I'll spend some time singing and worshiping again, okay, before we go into teaching.
I want you to listen to what I'm going to read.
This is from Luke chapter 7.
One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house
and reclined at the table.
And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining
at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabasca flask of ointment, and standing
behind him at his feet, weeping.
She began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair on her head,
and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
One of the things I want us to do together, because I believe he desires it from us,
is can we, together as a people, without having Sheldon on the piano and others with instruments,
can we sing to him?
Why and how?
Like this lady who doesn't even have a name in the Gospel of John.
Simon's house, it's a very big house, I'm sure.
He's a Pharisee, he's a rich guy.
There are other people reclining at the table with Jesus, and it's not her place.
She's not supposed to be there.
But she somehow made her way into the house.
Because there's only one thing, as you read down that passage, you'll see Simon in turn
asks Jesus about something, and referring to this lady, to this woman, Jesus says, she
has been forgiven much.
And when you're forgiven much, you love much.
I want us to worship him together, without instruments.
But like this lady, like this woman who made her way in, somehow she wanted to be at his
feet.
Somehow she wanted to break the alabaster flask.
Somehow she wanted to anoint him.
It wasn't her place.
If you ask her, she'll tell you there were so many eyes on me, so many people calling
me names, so many people saying I shouldn't be there, so many people reminding of my past.
Their eyes said a story that she didn't want to remember.
And then it didn't matter for her, because she wanted to be at that place.
She wasn't even in the front, from the back, behind him.
She started weeping, because she was forgiven much.
So can we worship him like that?
Because she didn't need people playing in the background to worship him.
For her, in the chaos, in the sound, in the...
Jesus' attention, initially I'm sure, was on other things.
But she had so much to give him that she said, I will do it regardless of what people think,
regardless of what people say about me.
So then, can we worship him as we sing this song together, giving him everything that
we have, because he deserves it?
You have been forgiven much.
I have been forgiven much.
And it doesn't matter who we are, where we are from, what we did, because at his feet,
every slate is wiped clean.
And at his feet, there is always a new start.
And at his feet, there is new mercies, new grace that runs after us.
Can we do it?
So let's do it in the sincerest way you can.
In the sincerest way I can, I want to do it.
It won't look anything else, like anything else to the next person, but in your heart,
you're embracing him.
In your heart, you have him at his feet.
In your heart, you're pouring out everything you have, your affection to Jesus, your embrace
for him.
Let's do it as a people.
We have some time, so these guys will obviously, they have a mic and their sounds will be louder,
I want your voice to echo.
I want your voice to be lifted up so that we're doing it together.
Let's do it, yeah?
Worthy is the lamb who was slain, Holy, holy is he.
Sing a new song to him who sits on Heaven's mercy seat.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.
With all creation I sing praise to the King of Kings, You are my everything and I will adore you.
Clothed in rainbows of living color, Flashes of lightning, rose of thunder.
Blessing and honor and strength and glory and power be to you the only wise King.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.
With all creation I sing praise to the King of Kings, You are my everything and I will adore you.
Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder, At the mention of your name.
Jesus, your name is power, Breath and living water,
Such a marvelous mystery.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.
With all creation I sing praise to the King of Kings, You are my everything and I will adore you.
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.
With all creation I sing praise to the King of Kings, You are my everything and I will adore you.
Jesus, we know the way is clear, The veil is torn, we have access to your feet.
Jesus, we come to worship, We come to pour our affection, our adoration.
We come to pour it out over your feet, Jesus. Pour it out and we wipe it with our very hair.
That's the kind of worship we pour out to you, Holy, holy, beautiful one, we worship you, beautiful one.
How lovely are your feet, Jesus. How worthy are your hands, Jesus. How worthy are you, Jesus.
Light of the world, you step down to darkness, You open our eyes, let us see.
Pour out our praise and we'll be happy.
Oh, you are all things, you deserve the glory.
Day and night, night and day, let incense arise.
You are worthy of it all.
For from you are all things, and to you are all things.
You deserve the glory.
You are worthy of it all.
Jesus, Jesus, you are worthy of it all.
For from you are all things, and to you are all things.
You deserve the glory.
