Series: Other Speakers; Maturity

Sun am 18 May 2014 – Shane Egypt

1 Cor. 4:15; Gal. 4:19; 1 Cor. 11:1 (AMP.); (Prov. 23:10); Heb. 13:7; 1 Pet. 2:9; Isa. 66:8;
Joel 2:3-13; Rom.11:4-5; (John 3); (Gen. 32:24-25); Eph. 4:13; Rom. 8:19; 1 John 5:4;
2 Cor. 5:16; Isa. 61:3

There is a concern from authentic spiritual fathers because of the immaturity of the people of God at large. When there are absent fathers in the natural, it can be destructive and disastrous for families. If there is a fatherless generation and children are growing up without biological fathers, they land up on the streets. The social and psychological problems are sometimes beyond repair. When you bring love back and a sense of fathering to them, there is a vast improvement. Spiritually speaking it is necessary to have fathers who are not absent. God has given this grace to the Church. I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel (1 Cor. 4:14-15).

My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you (Gal. 4:19). (Pattern yourselves after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah). (1 Cor. 11:1 Amp.). Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith (Heb.13:7). Imitate the faith of the fathers. Fathering grace is essential for our maturity and spiritual growth in the body of Christ. Do not venture into the fields of the fatherless (Prov. 23:10). We need to become what we already are in Christ.

Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once? As soon as Zion travailed, she also brought forth her sons (Isa. 66:8). These sons are a nation of people, a people for a purpose chosen to be a holy people, the consecrated nation; a people acquired for God’s own possession (1 Pet. 2:9). Do you see the Christ and the many-membered body?

So there is a great and mighty people; There has never been anything like it, Nor will there be again after it To the years of many generations.  A fire consumes before them And behind them a flame burns … Their appearance is like the appearance of horses; And like war horses, so they run …… The day of the Lord is indeed great and very awesome, And who can endure it? “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments.” Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, Slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness And relenting of evil (Joel. 2: 2-13). These are the sons and there is obviously a maturity and stature about them.

 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice (Rom.  11:5). In the heart of God all of humanity are His children, not just a specific people. Although He started with a specific people, natural Israel (a prototype), there is a warning that what happened to natural Israel can also happen to spiritual Israel. There needs to be response and a returning for us to become what God wants us to be.

Christ is the head of the body; a promise fulfilled. It has to come to fullness. We need to grow up. What is the measurement? Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13). For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God (Rom. 8:19). It has been completed and finished in Christ Jesus. He is waiting, the fullness shall be manifested. We do not struggle to a point of victory; we battle from a vantage point and a place of complete victory and provision in Christ Jesus. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith (1 John 5:4). This is a people and a new creation which is born from above. We need to grow up in Christ, who is the head of the Body.

There is a new-life creation that has already been established that we need to walk in. The fathering grace is in our midst and God is bringing the Word and we need to respond. We need to rally together and see the culmination of what God has called us to be. By the grace of God we need to grow up.