3 Marks Of A True Believer - Christian Hope Church Home

Message for THE LORD’S DAY EVENING, August 4, 2012Christian Hope Church of Christ, Plymouth, North Carolinaby Reggie A. Braziel, Minister3 Marks of A Mature Believer(James 1:2-4; 3:2; 4:1-6 NKJV)I N T R O D U C T I O NPlease open your Bibles to the Book of James . We’ll be getting toour scripture text in a few moments.In tonight’s message we are going to be considering “3 Marks Of AMature Believer.”The dictionary defines “mature” as “being complete in naturalgrowth or development;” or “to be completed or perfected.”I L L U S T R A T I O NI’m sure you have all probably seen those “Cheez-it” commercialson TV. The commercial begins like this……..“At Cheez-It, we expect a lot from our cheese. That’s why we MATURE ourcheese before we bake it into every delicious cracker. At Cheez-it, REALCHEESE MATTERS.”And then the commercial shifts to an INSPECTION ROOM where a cheeseinspector inspects a big block of cheese to see if it has MATURED enough to beused in Cheez-It crackers. During the inspection the BIG BLOCK OF CHEESEengages in some immature antics like REPEATING EVERY WORD THEINSPECTOR says or TELLING KNOCK KNOCK JOKES or TAPING A SIGNON THE INSPECTOR’S BACK that reads: “KICK ME!”Realizing the BLOCK OF CHEESE hasn’t matured enough to be used inCHEEZ-IT CRACKERS, the inspector checks “NOT READY” on his evaluationsheet.But then in the next scene, the inspector comes back and the block of cheeseno longer displays the immature, childish antics he displayed earlier. Theblock of cheese acts “more grown up and mature” and the inspector checks“READY” on his evaluation sheet.

GROWING UP and MATURING SPIRITUALLY is not an option with GOD!In fact it is GOD’S WILL that each and everyone of us MATURE in orderto become more like Jesus Christ.Hebrews 6:1 in the New Living Translation says it this way: So let us stopgoing over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on insteadand become mature in our understanding.How Can I Know If I Am “A Mature Believer?”Some try to determine their spiritual maturity by comparingthemselves with other Christians.GALATIANS 6:4 in the Simple English Bible says, “A person shouldnot compare himself with someone else. Each person should judgehis own actions.”Some try to determine their spiritual maturity by the number of years theyhave been a Christian. Just because someone has been a Christian fortwenty…..thirty…..forty years or more doesn’t necessarily mean he or sheis “a mature” Christian.The apostle Paul addressed this issue very clearly in I Corinthians 3:1-3:1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (NKJV)1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as tocarnal, as to babes in Christ.2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were notable to receive it, and even now you are still not able;3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisionsamong you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?Well , if one cannot determine one’s spiritual maturity by comparinghimself to others. And if one cannot determine spiritual maturity by thenumber of years one has been a Christian. Then just how does onedetermine spiritual maturity?There is only one way…….one accurate measurement……and that isthe WORD OF GOD.

The Book of James in the New Testament talks a lot about “spiritualmaturity.” In fact the word “mature” appears five times in the Bookof James.For the remainder of the message I would like for us to turn in ourBibles to the Book of James and focus on “3 Marks of A MatureBeliever.”First of all,I. A Mature Believer ENDURES Trials PATIENTLYJames 1:2-4 (NKJV) My brethren, count it all joy when youfall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete,lacking nothing.1. That command in verse 2 may be one of the hardest commandsin the New Testament.“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”2. James is NOT saying that our trials themselves are joyful.He is not saying trials are fun or trials are pleasurable.What he is saying is “Joy in trials comes from knowing theoutcome will be good.”3. The “joy” comes in knowing that when we go through trialsGod is not trying to defeat us or destroy us, but that He istrying to conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.The “joy” comes in knowing that God will waste no circumstance……no adversity…….no sickness…..no failure….no trouble…..no loss in achieving that divine end, to conform us tothe image of Christ.