I am forgiven
because you are forsaken
and I accept
that there is no one like you
there is none like you
and you are all things
Holy is the Lord Jesus
the one who's worthy
to open the scroll
the one who's worthy
of all our praise
and praise the one who's worthy
holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty
holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty
who has an is and is to come
Jesus, we love you
oh how we love you
and you are the one
that our hearts adore
Jesus, we love you
oh how we love you
you are the one
our hearts adore
and our affections
our devotion
poured out on the feet of Jesus
our affections
our devotion
poured out on the feet of Jesus
our affections
our devotion
poured out on the feet of Jesus
we love you
oh how we love you
you are the one
that our hearts adore
and here we are to worship
here we are to bow down
here we are to say
that you're our God
cause you're all together worthy
you're all together lovely
all together wonderful
to me
oh here we are to worship
here we are to bow down
here we are to say
that you're our God
there is no other
you're all together lovely
you're all together worthy
you're all together wonderful
to me
and I'll never know
how much it cost
to see my sin
upon that cross
and I'll never know
how much it cost
to see my sin
upon that cross
and Jesus you
are our King
Jesus you
you alone are
our King
Jesus you
the one and only
King
Jesus Jesus
Jesus you
are my
King
hallelujah
to the King
hallelujah
to the Lord of Lords
hallelujah
to the King of Kings
hallelujah
to the Lord of Lords
Jesus
we worship your Majesty
Jesus
we worship your Majesty
Jesus
we worship your Majesty
Jesus
we worship your Majesty
I'm blessing
and honor
glory and power
be unto your name
Jesus
all blessing
all power
glory and honor
be unto your name
Jesus
all blessings
Jesus
all blessings
Jesus
So even as we stand Jesus
those lines
day and night
incense arise
let incense arise
our it's
we know
that it is one thing to sing it
and we mean it when we sing it Jesus
but our lives
are to be
a living sacrifice
and so as we sit or stand
here but as we pour
out our affection as that song
said or as we
give you honor here
we say Jesus we want to
live our lives
as a living sacrifice
so that day
and night night
and day
incense will arise from my
life from our lives
from this embassy of Acts
29
real lives dying
to ourselves
so that we can become
like your son
Jesus
thank you accept
what we are offering to you Jesus
accept it
because you deserve it
and more thank you
thank you
So when I was in my eighth grade
you get to pick
either economics
or computer
computer programming
so I'm going to expose Dawn here
I had to start with that
so
I picked computers
it was C programming for those of you
know and I scored
really bad in my exam was pretty bad
as I come home and I tell
everyone about it and obviously
not great
back in the day on Sundays we'll go from
one city to another city
to attend church
so we have to bus it
and every Sunday
you wake up because
you want to go to the service
but when you get into the bus
Dawn and I always fight for the side
seat as we used to call it so window seat
because that's what you're after
getting to the church was secondary but being
getting that seat was more
important than anything else
and so this is March or something
I'm in you know he's in fourth grade
whatever age that is
I'm in eighth grade
and so I get the side seat this week
that particular week
and I'm sitting down and I'm like I made it
I got it so this whole week
we were trying to you know I got what I
wanted and so Dawn nudges me
and says if you don't
give me the side seat
I'm going to shout out and let everyone
know how much you scored for C programming
I said what?
He said I'll do it so I said no you can't
do it so he said no I'll do it
I said there's no way you can do it Dawn
so he said 80
no please
so he goes on
to almost blurt out how much
I scored and I was very
careful not to have anyone
else know about it so I said it's yours
side seat is yours so I
moved over when I think about
our childhood
this happened quite a lot of times
so people would come
home and if they're visiting once every year
or once every two years
they would look at Dawn and I
and they would always have really good things to
tell about Dawn and then they'll look at me
and they'll say is your mom not
feeding you? Obviously I look different now
but you know back
in the day is your mom not feeding you?
So I used to dread it
but almost every single person
who came at the very end would say
something that I really used to enjoy because they
would say but you're really mature
for your age and I used to go
wow I like that because that's
about the only compliment I get you're
way more mature than your age
so I grew up
the other thing before I forget
another thing that Dawn used to do
because it's all about
exposing Dawn today another thing
that he used to do is we used to have these
bakeries you know and when you're
standing waiting for a bus
and if there's a bakery next door
nearby Dawn would almost
always drag
my mom buy her sari
to go into the shop
and I used to dread all of this
because to me this guy is making
a whole lot of noise and a lot of drama
that I dreaded and so I
would almost separate myself from the entire family
stay on this side because I didn't want to associate
myself with Dawn that's how
I grew up what's the point?
The point is this
growing up I somehow developed
in me an impression
that maturity
is being serious
and that maturity
is acting like you're a grown up
people would come and tell me
you're really mature for your age
and so that
impression began to sink into
my mind my being yeah
when they say that it really means that
if I act serious and if I'm not like
Dawn then I'm mature
because Dawn shouts, screams, cries
all of that bad stuff
I'm the good kiddo
I just need to put up a good face, smile
polite, gentle
all of that stuff and I get these compliments
and so you grow up
and without knowing
you have this impression in your mind
that maturity is equal to
not doing what Dawn did
and it is
being
serious about life
being serious and if you're serious
you're mature
and somehow we have the tendency
to associate different things with maturity
it depends on your background
it depends on your upbringing
when I say the word let's say
spiritual maturity because there is
physical maturity, there is emotional maturity
if I say spiritual maturity
if I say spiritual maturity all of you
depending on your background
depending on where you came from
depending on what happened, your story
you associate those two words with
something
for me it is this
you associate these two words
with something
and that's what I
want to talk about today, spiritual maturity
so if you need a title
the title is
from milk to meat
by the way if you're a vegan
we can talk afterwards
from milk to meat
so what is
spiritual maturity then?
so spiritual maturity
simply defined for us
is not being serious
it's not always having
a straight face
it's not any of those things
Christian maturity
simply is
being Christ-like
so you can laugh out the most in the room
and you can be
the most mature person in the room
you can crack the best of jokes
which Don doesn't do
but you know, anyway
and you can still be
the most mature
so Christian maturity is
being Christ-like
and so when you think about
Christ-like, when I think about Christ-like
we have to look at it as
am I thinking like how
Christ thinks?
am I thinking
like how Christ thinks?
