Pressing On: The Journey to Spiritual Maturity
Summary
In our journey of faith, we are called to press on to perfection, a concept rooted in Hebrews 6:1, which encourages us to move beyond the elementary teachings of Christ and strive for maturity. This pursuit of perfection is not about achieving flawlessness overnight but is a lifelong journey towards becoming more like Christ. Jesus Himself set the standard in Matthew 5:48, urging us to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. This call to perfection is not a burden but a goal that inspires us to continually grow and mature in our faith.
The Christian life is akin to a marathon, where the goal is not just to start the race but to finish it. We are encouraged to run with endurance, helping one another along the way, and never giving up, even if it means crawling to the finish line. This perseverance is essential because, as Jesus said, "He who endures to the end will be saved." Our journey is not about resting on the laurels of past achievements or simply being content with the forgiveness of sins. Instead, it is about pressing forward, counting all things as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ.
In this race, we must also be wary of the weights and sins that entangle us. These can be anything from unconfessed sins to pride and the expectations of gratitude from others. We are called to lay aside these hindrances and run with a singular focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Worship, in its truest form, is about falling before God, giving Him our treasures, and desiring nothing but Him. It is this heart of worship that fuels our service and ensures that what we do for Christ is not in vain.
As we press on, we must also encourage others to grow and mature in their faith. This involves promoting others, allowing them to surpass us in spiritual maturity, and not being like King Saul, who was jealous of David. True leadership in the church is about raising others to stand on their own, just as we would with our own children. In doing so, we ensure that the church continues to thrive and grow, even after we are gone.
Key Takeaways:
- Pressing on to Perfection: The call to perfection is a journey towards Christlikeness, not an immediate achievement. It requires perseverance and a willingness to grow beyond the basics of faith, continually striving to be more like Jesus. [03:44]
- Endurance in the Race: The Christian life is a marathon, not a sprint. We must run with endurance, helping one another along the way, and never giving up, even if it means crawling to the finish line. [04:30]
- Laying Aside Weights: To run effectively, we must lay aside every weight and sin that entangles us. This includes unconfessed sins, pride, and the expectation of gratitude from others. [45:08]
- True Worship: Worship is about falling before God, giving Him our treasures, and desiring nothing but Him. It is this heart of worship that fuels our service and ensures that what we do for Christ is not in vain. [09:59]
- Raising Others in Faith: True leadership in the church involves promoting others, allowing them to surpass us in spiritual maturity, and ensuring that the church continues to thrive and grow. [31:27]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:35] - Pressing on to Perfection
- [01:21] - The Call to Maturity
- [02:20] - Jesus' Standard of Perfection
- [03:44] - The Marathon of Faith
- [05:02] - Misconceptions of Salvation
- [06:04] - Knowing Christ Above All
- [07:46] - The Refreshing Power of the Spirit
- [09:56] - Our True Family in Christ
- [11:38] - Breaking Generational Curses
- [13:50] - The New Life in Christ
- [15:15] - Gaining Christ Over All
- [18:07] - The Race to Perfection
- [22:19] - The Starting Line of Faith
- [27:31] - The Pursuit of 100%
- [31:27] - Promoting Others in Faith
- [39:15] - The Example of Jesus
- [45:08] - Laying Aside Every Weight
- [52:49] - Building on the Foundation
- [57:34] - Pressing on Despite Discouragement
- [01:09:59] - True Worship Defined
- [01:19:43] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Hebrews 6:1 - "Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God."
