From Milk To Meat

I'll spend some time singing and worshiping again, okay, before we go into teaching.

I want you to listen to what I'm going to read.

This is from Luke chapter 7.

Luke 7 · chapter mention

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house

and reclined at the table.

And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining

at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabasca flask of ointment, and standing

behind him at his feet, weeping.

She began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair on her head,

and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

One of the things I want us to do together, because I believe he desires it from us,

is can we, together as a people, without having Sheldon on the piano and others with instruments,

can we sing to him?

Why and how?

Like this lady who doesn't even have a name in the Gospel of John.

Simon's house, it's a very big house, I'm sure.

He's a Pharisee, he's a rich guy.

There are other people reclining at the table with Jesus, and it's not her place.

She's not supposed to be there.

But she somehow made her way into the house.

Because there's only one thing, as you read down that passage, you'll see Simon in turn

asks Jesus about something, and referring to this lady, to this woman, Jesus says, she

has been forgiven much.

And when you're forgiven much, you love much.

I want us to worship him together, without instruments.

But like this lady, like this woman who made her way in, somehow she wanted to be at his

feet.

Somehow she wanted to break the alabaster flask.

Somehow she wanted to anoint him.

It wasn't her place.

If you ask her, she'll tell you there were so many eyes on me, so many people calling

me names, so many people saying I shouldn't be there, so many people reminding of my past.

Their eyes said a story that she didn't want to remember.

And then it didn't matter for her, because she wanted to be at that place.

She wasn't even in the front, from the back, behind him.

She started weeping, because she was forgiven much.

So can we worship him like that?

Because she didn't need people playing in the background to worship him.

For her, in the chaos, in the sound, in the...

Jesus' attention, initially I'm sure, was on other things.

But she had so much to give him that she said, I will do it regardless of what people think,

regardless of what people say about me.

So then, can we worship him as we sing this song together, giving him everything that

we have, because he deserves it?

You have been forgiven much.

I have been forgiven much.

And it doesn't matter who we are, where we are from, what we did, because at his feet,

every slate is wiped clean.

And at his feet, there is always a new start.

And at his feet, there is new mercies, new grace that runs after us.

Can we do it?

So let's do it in the sincerest way you can.

In the sincerest way I can, I want to do it.

It won't look anything else, like anything else to the next person, but in your heart,

you're embracing him.

In your heart, you have him at his feet.

In your heart, you're pouring out everything you have, your affection to Jesus, your embrace

for him.

Let's do it as a people.

We have some time, so these guys will obviously, they have a mic and their sounds will be louder,

I want your voice to echo.

I want your voice to be lifted up so that we're doing it together.

Let's do it, yeah?

Worthy is the lamb who was slain, Holy, holy is he.

Sing a new song to him who sits on Heaven's mercy seat.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.

With all creation I sing praise to the King of Kings, You are my everything and I will adore you.

Clothed in rainbows of living color, Flashes of lightning, rose of thunder.

Blessing and honor and strength and glory and power be to you the only wise King.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.

With all creation I sing praise to the King of Kings, You are my everything and I will adore you.

Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder, At the mention of your name.

Jesus, your name is power, Breath and living water,

Such a marvelous mystery.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.

With all creation I sing praise to the King of Kings, You are my everything and I will adore you.

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.

With all creation I sing praise to the King of Kings, You are my everything and I will adore you.

Jesus, we know the way is clear, The veil is torn, we have access to your feet.

Jesus, we come to worship, We come to pour our affection, our adoration.

We come to pour it out over your feet, Jesus. Pour it out and we wipe it with our very hair.

That's the kind of worship we pour out to you, Holy, holy, beautiful one, we worship you, beautiful one.

How lovely are your feet, Jesus. How worthy are your hands, Jesus. How worthy are you, Jesus.

Light of the world, you step down to darkness, You open our eyes, let us see.

Pour out our praise and we'll be happy.

Oh, you are all things, you deserve the glory.

Day and night, night and day, let incense arise.

Day and night, night and day, let incense arise.

Day and night, night and day, let incense arise.

You are worthy of it all.

You are worthy of it all.

For from you are all things, and to you are all things.

You deserve the glory.

You are worthy of it all.

Jesus, Jesus, you are worthy of it all.

For from you are all things, and to you are all things.

You deserve the glory.

