5 Steps To The Pursuit of God's Will. Part 2

words within the [....] are the Greek or Hebrew transliteration of the English word they follow
words within the (....) are the phonetic pronunciation of the Hebrew or Greek transliteration they follow

1. This is the life of a maturing believer. (15. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect ( tel-i-os: complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character), be thus minded....Phil. 3:15 (KJV)).

A. (5. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6. Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7. But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11. And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Phil. 2: 5-12 (KJV)).

1. One of the most important things a believer can do to work out their own salvation is to:

2. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus....From this scripture in Philippians we can see that the mindset that Jesus had was that of a servant. For us to progress into our future and possess all that God intends we must become complete and this comes by way of a servant attitude which leads to a servants heart. Text for today excerpt: "A selfish heart must practice to let go of its seed, before it can start giving its seed".

A. Look at Jesus's life, by design there is no biblical record of things He did before the embracing of His ministry except, for the incident at Jerusalem when His earthly parents lost Him. Which is mentioned only because it had to do with His pursuit of the will of our heavenly Father and not the exercise of any carnal desire on His part. (49. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? Luke 2: 49 (KJV)).

1. (1. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3. And this will we do, if God permit. Heb. 6: 1-3 (KJV)).

A. So what is a picture of spiritual immaturity:

1. not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works....being in a constant state of not getting beyond a lifestyle of sin. Why? By believing that there are no realconsequences for sin.

2. and of faith toward God.... still struggling to trust God? Why? Because we have decided that what we see is more credible then what we cannot see.

3. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment....not understanding the basics of our faith in; baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection from the dead, of eternal judgement. Why? Because we question everything.

B. satan loves to keep believers in a state of immaturity because it prevents them from embracing a Christ-like mindset which keeps them from pressing to the will of God for their lives! Child like immaturity cannot not see a far off. (9. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 2 Peter 1:9 (KJV)).

1. Remember we are still becoming, we are not all mature yet. and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

A. Praise God that He plans for our growth. If we are still struggling with questions of immaturity in our lives... even God shall reveal even this unto you.

1. Reveal what unto us.......our otherwise minded-ness. Even though Paul is specific in Phil. 3 about this otherwise mindness, I think we can agree that any mindedness outside of God's will for our life, God shall reveal even this unto you.

B. (1. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;Eph. 5:1 (KJV)). God's intention is to lead us from our wilderness of immaturity to to a future that will require spiritual adulthood. Immaturity can't go into the land that flows with milk and honey. That will require maturity. Capturing your future will require you to fight.