Day of Pentecost was an enduement of power. Many of God's people have experienced Firstfruit but have not yet received their Pentecost.

Finally, the Feast of Tabernacles was a feast in which the fruit was gathered in. Symbolically it is a time when the Body of Christ comes into a unity and the mature fruit of the Spirit is manifest.

In this brief overview, I hope you see a challenge to grow up into Him in all things.

On the website, there is a list of books/courses that will give greater understanding to these brief statements.

www.drwmjhurst.com