5 Signs You Are a Mature Christian

I received this list from episode 822 on wretchedradio.com. All other commentary is mine. Hope this helps your walk in your faith!

1. A mature believer has an appetite for meat.
The mature Christian has stopped drinking milk as a source of nourishment. (Hebrews 5:13). He is never comfortable in his/her faith and always desires to grow more spiritually even if it is slowly. (2 Peter 3:18) The mature Christians enjoys dissecting a verse word by word and loves to hear and read the Word. The meat-eating Christian no longer harbors jealousy, quarrels or finds his identity in anything of this world, but he/she has put those things away and has an identity that is found in Christ (I Corinthians 3:2-3; Galatians 2:20) A mature Christian knows how to defend his faith not just by the way he/she lives, but because he/she has studied God's Word profoundly (2 Timothy 2:15) He also knows to rely on the Holy Spirit when preaching, interpreting and/or teaching. (I Corinthians 2:13)




2. It is seldom that a mature believer feels offended.

Mature Christians aren't easily offended. If you call them a sinner, they know it and would probably say "and some." When someone sins against a mature Christian, that Christian's first instinct is to figure out how they can respond to the person that is offensive in a way to communicate Jesus' love for them. Paul tells us that there is no more condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) and a mature Christian understands that, and doesn't worry about what man does to him or says about him. (Hebrews 13:6; Psalm 118:6; Luke 12:5) This Christian turns to prayer when they are emotionally or verbally hurt by another, not  resorting to the same behavior as the offender. (Psalm 109:4)  And most importantly a mature Christian understands that offenses can be used for the glory of God to expose their own weaknesses providing the Christian a way to rest in God's power (2 Corinthians 12:9) and turn something man used for evil and use it for good (Genesis 50:20)

3. A mature Christian has a conscience informed by scripture, not opinions.
The mature Christian bases his opinions and advice on scripture. He exhorts in love (I Thessalonians 5:11) and in order (I Corinthians 14:40), not ruled by his bias, feelings or emotions. When he/she needs to make a decision, they turn first to prayer or scripture. Decision-making prayer is usually lead to scripture by the Holy Spirit (John 14:26). This is why the mature Christian understands the importance of Scripture memorization. (2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 119:11)

4. A mature Christian is humbly surprised when God uses him/her in ministry. 
A mature Christian understands that nothing they do or say is of themselves.(Jeremiah 9:23) They are honestly surprised if anything turns out right in their ministry. They know that they are faulty and sinful and dispensable and without the guidance of the Holy Spirit everything they would do, would be a "hot mess" (Isaiah 64:6). They draw their strength not from will power but from God who is their strength. (Isaiah 41:30) A mature Christian doesn't solely depend on odds, statistics, trends or numbers; but trusts that God will use even a broken man/woman for His glory. (Psalm 20:7) And the mature Christian understands that God loves using the underdog, the weak, the lowly, and the foolish things of this world in original and unique ways.( I Corinthians 1:27) (See also the life of Moses, Jesus, Gideon, Jacob, Hagar, children, the tiny mustard seed, the Samaritan woman, the leper, the tax-collector, fishermen, and the list goes on and on and praise the Lord it includes sinners like us!)

5. A tendency to give credit for spiritual growth to God, not people. 
This sign goes along with the previous sign.

You get it. You understand that you are holier now than you were a year ago not because of anything you did, but because of God working in you. You are less sinful, less agitated and more holy not because of some medicine your taking or some twelve step program, but because God is working in you.(I Thessalonians 4:1-12) And you understand that you are a work in progress. (Philippians 1:6) This makes you love the Gospel even more, because while you are still a sinner, Jesus still chose to die for you! (Romans 5:8) And because you understand the incredible show of love of God through Jesus' death on the cross, you never get tired of hearing the Gospel. (John 3:16) The mature Christian knows that without God in his/her life, they would be unrecognizable. (Romans 12:2, Galatians 2:20)


Blessings,


Anna

How not to pray

I saw this today in a clip on Wretched Radio Clip. I couldn't help but laugh a bit because I know that I have prayed like this several times. I think the people at Acts 17 really helped in identifying some of prayer time traditions. They also did a great job in helping us see that a lot times we pray with our own biases and not according how God's Word says we should pray like. 

