How can you strive to be "mature and fully assured" in faith? Key Verse “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the entire will of God.” — Colossians 4:12 What Maturity and Assurance Look Like • Maturity: consistent Christ-likeness in thought, word, and deed (Ephesians 4:13) • Assurance: settled confidence that God’s promises are true and personally yours (1 John 5:13) • Both qualities grow together—heartfelt obedience deepens confidence, and confidence fuels further growth. How to Pursue “Mature and Fully Assured” Faith 1. Saturate Your Mind with Scripture • “All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable…” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) • Daily, unhurried reading and memorization renew thinking (Romans 12:2). • Let the text correct, train, and equip—take it at face value. 2. Pray with Purpose, Like Epaphras • He “always” prayed and “wrestled.” Regular, earnest intercession changes hearts—yours first. • Pray specifically for understanding God’s will and for steadfastness to do it (Colossians 1:9-11). 3. Commit to Obedient Action • Knowledge matures only when practiced (James 1:22-25). • Start with clear commands: forgiving, serving, speaking truth in love. • Each act of obedience strengthens assurance that God is at work in you (Philippians 2:12-13). 4. Cultivate Fellowship with Faithful Believers • Mutual encouragement guards against drift (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Share victories and struggles; receive counsel grounded in Scripture (Proverbs 27:17). • Observe seasoned saints; imitate their faith (Hebrews 13:7). 5. Guard Your Doctrine • “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception” (Colossians 2:8). • Test every teaching by the Word; cling to the gospel of grace alone through faith alone. • Sound doctrine anchors assurance; error breeds doubt. 6. Remember the Finished Work of Christ • Your standing rests on His accomplishment, not your performance (Hebrews 10:14). • When sin accuses, run to 1 John 1:9 and Colossians 2:13-14. • Confidence flourishes when the cross stays central. Guardrails Against Spiritual Drift • Reject spiritual shortcuts—there is no maturity without time and testing. • Beware of feelings-based assurance; anchor confidence in God’s unchanging Word. • Resist isolation; lone believers become easy targets for doubt. Encouragement from Other Scriptures • Philippians 1:6—“He who began a good work in you will perfect it.” • Hebrews 6:11—desire “the full assurance of hope until the end.” • Hebrews 5:14—solid food belongs to the mature who have “their senses trained to distinguish good from evil.” Living It Out Daily 1. Read one chapter of Scripture, note one truth to obey. 2. Pray ten minutes focused on God’s will for your life and others’. 3. Act on the truth you noted; evaluate at day’s end. 4. Meet weekly with a believing friend or group for accountability and encouragement. 5. Review gospel promises whenever doubts arise. Growth into maturity and full assurance is intentional but entirely powered by God’s Spirit. Stay in His Word, stay on your knees, stay among His people, and watch Him complete what He began. |
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