I have had the privilege to meet them. They are unstoppable, encouraging and outreaching… even when they have every reason to complain because of their own suffering. I think the first one I ever met was in a hospital room, many years ago, after they came from a terribly uncomfortable treatment for cancer. They had a pallor and were tinged of slight green, and were thoroughly unable to hold up even their head. Their first question, asked in a near whisper was this: “How are you Pastor? It is so good to see you today!” I was stunned. A mere paper cut earlier that morning distracted me for a full five minutes with its small but searing pain. I was in the presence of a mature believer. They had learned to draw deep from God’s well what most have only heard of – His grace and comfort in trouble. They exuded maturity in the faith that I, their Pastor, had so little of. I have had the privilege to meet many others since, along my journey.
Key Principle: Maturity can be seen in consistent habits and sincere humility.
In Romans 15:4 we’re told: “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have HOPE.” In a way, the Philippian letter offers that hope- because in it a mature believer, the Apostle Paul, had opportunity to show the same to the people he led to Christ, and now prayed for from a distance. Paul showed maturity in the he was:
Confident: Paul placed his trust in the powerful hands of his Savior rather than become a victim of his circumstances.
Phil. 1:1 “Paul and Timothy, bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
When people are in trouble, they often place confidence in what they think may work, based on advice, hear say or other ess than reliable places to put our trust. While hunting, Larry and Elmer got lost in the woods. Trying to reassure his friend, Larry said, “Don’t worry. All we have to do is shoot into the air 3 times, stay where we are, and someone will find us.” They shot in the air 3 times, but no one came. After a while, they tried again. Still no response. When they decided to try once more, Elmer said, “I hope it works this time. We’re down to our last 3 arrows.” Larry and Elmer were putting their hope in the advice of others, even though they didn’t understand that that advice didn’t apply to shooting arrows. (sermon central illustrations).
Clear: Paul knew that although he was a captive under house arrest, it was neither because he served Rome, nor because the “circumstances held him” – it was because Jesus placed him where he was. Mature believers are confident in their identity in Christ, and see the world as controlled by HIM, not walking as victims of circumstance, government or crisis. Note that Paul also seemed to know that some may exempt themselves if he did not carefully spell out that God gave him a message that ALL of them needed to heed. As we grow in Jesus, some of us mentally “check out” of the messages we here, supposing that we had outgrown the need for the elemental things. Ego resists growth. Paul in a mature and loving leadership, calls with specific clarity on each person to take notice – God wanted to say something to His church at Philippi.
Among those to whom he ministered: He later wrote in Philippians 1:6 “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Paul trusted God for himself, but also for the work.
He KNEW that God would keep growing them, because God was able. He exuded the confidence of one that had expended energy for a great purpose – not one who wondered if he had dithered away his life in vain. His ministry was Spirit-led and people-focused. It was God empowered – so it was more a matter of trust in God than worry about their ability to continue to walk well!
Consistent: Paul prayed constantly for them, with overwhelming thankfulness in my heart as he watched them grow in the Good News.
1:3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, 5 in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.
Mature believers have grown into HABITS of obedience. They are systematic and yet joyful about the system all at the same time! Paul’s simple example is that of prayer – which many believers have found to be one of the most challenging aspects of their growth. Note that he was eager, consistent and focused on the partnership with them as he prayed.
Paul has real thankfulness, because he saw God at work. Guideposts recently published: “It was a beautiful spring day, and a sense of peace stayed with me as I left the cathedral on Easter Monday morning. I paused for a moment on top of the steps leading to the avenue, now crowded with people rushing to their jobs. Sitting in her usual place inside a small archway was the old flower lady. At her feet corsages and boutonnieres were parading on top of a spread-open newspaper. The flower lady was smiling, her wrinkled old face alive with some inner joy. I started down the stairs – then, on impulse, turned and picked out a flower. As I put it in my lapel, I said, “You took happy this morning.” “Why not? Everything is good.” She was dressed so shabbily and seemed so very old that her reply startled me. “You’ve been sitting here for many years now, haven’t you? And always smiling. You wear your troubles well.”" “You can’t reach my age and not have troubles.” she replied. “Only it’s like Jesus and Good Friday. .. ’ She paused for a moment. “Yes?” I prompted. “Well. when Jesus was crucified on Good Friday, that was the worst day for the whole world. And when I get troubles I remember that. and then I think of what happened only three days later-Easter and our Lord arising. So when I get troubles, I’ve learned to wait three days … somehow everything gets all right again.” And she smiled good-bye. Her words still follow me whenever I think I have troubles. Give God a chance to help… wait three days
Connected: Paul was aware of a deep internal connection to the believers he served with joy.