How Not to Pray - adapted by Wretched Radio

1. The Gossip
           Lord, please forgive Larry here for cheating on his lovely wife, she must be heartbroken

2. The Theologian
          Lord, you are immutable, omniscient, triune . . .

3. The Bore
          Lord, I just pray for my stamp collection. Please help me find my lost  . . .

4. The Lecturer
         Lord, forgive this congregation for failing to meet the offering budget again.

5. The Sons of Thunder
         Lord, smite that woman who cut me off on the way here with your scorching rebuke

6. The KJV Only Prayerer
         We beseech Thee in Thine tabernacle to forgiveth the bowels of our iniquity

7. Praying Without Ceasing
         You don't want this guy praying before dinner!

8. The Satanist
          Satan, I take authority over you and bind you

9. Reverse Humility Guy
           Lord, thank You for not letting me get too puffed up about being so good looking.

10. The Accuser of our Brethren
           Lord, forgive the leaders of our church for their laziness and ignorance

11. The Announcement Prayer
           Lord please be with our next Sunday potluck which will be held at the Anderson home at 3744 Ridgewood Way. That little cap cod house with the blue trimming. And please let all those with last names beginning with A-L remember that they bring a main dish and those beginning with K-Z remember to bring a side dish.

There are more types of prayerers at the Acts 17 website.

Are you really a Christian Examination

This is a list I got from one of the clips from wretched radio program. Click on the link for other great studies and commentary on Christianity, doctrine and religious information. 


If you are not sure that you are a true repentant Christian, sealed by the blood of Jesus and bound for Glory, then click on the link above and on the right hand side there is a clip called "Are you really a Christian?". Click there for a good spiritual shake up!


Here is the questionnaire to examine yourself if you are truly a Christian. Next to the questions is a reference verse to look up and know where they got the question they are asking.


The Bible says:
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? ~ 2 Corinthians 13:5-6


1. Do you like hanging out with Christians. (1 John 1:3) - Or do real Christians get on your nerves.


2. Do you recognize that you have an abominable heart. If anyone knew what was in your heart you would feel shame. You know that you are wretch. (1 John 1:8)  - Knowledge that you are undeserving helps you rely on Jesus not on your own actions. You don't get to Heaven because you are good, you get to Heaven because you are bad and have a good Savior!


3. Do you strive to keep the ten commandments. (1 John 2:3)


4. Do you love the world? If the world would end, would you be sad? (1 John 2:15) - What identifies you? What do you enjoy more than Jesus?


5. Do you know who Jesus is? (I John 2:23)


6. Can you wait to see God? Are you anxious to be with Him in Heaven? (I John 3:2) - You are not anxious to go to Heaven because you are tired of this world, but because  you are excited to be with your Savior.


7. Are you continuously sinning? It's not about perfection, but it is about direction. We should be holier than we were last year. Ask your family. Is there a difference? Is change (regeneration) happening? (I John 3:8)


8. Do we dote on our Christian brothers and sisters? (I John 3:14) - Do you help out other Christians in need?


9. Do you love to hear preaching, teaching and hearing the Word? Can you just not get enough of it!?
 (I John 4:16)


10. Do you proclaim Jesus Christ? Do you do it intentionally? (I John 4:15) Do you share your faith with others? Does the fact that many people are going to Hell move you to tell others of Jesus' salvation?


How did you do? Let the Holy Spirit guide you into what you need God to help you in. Talk with your pastor or a spiritually mature Christian to walk through some struggling points with you.


Many might look at this test and say that it is legalistic or it is emphasizing salvation through works. It is not. You can tell what a tree is by its fruit. The same is with a Christian. If a Christian walks like a heathen, talks like a heathen, dresses like a heathen and is very happy being a heathen, then he's not a Christian. Jesus in Matthew 25 separates the sheep from the goats based on what they DID. James tells us that faith without works is dead. The apostles and many Christian brothers and sisters were not martyred because they did nothing, but because they were doing something! 


It is true that you are not saved by works, but you are so grateful to Jesus for choosing you that you can't help but to work.


Blessings,
Anna