Let Us Grow Up: Stop Pointing Fingers and Give People Room
Dr RJ Sing, 24 min, Part 2 of Steps to a Supernatural Year
This is the whole service. The video opens where he begins, at 1:24.
Originally preached as “Steps to a Supernatural Year, Episode 2”
Sermon outline
Maturity is not age but the completeness of personality that comes from knowing Christ, so let us grow up, give one another room to mature, and commit together to serve, pray and love as Christ loves.
Main text
- Ephesians 4:13-16
Opening
This episode picks up the first step from Episode 1. He repeats that a quality decision keeps you from being offended, that 'let us' is plural so we cannot withdraw from the family of God, and that maturity is the full and accurate knowledge of the Son of God, measured by the standard height of Christ, not by age.
Don't call it mistakes
Parents who try to play saviour forget the mistakes they made themselves, and that in making mistakes they grew. He suggests moving away from calling them mistakes or wrong decisions, because the label puts people down and steals their self-esteem; all of us have made them.
“We forget the mistakes we made. But in making mistakes, we've grown.”
Give other people the space to mature
Church people can be quick to point fingers. Everyone is functioning at a level and from a perspective: what looks wrong to someone who has grown a little may be right in the eyes of the person still growing. Respect that, stop being so critical and allow them to grow, because the Word comes to them line by line and precept by precept.
“Let's give other people the space to mature.”
- Isaiah 28:10
Born again is not the same as mature
We have not matured simply because we were born again and came into the church; we still have to grow. As you mature and experience life, you become more humble and more understanding.
Illustration: When he was younger he was cocky and arrogant, and on the road he thought he was right even after a wrong turn; now he obeys the rules for everyone's safety. He greets the police politely when they stop him and is not offended when he is searched at the airport, though he has seen older people and professionals visibly upset.
“Maturity brings you there, that you become more understanding.”
Grow and build yourself up in love
Ephesians 4:16 in the Amplified says the whole body grows and builds itself up in love as each part does its work. There are many levels of love, and the goal is to love as Christ loves; we have not yet attained it, but we are attaining.
“We have to come to the point where we love as Christ loves.”
- Ephesians 4:16
A quality decision that includes all our fellow believers
'Let us' means we all decide to serve the Lord and pray together, because there is individual prayer but also corporate prayer. Nobody should have to push you to church: getting there is your responsibility, because the anointing rubs off from one life to another and we all need each other.
Illustration: When the singers were praising the Lord, something rubbed off on the whole church: the power and anointing of the Lord. Not everyone can play and sing like them, but everyone needs them.
“It is my responsibility to get to church because I've got to be with you.”
Putting it into practice
- Stop labelling people by their mistakes and give them room to grow.
- Don't judge others from your own level; respect where they are.
- Let maturity make you humble and understanding, on the road and at the airport.
- Take responsibility for getting yourself to church and praying with others.
- Aim to love as Christ loves.
Closing
He begins to explain the background of the book of Hebrews, and the broadcast ends mid-sentence; the thought continues in Episode 3.
In his words
- “Don't judge them from your point of view.”
- “It's wrong to me, but not wrong to them.”
- “We have not attained because we got born again.”
- “There is individual prayer, but there's corporate prayer.”
- “We cannot all play music and sing like them, but we need them.”
Every scripture in this message
- Ephesians 4:13-16
- Luke 22:42
- Philippians 3:10
- Isaiah 28:10
Faith Chronicles readings on this
Suggested messages
Also on Wisdom and Growing in God and The Church