I am forgiven

because you are forsaken

and I accept

that there is no one like you

there is none like you

and you are all things

and you are all things

and you are all things

Holy is the Lord Jesus

the one who's worthy

the one who's worthy

to open the scroll

the one who's worthy

of all our praise

and praise the one who's worthy

holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty

holy, holy

is the Lord God Almighty

who has an is and is to come

Jesus, we love you

oh how we love you

and you are the one

that our hearts adore

Jesus, we love you

oh how we love you

you are the one

our hearts adore

and our affections

our devotion

poured out on the feet of Jesus

our affections

our devotion

poured out on the feet of Jesus

our affections

our devotion

poured out on the feet of Jesus

we love you

oh how we love you

you are the one

that our hearts adore

and here we are to worship

here we are to bow down

here we are to say

that you're our God

cause you're all together worthy

you're all together lovely

all together wonderful

to me

oh here we are to worship

here we are to bow down

here we are to say

that you're our God

there is no other

you're all together lovely

you're all together worthy

you're all together wonderful

to me

and I'll never know

how much it cost

to see my sin

upon that cross

and I'll never know

how much it cost

to see my sin

upon that cross

and Jesus you

are our King

Jesus you

you alone are

our King

Jesus you

Jesus you

the one and only

King

Jesus Jesus

Jesus you

are my

King

hallelujah

to the King

hallelujah

to the Lord of Lords

hallelujah

to the King of Kings

hallelujah

to the Lord of Lords

Jesus

we worship your Majesty

Jesus

we worship your Majesty

Jesus

we worship your Majesty

Jesus

we worship your Majesty

I'm blessing

and honor

glory and power

be unto your name

Jesus

all blessing

all power

glory and honor

be unto your name

be unto your name

be unto your name

Jesus

all blessings

Jesus

all blessings

Jesus

So even as we stand Jesus

those lines

day and night

incense arise

let incense arise

our it's

we know

that it is one thing to sing it

and we mean it when we sing it Jesus

but our lives

are to be

a living sacrifice

and so as we sit or stand

here but as we pour

out our affection as that song

said or as we

give you honor here

we say Jesus we want to

live our lives

as a living sacrifice

so that day

and night night

and day

incense will arise from my

life from our lives

from this embassy of Acts

29

real lives dying

to ourselves

so that we can become

like your son

Jesus

thank you accept

what we are offering to you Jesus

accept it

because you deserve it

and more thank you

thank you

So when I was in my eighth grade

you get to pick

either economics

or computer

computer programming

so I'm going to expose Dawn here

I had to start with that

so

I picked computers

it was C programming for those of you

know and I scored

really bad in my exam was pretty bad

as I come home and I tell

everyone about it and obviously

not great

back in the day on Sundays we'll go from

one city to another city

to attend church

so we have to bus it

and every Sunday

you wake up because

you want to go to the service

but when you get into the bus

Dawn and I always fight for the side

seat as we used to call it so window seat

because that's what you're after

getting to the church was secondary but being

getting that seat was more

important than anything else

and so this is March or something

I'm in you know he's in fourth grade

whatever age that is

I'm in eighth grade

and so I get the side seat this week

that particular week

and I'm sitting down and I'm like I made it

I got it so this whole week

we were trying to you know I got what I

wanted and so Dawn nudges me

and says if you don't

give me the side seat

I'm going to shout out and let everyone

know how much you scored for C programming

I said what?

He said I'll do it so I said no you can't

do it so he said no I'll do it

I said there's no way you can do it Dawn

so he said 80

no please

so he goes on

to almost blurt out how much

I scored and I was very

careful not to have anyone

else know about it so I said it's yours

side seat is yours so I

moved over when I think about

our childhood

this happened quite a lot of times

so people would come

home and if they're visiting once every year

or once every two years

they would look at Dawn and I

and they would always have really good things to

tell about Dawn and then they'll look at me

and they'll say is your mom not

feeding you? Obviously I look different now

but you know back

in the day is your mom not feeding you?

So I used to dread it

but almost every single person

who came at the very end would say

something that I really used to enjoy because they

would say but you're really mature

for your age and I used to go

wow I like that because that's

about the only compliment I get you're

way more mature than your age

so I grew up

the other thing before I forget

another thing that Dawn used to do

because it's all about

exposing Dawn today another thing

that he used to do is we used to have these

bakeries you know and when you're

standing waiting for a bus

and if there's a bakery next door

nearby Dawn would almost

always drag

my mom buy her sari

to go into the shop

and I used to dread all of this

because to me this guy is making

a whole lot of noise and a lot of drama

that I dreaded and so I

would almost separate myself from the entire family

stay on this side because I didn't want to associate

myself with Dawn that's how

I grew up what's the point?

The point is this

growing up I somehow developed

in me an impression

that maturity

is being serious

and that maturity

is acting like you're a grown up

people would come and tell me

you're really mature for your age

and so that

impression began to sink into

my mind my being yeah

when they say that it really means that

if I act serious and if I'm not like

Dawn then I'm mature

because Dawn shouts, screams, cries

all of that bad stuff

I'm the good kiddo

I just need to put up a good face, smile

polite, gentle

all of that stuff and I get these compliments

and so you grow up

and without knowing

you have this impression in your mind

that maturity is equal to

not doing what Dawn did

and it is

being

serious about life

being serious and if you're serious

you're mature

and somehow we have the tendency

to associate different things with maturity

it depends on your background

it depends on your upbringing

when I say the word let's say

spiritual maturity because there is

physical maturity, there is emotional maturity

if I say spiritual maturity

if I say spiritual maturity all of you

depending on your background

depending on where you came from

depending on what happened, your story

you associate those two words with

something

for me it is this

you associate these two words

with something

and that's what I

want to talk about today, spiritual maturity

so if you need a title

the title is

from milk to meat

by the way if you're a vegan

we can talk afterwards

from milk to meat

from milk to meat

so what is

spiritual maturity then?

so spiritual maturity

simply defined for us

is not being serious

it's not always having

a straight face

it's not any of those things

Christian maturity

simply is

being Christ-like

so you can laugh out the most in the room

and you can be

the most mature person in the room

you can crack the best of jokes

which Don doesn't do

but you know, anyway

and you can still be

the most mature

so Christian maturity is

being Christ-like

and so when you think about

Christ-like, when I think about Christ-like

we have to look at it as

am I thinking like how

Christ thinks?

am I thinking

like how Christ thinks?