because if I think the way
Christ thinks, then
I can reason the way
Christ reasoned
and I can act
or live out like how
he lived out
so thinking like Christ thinks
is important
we are a byproduct
of our thinking
go to Proverbs
chapter 27
23, Proverbs 23
verse 7, it says
for as he thinketh in his heart
so is he
for as he thinketh in his heart
so is he
so the way I
think forms and
shapes the person I become
the way you think
forms and shapes the person you will become
it doesn't matter what your age is
you can be as little as
Shiloh, as old as
whoever else
if you think like Jesus
you will mature
and mature and mature to become
like Jesus
if you think like yourself
you will be yourself
and to the extent
to which you allow
yourself to change
so that your thinking is like
the thinking of Jesus
to that extent you will mature
in other words
maturity, spiritual maturity
is the rate
at which you are becoming
like Jesus
it is
a progression, it is the rate at which
I am becoming like Jesus
so if you hang out with me
and if all you are getting is more and more
Derek, I am not
mature
if you hang out with me
and you see things in my life
that point to the person
that I
am to live and die for
then I am mature
people have to
look at us and see Jesus
in us
that's why the Bible says
be imitators
be imitators of me
be imitators of Christ
Paul said it
and what we are talking about
absolutely not
abstract, really tangible
children
look up to their parents
and they do things
as they see
they imitate, it's normal for children
to do that
when I was a kid I would, papa, my dad
he had his signature, I really used to
love it
and so once I found out that signature is pretty cool
I am sure there are way better signatures
people have
better stuff elsewhere
but for me, my dad's signature, I really loved it
so even now at age 35
I copied my signature from him
I used the same signature
I also had the
pleasure and privilege
to sign his signature on my report cards
that gave me
that gave me good experience
but
I liked it
children see
things
that they look at and they go wow
and they become that
and the story I remember is
growing up
my mom told me a story
about my dad
one day
and said hey he could have made a lot of money doing it
but he did not do it that way
because he has a heart of integrity
as a 10 year old, 8 year old
you listen to that
and your mind is formed
because now
you have this
teaching that has come to you, wisdom that has come to you
that helps you understand
it's not about money, it's about how you live
we are a byproduct
of what we have heard
what we have understood
that's what we become
and so when I talk about
spiritual maturity and we say
from milk to meat
you have to measure yourself
and compare yourself to the
thinking of Jesus Christ
to the person of Jesus Christ
and the more
aware you are about what
you are lacking
the better it is
because as I was preparing
I was looking at my life
and you don't have to search deep to find out
where you are lacking
it's right in front of your face
so if I am aware that
yeah Aba, these are the areas
where I don't look like your son at all
and then there may be areas
where you are closer
now you know
where you have to train yourself
where you have to work
so let's proceed with that thought
the original design
for man still remains the same
we are made in his image
and we are supposed to be image bearers
on earth
which is why
in Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 14 it says
for the earth will be filled
with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea
how will that happen?
that is you and me and us
populating earth
with the knowledge, with the mature knowledge
of Jesus Christ
and living like his son
Aba's son, Jesus Christ
to a point where the earth will be flooded
by his glory
it happens through my life and your life
and our lives
Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 14
and this
theme is prevalent
all through the New Testament
you see Paul writing letters
to different churches addressing this thing
spiritual maturity
you got to grow up
and he says there are things I really want to tell you
but I can't tell that to you
because you are not mature yet
so you can actually take it further and say
if I
if I prevent myself
from being mature because I like
certain things certain way
and I am not conforming
to the image of his son
then sometimes the father
has to hold things back
because you are not ready for it
Paul says that
I really want to share these things with you
but I can't
he actually proceeds to share it
but I really can't share this
with you because you are not ready for it
and so for us
man, if we can have this deep
desire to
mature
it doesn't matter if you
came to faith a year ago
two years ago, if you have been in faith for 40
years, 50 years, it does not matter
all of us must have the same
desire to mature
the same
desire to look more and more like
Jesus, the same desire
to grow up so that others can
look at your life and they can say
well look at Matt and Rachel
I want to be like
them
look at Shireen, I want
to be like her
that's what we are supposed
to be living for
so that the world outside will look
at something that you are doing
the way you speak, the way you are
and they will say that is something different
there is something different
about this and I want it
at least I want to ask what it is
all about and then you
can proceed to share the
life you draw your life from
so I want to talk about a few things
we don't have much time today
let's see how far we get
so the letter to the
church in Corinth
it was written in the year 55
AD
Paul was in that
church in 50 AD
five years prior to that
it is when he ministered amongst them
and a lot of people became believers in the city
of Corinth and in 55
AD he is writing this
letter to them
and so read it with me
today be prepared to go through your bible
we will go through different passages
so that's
if you don't have your bible
open the bible app
if you have your bible
get your bible
because we are going to go through different verses today
first Corinthians chapter 3
1-3
first Corinthians chapter 3
verses 1-3
but I brothers
could not address you as
spiritual people but as
people of the flesh as infants
in Christ I fed you with
milk not solid food
for you are not ready for it
and even now you are not ready
for it for you are still of the flesh
read it again please
but I brothers could not
address you as spiritual people wow
it's a church
they have been
around for a while
he ministered amongst them
if you read the first
chapter you will find out that they even
operated in the gifts of the spirit
see what he is writing in chapter 3
I can't
address you as spiritual people
but as people of the flesh
as infants in Christ
because that I fed you with milk
not solid food for you are not ready for it
