After we are born again as new babes in Jesus, we have to grow into spiritual maturity. The benefits are great! It's time to grow more to be ready for the darkening world we are living in.

1. Lorem Ipsum Dolor
Maturing in the Lord

2. Why Still on Earth?
❖ To get more people to Heaven
(Matt. 18: 18-20)
❖ To become more like Jesus.
(Col. 1:28)

3. Saints & Kids
❖ Begin life as infants. Parents/God love them first
❖ Need lots of nurture by parents (God)
❖ Both need to consistently respond to parents/God to
mature into their full destiny & identity

4. Major NT Theme
❖ “I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is
formed in you!” (Gal. 4:19)
❖ “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk,
that by it you may grow up into salvation. “(1 Peter 2:2)
❖ “Consider it all joy…so that you may be perfect [telios)
and complete. (James.1:2-4)
❖ “…warning every man, and teaching every man in all
wisdom; that we may present every man perfect (telios)in
Christ Jesus. “ (Col. 1:28)

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The Two Steps of the
Maturity Dance
1. God Always Takes
the First Step

6. God’s Love Starts All
❖ He chooses us before time began (Eph. 1:4-5)
❖ “We love, because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
❖ “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent
Me draws him…” (John 6:44, 65)
❖ “You have not chosen Me, I have chosen you.” (John
15:16)

7. God Seeks Sinners
❖ Romans 3:10-12: “As it is written,there is none
righteous, not even one;
❖ There is none who understands, there is none who
seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they
have become useless;
❖ There is none who does good, there is not even one.”

8. God Seeks Saints
❖ As the Good Shepherd seeks lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7)
❖ As a loving Father: “FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD
LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY
SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.” (Heb. 12:6)
❖ As the Merciful God: “Therefore the Lord longs to be
gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have
compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice;
How blessed are all those who long for Him. (Is. 30:18)

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The Two Steps of
Maturity Dance
2. God Waits for Us
To Respond

10. What God Wants
From Us as His Children
❖ To love Him > anything
❖ To abide in Him daily
❖ To live mainly for Him
❖ To obey His commands
❖ To mature

11. Just Like Raising Kids
❖ We initiate the love
❖ We set boundaries &
expectations
❖ Kids must respond well to us
to mature

12. God’s Invitation
to Maturity
❖ “Draw near to God and He will
draw near to you.” (James 4:8a)

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Who Moves First? How blessed are all those who
long for Him. (Is. 30:18)

14. Drawing Near Means
❖ Giving God whatever He wants
❖ Letting Him be our greatest treasure, our deepest
satisfaction, the supreme joy of our life
❖ Spending lots of quality time with Him
❖ Seeking to obey Him always
❖ Allowing God to mature us moment by moment

15. Drawing Near Happens
When We…
❖ Admit to ourselves that we need more from God
❖ Ask God to help us draw near to Him
❖ Meditate on the scriptures (15-30 Minutes/day)
❖ Talk and listen to God ( 30 minutes/day)
❖ Are quick to obey, confess and forgive

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The Benefits of
Drawing near to God
For All of Us

17. What this Story Teaches
❖ God loves all of His children but He has to treat them
differently depending on how they respond to Him.
❖ There is always more of God’s love and blessings for
those who draw near to Him
❖ “The Lord longs to be gracious to us.” He waits for us to
draw near so he can pour out His love on us.

18. What Is Our Far Country?
❖ Fears we think we have to keep
❖ Anger we feel we need
❖ Sins we don’t think we can live without
❖ Distractions that leave little room for God in our lives
❖ Work, TV, friends, video games, sports, possessions,
the pursuit of money

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He Longs to Be
Gracious to Us
But He is Waiting on Our
Response