because if I think the way

Christ thinks, then

I can reason the way

Christ reasoned

and I can act

or live out like how

he lived out

so thinking like Christ thinks

is important

we are a byproduct

of our thinking

go to Proverbs

Proverbs 27 · chapter mention

chapter 27

23, Proverbs 23

Proverbs 23:7

verse 7, it says

for as he thinketh in his heart

so is he

for as he thinketh in his heart

so is he

so the way I

think forms and

shapes the person I become

the way you think

forms and shapes the person you will become

it doesn't matter what your age is

you can be as little as

Shiloh, as old as

whoever else

if you think like Jesus

you will mature

and mature and mature to become

like Jesus

if you think like yourself

you will be yourself

and to the extent

to which you allow

yourself to change

so that your thinking is like

the thinking of Jesus

to that extent you will mature

in other words

maturity, spiritual maturity

is the rate

at which you are becoming

like Jesus

it is

a progression, it is the rate at which

I am becoming like Jesus

so if you hang out with me

and if all you are getting is more and more

Derek, I am not

mature

if you hang out with me

and you see things in my life

that point to the person

that I

am to live and die for

then I am mature

people have to

look at us and see Jesus

in us

that's why the Bible says

be imitators

be imitators of me

be imitators of Christ

Paul said it

and what we are talking about

absolutely not

abstract, really tangible

children

look up to their parents

and they do things

as they see

they imitate, it's normal for children

to do that

when I was a kid I would, papa, my dad

he had his signature, I really used to

love it

and so once I found out that signature is pretty cool

I am sure there are way better signatures

people have

better stuff elsewhere

but for me, my dad's signature, I really loved it

so even now at age 35

I copied my signature from him

I used the same signature

I also had the

pleasure and privilege

to sign his signature on my report cards

that gave me

that gave me good experience

but

I liked it

children see

things

that they look at and they go wow

and they become that

and the story I remember is

growing up

my mom told me a story

about my dad

one day

and said hey he could have made a lot of money doing it

but he did not do it that way

because he has a heart of integrity

as a 10 year old, 8 year old

you listen to that

and your mind is formed

because now

you have this

teaching that has come to you, wisdom that has come to you

that helps you understand

it's not about money, it's about how you live

we are a byproduct

of what we have heard

what we have understood

that's what we become

and so when I talk about

spiritual maturity and we say

from milk to meat

you have to measure yourself

and compare yourself to the

thinking of Jesus Christ

to the person of Jesus Christ

and the more

aware you are about what

you are lacking

the better it is

because as I was preparing

I was looking at my life

and you don't have to search deep to find out

where you are lacking

it's right in front of your face

so if I am aware that

yeah Aba, these are the areas

where I don't look like your son at all

and then there may be areas

where you are closer

now you know

where you have to train yourself

where you have to work

so let's proceed with that thought

the original design

for man still remains the same

we are made in his image

and we are supposed to be image bearers

on earth

which is why

in Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 14 it says

Habakkuk 2:14

for the earth will be filled

with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord

as the waters cover the sea

how will that happen?