ILLUSTRATION: With the development of the modern-day DIGITALCAMERAS we have almost forgotten how pictures usedto be developed.They used what was called “DARK ROOMS.” The dark room was equippedwith a 15-watt red light bulb that allowed just enough light in the room forthe person to see what they were doing.In order to develop the film the film had to unloaded from the camerawithout any exposure to light. Then the film had to be soaked ina pan of developing chemicals. Once the film was developed, eachpicture had to be hung on a string or wire line to dry. After dryingthe film would then be put on photograph paper.All those processes required a whole lot of patience, but the end resultrevealed a beautiful picture.4. Think of trials as “God’s darkroom.” Think of your times ofsickness or pain or trouble or grief or heartache as the“developing fluids.”While you are in the midst of your trials you can’t see thepicture. But once the trial is completed the true picturebegins to appear. It is a picture of you and yet you beara stronger resemblance to Christ.5. How you and I respond to our times of trial in life revealsa lot about our spiritual maturity.How do you react to problems? Do you PANIC or do youPRAY? Do you GRIPE and COMPLAIN or do you PRAISEGOD? Do you get all NERVOUS and UPTIGHT or do youhave “the calm peace that passes all understanding?”6. A mature believer endures trials patiently!

II.A Mature Believer Carefully GUARDS His TONGUEJames 3:2 (NKJV) For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does notstumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.1. Notice that phrase, “If anyone does not stumble in word,he is a perfect man.” The greek word for “perfect” in thisverse doesn’t mean sinless, but rather it means MATURE.“If anyone does not stumble in word, he is aMATURE man.”If there was such a thing as a “Foot In The Mouth Club” wewould all be honorary members.If police gave out tickets for “Failure To Yield the Right of Wayto Keep Our Mouth Shut” we would spend half our life inDistrict Court.None of us can ever become completely sinless with regardsto our tongue, but we can become more and more maturein governing our tongue.2. Have you ever noticed when you go to the doctor for anexamination one of the first things the doctor has you do isstick out your tongue. The tongue reveals a lot aboutyour overall health.3. Likewise, the tongue reveals a whole lot about your overallspiritual health as well.Jesus tells us in Matthew 12:34 (NKJV) “For out ofthe abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”In other words what comes out of here (point to mouth)springs forth from the well that is in here. (point to heart)BITTER WORDS come from a BITTER HEART.PERVERSE WORDS come from a PERVERSE HEART.HATEFUL WORDS come from a HATEFUL HEART.ABUSIVE WORDS come from an ABUSIVE HEART.

But likewise……………..KIND WORDS come from a KIND HEART.TENDER WORDS come from a TENDER HEART.LOVING WORDS come from a LOVING HEART.FORGIVING WORDS come from a FORGIVING HEART.The words that come out of here (point to mouth again)spring forth from the well that is in here. (point to heart again)4. Our mouth reveals a whole lot about our level of spiritualmaturity.James 1:26 (NKJV) “If anyone among you thinks heis religious, and does not bridle his tongue butdeceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.”Wow, that’s a pretty strong statement isn’t it? No matter howreligious we think we are. No matter how religious we mayappear to be to others, our mouth will reveal the truth.5. There’s not a one of us here who hasn’t sinned with ourtongue in one way or another is there? NOT ONE OF US!But the question is this: “Have I matured?” “Have I gottenbetter about exercising self-control over my tongue?” ““Is there visible evidence to myself and others that I havematured in matters of my tongue?”-Do I still gossip and spread rumors?-Do I still criticize people and make judgmentalremarks?-Do I still speak impulsively and say the first thingthat comes to mind?-Do I still exaggerate the truth or say things I knoware not true?-Do I still use profanity in my everyday speech?Do I speak as a “spiritually mature grown up” or “aspiritually immature child?”