and even now you are not
ready for you are still of the flesh
I am going to say a line that has been
repeated at Acts 29
way too often
in a line I like to remind myself of
a man of
destiny is a man of choices
a man of destiny
is a man of choices
a woman of destiny
is a woman of choices
there is not one person sitting
under this roof
who doesn't have choices
to make
there are options in front of you
and you have to choose
so when Paul is writing
he is saying guys
I can't even call you as
spiritual people because you are still
drinking milk
and I can't give you solid food yet
it's like a parent
who is trying to communicate
you've got to grow up only then can I
give the rest to you
and in life
you have to, I have to
if we are aware of the fact that
man, we are
a people of destiny
a people who are supposed to
head a particular way
do particular things
things that the father even before
you were formed in your mother's womb
had purpose for you
but those things ultimately
you inherit or you don't
based on your choices
a man of destiny
is a man of choice
a woman of destiny
is a woman of choice
so when I became born
again as soon as I accepted
Christ the spirit of God
came to take residence
in me
but from that moment on
my life
it depends on what I choose
sure I am found in Christ
but am I living and
leading a spirit led life
that is on me
I have the ability to choose
at any instant
if I want to follow the spirit
or if I want to follow the flesh
which is why I read that last line
it says and even now you are not yet ready
for you are still of the flesh
so living of the flesh
and not living by the spirit
keeps me, keeps you immature
living of the flesh
and being led
by the spirit
is simply not worth it
I remember using the exact same words last week
it's not worth it
these words keep ringing in my ears
it's not worth it
man living any other way
is not worth it
am I being led by the spirit
in everything I do
I like going for night drives
and so I went on a night drive yesterday
and interesting things happen
when you go for a night drive
and it's 1am or 2am
and so there is a particular
road that I like to drive in
Xavier knows it, Don't know it
a few people know about this
so I am driving
and it's pretty late
and as I am driving I can see a cop car
on that side
he thinks he is hidden, he is not
I can see him
I am like, ok cool
it's pretty late at night
so I keep driving, keep driving
and then I go and turn around
because I don't have anything else to do
I am just driving
and so as I drive and I see this guy
now I can see he is following me
because he was parked
and now I am turning around
and going in a particular direction
he begins to come after me
and then I see the red flashes
and the blue flashes, all of that
when I was driving he said, what happened?
why are you driving like this?
you are driving as if you know I am here
what are you hiding?
I said I am not hiding anything
did you drink? No
ok tell me, so I had to explain to him
what I was doing
what's the point? When I know that there is a cop car
right behind me, man, you have to know
I know exactly what
driving I am doing
I know my lane, I know the speed
I know I am always below 50
because I can see 50 is the thing
I am below 50, you can't catch me
because I know you are behind me
why am I saying this?
it's amazing right?
because you can be on the same road
driving day or night
and when you know that there is no one else watching
you have a tendency to go
I do it
being aware of his spirit
knowing that he is with you
knowing that you can draw from his life
allows you to
live life differently
and that's, it's simple
everything that
the father has for us is simple
man does
his best to complicate it
but everything that the
father has for you is simple
for you to understand, simple for you
to inherit, you don't need any
PhD in anything for it
why? because he started with
fisherman
he proved it
if you have a desire
you can, you don't need
10 steps to do it
you don't need 50 ways you can do it
you just need to be a son
who is aware of the fact
that his spirit is
inside you and that
he can help direct
where you go, at what speed you go
if you turn left, if you turn right
it's all his direction
so being spirit led
allows you to mature
you progress into the person
you are supposed to be
this year, there is one verse
that I have read
and it's opened my eyes
to different things, I think I shared it
probably a few weeks ago
Hebrews chapter 4 verse 14
read it please with me
since then, that's Hebrews chapter 4
verse 14
since then, we have a great
high priest who has passed
through the heavens, Jesus
the son of God, let us hold
fast our confession
I'll read it again, since then
we have a great high priest
who has passed through the heavens, Jesus
the son of God, let us hold fast
our confession
Jesus passed
through the heavens
you have to understand that when it happened
every power and
principality tried to keep him down
but because he is the holy
one, because he is the anointed one
as we sang today, because he is the
risen one, because he is
the one who is triumphant
all the powers that tried to
keep him down
they were defeated, because he
went past the heavens
to sit at the right
hand of the father, why is that
scripture important in this light
oh my goodness
my flesh, your flesh
my emotions, your emotions
the stuff that we see and have all around
us, they are consistently trying
to keep us from operating in the
spirit
and we have someone who went
before us, who showed
us that there is a way you can live
on earth, but live from
the throne room
there is a way, and if
I can catch on to this
if you can catch on to this
life will look so different
so different, because you are not
living from here up
this is why
it says you are seated
at the right hand of God, why is it
significant to say that you are
seated at the right hand of God when
pavan is sitting right there
there is a reason
because if pavan knows
that yes I am sitting right here, but
I am actually also sitting at the right
hand of the father, and that I am
in the throne room, then everything
that happens in your life
you have a different perspective about it
when you
look at your future, you think of it differently
when you think of your present
you think of it in the lens
that the father has given you
so learn to live
from the throne room
another thing to keep in mind
because
when we live life, what happens is
we have the knowledge of
these truths, but one of the things that
can sometimes pull us
back is that
this is not the atmosphere
you live out, week in week out
you are here for 2 hours, 3 hours
and for 2 hours, 3 hours, it's
look at this, pretty easy
to think about Jesus
pretty easy to sing
praises to him, pretty easy
to join with other saints
but on a Thursday evening, 8pm