that is you and me and us

populating earth

with the knowledge, with the mature knowledge

of Jesus Christ

and living like his son

Aba's son, Jesus Christ

to a point where the earth will be flooded

by his glory

it happens through my life and your life

and our lives

Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 14

Habakkuk 2:14

and this

theme is prevalent

all through the New Testament

you see Paul writing letters

to different churches addressing this thing

spiritual maturity

spiritual maturity

you got to grow up

and he says there are things I really want to tell you

but I can't tell that to you

because you are not mature yet

so you can actually take it further and say

if I

if I prevent myself

from being mature because I like

certain things certain way

and I am not conforming

to the image of his son

then sometimes the father

has to hold things back

because you are not ready for it

Paul says that

I really want to share these things with you

but I can't

he actually proceeds to share it

but I really can't share this

with you because you are not ready for it

and so for us

man, if we can have this deep

desire to

mature

it doesn't matter if you

came to faith a year ago

two years ago, if you have been in faith for 40

years, 50 years, it does not matter

all of us must have the same

desire to mature

the same

desire to look more and more like

Jesus, the same desire

to grow up so that others can

look at your life and they can say

well look at Matt and Rachel

I want to be like

them

look at Shireen, I want

to be like her

that's what we are supposed

to be living for

so that the world outside will look

at something that you are doing

the way you speak, the way you are

and they will say that is something different

there is something different

about this and I want it

at least I want to ask what it is

all about and then you

can proceed to share the

life you draw your life from

so I want to talk about a few things

we don't have much time today

let's see how far we get

so the letter to the

church in Corinth

it was written in the year 55

AD

Paul was in that

church in 50 AD

five years prior to that

it is when he ministered amongst them

and a lot of people became believers in the city

of Corinth and in 55

AD he is writing this

letter to them

and so read it with me

today be prepared to go through your bible

we will go through different passages

so that's

if you don't have your bible

open the bible app

if you have your bible

get your bible

because we are going to go through different verses today

first Corinthians chapter 3

1 Corinthians 3 · chapter mention

1-3

first Corinthians chapter 3

1 Corinthians 3:1–3

verses 1-3

but I brothers

could not address you as

spiritual people but as

people of the flesh as infants

in Christ I fed you with

milk not solid food

for you are not ready for it

and even now you are not ready

for it for you are still of the flesh

read it again please

but I brothers could not

address you as spiritual people wow

it's a church

they have been

around for a while

he ministered amongst them

if you read the first

chapter you will find out that they even

operated in the gifts of the spirit

see what he is writing in chapter 3

I can't

address you as spiritual people

but as people of the flesh

as infants in Christ

because that I fed you with milk

not solid food for you are not ready for it

and even now you are not

ready for you are still of the flesh

I am going to say a line that has been

repeated at Acts 29

way too often

in a line I like to remind myself of

a man of

destiny is a man of choices

a man of destiny

is a man of choices

a woman of destiny

is a woman of choices

there is not one person sitting

under this roof

who doesn't have choices

to make

there are options in front of you

and you have to choose

so when Paul is writing

he is saying guys

I can't even call you as

spiritual people because you are still

drinking milk

and I can't give you solid food yet

it's like a parent

who is trying to communicate

you've got to grow up only then can I

give the rest to you

and in life

you have to, I have to

if we are aware of the fact that

man, we are

a people of destiny

a people who are supposed to

head a particular way

do particular things

things that the father even before

you were formed in your mother's womb

had purpose for you

but those things ultimately

you inherit or you don't

based on your choices

a man of destiny

is a man of choice

a woman of destiny

is a woman of choice

so when I became born

again as soon as I accepted

Christ the spirit of God

came to take residence

in me

but from that moment on

my life

it depends on what I choose

sure I am found in Christ

but am I living and

leading a spirit led life

that is on me

I have the ability to choose

at any instant

if I want to follow the spirit

or if I want to follow the flesh

which is why I read that last line

it says and even now you are not yet ready

for you are still of the flesh

so living of the flesh

and not living by the spirit

keeps me, keeps you immature

living of the flesh

and being led

by the spirit

is simply not worth it

I remember using the exact same words last week

it's not worth it

these words keep ringing in my ears

it's not worth it

man living any other way

is not worth it

am I being led by the spirit

in everything I do

I like going for night drives

and so I went on a night drive yesterday

and interesting things happen

when you go for a night drive

and it's 1am or 2am

and so there is a particular

road that I like to drive in

Xavier knows it, Don't know it

a few people know about this

so I am driving

and it's pretty late

and as I am driving I can see a cop car

on that side

he thinks he is hidden, he is not

I can see him

I am like, ok cool

it's pretty late at night

so I keep driving, keep driving

and then I go and turn around

because I don't have anything else to do

I am just driving

and so as I drive and I see this guy

now I can see he is following me

because he was parked

and now I am turning around

and going in a particular direction

he begins to come after me

and then I see the red flashes

and the blue flashes, all of that

when I was driving he said, what happened?

why are you driving like this?

you are driving as if you know I am here

what are you hiding?

I said I am not hiding anything

did you drink? No

ok tell me, so I had to explain to him

what I was doing

what's the point? When I know that there is a cop car

right behind me, man, you have to know

I know exactly what

driving I am doing

I know my lane, I know the speed

I know I am always below 50

because I can see 50 is the thing

I am below 50, you can't catch me

because I know you are behind me

why am I saying this?

it's amazing right?

