IMMATURITY [Galatians 4a]

1. “Now I say that the heir, AS LONG AS HE IS A CHILD, does not DIFFER at all from a SLAVE, though he is master of all at.
2. but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.”
   Galatians 4:1,2 (NKJV)

• Immaturity can limit a believer in whatever assignment given him or her by God.

• God wants a believer to grow, and much more a minister to grow alongside his or her ministry.
  IMMATURITY of ministers have brought a lot of humiliations to the BODY of Christ.
• Apostle Paul warned Timothy not to put a novice in the leadership position: "2 A BISHOP [overseer, elder, or pastor] THEN MUST BE BLAMELESS…6 NOT A NOVICE, lest being puffed up with pride he [she] fall into the same condemnation as the devil”(1 Timothy 3:2,6 NKJV).

• Someone who is not mature may through their immaturity cause confusion in the church of Christ—in a local Church.

• The text, Scriptural passage for this teaching says an immature person is not different From a slave (Galatians 4:1).
  AN IMMATURE person may be master of all yet because of: immaturity, childishness, he would not be able to take charge of things as they supposed.
• There are pastors, ministers, who ARE not mature in the things of the kingdom. They do not know the importance of their offices—position.
• Samuel told Saul the KING what God said about him: "Samuel continued, “YOU MAY NOT THINK YOU'RE VERY IMPORTANT, but the LORD chose you to be king, and you are in charge of the tribes of Israel" (1 Samuel 15:17 Contemporary English Version).
• A minister may remain small in his or her own eyes as a sign of humility, however, such should not use that to shy away from their responsibilities.
• Paul admonishes Timothy not to allow his youthfulness to become a liability but Rather an asset: "12 Do not let anyone .treat you as if you are unimportant [despise/disregard/look down on you] because you are young. Instead, be an example to the believers with your words, your ·actions [conduct; behaviour], your love, your ·faith [faithfulness], and your ·pure life [purity]" (1 Timothy 4:12 Expanded Bible).

• Spiritual age is higher than biological age, one may be young in age, but be mature spiritually.

• Someone who is young in age and has the understanding of spiritual things, the know-how of the things of the Kingdom, is higher than someone who is older in age but lacks the knowledge of spiritual things and the Kingdom principles.
• Apostle Paul also admonishes Timothy to take heed to himself: "FOCUS ON WORKING ON YOUR OWN DEVELOPMENT AND ON WHAT YOU TEACH. If you do this, you will save YOURSELF AND THOSE WHO HEAR YOU" (1 Timothy 4:16 Common English Bible).
• A minister should pay attention to his or her personal growth and development.
• If he or she does, they will save themselves AND the people they are ministering to.
• Childishness or immaturity puts one under bondage: “Even so we, WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN, WERE IN BONDAGE UNDER THE ELEMENTS OF THE WORLD" (Galatians 4:3).
• Immaturity makes you think and behave awkwardly, embarrassingly! Thus, grow up and Wise up: "When I was A CHILD, I TALKED like a CHILD, I THOUGHT like a CHILD, I REASONED like a CHILD; when I became a MAN, I did away with CHILDISH THINGS" (1 Corinthians 13:11 AMP).

• Jesus Christ is our standard—the model.
EVERY minister should aspire to grow to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: “till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the KNOWLEDGE of the Son of God, TO A PERFECT [mature] MAN, TO THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST” (Ephesians 4:13).

• And for a believer OR minister to grow and become mature, he or she must pay attention to the Studying, pondering, and practicing of the Scripture.

1. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, for reproof, for correction, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS,
2. THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE COMPLETE, THOROUGHLY EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK."
   2 Timothy 3:16,17 (NKJV)

• One can be a powerhouse, full of the anointing and the manifestations of the gifts of the Spirit, but be a babe in character—in comportment and decorum that befit a minister of God.

• I have seen any number of ministers who are carnal, immature, and are fleshly ruled; yet they do not pay attention to it.
  IF you failed to work on your character, it would affect your work, the assignment in the short or long run.
• Some Ministers are carnal, they behave like mere men—like unbelievers.

1. “And I, brethren, could NOT speak to you as to SPIRITUAL PEOPLE BUT AS TO CARNAL, AS TO BABES IN CHRIST.
2. FOR YOU ARE STILL CARNAL. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, ARE YOU NOT CARNAL AND BEHAVING LIKE MERE MEN?”
   1 Corinthians 3:1,3 (NKJV)

• To be canal is to be fleshly ruled, that you are being controlled by the flesh.
• A canal person is someone who does not allow their flesh and minds to be controlled by their spirit—the inward Man:
  "5 FOR THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH SET THEIR MINDS ON THE THINGS OF THE FLESH, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 FOR TO BE CARNALLY MINDED IS DEATH, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 BECAUSE THE CARNAL MIND IS ENMITY AGAINST GOD; FOR IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF GOD, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, THOSE WHO ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD" (Romans 8:5-8 NKJV).
• Apostle Paul also admonishes us to walk in the Spirit, that we may not fulfil the LUSTS of the flesh (Galatians 4:16).
• Maturity in Christ means maturity in character. Having a Christlike character (Romans 5:3,4).
  PAY attention to the character development.
  GOD wants you to grow and move from being a child to a son. From childhood to sonship!

• Sonship means maturity:“Therefore you are no longer a slave but a SON, and if a SON, then an HEIR of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:7).

• A son is an heir, who has access to whatever the Father has.
  YOUR level of Maturity in Christ determines the level of revelation you HAVE in God.
• The deeper you are in God, the greater the Revelation of Him you HAVE: "11 But I make known to you, brethren, that THE GOSPEL which was preached by me [Paul] is not according to man. 12 FOR I NEITHER RECEIVED IT FROM MAN, nor was I taught it, BUT IT CAME THROUGH THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST" (Galatians 1:11,12 NKJV).

• Immaturity enslaves, THEREFORE wise-up and grow up.

• Strive to know God the more, and do not be satisfied or contented with the level of your knowledge in Him (Philippians 3:10,11).
• Study His Word and build your fellowship with Him.
• Many study to be boastful of their head knowledge: "BUT KNOWLEDGE MAKES US PROUD OF OURSELVES, while love makes us helpful to others. 2 IN FACT, PEOPLE WHO THINK THEY KNOW SO MUCH DON'T KNOW ANYTHING AT ALL" (1 Corinthians 8:1,2 Contemporary English Version).
• Those who think they know do not study for working knowledge, the knowledge that will enhance their growth in Him and cause their fruitfulness to be boosted—increase the more.
• Study to build your fellowship Or communion with God, and to increase your fruitfulness in His Kingdom on earth.

1. “that I MAY KNOW HIM AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
2. NOT THAT I HAVE ALREADY ATTAINED, OR AM ALREADY PERFECTED; BUT I PRESS ON, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.”
   Philippians 3:10,12 (NKJV)

• No Believer in Christ outgrows the School of the Bible.

• Any Believer who outgrows the studying of the Bible is about to be extinct.
• Extinction in the Ministry work starts with being busy to the point of not having time to Study the Word and fellowship with God.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!
TO BE CONTINUED