mature2

M a t u r i n g in C h r i s t II

b y m i n i s t e r i n g t o o n e a n o t h e r

And this is eternal life,

that they may know You,
the only true God,
and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
John 17:3 NKJV

G O A L

on becoming His shining light, reflecting His likeness?!
Matthew 5:14 NKJV
"The light, and love, and power of the indwelling Christ shone out
through [you], so that men, beholding, 'marveled: and they took
knowledge of [you], that [you] have been with Jesus.'"
Acts 4:13 NKJV SC 75

= O R =

on becoming the salt of the earth, where people, after having been with
you are thirsting after Christ, wanting what you have?!
Matthew 5:13 NKJV

= O R =

on becoming like a tree, planted by the rivers of water, which brings
forth its fruit in its season?! Psalm 1:3

"When the earth lies bare, a line of verdue [= verdure - 'the lush
greeness of flourishing conditions' *]" marks the river's course; ... "
TMB 81

= A N D =

"Behold, I will do a new thing,...
I will even make a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert ...."
Isaiah 43:19-21

"And the Lord shall guide you continually,
and satisfy your soul in drought,
and strengthen your bones;
you shall be like a watered garden,
and like a spring of water
whose waters do not fail." Isaiah 58:11 NKJV

I n t r o d u c t i o n

Eternal Life [ are you sure of your Salvation?!!! ]
Results in My Desire to Bear the Fruit of the Spirit
[ = Becoming Fruitful in Life ]
Responding in Knowing God
Provides Opportunity for Jesus to Get to Know Me
[ = Taking Care of My Needs ]

Provides Opportunity for Me to find Jesus
[ = Taking Care of Other's Needs ]

T h e B e n e f i t o f K n o w i n g G O D

A. Eternal Life [ are you sure of your Salvation?!!! ]

And this is eternal life,
that they may know You,
the only true God,
and Jesus Christ
Whom You have sent. John 17:3 NKJV
These things have I written to you
who believe in the name of the Son of God,
that you may know that you have eternal life.
1 John 5:13 NKJV

B. Results in My Desire to Bear the Fruit of the Spirit

[ = Becoming Fruitful in Life ]
9 ...and to ask that you may be filled
with the knowledge of His will
in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord,
fully pleasing Him,
being fruitful in every good work
and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 strengthened with all might
according to His glorious power,
for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
12 giving thanks of the Father
who has qualified us to be
partakers of the inheritance
of the saints in the light. Col 1:9-12 NKJV
...that you may walk worthy of the Lord,
fully pleasing Him,
being [ genuine Christian ] fruitful in every good work
and increasing in the knowledge of God
[ may grow deeper ]. Col 1:9,10 Phillips
We pray that you may bear fruit,
in active goodness of every kind,
and grow in the knowledge of God.
Col 1:9,10 TNEB
...so that you will always be doing good,
kind things for others,
while all the time you are
learning to know God better and better.
Col 1:9,10 TLB
...and you may be fruitful
in all kinds of good deeds,
and may grow into fuller knowledge of God.
Col 1:9,10 GDSP
...and desiring to please Him in all things,
bearing fruit in every good work
and steadily growing and increasing
in [ and by ] the knowledge of God
with fuller, deeper and clearer insight,
acquaintance and recognition.
Col 1:10 TAB
[ asking ] that you may be filled
with the full [ deep and clear ]
knowledge of His will
in all spiritual wisdom
[ that is, in comprehensive insight
into the ways and purposes of God ],
and in understanding and discernment of
spiritual things; v9
For if these things are yours and abound,
you will be neither barren nor unfruitful
in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ
2 Peter 1:5 NKJV
[ for = v4 - context ]

R e s p o n d i n g I n K n o w i n g G O D

A. Provides Opportunity for Jesus to Get to Know Me
[ = Taking Care of My Needs ]

Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins Matthew 25:1-13
"I do not know you"

B. Provides Opportunity for Me to find Jesus
[ = Taking Care of Other's Needs ]

Parable of the Sheep and the Goats Matthew 25:31-46
6 To loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the heave burdens,
to let the oppressed go free,
to break every yoke?
7 ...to share your bread with the hungry,
...you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
...you see the naked, that you cover him,
and not hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
your healing shall spring forth speedily,
your righteousness shall go before you;
the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Isaiah 58:6-8 NKJV

M y R e s p o n s e

G o i n g D e e p e r / S o u r c e s = R e a d i n g s

White, Ellen G. Steps to Christ - Pacific Press, any edition
chapter 10 "A Knowledge of God" pages 85 - 91

Wolfhard Touchard, M.L.S. Retired Reference & Database Librarian
Andrews University - February 2014