because you can be on the same road

driving day or night

and when you know that there is no one else watching

you have a tendency to go

I do it

being aware of his spirit

knowing that he is with you

knowing that you can draw from his life

allows you to

live life differently

and that's, it's simple

everything that

the father has for us is simple

man does

his best to complicate it

but everything that the

father has for you is simple

for you to understand, simple for you

to inherit, you don't need any

PhD in anything for it

why? because he started with

fisherman

he proved it

if you have a desire

you can, you don't need

10 steps to do it

you don't need 50 ways you can do it

you just need to be a son

who is aware of the fact

that his spirit is

inside you and that

he can help direct

where you go, at what speed you go

if you turn left, if you turn right

it's all his direction

so being spirit led

allows you to mature

you progress into the person

you are supposed to be

this year, there is one verse

that I have read

and it's opened my eyes

to different things, I think I shared it

probably a few weeks ago

Hebrews chapter 4 verse 14

Hebrews 4:14

Hebrews chapter 4 verse 14

Hebrews 4:14

read it please with me

since then, that's Hebrews chapter 4

Hebrews 4:14

verse 14

since then, we have a great

high priest who has passed

through the heavens, Jesus

the son of God, let us hold

fast our confession

I'll read it again, since then

we have a great high priest

who has passed through the heavens, Jesus

the son of God, let us hold fast

our confession

Jesus passed

through the heavens

you have to understand that when it happened

every power and

principality tried to keep him down

but because he is the holy

one, because he is the anointed one

as we sang today, because he is the

risen one, because he is

the one who is triumphant

all the powers that tried to

keep him down

they were defeated, because he

went past the heavens

to sit at the right

hand of the father, why is that

scripture important in this light

oh my goodness

my flesh, your flesh

my emotions, your emotions

the stuff that we see and have all around

us, they are consistently trying

to keep us from operating in the

spirit

and we have someone who went

before us, who showed

us that there is a way you can live

on earth, but live from

the throne room

there is a way, and if

I can catch on to this

if you can catch on to this

life will look so different

so different, because you are not

living from here up

this is why

it says you are seated

at the right hand of God, why is it

significant to say that you are

seated at the right hand of God when

pavan is sitting right there

there is a reason

because if pavan knows

that yes I am sitting right here, but

I am actually also sitting at the right

hand of the father, and that I am

in the throne room, then everything

that happens in your life

you have a different perspective about it

when you

look at your future, you think of it differently

when you think of your present

you think of it in the lens

that the father has given you

so learn to live

from the throne room

another thing to keep in mind

because

when we live life, what happens is

we have the knowledge of

these truths, but one of the things that

can sometimes pull us

back is that

this is not the atmosphere

you live out, week in week out

you are here for 2 hours, 3 hours

and for 2 hours, 3 hours, it's

look at this, pretty easy

to think about Jesus

pretty easy to sing

praises to him, pretty easy

to join with other saints

but on a Thursday evening, 8pm

you don't feel like this

I don't feel like this

if you feel like it, amazing

I certainly don't feel like this

Thursday, 7pm

but this is when

if I can learn

that man

it is possible for me

to be

operating from a different place

from his throne room

that I am one with him

that his spirit lives inside of me

then it changes

everything that I am about

then life begins to look different

no one has to teach you

because the spirit of God is telling you

he is speaking to you and he is saying

I am here, I am here

can you see this differently

and this is why, because on a Thursday evening

7pm, it's the mundane

it's the stuff that you do all the time

but can you find

the divine in the mundane

can you find the divine

as you are folding your clothes

no I don't do it, that side, sorry

I don't want you to think of certain things

that I don't do

I would like to do it more

there are things that I do

that's mundane

I am just repeating it

but if I am wise enough

to see the divine

presence of God

in those things, those things

will change, the rhythm

will change

and it is in fact these very things

that sometimes cause you to forget

the truth and the reality

of who you are

can you find the divine

and by that I mean the divine presence

of our father

of his spirit

in the mundane

as you are doing your assignments, can you do it

when you are doing your assignment

you just want to finish your assignment

I am talking about the Trinity Western students

not your assignment

it's easy to forget things man

when you are doing these things

it's repetitive

and you just know exactly what needs to be done

you are on autopilot

but that's when the Holy Spirit

wants you to see those very things differently

and if you open up your eyes

and if you are willing to say

teach me Abba, teach me

to find the divine in the mundane

life begins to look differently

so I can be washing the dishes

which I don't particularly enjoy

but I can now do that

and while I am doing that

now I can meet him

while I am in it

if we become

if we are aware of this

and we make changes

simple changes but real changes

to your life, my life

it will look very different

by the end of this year

very different

so learn to live by the spirit

number one

you mature from milk to meat

by giving up childish ways

by giving up childish ways

can you read

1st Corinthians chapter 13

verse 11

1st Corinthians chapter 13 verse 11

when I was a child I spoke like a child

I thought like a child

I reasoned like a child

when I became a man I gave up childish ways

when I became a man I gave up childish ways

I spoke like a child

I reasoned like a child

I reasoned like a child

I reasoned like a child

I said this before

your thoughts

and your reasoning

they translate into

your actions and words

what you speak

and what you do

is a result of

what you think

It's just the way it is.

And so if I can leave my childish ways, then I become mature, mature, mature.

If you look at your life and you can detect, identify the areas where you're still operating

like a child, then it will be easier for you, as soon as you understand it, to flip, to

turn the switch on and say, oh, that's not how I am to be.

I'm different.

I'm built different.

Inside of me is the presence of God, is the Holy Spirit.

And so I have the ability to do this very thing differently.

I will not be childish.

Story of Ahab.

Ahab is the king of Israel.

And he looks at the vineyard, Nabot's vineyard, and he wants the vineyard.

So he goes and speaks to Nabot and says, I want your vineyard.

He's the king.

Nabot says, no, I can't give you the vineyard.

What does he do?

He comes back.

Ahab, the king of Israel, read this.

You don't need to read this.

I'll read it out loud.

First Kings 21, 4.

So Ahab went home sullen and angry because Nabot, the Jesterite, had said, I will not

give you the inheritance of my ancestors.

He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.

When you're childish, you have an entitled thinking.

When you're childish, you have an entitled thinking.

I was talking about this to someone the other day.

When I said this, they're like, there's nothing wrong in being entitled.

Because everything that God has for me, I'm entitled to it.

It's true.

And it's right to have a thinking that, man, everything the father has is for you, is for

me.

But at the same time, when you're a child, you begin to look at what's happening around

you and you say, I'm entitled to these things.

And so if I don't get it, I will react in a childish way.

So the fact that you are entitled to certain things because what Christ did for you is

good.

But when you find your life different from what you think is true, are you responding

childishly?

Or are you looking at the gap and you want to figure out what the gap is and how the

gap can be bridged?

That's a different story.

But when I look at May's life and I go, wow, look at May's life.

Those things are really good.

Look at my life.

I should be having it.

He is my father.

Why don't I have it?

Why am I being treated this way?

It's wrong.

May has it.

I don't have it.

Why is it that it's been 10 years now?

I don't have it.

Now I enter into childishness.

Or I can choose to leave my childish ways aside and say, I can't understand this.

I don't know the answers.

And I am, there's much pain in my life.

There's pain in my heart.

I need to know why, why, why?

There's a different way to go about it too.

When you're childish, there is a tendency to have a sense of entitlement.

The second thing about being childish is you're self-focused.

You think about yourself way more than anyone else.

I've said this before.

Can you walk into a room and only be aware of others?

Oh, that would be, actually that would be the definition of humility if you can do that.

If you can walk into a room filled with people and you're so forgetful about yourself, that is humility.

Humility is self-forgetfulness.

It is when you're in the room, you're only thinking about everything, everyone else.

Because in your mind, your spot is not at the top.

Your spot is at the bottom.

I heard this some time ago.

In the kingdom, this kingdom is the only kingdom where when you need things, you don't reach higher, you go lower.

I loved it.

This is the only kingdom where when you need things from him, you don't reach higher to grab it.

You go lower to possess it.

Because the one who went before you and the one who you're following, he is one who is so humble

that he laid down everything, his divine form to take up the form of a man.

And you and I can't access those very things until I decide that I will become the least in the room,

that I will become the least in my family, that I will become the least wherever I go for the sake of his kingdom and for the sake of his people.

And so having a child, having the childish sense of I deserve all of this.

