Developing Spiritual Maturity

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Developing Spiritual Maturity

• Sermon Two
• Hearing Him

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This Series

• The point is to remind us that our relationship
  with Jesus is enhanced when we invest in that
  relationship.

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Measuring Growth

• They are the habits that influence our time, our
  money, and our relationships. If Christs
  lordship is recognized over these three areas of
  life, then he will truly be in control. 
• I believe there are five measurements of
  spiritual growth knowledge, perspective,
  conviction, skills, and character.

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Showing Our Love

• Today we look at loving God through taking the
  time to hear what He has to say and internalizing
  His message.

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M and Ms

• Memorization
• Meditation

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Heart and Mind

• This is the covenant I will make with the house
  of Israel after that time, declares the LORD, "I
  will put my law in their minds and write it on
  their hearts. I will be their God, and they will
  be my people.
• Jeremiah 3133 quoted in Hebrews 810 on Page
  1870.

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Its In There!?

• You likely have more passages memorized, or
  partly memorized, than you realize.
• Many of the church songs are also passages from
  the Bible, lots of contemporary Christian music
  puts Gods word to music, and passages that you
  have heard over and over are more in there than
  you might think.

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How Memorization Helps

• 1. It Helps Me Resist Temptation.
• I have hidden your word in my heart that I might
  not sin against you. Psalm 11911
• Jesus sets the example of the use of memorized
  scripture in Matthew 41-11

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How Memorization Helps

• 2. It Helps Me Make Wise Decisions.
• Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my
  path. Psalm 119105
• 3. It Strengthens Me During Stress.
• My comfort in my suffering is this Your promise
  preserves my life. Psalm 11950

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How Memorization Helps

• 4. It Comforts Me When I Am Sad.
• When your words came, I ate them they were my
  joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name,
  O LORD God Almighty. Jeremiah 1516
• My soul is weary with sorrow strengthen me
  according to your word. Psalm 11928

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How Memorization Helps

• 5. It Helps Me Witness to Unbelievers.
• But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.
  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone
  who asks you to give the reason for the hope that
  you have. But do this with gentleness and
  respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that
  those who speak maliciously against your good
  behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their
  slander. 1 Peter 315-16

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When?

• During your Quiet Time, While Exercising, While
  Waiting (spare moments), At Bedtime (Psalm 636
  On my bed I remember you I think of you through
  the watches of the night.).

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How?

• 1. Pick a verse that speaks to you.
• 2. Say the reference before and after the verse.
• 3. Read the verse aloud many times. Record it!
• 4. Break the verse into natural phrases.
• 5. Emphasize key words when quoting the verse.
• 6. Write down the verse and erase a word one at
  a time.

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How?

• 7. Write out the verse on a flash card or in the
  notes section of your phone!
• 8. Carry some cards with you for review or use
  your phone!
• 9. Display your verses in prominent places.
• 10. Write the verse on your heart and then work
  towards saying it word perfect.
• 11. Use music! Put the verse to music or enjoy
  the work of someone else.
• 12. Get a partner so you can check each other.

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Its A Battle!

• We remember what is important to us and Satan
  wants to steal Gods word from your heart.
• You are in a spiritual battle and Satan does not
  like you to gather weapons that can be used to
  defeat him.

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NOTE

• A Quote is Book, Chapter, and Verse with Correct
  Wording!
• A Reference is More Generic.
• Better Yet Look It Up and Read It Together!

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Meditation

• Meditation is a skill that you already have but
  you likely use it to worry!
• Meditation is the souls chewing!

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Psalm 11-3

• Blessed is the man who does not walk in the
  counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of
  sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his
  delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law
  he meditates day and night. He is like a tree
  planted by streams of water, which yields its
  fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.
  Whatever he does prospers.

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3 Reasons To Meditate

• 1. It is a key to Becoming Like Christ.
• Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus
  did. 1 John 26
• Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this
  world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
  mind. Then you will be able to test and approve
  what God's will is--his good, pleasing and
  perfect will. Romans 122
• And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the
  Lord's glory, are being transformed into his
  likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes
  from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians
  318

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3 Reasons to Meditate

• 2. It is a key to Answered Prayer.
• If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
  ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.
  John 157

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3 Reasons to Meditate

• 3. It is a key to Successful Living.
• This is the promise given to Joshua Do not let
  this Book of the Law depart from your mouth
  meditate on it day and night, so that you may be
  careful to do everything written in it. Then you
  will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 18

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5 Tips for Meditation

1. Use repetition! Keep repeating it to yourself
   and to others.
2. Focus on emptying your mind to fill it with God.
3. Open your heart to what he has to say. What does
   God mean by this?
4. Replace worry thoughts with Gods word.
5. Pray the passage Speak to God and of God openly
   and often.

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A Growing Relationship

• It helps to read His word relationally so we know
  Him better.
• It helps our relationship when we make effort to
  remember what He has told us and we show our love
  to Him when we work at transforming our mind and
  heart by reflecting on His word.

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• This week your challenge is to pick a passage to
  memorize through repetition and meditation as an
  offering to God.

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Next Week

• Showing Our Love For Jesus Through Spending
  Quality Time With Him.