MARK #1: A Mature Believer ENDURES Trials PATIENTLYMARK #2:A Mature Believer Carefully GUARDS His TONGUENow here’s MARK #3.……………………….III. A Mature Believer is a PEACE MAKER Not A TROUBLE-MAKERJames 4:1-4 (NKJV) Where do wars and fights come from among you? Dothey not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight andwar. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive,because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. Adulterersand adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity withGod? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself anenemy of God.1. The Lord has made it very clear in His word that He desiresunity, peace and harmony to prevail in His Church. Satan realizesthis and therefore does everything he possibly can to work on theminds and hearts of some members of the Church to disrupt ordestroy the unity and peace.2. Now I assure you I am not addressing any issues in this Churchthat I am aware of. Consider this “preventative maintenance.”3. As a hypothetical, let’s just suppose there was a troublemakerin this Church. How would identify them?Jesus says in Matthew 7:20 (NKJV) “Therefore by theirfruits you will know them.”4. The apostle Paul gives us some more specific details aboutthese “fruits” in Romans 16:17-18Turn over to that passage and let’s read it together.(Romans 16:17,18 text on next page)

Romans 16:17,18 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who causedivisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, andavoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ,but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive thehearts of the simple.Paul is revealing two characteristics, two “fruits” of every Churchtroublemaker.First of all…………(A) A Church trouble maker is DIVISIVE17a “Note those who cause divisions and offenses, contraryto the doctrine which you learned……AND DO WHAT?AND AVOID THEM!That word “divisions” means “to splinter.” A troublemaker’sgoal is to “splinter” or “divide” the ranks within the Church.That word“offences” means “to lay a trap or to lure someoneinto a snare.” It is from this word we get our English word“scandal.”A troublemaker twists God’s word. A trouble maker oftenmisuses and mishandles God’s word to portray themselvesas “the defender of what is right” when in reality theyare only using the Bible to mask their selfish motivesand hidden agenda.That brings us to the second characteristic of a Church troublemaker.

(B) A Church trouble maker is DECEPTIVEv.18b by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of thesimple.Church trouble makers often have a way with words. They cancome across as very sincere, humble, soft-spoken individuals whoseem to be genuinely concerned for the welfare of the Church.concerned for the Church. But in reality they are “wolves insheep’s clothing.”Church trouble makers almost always operate “under theradar.” In other words they do their evil deeds in private onthe telephone or behind closed doors. And once they areconfident they have gained support for their selfish causethey become more emboldened and bring their trouble out intothe open hoping to gain even more support.ILLUSTRATION: Years ago a fellow minister friend of mine didsomething I have never forgotten. A man who had causedtrouble in his Church for years got upset and left theChurch and started attending services at the Church whereI was ministering.When my minister friend learned about it, he didn’t call me,he came to my office and warned me “face to face” aboutthis man. He said, “He’s a snake-in-the grass” and youbetter keep a close eye on him. I was grateful for thatpreacher’s honesty.Well in spite of our best efforts to keep a close eye on thetroublemaker, in no time at all he was working his“divisive and deceptive” schemes behind the scenes andeventually Satan used this man to help destroy the unity in our Church.I have to ask you………..Are you a peace maker or a trouble maker?Are you more concerned about what THE LORD wants forthis Church or what you personally want?Do you have ill feelings toward someone in this Church?Are you mad at the preacher? Do you have an axe to grind?A MATURE BELIEVER IS A PEACE MAKER NOT TROUBLEMAKERS!

C O N C L U S I O NIn closing I want to share with you something Philip Yancey saidabout spiritual maturity in his book, Disappointment With God.Human beings grow by striving, working, stretching; and in a sense, humannature needs problems more than solutions. Why are not all prayersanswered magically and instantly? Why must every convert travel the sametedious path of spiritual discipline? Because persistent prayer, and fasting,and study, and meditation are designed primarily for our sakes, not forGod's. Kierkegaard said that Christians reminded him of schoolboys whowant to look up the answers to their math problems in the back of the bookrather than work them through...We yearn for shortcuts. But shortcutsusually lead away from growth, not toward it. Apply the principle directly toJob: what was the final result of the testing he went through? As RabbiAbraham Heschel observed, "Faith like Job's cannot be shaken because it isthe result of having been shaken."Philip Yancey, Disappointment With God, Zondervan, pp. 207-8.As we leave this place this evening, the challenge beforeall of us is this…….Let us grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord JesusChrist! Let us press on toward spiritual maturity!