2. Matthew 5:48 - "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
3. Philippians 3:8-14 - "What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ..."
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Hebrews 6:1 suggest about the progression of a believer's faith journey? How does this relate to the concept of pressing on to perfection? [01:08]
2. In Matthew 5:48, Jesus calls us to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. How does the sermon explain this call to perfection? [02:20]
3. According to Philippians 3:8-14, what does Paul consider as loss compared to knowing Christ? How does this perspective influence his pursuit of spiritual maturity? [05:29]
4. The sermon compares the Christian life to a marathon. What are some of the challenges mentioned that believers might face in this race? [04:12]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon interpret the call to perfection in Matthew 5:48? Is it seen as an immediate requirement or a lifelong journey? [03:27]
2. What does it mean to "lay aside every weight and sin" as mentioned in the sermon? How can this be practically applied in a believer's life? [45:08]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of endurance in the Christian race. How does this endurance relate to the promise of salvation mentioned by Jesus? [04:30]
4. How does the sermon describe true worship, and why is it considered essential for effective service to Christ? [09:59]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own spiritual journey. Are there any "elementary teachings" you feel you need to move beyond to grow in maturity? What steps can you take to press on to perfection? [01:08]
2. Consider the weights and sins that might be entangling you. What specific actions can you take this week to lay them aside and focus more on Jesus? [45:08]
3. The sermon compares the Christian life to a marathon. What are some practical ways you can build endurance in your faith journey, especially during challenging times? [04:12]
4. True worship is described as giving God our treasures and desiring nothing but Him. What are some treasures in your life that you might need to surrender to God? [09:59]
5. How can you encourage others in your church community to grow and mature in their faith? Are there specific individuals you can support or mentor? [31:27]
6. Reflect on the idea of promoting others in faith. Are there areas where you might be holding back others from surpassing you spiritually? How can you change this mindset? [31:27]
7. The sermon mentions the importance of not expecting gratitude from others. How can you serve others selflessly this week without expecting anything in return? [01:00:01]
Devotional
Day 1: Journey Towards Christlikeness
In our journey of faith, we are called to press on to perfection, a concept rooted in Hebrews 6:1, which encourages us to move beyond the elementary teachings of Christ and strive for maturity. This pursuit of perfection is not about achieving flawlessness overnight but is a lifelong journey towards becoming more like Christ. Jesus Himself set the standard in Matthew 5:48, urging us to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. This call to perfection is not a burden but a goal that inspires us to continually grow and mature in our faith. [03:44]
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Reflection: What is one area of your spiritual life where you feel called to grow towards maturity? How can you take a step today to move beyond the basics and deepen your relationship with Christ?
Day 2: Endurance in Faith's Marathon
The Christian life is akin to a marathon, where the goal is not just to start the race but to finish it. We are encouraged to run with endurance, helping one another along the way, and never giving up, even if it means crawling to the finish line. This perseverance is essential because, as Jesus said, "He who endures to the end will be saved." Our journey is not about resting on the laurels of past achievements or simply being content with the forgiveness of sins. Instead, it is about pressing forward, counting all things as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. [04:30]
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (ESV): "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable."
Reflection: Consider a time when you felt like giving up in your faith journey. What helped you to keep going, and how can you apply that perseverance to your current challenges?
Day 3: Shedding Spiritual Weights
In this race, we must also be wary of the weights and sins that entangle us. These can be anything from unconfessed sins to pride and the expectations of gratitude from others. We are called to lay aside these hindrances and run with a singular focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Worship, in its truest form, is about falling before God, giving Him our treasures, and desiring nothing but Him. It is this heart of worship that fuels our service and ensures that what we do for Christ is not in vain. [45:08]
Colossians 3:8-10 (ESV): "But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."
Reflection: Identify a specific "weight" or sin that is hindering your spiritual progress. What practical steps can you take today to lay it aside and focus more fully on Jesus?
Day 4: Heart of True Worship
Worship is about falling before God, giving Him our treasures, and desiring nothing but Him. It is this heart of worship that fuels our service and ensures that what we do for Christ is not in vain. True worship is not about external rituals but an internal posture of the heart that seeks to honor God above all else. When we worship in spirit and truth, we align our lives with God's purposes and experience His presence in profound ways. [09:59]
John 4:23-24 (ESV): "But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
Reflection: Reflect on your current worship practices. How can you cultivate a deeper heart of worship that prioritizes God's presence over personal preferences or traditions?
Day 5: Empowering Others in Faith
As we press on, we must also encourage others to grow and mature in their faith. This involves promoting others, allowing them to surpass us in spiritual maturity, and not being like King Saul, who was jealous of David. True leadership in the church is about raising others to stand on their own, just as we would with our own children. In doing so, we ensure that the church continues to thrive and grow, even after we are gone. [31:27]
Ephesians 4:11-13 (ESV): "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 to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."
Reflection: Who in your life can you encourage and support in their spiritual journey? What specific actions can you take to help them grow in their faith and leadership?