you don't feel like this
I don't feel like this
if you feel like it, amazing
I certainly don't feel like this
Thursday, 7pm
but this is when
if I can learn
that man
it is possible for me
to be
operating from a different place
from his throne room
that I am one with him
that his spirit lives inside of me
then it changes
everything that I am about
then life begins to look different
no one has to teach you
because the spirit of God is telling you
he is speaking to you and he is saying
I am here, I am here
can you see this differently
and this is why, because on a Thursday evening
7pm, it's the mundane
it's the stuff that you do all the time
but can you find
the divine in the mundane
can you find the divine
as you are folding your clothes
no I don't do it, that side, sorry
I don't want you to think of certain things
that I don't do
I would like to do it more
there are things that I do
that's mundane
I am just repeating it
but if I am wise enough
to see the divine
presence of God
in those things, those things
will change, the rhythm
will change
and it is in fact these very things
that sometimes cause you to forget
the truth and the reality
of who you are
can you find the divine
and by that I mean the divine presence
of our father
of his spirit
in the mundane
as you are doing your assignments, can you do it
when you are doing your assignment
you just want to finish your assignment
I am talking about the Trinity Western students
not your assignment
it's easy to forget things man
when you are doing these things
it's repetitive
and you just know exactly what needs to be done
you are on autopilot
but that's when the Holy Spirit
wants you to see those very things differently
and if you open up your eyes
and if you are willing to say
teach me Abba, teach me
to find the divine in the mundane
life begins to look differently
so I can be washing the dishes
which I don't particularly enjoy
but I can now do that
and while I am doing that
now I can meet him
while I am in it
if we become
if we are aware of this
and we make changes
simple changes but real changes
to your life, my life
it will look very different
by the end of this year
very different
so learn to live by the spirit
number one
you mature from milk to meat
by giving up childish ways
can you read
1st Corinthians chapter 13
verse 11
1st Corinthians chapter 13 verse 11
when I was a child I spoke like a child
I thought like a child
I reasoned like a child
when I became a man I gave up childish ways
I spoke like a child
I reasoned like a child
I said this before
your thoughts
and your reasoning
they translate into
your actions and words
what you speak
and what you do
is a result of
what you think
It's just the way it is.
And so if I can leave my childish ways, then I become mature, mature, mature.
If you look at your life and you can detect, identify the areas where you're still operating
like a child, then it will be easier for you, as soon as you understand it, to flip, to
turn the switch on and say, oh, that's not how I am to be.
I'm different.
I'm built different.
Inside of me is the presence of God, is the Holy Spirit.
And so I have the ability to do this very thing differently.
I will not be childish.
Story of Ahab.
Ahab is the king of Israel.
And he looks at the vineyard, Nabot's vineyard, and he wants the vineyard.
So he goes and speaks to Nabot and says, I want your vineyard.
He's the king.
Nabot says, no, I can't give you the vineyard.
What does he do?
He comes back.
Ahab, the king of Israel, read this.
You don't need to read this.
I'll read it out loud.
First Kings 21, 4.
So Ahab went home sullen and angry because Nabot, the Jesterite, had said, I will not
give you the inheritance of my ancestors.
He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.
When you're childish, you have an entitled thinking.
I was talking about this to someone the other day.
When I said this, they're like, there's nothing wrong in being entitled.
Because everything that God has for me, I'm entitled to it.
It's true.
And it's right to have a thinking that, man, everything the father has is for you, is for
me.
But at the same time, when you're a child, you begin to look at what's happening around
you and you say, I'm entitled to these things.
And so if I don't get it, I will react in a childish way.
So the fact that you are entitled to certain things because what Christ did for you is
good.
But when you find your life different from what you think is true, are you responding
childishly?
Or are you looking at the gap and you want to figure out what the gap is and how the
gap can be bridged?
That's a different story.
But when I look at May's life and I go, wow, look at May's life.
Those things are really good.
Look at my life.
I should be having it.
He is my father.
Why don't I have it?
Why am I being treated this way?
It's wrong.
May has it.
I don't have it.
Why is it that it's been 10 years now?
I don't have it.
Now I enter into childishness.
Or I can choose to leave my childish ways aside and say, I can't understand this.
I don't know the answers.
And I am, there's much pain in my life.
There's pain in my heart.
I need to know why, why, why?
There's a different way to go about it too.
When you're childish, there is a tendency to have a sense of entitlement.
The second thing about being childish is you're self-focused.
You think about yourself way more than anyone else.
I've said this before.
Can you walk into a room and only be aware of others?
Oh, that would be, actually that would be the definition of humility if you can do that.
If you can walk into a room filled with people and you're so forgetful about yourself, that is humility.
Humility is self-forgetfulness.
It is when you're in the room, you're only thinking about everything, everyone else.
Because in your mind, your spot is not at the top.
Your spot is at the bottom.
I heard this some time ago.
In the kingdom, this kingdom is the only kingdom where when you need things, you don't reach higher, you go lower.
I loved it.
This is the only kingdom where when you need things from him, you don't reach higher to grab it.
You go lower to possess it.
Because the one who went before you and the one who you're following, he is one who is so humble
that he laid down everything, his divine form to take up the form of a man.
And you and I can't access those very things until I decide that I will become the least in the room,
that I will become the least in my family, that I will become the least wherever I go for the sake of his kingdom and for the sake of his people.
And so having a child, having the childish sense of I deserve all of this.
And if I don't get it, I'm going to react this way like a child.
It'll keep you from spiritual maturity.
And if you're self-focused, everywhere you go, you're thinking about me, me, me, me.
