## Oh, Grow Up!

## Ephesians 4:14-15

Read: Eph 4:8-16

Have you ever been aggravated by the childish antics or attitudes of someone who should be more mature? Did you say, or did you want to say to them, "Oh, just grow up!" ? That is certainly true with many people. It is also true of many Christians.

I have heard some people gripe, murmur, and complain about this thing or that, and I have just wanted to say, "Oh, GROW UP, why don't you?!!"

Our scripture reading today points out the fact that it is God's purpose for us to not remain children (immature), but rather that we should GROW UP into Him in ALL THINGS. Now, if we are going to GROW UP there are some things that we need to consider.

I. We Need To Start Up

JOHN 3:7 MARVEL NOT THAT I SAID UNTO THEE, YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN.

A. The start involves a BIRTH by the Spirit of God

1. The reason some professing Christians do not grow is that they have never had the proper START.

2. That is, they have never been born again.

3. This is often a problem with folks who have been in church 'all their life'.

4. It can also be a problem for folks who do not understand salvation.

5. What does it mean to be born again?

(1 JOHN 5:1) "WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST IS BORN OF GOD: AND EVERY ONE THAT LOVETH HIM THAT BEGAT LOVETH HIM ALSO THAT IS BEGOTTEN OF HIM."

B. The start involves a BAPTISM in water.

1. Christian baptism is the first step of obedience for a child of God.

2. It is to identify the believer with Christ and with the local church.

3. It is a matter of submission and obedience to God's Word.

C. The start involves a BELONGING to a local church.

1. When we are members of the local church, we are a part of God's plan to reach the world.

2. We find fellowship and encouragement from one another.

3. God doesn't want us to be like the nomads of the desert...wandering around with no real home.

4. If we are going to grow up for God we need to start up right...salavation, baptism, and church membership are basic areas of obedience to the Word of God.

II. We Need To Speak Up

ROM. 10:11, "FOR THE SCRIPTURE SAITH, WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH ON HIM SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED."

A. We need to speak up courageously.

1. We ought not to allow others to intimidate us in our witness.

2. God calls upon us to be of good courage...He will not fail us.

3. Our faith walks and talks...what are we saying?

B. We need to speak up clearly.

1. Do others know where we stand?

2. Have we made it clear what we believe and why we believe it?

3. People are looking for something or someone to believe in.

4. We need to give a clear witness to this world.

C. We need to speak up compassionately.

1. Compassion is simply putting ourselves in the place of others and then acting accordingly.

2. Do others know we care about them?

3. We must show them the love of Christ in our lives.

4. Paul said to 'Speak the truth in love'.

5. For us to grow up, we need to start up right, and we need to speak up.

III. We Need To Show Up

HEBREWS 10:25, "NOT FORSAKING THE ASSEMBLING OF OURSELVES TOGETHER, AS THE MANNER OF SOME IS; BUT EXHORTING ONE ANOTHER: AND SO MUCH THE MORE, AS YE SEE THE DAY APPROACHING."

A. We need to attend with regularity.

1. If many Christians had the same kind of attendance record on the job as they do at church, they would be in the unemployment line.

2. Is it really that important? God says it is.

3. I have known some folks who wouldn't miss their bowling night...or whatever else might be their interest.

4. But they just found that they were too tired to make it to church.

B. We need to attend with readiness.

1. We need to come with an attitude of readiness to obey the Lord.

2. Ready to serve...ready to sacrifice... ready to respond to the direction of God in our lives.

C. We need to attend with rejoicing.

1. Knowing that we are worshipping God.

2. Knowing that we are ministering to others when we come together.

3. Singing praises to God and honoring Him with our lives.

4. If we are going to grow up as we should, we need to start up right, speak up with courage, and show up to the House of God faithfully.

IV. Consider what else is needed:

A. We Need To Study Up

1 PETER 2:2, "AS NEWBORN BABES, DESIRE THE SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD, THAT YE MAY GROW THEREBY:"

B. We Need To Send Up

1 TIMOTHY 2:1, "I EXHORT THEREFORE, THAT, FIRST OF ALL, SUPPLICATIONS, PRAYERS, INTERCESSIONS, AND GIVING OF THANKS, BE MADE FOR ALL MEN;"

1. We need to send up our petitions

2. We need to send up our problems

3. We need to send up our praise

C. We Need To Stand Up

JEREMIAH 9:3, "AND THEY BEND THEIR TONGUES LIKE THEIR BOW FOR LIES: BUT THEY ARE NOT VALIANT FOR THE TRUTH UPON THE EARTH; FOR THEY PROCEED FROM EVIL TO EVIL, AND THEY KNOW NOT ME, SAITH THE LORD."

1. We need to stand for the truth

2. We need to stand for our testimony

3. We need to stand for our task

All of us need to grow up in Christ. We all have different needs, but Jesus Christ is the answer. Perhaps some need to come to Christ today and be saved. Others may need to come in obedience to God's will in their lives. Whatever the need this morning, why not come and let God have His way?