And if I don't get it, I'm going to react this way like a child.

It'll keep you from spiritual maturity.

And if you're self-focused, everywhere you go, you're thinking about me, me, me, me.

I have to catch myself with this.

This is one thing that I've, you know, I think about it so much that I should be practicing this better.

But it's hard sometimes, man, when you're in a room.

It's hard to be absolutely forgetful of yourself.

Is it possible? I know it is possible.

And I want to be, I want to be like that more and more.

It doesn't matter if it's work.

It doesn't matter if it's home, if it doesn't matter, church, wherever you are.

Can I become like Jesus, where I'm thinking about the other person more than me?

That's why Jesus on the cross, take care of my mom.

He's got the Lord of the whole earth, every sin on his shoulders.

And he's not trying to say something noble.

He's already thought about every one of us.

But somehow in his mind, he's also thinking about his mom.

Does that need to be said?

He's not trying to say something.

It's the life he has lived.

It is the life he has lived that causes him to utter those words.

Because he is not thinking of himself.

He's thinking of them.

And if you and I can become this, become a people who increasingly we are aware of others,

aware of his spirit more than we are aware of anything else.

Now, we're progressing from milk to meat.

Now, the Holy Spirit can do things with me that he has always longed to do.

He's always desired to do these things.

But I've been shut off.

I have said no, because I resisted the knowledge.

And I resisted.

This is just the way it is.

Sometimes in your thinking, you may not use these words, but you are so used to the ways that you live,

because you have accepted that that is the way you are.

And if you would allow the Holy Spirit to show you that it is not the way you are, it

is the way you've chosen to be or chosen to do, now there is possibility for that door

to open and for the Spirit of God to come and lighten it up so that you can begin to

operate differently.

This will do wonders in marriages.

This will do wonders in relationships.

This will do wonders because you're used to one way.

And it is absolutely you because this is what you've opted for every day of your life.

It's part of who you are.

But one day you decide, no, no, no, no, no.

As he's showing me this, I'm going to be different.

And he's fling wide the door for the Holy Spirit to come into this room and lighten

it up and then you begin to operate differently.

Another thing, guys, as part of this, as part of being childish is bridle your tongue.

This one organ in the body, it's got a lot of power, your tongue.

If you can master your tongue, you now have control over your destiny as well.

Your tongue.

It's amazing how we can, again, speak things that we know is in the gray.

It's not wrong.

It's in the gray.

And I'm not talking about swear words.

I'm not talking about telling bad stuff about other people.

I'm talking about there is such righteousness and right way of thinking and speaking that

the Holy Spirit has that we sometimes in some areas can separate ourselves from that

because it's OK.

It's still as Christian is as everyone else.

But if you and I begin to say, no, about this tongue, I want to speak it.

I want to speak whatever I speak to really come from you.

And if I don't have anything to speak, I would rather be silent.

I don't want to speak things for the sake of speaking things.

That's when I've seen this way too often when two people are in an argument and one person,

if they know how to respond with a soft speech, the whole situation is melted away.

Proverbs says it.

Where does it say it?

Proverbs chapter 15, verse 1 and 2.

Proverbs 15:1

I will read it.

Proverbs chapter 15, verses 1 and 2.

Proverbs 15:1

A soft answer turns away a rap, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of the fools or fools pour

out folly.

And it says in James chapter 3, verse 2.

James 3:2

So why am I speaking what I'm speaking?

It's out of James chapter 3, verse 2.

James 3:2

For we all stumble in many ways.

And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man.

Wow.

Talk about maturity.

If anyone does not stumble in the way he speaks, he is a perfect man.

If I can train myself to speak, only the things I need to speak, to speak with a soft answer

is needed, to speak directly when direct conversation is needed, but to go about it the right way.

Things will change.

So control your tongue.

Master your tongue.

Next one.

Train yourself to forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead.

I really hope the Holy Spirit will give me the words as I explained this one, because

it's so important for all of us.

I'll repeat it.

Train yourself to forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead.

Where am I getting that from?

Philippians chapter 3, verses 13 to 15.

Philippians 3:13–15

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.

But one thing I do, I forget what is behind me and I strain toward what is ahead.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in

Christ Jesus.

Forgetting the things from your past that tries to pull you down.

What are the things, even as you hear this, things that happened in your past, things

that you did or things that others did to you.

Things that were spoken about you.

Your parents treating you a certain way.

Your siblings treating you a certain way.

Things you thought you had, but then stuff happened and you lost it.

If you ask yourself, have you forgiven?

You'll say, yeah, I've forgiven.

But deep down in the corners of your heart, there are things that still pull you back.

And everything that the Father has for us cries out loud.

Would you please, please forget the things that are behind you?

Would you please look ahead at what I have for you and strive to get there?

Would you please?

Let me ask you a question.

Who or what do you need to release?

Who or what do you need to release from malice, from anger, from resentment, hurt, mistakes,

bitterness?

Who or what do you need to release from malice, anger, resentment, hurt, bitterness, mistakes?

Sometimes, and this is important, because you see this in sometimes how we think, there

are things that happened and every time God wants to do something, you fall back on what

happened and you say, well, because it happened, I have to be this way.

Let me put a different two words on it.

And it's going to sound rash, but it's important, victim mentality.

When I use these words, I have to be careful because I'm never saying that the stuff that

happened to you is okay.

Please understand, it's a big difference.

The stuff that may have happened to you is wrong, but to dwell in it is wrong.

You can get beyond it if you choose to.

To accept that what happened happened and you have to deal with it.