I have to catch myself with this.
This is one thing that I've, you know, I think about it so much that I should be practicing this better.
But it's hard sometimes, man, when you're in a room.
It's hard to be absolutely forgetful of yourself.
Is it possible? I know it is possible.
And I want to be, I want to be like that more and more.
It doesn't matter if it's work.
It doesn't matter if it's home, if it doesn't matter, church, wherever you are.
Can I become like Jesus, where I'm thinking about the other person more than me?
That's why Jesus on the cross, take care of my mom.
He's got the Lord of the whole earth, every sin on his shoulders.
And he's not trying to say something noble.
He's already thought about every one of us.
But somehow in his mind, he's also thinking about his mom.
Does that need to be said?
He's not trying to say something.
It's the life he has lived.
It is the life he has lived that causes him to utter those words.
Because he is not thinking of himself.
He's thinking of them.
And if you and I can become this, become a people who increasingly we are aware of others,
aware of his spirit more than we are aware of anything else.
Now, we're progressing from milk to meat.
Now, the Holy Spirit can do things with me that he has always longed to do.
He's always desired to do these things.
But I've been shut off.
I have said no, because I resisted the knowledge.
And I resisted.
This is just the way it is.
Sometimes in your thinking, you may not use these words, but you are so used to the ways that you live,
because you have accepted that that is the way you are.
And if you would allow the Holy Spirit to show you that it is not the way you are, it
is the way you've chosen to be or chosen to do, now there is possibility for that door
to open and for the Spirit of God to come and lighten it up so that you can begin to
operate differently.
This will do wonders in marriages.
This will do wonders in relationships.
This will do wonders because you're used to one way.
And it is absolutely you because this is what you've opted for every day of your life.
It's part of who you are.
But one day you decide, no, no, no, no, no.
As he's showing me this, I'm going to be different.
And he's fling wide the door for the Holy Spirit to come into this room and lighten
it up and then you begin to operate differently.
Another thing, guys, as part of this, as part of being childish is bridle your tongue.
This one organ in the body, it's got a lot of power, your tongue.
If you can master your tongue, you now have control over your destiny as well.
Your tongue.
It's amazing how we can, again, speak things that we know is in the gray.
It's not wrong.
It's in the gray.
And I'm not talking about swear words.
I'm not talking about telling bad stuff about other people.
I'm talking about there is such righteousness and right way of thinking and speaking that
the Holy Spirit has that we sometimes in some areas can separate ourselves from that
because it's OK.
It's still as Christian is as everyone else.
But if you and I begin to say, no, about this tongue, I want to speak it.
I want to speak whatever I speak to really come from you.
And if I don't have anything to speak, I would rather be silent.
I don't want to speak things for the sake of speaking things.
That's when I've seen this way too often when two people are in an argument and one person,
if they know how to respond with a soft speech, the whole situation is melted away.
Proverbs says it.
Where does it say it?
Proverbs chapter 15, verse 1 and 2.
I will read it.
Proverbs chapter 15, verses 1 and 2.
A soft answer turns away a rap, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of the fools or fools pour
out folly.
And it says in James chapter 3, verse 2.
So why am I speaking what I'm speaking?
It's out of James chapter 3, verse 2.
For we all stumble in many ways.
And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man.
Wow.
Talk about maturity.
If anyone does not stumble in the way he speaks, he is a perfect man.
If I can train myself to speak, only the things I need to speak, to speak with a soft answer
is needed, to speak directly when direct conversation is needed, but to go about it the right way.
Things will change.
So control your tongue.
Master your tongue.
Next one.
Train yourself to forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead.
I really hope the Holy Spirit will give me the words as I explained this one, because
it's so important for all of us.
I'll repeat it.
Train yourself to forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead.
Where am I getting that from?
Philippians chapter 3, verses 13 to 15.
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do, I forget what is behind me and I strain toward what is ahead.
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in
Christ Jesus.
Forgetting the things from your past that tries to pull you down.
What are the things, even as you hear this, things that happened in your past, things
that you did or things that others did to you.
Things that were spoken about you.
Your parents treating you a certain way.
Your siblings treating you a certain way.
Things you thought you had, but then stuff happened and you lost it.
If you ask yourself, have you forgiven?
You'll say, yeah, I've forgiven.
But deep down in the corners of your heart, there are things that still pull you back.
And everything that the Father has for us cries out loud.
Would you please, please forget the things that are behind you?
Would you please look ahead at what I have for you and strive to get there?
Would you please?
Let me ask you a question.
Who or what do you need to release?
Who or what do you need to release from malice, from anger, from resentment, hurt, mistakes,
bitterness?
Who or what do you need to release from malice, anger, resentment, hurt, bitterness, mistakes?
Sometimes, and this is important, because you see this in sometimes how we think, there
are things that happened and every time God wants to do something, you fall back on what
happened and you say, well, because it happened, I have to be this way.
Let me put a different two words on it.
And it's going to sound rash, but it's important, victim mentality.
When I use these words, I have to be careful because I'm never saying that the stuff that
happened to you is okay.
Please understand, it's a big difference.
The stuff that may have happened to you is wrong, but to dwell in it is wrong.
You can get beyond it if you choose to.
To accept that what happened happened and you have to deal with it.
It's not forgetting, I won't ever think about it.
No, you have to deal with it and you have to deal with it the right way and use people
around you if you need help so that you can deal with those things the right way.