Quotes
"Perfection is to be like Christ and we preach that and it's not only written here a church that does not preach let us press on to Perfection is not proclaiming the whole purpose of God in the Old Testament there's no verse like press onto Perfection it was impossible but the moment Jesus came, see what he said in Matthew Chapter 5." [00:01:31]
"Jesus said he who endures to the end will be saved that is the whole purpose of God that we Proclaim people think it's a strange message because they never heard it in other churches other churches says my sins are all forgiven I'm on my way to heaven I sit back in my easy chair and live for myself and watch movies all the time and go to church on Sunday and go to heaven." [00:04:52]
"I want to know him verse 10 I've counted everything as rubbish let's start at verse S whatever was gained to me I've counted as loss there are so many things that have been gained to you in the world you've accomplished something you've learned so much much you got experience and you're proud of all these things throw it away as rubbish and say I wanted I want Jesus." [00:05:41]
"Paul says I'm running I've not reached the Finishing Line yet I'm not become perfect verse 12 but I'm pressing on I'm running this is a marathon Race I'm running running helping others along the way and I want to lay hold of that for which Christ laid hold of me that means like this man saying the India sent me to this Olympics to represent it I've reached the finishing starting line now I want to do what the my country sent me here for to run and win." [00:23:08]
"Let us therefore Philippians 3:15 who have this have this attitude and if you have a different attitude God will show it to you and I hope God is showing it to you now but if you haven't come let us at least live by the standard to which you have attained that means don't go below don't go from fourth standard to third standard please at least remain in fourth standard and then press on." [00:37:15]
"Let us run this race and let us lay aside it says in verse one all the things that entangle us have you ever seen a Olympic race where a man comes with a suit and tie to the start line no they'll have a West and a shorts minimum because we don't want any weight you don't find them having stones in their pockets or even their W wallet in their pocket nothing they put aside all they want to be as light as possible to run this race." [00:42:51]
"Job gave up his treasures these wise men gave up their Treasures when Abraham worshiped he gave up his treasure Isaac if you haven't given up your Treasures you're not a worshipper you can call it praise and worship call it what you like many of you sing just for your own honor and you it's worship of yourself yeah I've seen sometimes in the early days someone playing instruments and especially drums wow people who drum they really get people to worship them when they're beating the drums in a church." [01:08:04]
"Be like the bans I'm showing you scripture not Zack pun's Bri ideas the first time we read about somebody worshiping in the New Testament I showed you Old Testament New Testament Matthew Chapter 2 the wise men came to Beth Bethlehem and they saw the child Matthew 2:1 that's Jesus they saw the child and Mary and they were not Roman Catholics so they worshiped only Jesus have you noticed that read it carefully they didn't not worship Jesus and Mary they saw Jesus and Mary but they fell down and worshiped only him." [01:09:19]
"Let us press on to Perfection let's not be fooled by the language of Babylonian Christianity then you say brother Zach then what are we doing when we sing that is prayer, praise, Thanksgiving it's not praise and worship it doesn't sound very nice to say it but it is prayer praise and thanksgiving many if you read the words of many of our songs one is a prayer and the other is pray a Thanksgiving thank you Lord for this do thank you for that thank you for that and the third is praise holy holy holy Lord God Almighty that is not thanking or prayer that is praise." [01:10:27]
"Only one life it will soon be passed only What's Done For Christ will last I think C stud did it said it according to the light he had but I say that a lot of people are doing things for Christ today in Babylonian Christianity it's not going to last so the way I say it is only one life it will soon be passed only what Christ does through you will last not what you do for Christ a lot of things you do for Christ will not last what Christ does through you will last." [01:14:37]
"Dear brothers and sisters what am I saying be a worshipper be a worshipper let that be a passion of your life amen let's pray Heavenly Father help us to press on to perfection in every area of our life help us never to be discouraged because we haven't reached the Finishing Line none of us have reached there help us to press on and press on and encourage one another help one another to reach the Finishing Line we pray in Jesus name amen." [01:19:35]
"Perfection is to be like Christ and we preach that and it's not only written here a church that does not preach let us press on to Perfection is not proclaiming the whole purpose of God in the Old Testament there's no verse like press onto Perfection it was impossible but the moment Jesus came, see what he said in Matthew Chapter 5." [00:01:31]
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