Growing, not stagnating, continued

One of the signs of maturity and discernment is not actually how long we have been Christians.
Nope.
A better indicator is how effectively we have worked out our own issues. How have we dealt with sin in our own lives? How have we dealt with wrong motivators?
It's really easy to deceive ourselves sometimes!
Have we allowed the Holy Spirit to probe and reveal our problems?
We focused on Hebrews 5 yesterday:

We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:11-14)

See that phrase, "by constant use have trained themselves"? I believe what the writer to the Hebrews is saying is that we need to spend a lot of time letting God tell us how we need to change our thinking. We have ways of thinking about things that are based on lies, or deception, or half-truths. "Constant use" and "training" are ways that God can use to reveal what is really in our hearts. You see, God knows what's in our hearts. But sometimes we'd rather not look too deeply. We might be disappointed. Embarrassed.
Constant use . . . of prayer, and of study, and of focusing our mind on Him.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.  (Ephesians 6:18)

I meditate on your precepts    and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees;    I will not neglect your word. (Psalm 119:15-16)

It's not hard to fool ourselves about our spiritual condition. To make ourselves think we are more spiritual, more mature than we are. That is why we must try very hard to work out the issues in our own lives - to deal with the sins and attitudes that hinder us. I'm remember years ago I heard Corrie Ten Boom speak at a crusade. I remember her saying this, and I was thrilled to find the quote: "Don't pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it!"

"You need milk, and not solid food!" The problem outlined in Hebrews 5 still exists today. In fact, we see this a lot in our churches nowadays. We have a church culture that forces many pastors today to keep plowing the same ground . . . to continually feed people milk. The people in their congregations have not moved into the meat phase of maturity, and it's mainly because they have not worked on the issues that God has right in front of them. If they would listen to the Spirit and work on the sins and attitudes that He points out, they could remove those sins and issues. It is He Who knows our hearts far better than we know them ourselves!

You know when I sit and when I rise;    you perceive my thoughts from afar. (Psalm 139:2)

“I the Lord search the heart    and examine the mind," (Jeremiah 17:10a)

If we will shut out the hectic noise of the world and listen to the still, small voice, we can learn how to be more than "hearers." The way would be cleared to grow and mature, growing more like Christ Jesus. They will learn how to be ready to teach and to lead. With cleansing will come maturity and discernment. Remember what the writer of Proverbs told us? "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and..." what was the next part?
"Lean not on your own understanding." Don't fool yourself about your spiritual health. Allow the Holy Spirit time. Listen quietly. Look carefully at the issues that He brings to mind.... this is the pathway to maturity and discernment.

Another important key to growth, and maturity as well, is to remain humble. If we are walking around telling people "I have great discernment! It's my spiritual gift," then we just don't "get it."
If we really have trained ourselves to follow the Spirit, and we've received a gift of wisdom and discernment, we will use it with meekness - with humility.

Above all else, guard your heart,    for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23)

It's amazing how quickly believers that we thought were mature will "tag team" with others to tear down the reputation of another Christian. We quickly toss them to the curb, forgetting that we ourselves could easily end up in the same sin.
If we discern something in someone else, we must first maintain an humble attitude. After all, we are redeemed sinners, too, right? (Grin) Then, we must respond with thoughtfulness -- not a quick reply or a snappy retort -- but with an humble heart of love for our fellow Christian. You see, our motivation should not be merely to point out the issue and walk away. Our goal is restoration.

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)

It's not our goal to punish; it's our goal to restore that person's life . . . to assist them in getting things right with our Savior. Discernment must be paired with meekness -- remember what meekness means? Strength and power under control. Surely meekness is easier when we are reminded that anyone's struggle could be our own. As Paul said in the verse above, we could become prey to the very thing we have discerned and gently pointed out in someone else.

If we want to use discernment effectively, and counsel others, we will do well to keep uppermost in our minds the fact that God's mercy saved us from our own sins. This will keep our attitude humble and our words gentle.