Maturity

*the journey ahead is not going to easier... We need to be stronger!

Maturity : balance is the key to life

Ephesians 4:11-16
   -if we are being childish in our faith, we will be easily tossed by waves of crisis


Ephesians 4;10-13
   -mature adults : fully developed with and without, fully alive like Christ

Like 9:3
   -carrying the cross of Jesus is a daily thing
      -carrying the sustainability is to be balance
Carrying the cross picture
   -embrace the spiritual and the earthly

Ephesians 4;1
   -our calling and lifestyle are to be fit each other... Balance


**To avoid being disillusioned, learn to expect a miracle; but also embrace the mystery of God
   -When we are in a crisis, expect a miracle to happen! But our faith should also allow mystery of God to work in our life

How to deal with disappointment?
   -ability to accept the mystery of God



Colossians 2;2
   -Jesus is a mystery.. He is unpredictable
      -Jesus way is higher than our ways, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts
Psalm 37 4-5
   -every promise of God is not in our hands but it's within our reach
   -though we have a plan and gave it to God, we have to trust in Him not in our plan!

Why does do work in our plan and leave us hanging...
   -What if the reason why God doesn't meet your expectations is because he wants to exceed them!

*We need to be in a state of full trust in God

Ephesians 3;8-13
Ephesians 3:14-19
   -learn to appreciate and embrace the mystery
   *Sometimes no explanation is sufficient for the suffering, just believe and trust God
Ephesians 3:20
   -things always happen with happy ending when we fully trust in Him

Picture
   -God will use problems to make us more and more like Jesus

John 21:18

I see golden rain raining down... And it came to me... "This is God's blessings"

Walking in the spirit

We cannot be afraid of uncertainty, but go according to the wind

Galatians 5 25

Ehp 5 18
   -when one is filled or drunk with alcohol, alcohol took control of the person..
   -filled with the Holy Spirit is being to influenced by the Holy Spirit to accomplish things that is beyond imagination
   -we are to be committed to be filled with the Holy Spirit

There's so many self help books but still we are unable to
Picture fullness of the spirit
Acts 17 6

Luke 4 1 2
   -Jesus is fully willing to be directed by the Holy Spirit
Luke 4 14
   -power comes when we are fully willing to be led by the Holy Spirit
Luke 4 18

Luke 1 35
   -Mary gave total surrender

Galatians 5 25 eph. 5 18
John 4:13

John 7:37
   -the fountain is within us
      - however sometimes we don't experience it... What is it that blocked ?

2 things that can block the Holy Spirit
1.
   -anything that we do or say that is not consistent with God's nature
      -grieve only happens in a love relationship.. the Holy Spirit loves us just as Jesus loves us
Romans 15:30
   *a father loves his son no matter what
      -when the son is bad, his father's love is mixed with anguish, sadness
   4things abt the Holy Spirit
      1. Spirit of Truth
         -dont tell lies any more
            -walk in truth.. what we do and say is the same (nothing to hide)
      2. Spirit of Faith
         -being worry, grieve, fear grieves the Holy Spirit
             -though it may come, don't abide in them!
      3. Spirit of grace
         -unforgiving, resentment, bitterness grieves the Holy Spirit
         -action of grace = giving and forgiving
     4. Spirit of Holiness
         -be decisive, be urgent
2. Quenching the Holy Spirit
   -critising, ashamed of the work of the Holy Spirit
   -dont pour water... Let the fire burn
   -keep adding fuel
   -dont stop praying

John 7:37

Krazo

At the age of 30, time for big responsibility

At young age, we are in our own mind... Our own way to serve God
But as we mature, we will ask how God wants us to do

Though successful in career in life, ppl tend to be weary
   -Only when we are in God's glory then we can enjoy God

Picture
*God's character: holiness, love, truth

2 Cor

If Jesus nv come,
1. None of us will know God n
o
us will know God
Hebrews 1:2

Jesus introduce us to God
Jesus called God Father.. nobody did this till Jesus came

2. How God's love is like
   Ephesians 3 16 19
   - God's love is so great.. so grasp, so wide, so long, so high and deep
      -God's love is unconditional.. no selfishness
Ephesians 3 19

*Power of God comes only by the love of God

To be holy...
1. Love
   -Jesus loves Judas even of He knows what Judas will betray Him
2. Joy
   -even if Jesus knows tt He is going to be captured, Jesus has joy with the Father
3. Peace
4. Long-suffering
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
   -Jesus was faithful to the Father till the end
8. Gentleness
9. Self control
   -Jesus never lost control
   -ability to hold angry during stress

Picture

Jesus is not historical, He is seeking to pruify us..
If Jesus didn't come, we don't know who the Holy Spirit is

How Jesus lead the disciples is how the Holy Spirit will lead us

Matt 15 31
   -with man is impossible, but with God nothing is impossible

Picture
Matt 26 39
   -Faith is believing to the end
   -in faith, God have the final word
   -Jesus shows us what true faith is!

Romans 8 28-29
   -God is looking at eternal good!

Beautifully broken

The road ahead is not going to get easier.. we need to be stronger!

Picture kintsugi
*God wants to make us more beautiful in His eyes by fixing our broken pieces
   -using our broken pieces, by His grace, God wants to glue our broken pieces together

Picture kintsugi purpose

*Broken objects are not something yo be hidden but to be displayed with pride!
   -the gold lacquer highlights the imperfections

*Our scars don't define us, they redefine us!


Isiah 64 8 picture
   -God can break us if we are not in the shape that God wants us to be

*don't give up, continue to believe that God is our porter!!
   -God cannot honor His promise if we do not honour His process

Isiah 45 9 picture

Picture

2 Corinthians Picture4 7

2 Cor 4 7-9 picture2
   -dont be demoralised... God knows what He is doing and He has not left our side

*Learn to magnify God's greatness but don't exaggerate His goodness

*God speaks to us truly and not attractiveness

When Simon Peter did something that God wants him to be, Jesus calls him Peter.. but when Simon Peter did something that is of his own self, Jesus calls him Simon
++Picture

Crisis picture
   -when are doing very well, we don't see a need to change
   -we will change only when we value brokenness

Picture Simon Peter
-not changed from a bad to a good person but embrace our weakness, past and still continue to live out our Godlly potential

*God doesn't need a perfect vessel

*Transfiguration : a complete change in form or appearance to a more beautiful or spiritual state
Matt 17 1 2 picture
2 Cor 4 7

*Mircles don't change us

John 20 15 17

1 Cor

1 Peter
   -dont be demoralised!!