Text: Matthew 19:16-22, 2 Timothy 2:15-26, John 4:1-42
When I send a package via UPS or FedEx, I get a tracking number. I can go online and find out exactly where my order is at any given time.
How do we know we're making progress in bearing fruit for God? The Scripture gives us three stages of the believer's development.
When a baby is born, they are need focused. They cry to let Mom and Dad know when they're hungry, need to be changed, unhappy, sick, or frightened.
The spiritual baby is also concerned mainly about their needs. Their prayer life revolves around what they need to stop, what they need to start, and what they need to receive. In this stage, they speak to God. They're religious in the sense of following rules.
In Stage 2 of spiritual development, they start thinking about what God wants of them. 2 Timothy talks about adoption. How can they be both born into God's family and adopted? In the original language adoption refers to the placement of sons. The present day term most are familiar with is the Bar Mitzvah. Before that time, the son is the heir, but he's under tutors and teachers. He's not mature enough to take his place in managing his inheritance.
During Stage 2, believers discover who they are in Christ, what they have in Christ, their calling, and their place in God's family. They've gone beyond requests. As a baby grows, he starts thinking about how he can please Mom and Dad. The believer now thinks in terms of pleasing God. Prayer is no longer speaking to God. It becomes a conversation.
Stage 3 brings a focus on the needs of others. People in the first stage of growth think of everything in terms of the natural. Remember how the disciples interpreted Jesus' statement about the leaven of the Pharisees? They thought He was upset because they forgot to bring bread. How silly after He'd just fed thousands.
In this stage, spiritual truth explodes inside us, and we have enough to give others. We don't get uncomfortable when someone asks us a question about the Bible. These folks look for the anointing in worship, in teaching, etc.
To sum up the three stages: Beware, Become, and Behold.
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If you're visiting in the area or looking for a church home, our Sunday Service starts at 10:00 A.M. We're located at 1111 Easton Rd. (Rte. 611), Warrington, PA. Directions are available on the website or you can call the church office at (215) 343-7686.
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