But you've got to then at one point decide, this does not have power over me.
This does not have any more control over me.
I've seen, and that's why I'm saying this, I've seen people when words that the father
has for them is released, but immediately their mind somehow goes back to the same bad
thing that happened to them.
It's so sad because that really happened.
It really happened.
It really messed up that person's life, but somehow the devil has built a stronghold
all around it.
And it is a stronghold because they default back to that place.
And so every attempt to pull them out of it with things that the father has for them today,
it almost seems an impossible task because they would rather cling on to what happened.
They would rather cling on to what was told, what was said, what was done.
And it's so difficult then.
Can we become a people who will not allow things from our past to pull us back?
And one person's measure of what happened to them could be very different from someone
else.
And your story is your story.
I'm not saying that it does not matter, and that's important because the Holy Spirit
will never say that it doesn't matter.
The Holy Spirit will bind up your broken heart.
But as soon as he binds it up, he'll say like he did with, like the father did with Moses,
like he didn't get in.
At one point, you've got to move on.
At one point, you've got to say enough is enough.
I'm not going to dwell.
I'm not going to pitch my tent here.
Because if you pitch your tent in what was done to you, you can't break loose into the
new things God has for you.
Do not pitch your tent in the past.
One way to get out of that place is to use words.
Use words to yourself to say, yes, yes, that happened.
But I will not remain in that place.
Start with that.
Then move it, move from that place to talking to Anile and talking to Betty and saying,
this is such a stronghold in my life and it has prevented me all this while.
But now I come because now I have professed and have declared that this cannot have an
effect on me and I resist to be pulled back by this.
Now I need you guys to hear this because I am committing that I'm choosing a different
way of living whereby I'm not going to give anything from my past the power to pull me
back and I want you Anile, I want you Betty to listen to me.
Now you've spoken it to two other people.
You don't know the power of words.
It's not that they pull you towards your future.
No, no, no.
This is what you believe because what you believe you proclaim.
So if you never proclaim these things, maybe you haven't believed it right.
Because if you really believe it, the words will come out and you won't hesitate saying
it either.
I have five or 10 minutes.
So next one, embrace correction and teaching to come to a place of maturity.
Embrace correction and teaching to come to a place of maturity.
Colossians chapter one, verse 28.
He is the one we proclaim admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom so that
we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.
Much loud children as we are used to saying here, very teachable.
Much loud children are very teachable because you know the heart of your father.
And if you know the heart of your father, you will go about receiving correction either
directly from him or through his people very differently.
This is why there are equipers in the body.
Let's read it.
Ephesians chapter four, verse 13.
Every time I say let's read it, we don't have time for you to read it.
So just listen to me please.
Ephesians chapter four, verse 13.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to
equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ until we
all attain the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God to mature manhood.
So for me to be spiritually mature, for you to be spiritually mature, we have to be connected
with the equipers in the body.
If I choose to separate myself, to distance myself, to disconnect myself from the equipers
that the Holy Spirit has placed in the body, then I am choosing not to be mature.
And I like it when the Holy Spirit reminds you, tells you, teaches you, hey, this is
wrong.
I have so many examples where he corrects me, where he corrects you, I'm sure.
But can I hear it and change?
I remember this, I remember this, some time ago, I can't tell you the place, but I'm
sitting somewhere and it's a presentation and I'm in a place where I don't belong.
And I'm sitting there and there is someone, you know, sometimes when you go, and this
is not church related, sometimes when you go for events and stuff like that and you
to speak, it's great, you like it, you enjoy it.
And I remember sitting at this place, it's a big, huge auditorium, and there is someone
who is ahead of me and he is presenting.
And I'm sitting there literally with the leg on my leg.
And I'm the guy who's supposed to go next.
And in my mind, and the guy who is doing this is my age, most of the guys there are much
older, but the guy who is just ahead of me, he is my age.
And I distinctly remember, leg on my leg, my arm like this, and I'm like, this dude,
man, he doesn't need to use a paper, he can just speak.
That's the thought in my mind.
He doesn't need to use a paper to speak, he can just speak.
Why is he like this?
Why is it that he's making a big deal of it?
He should be doing this better, it's not good enough.
Such a setting, man.
You're using a paper for such a setting like this?
Pretty bad.
All of these thoughts go through your mind, it did for me, in a matter of five seconds.
And now it's my turn.
I go up, and for the first time in my life, in a setting like that, I falter.
I didn't have any sheets, because I'm better, because I want to be better, and I falter.
And I sink so deep that I come back and I sit on that chair, and I'm like, oh, I know
exactly what happened.
Derek, you were so...
Everything that you shouldn't have, you did.
And it all happened in a span of five, six seconds, guys.
So when it happened, I obviously realized what had happened.
And I remember going to the father and saying, I messed up big time.
You gave me an opportunity, and you put me in a place where I don't belong.
And as soon as I was there, I took on a form that wasn't mine to ever have.
And I started, I got my leg on my leg, armchair, and I'm looking, literally grading people
for what they're doing.
And then I am up there, and I feel like bad.
But as soon as that happened, it was very difficult for me when it happened.
As soon as it happened, there was also this other thing, that learn.
Learn from this.
Never again.
And so what?
Since then, every time or every place I go, there is this big realization, Derek, never
get ahead of yourself.
Derek, learn humility, learn how to think, learn self-forgetfulness, learn understanding.