1:7 For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.
God showed him His love and grace toward the people, and Paul saw well past their inadequacies and failures, and peered into God’s powerful and life changing work that was being wrought in them. Affection is sometimes personality or chemistry – but in ministry it is wrought through a vision God grants to praying partners and positive encouragers. Do we leave people feeling as though we LIKE them? Paul did – because his heart followed his knees. His prayer life fueled his personal connection.
Concerned: Paul did not simply pray some “pie in the sky” happiness over their memory, but stretched out his hands in specific concern over the people’s specific growth in truth.
1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
He was asking God to grow their discernment regarding choices. He wanted them to grow in things that were REAL and EXCELLENT, and not fall into a stupor of service to the good at the expense of the BEST. His concern did not bring despair, it brought prayer! His prayers lifted him and gave him the ability to in turn lift them with encouragement. One of the great byproducts of a praying believer is the encouragement that begins to flow from the fullness of his or her spirit. That flow shows concern without worry – love without legalism.
Content: Paul did not chafe against circumstances that God placed him into. He showed this in two ways.
1:12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, 13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, 14 and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.
- He was content about his limitations: Paul looked at how the house arrest in Rome was benefitting the Kingdom, not how it was limiting him in service. Much of our frustration is the usurpation of our ego, cloaked in holy speech. Humility is the ability to leave our interests out of the equation in the deliberate determination to see what God’s people are gaining through His good hand. Paul’s humility is evident in that his whole concern was not his temporary discomfort, but the guard’s eternal salvation! He was excited to offer inspiration through his walk to encourage a zealous boldness in others!
- He was content to let God worry about motivations in others: Paul did not feel the need to control others to get a specific result. He was content to let God be God in the lives of others as well. He said it this way:
1:15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; 16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice - Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Conflicted: Paul was attached to two worlds – the one where God had him, and the one God promised him. He learned to allow God to hold BOTH of them in His hands.
1:22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.
Mature believers have a love for Heaven, but know they are necessary in the here and now. They continue to care for the things of the Kingdom, while slowly a yearning grows inside to be with the One that gave Himself for them. That yearning grows steadily as they trust and mature – but it dare not cause them to release themselves from the full responsibility to engage NOW, for that would be a disobedience to their Master.
Cheering: Paul wanted them to be aware of God’s expectations and coming challenges – all in the context of exuding belief in them to learn faithfulness.
1:27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. 29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Look back through this chapter and you can see the maturity marks that we should see increasingly in our own lives:
- Confidence: If I have walked with God in obedience, I am not where I am because of circumstance, but because of God – so be still and watch for Him.
- Clear: He knew God was at work in spite of circumstances!
- Consistency: If I have developed through obedience the habits of maturity, God will use them to enrich and encourage the body.
- Connectedness: Mature believers attach deep internal connection to others and serve with joy.
- Concern: Maturity demands that I watch over those who follow with specific concern over their growth in truth.
- Content: I cannot chafe against circumstances that God placed me into. My limitations are not to draw in my focus. Other’s true motivations should not unsettle me. I must use what God gives me, and leave the rest to Him.
- Conflicted: As we mature we become attached to two worlds – this one and the one God promised us after. We need to place BOTH of them in His hands – grasping neither too tightly.
- Cheering: The neatest mark of maturity is seen in the careful and consistent encouragement to grow offered to those who follow behind.
Maturity can be seen in consistent habits and sincere humility.