It's not forgetting, I won't ever think about it.

No, you have to deal with it and you have to deal with it the right way and use people

around you if you need help so that you can deal with those things the right way.

But you've got to then at one point decide, this does not have power over me.

This does not have any more control over me.

I've seen, and that's why I'm saying this, I've seen people when words that the father

has for them is released, but immediately their mind somehow goes back to the same bad

thing that happened to them.

It's so sad because that really happened.

It really happened.

It really messed up that person's life, but somehow the devil has built a stronghold

all around it.

And it is a stronghold because they default back to that place.

And so every attempt to pull them out of it with things that the father has for them today,

it almost seems an impossible task because they would rather cling on to what happened.

They would rather cling on to what was told, what was said, what was done.

And it's so difficult then.

Can we become a people who will not allow things from our past to pull us back?

And one person's measure of what happened to them could be very different from someone

else.

And your story is your story.

I'm not saying that it does not matter, and that's important because the Holy Spirit

will never say that it doesn't matter.

The Holy Spirit will bind up your broken heart.

But as soon as he binds it up, he'll say like he did with, like the father did with Moses,

like he didn't get in.

At one point, you've got to move on.

At one point, you've got to say enough is enough.

I'm not going to dwell.

I'm not going to pitch my tent here.

Because if you pitch your tent in what was done to you, you can't break loose into the

new things God has for you.

Do not pitch your tent in the past.

One way to get out of that place is to use words.

One way to get out of that place is to use words.

Use words to yourself to say, yes, yes, that happened.

But I will not remain in that place.

Start with that.

Then move it, move from that place to talking to Anile and talking to Betty and saying,

this is such a stronghold in my life and it has prevented me all this while.

But now I come because now I have professed and have declared that this cannot have an

effect on me and I resist to be pulled back by this.

Now I need you guys to hear this because I am committing that I'm choosing a different

way of living whereby I'm not going to give anything from my past the power to pull me

back and I want you Anile, I want you Betty to listen to me.

Now you've spoken it to two other people.

You don't know the power of words.

It's not that they pull you towards your future.

No, no, no.

This is what you believe because what you believe you proclaim.

So if you never proclaim these things, maybe you haven't believed it right.

Because if you really believe it, the words will come out and you won't hesitate saying

it either.

I have five or 10 minutes.

So next one, embrace correction and teaching to come to a place of maturity.

Embrace correction and teaching to come to a place of maturity.

Colossians chapter one, verse 28.

He is the one we proclaim admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom so that

we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.

Much loud children as we are used to saying here, very teachable.

Much loud children are very teachable because you know the heart of your father.

And if you know the heart of your father, you will go about receiving correction either

directly from him or through his people very differently.

This is why there are equipers in the body.

Let's read it.

Ephesians chapter four, verse 13.

Every time I say let's read it, we don't have time for you to read it.

So just listen to me please.

Ephesians chapter four, verse 13.

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers to

equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ until we

all attain the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God to mature manhood.

So for me to be spiritually mature, for you to be spiritually mature, we have to be connected

with the equipers in the body.

If I choose to separate myself, to distance myself, to disconnect myself from the equipers

that the Holy Spirit has placed in the body, then I am choosing not to be mature.

And I like it when the Holy Spirit reminds you, tells you, teaches you, hey, this is

wrong.

I have so many examples where he corrects me, where he corrects you, I'm sure.

But can I hear it and change?

I remember this, I remember this, some time ago, I can't tell you the place, but I'm

sitting somewhere and it's a presentation and I'm in a place where I don't belong.

And I'm sitting there and there is someone, you know, sometimes when you go, and this

is not church related, sometimes when you go for events and stuff like that and you

to speak, it's great, you like it, you enjoy it.

And I remember sitting at this place, it's a big, huge auditorium, and there is someone

who is ahead of me and he is presenting.

And I'm sitting there literally with the leg on my leg.

And I'm the guy who's supposed to go next.

And in my mind, and the guy who is doing this is my age, most of the guys there are much

older, but the guy who is just ahead of me, he is my age.

And I distinctly remember, leg on my leg, my arm like this, and I'm like, this dude,

man, he doesn't need to use a paper, he can just speak.

That's the thought in my mind.

He doesn't need to use a paper to speak, he can just speak.

Why is he like this?

Why is it that he's making a big deal of it?

He should be doing this better, it's not good enough.

Such a setting, man.

You're using a paper for such a setting like this?

Pretty bad.

All of these thoughts go through your mind, it did for me, in a matter of five seconds.

And now it's my turn.

I go up, and for the first time in my life, in a setting like that, I falter.

I didn't have any sheets, because I'm better, because I want to be better, and I falter.

And I sink so deep that I come back and I sit on that chair, and I'm like, oh, I know

exactly what happened.

Derek, you were so...

Everything that you shouldn't have, you did.

And it all happened in a span of five, six seconds, guys.

So when it happened, I obviously realized what had happened.

And I remember going to the father and saying, I messed up big time.

You gave me an opportunity, and you put me in a place where I don't belong.

And as soon as I was there, I took on a form that wasn't mine to ever have.

And I started, I got my leg on my leg, armchair, and I'm looking, literally grading people

for what they're doing.

And then I am up there, and I feel like bad.

But as soon as that happened, it was very difficult for me when it happened.

As soon as it happened, there was also this other thing, that learn.

Learn from this.

Never again.

And so what?

Since then, every time or every place I go, there is this big realization, Derek, never

get ahead of yourself.

Derek, learn humility, learn how to think, learn self-forgetfulness, learn understanding.