Because some of the things that are said in the Bible is not just for the church.
It is to be applied outside of the church too.
And so why am I sharing this?
It's deep for me.
It's inside me.
This is a big lesson, because you don't know how bad it felt.
Only I know.
It felt super bad.
But I come out of that, and I'm a better man for that.
Because I will not, by the help of the Holy Spirit, make the same mistake ever again.
What is the point?
Be teachable.
Because if I use that and say, well, that was something else, don't worry, then I'm
not teachable.
The Holy Spirit can't teach me anymore.
I've shut that door to him.
Sometimes he gets your attention by having you do things and then recognize, oops, what
did I just do?
But once you get a handle of, I made a mistake, Aba, can you teach me?
I'm willing to change.
Then everything changes.
The next two things, I'm not going to explain this.
You can write it down because we don't have time.
Being unskilled in the word of righteousness leads to immaturity and dullness of hearing.
Yes, being unskilled in the word of righteousness, meaning the word, leads to immaturity and
dullness of hearing.
And a scriptural reference for that would be Hebrews 5, 13 and 14.
Hebrews 5, 13 and 14.
Yeah.
I have a couple of slides here for you that I want you to, you can take a picture or ask
Brandon later.
Brandon, if you can bring it up.
Here are some questions for you to ask yourself.
We won't go through them today, but you can, if you're serious about this, you can take
the time to think through it.
Questions to think of.
This has been used at Axe 29 and before.
Are you known as someone who models love as a prime value?
Are you someone who models love as a prime value?
Are you demonstrating high levels of grace and kindness in your response?
This is when people treat you bad.
One thing about maturity guys is that when everything is sunshine, it's easy to be mature.
When things are difficult and things are going hard, that is when your maturity is tested.
So when it's difficult, are you demonstrating high levels of grace and kindness in your
response?
Using your temperament and personality, are you able to exert the fruit of self control?
Are you sincere, deeply to yourself and honest about learning?
Next please.
Thanks Aaron.
You're taking everyone's time away.
Just kidding.
Go for it, bro.
Next one.
Are you able to move beyond your own frustration to deliver God's work over?
Sometimes you are frustrated with what's happening to you that you find yourself at a place where
you don't want to receive anything for anyone anymore.
And it prevents the father from using you for someone else's sake.
Number six.
Do you move in the opposite spirit to what comes against you on a spiritual or human
level?
There's a person who always does this.
Can you recognize?
And if they are trying to be harsh to you, can you move in an opposite spirit?
What does that mean?
They're harsh to you.
You're gentle to them.
And if you can, if you can allow God to show you these things in your life, it begins to
change quickly.
Do you bounce back quickly after attack?
Really important.
Happened with Elijah.
How much time do you need to bounce back after something happened?
Can you be trusted?
Do you do things well without accountability being imposed from above?
Next slide please.
Do you react to events and people instead of responding to God?
This is an important one.
When things happen, you would rather talk about it to someone else before you talk to
the father.
When things happen, you would rather first talk to someone.
I need to talk to someone.
I need to get this out of my system.
I need to share this with someone before you talk to the father.
A mature son or a daughter would run to the father and say, hey, here's what happened.
I need help.
And then you can share with others as you need to.
Do you have a strategy for difficult people in situations that you're placed to deal with?
You must have a strategy for the same stuff that every time you know pulls you back.
You must have a strategy from the Spirit of God to go and attack it and say, you were
successful in doing this to me.
Not anymore.
Do you come up with platitudes and repetitions?
I talked about this already.
Do you inspire or encourage and nudge people to a place of rest from their problems?
When people come and share stuff with you, is your immediate reaction, what do you have
about that I can give?
Or is it anything else?
And the last set.
Do you withhold love, acceptance, or approval?
You know when that matters more?
When the person you think doesn't deserve it.
You have to see these questions in that light.
Why would I withhold anything good to sin?
No.
But if sin begins to treat me bad, can I do this?
That's the question.
When someone is dealing with you wrong, can you still do it?
Do you habitually see the negative or problems before you see the positive?
Can you see the first and second image that God wants to show people, show about people
in situations?
This one is important because if you can't see the second image that the father is showing
you about someone, then you can have the best discernment there is, but you can't be useful
to God.
You have to see what's happening and then you have to also see what the father is showing
you about the person.
Because sometimes the father shows you what's happening today in them or with them, with
the situation.
You know it, but you're so caught up in what has been shown that you resist wanting to
hear the second picture that the father wants to show about the person or the situation.
And the last one, is rejection still a strong influence on your personality?
If you want these slides, ask Brandon.
He can send it to you or ask me, I can send it to you.
But I would highly encourage that you spend time thinking about it.
So Aba, we come to you.
We thank you.
Thank you that you're having us move from one place of maturity to another.
And as Remy was saying before, all these weeks Aba, you're taking us somewhere where you
want us to go.
We want to follow you into those things.
So Spirit of God, we want to be a people who are led by you.
We want to be a people who leave our childish ways.
Open my eyes and our eyes to things that you want us to see where we've gotten so used
to our ways of living that we are resisting you in those areas.
We don't want to be like that, Holy Spirit.
Help us to choose differently.
Help us to refuse to use repetitions and platitudes, but help us to now cling on to the new things
you're showing us.
This I ask for all of us.
In Jesus name, Amen.
Cool guys.
Are there going to be people?
So if you need prayer, come up.
There will be someone to pray with you.