Because some of the things that are said in the Bible is not just for the church.

It is to be applied outside of the church too.

And so why am I sharing this?

It's deep for me.

It's inside me.

This is a big lesson, because you don't know how bad it felt.

Only I know.

It felt super bad.

But I come out of that, and I'm a better man for that.

Because I will not, by the help of the Holy Spirit, make the same mistake ever again.

What is the point?

Be teachable.

Be teachable.

Because if I use that and say, well, that was something else, don't worry, then I'm

not teachable.

The Holy Spirit can't teach me anymore.

I've shut that door to him.

Sometimes he gets your attention by having you do things and then recognize, oops, what

did I just do?

But once you get a handle of, I made a mistake, Aba, can you teach me?

I'm willing to change.

Then everything changes.

The next two things, I'm not going to explain this.

You can write it down because we don't have time.

Being unskilled in the word of righteousness leads to immaturity and dullness of hearing.

Being unskilled in the word of righteousness leads to immaturity and dullness of hearing.

Yes, being unskilled in the word of righteousness, meaning the word, leads to immaturity and

dullness of hearing.

And a scriptural reference for that would be Hebrews 5, 13 and 14.

Hebrews 5, 13 and 14.

Yeah.

I have a couple of slides here for you that I want you to, you can take a picture or ask

Brandon later.

Brandon, if you can bring it up.

Here are some questions for you to ask yourself.

We won't go through them today, but you can, if you're serious about this, you can take

the time to think through it.

Questions to think of.

This has been used at Axe 29 and before.

Are you known as someone who models love as a prime value?

Are you someone who models love as a prime value?

Are you demonstrating high levels of grace and kindness in your response?

This is when people treat you bad.

One thing about maturity guys is that when everything is sunshine, it's easy to be mature.

When things are difficult and things are going hard, that is when your maturity is tested.

So when it's difficult, are you demonstrating high levels of grace and kindness in your

response?

Using your temperament and personality, are you able to exert the fruit of self control?

Are you sincere, deeply to yourself and honest about learning?

Next please.

Thanks Aaron.

You're taking everyone's time away.

Just kidding.

Go for it, bro.

Next one.

Are you able to move beyond your own frustration to deliver God's work over?

Sometimes you are frustrated with what's happening to you that you find yourself at a place where

you don't want to receive anything for anyone anymore.

And it prevents the father from using you for someone else's sake.

Number six.

Do you move in the opposite spirit to what comes against you on a spiritual or human

level?

There's a person who always does this.

Can you recognize?

And if they are trying to be harsh to you, can you move in an opposite spirit?

What does that mean?

They're harsh to you.

You're gentle to them.

And if you can, if you can allow God to show you these things in your life, it begins to

change quickly.

Do you bounce back quickly after attack?

Really important.

Happened with Elijah.

How much time do you need to bounce back after something happened?

Can you be trusted?

Do you do things well without accountability being imposed from above?

Next slide please.

Do you react to events and people instead of responding to God?

This is an important one.

When things happen, you would rather talk about it to someone else before you talk to

the father.

When things happen, you would rather first talk to someone.

I need to talk to someone.

I need to get this out of my system.

I need to share this with someone before you talk to the father.

A mature son or a daughter would run to the father and say, hey, here's what happened.

I need help.

And then you can share with others as you need to.

Do you have a strategy for difficult people in situations that you're placed to deal with?

You must have a strategy for the same stuff that every time you know pulls you back.

You must have a strategy from the Spirit of God to go and attack it and say, you were

successful in doing this to me.

Not anymore.

Do you come up with platitudes and repetitions?

I talked about this already.

Do you inspire or encourage and nudge people to a place of rest from their problems?

When people come and share stuff with you, is your immediate reaction, what do you have

about that I can give?

Or is it anything else?

And the last set.

Do you withhold love, acceptance, or approval?

You know when that matters more?

When the person you think doesn't deserve it.

You have to see these questions in that light.

Why would I withhold anything good to sin?

No.

But if sin begins to treat me bad, can I do this?

That's the question.

When someone is dealing with you wrong, can you still do it?

Do you habitually see the negative or problems before you see the positive?

Can you see the first and second image that God wants to show people, show about people

in situations?

This one is important because if you can't see the second image that the father is showing

you about someone, then you can have the best discernment there is, but you can't be useful

to God.

You have to see what's happening and then you have to also see what the father is showing

you about the person.

Because sometimes the father shows you what's happening today in them or with them, with

the situation.

You know it, but you're so caught up in what has been shown that you resist wanting to

hear the second picture that the father wants to show about the person or the situation.

And the last one, is rejection still a strong influence on your personality?

If you want these slides, ask Brandon.

He can send it to you or ask me, I can send it to you.

But I would highly encourage that you spend time thinking about it.

So Aba, we come to you.

We thank you.

Thank you that you're having us move from one place of maturity to another.

And as Remy was saying before, all these weeks Aba, you're taking us somewhere where you

want us to go.

We want to follow you into those things.

So Spirit of God, we want to be a people who are led by you.

We want to be a people who leave our childish ways.

Open my eyes and our eyes to things that you want us to see where we've gotten so used

to our ways of living that we are resisting you in those areas.

We don't want to be like that, Holy Spirit.

Help us to choose differently.

Help us to refuse to use repetitions and platitudes, but help us to now cling on to the new things

you're showing us.

This I ask for all of us.

In Jesus name, Amen.

Cool guys.

Are there going to be people?

So if you need prayer, come up.

There will be someone to pray with you.