Ye Know Not What Manner of Spirit Ye Are Of
Spiritual maturity is characterized by a full baptism of the Holy Spirit, leading to a life of love, tenderness, and patience.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes that true spirituality is reflected in our relationships with others, suggesting that those filled with the Holy Spirit exhibit qualities of simplicity, tenderness, and love. He contrasts the early zeal of James and John, who sought vengeance, with the mature love demonstrated by John and Paul later in their lives, highlighting the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Simpson expresses a desire for a love that overflows, rooted in God's nature, and concludes with the reminder that love is the greatest virtue among faith, hope, and love.
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Someone has said that the most spiritual people are the easiest to get along with. When one has a little of the Holy Spirit it is like "a little learning, a dangerous thing." But a full baptism of the Holy Spirit and a really disciplined established and tested spiritual life makes one simple, tender, tolerant, considerate and childlike. James and John, in their early zeal, want to call down fire from heaven on the Samaritans. But John, the aged, allowed Demetrius to exclude him from the church, and, with the patience of Jesus, suffered on Patmos for the kingdom.
And aged Paul was willing to take back even Mark, whom he had refused as a companion in his early ministry and to acknowledge that he was profitable to him for the ministry.
I want the love that cannot help but love; Loving, like God, for very sake of love. A spring so full that it must overflow, A fountain flowing from the throne above. Now abideth faith, hope, [love]; but the greatest of these is [love] (1 Corinthians 13:13).
Sermon Outline
- The Nature of Spiritual Maturity
- Examples of Spiritual Maturity in the Bible
- The Call to Spiritual Maturity
- The Love that Cannot Help but Love
- The Overflowing Spring of Love
- The Importance of Love in Spiritual Growth
Key Quotes
“A full baptism of the Holy Spirit and a really disciplined established and tested spiritual life makes one simple, tender, tolerant, considerate and childlike.” — A.B. Simpson
“A spring so full that it must overflow, A fountain flowing from the throne above.” — A.B. Simpson
“Now abideth faith, hope, [love]; but the greatest of these is [love] (1 Corinthians 13:13).” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- We should strive to cultivate a life of love, tenderness, and patience, just like Jesus.
- Spiritual maturity is not about being zealous or judgmental, but about being simple, tolerant, and considerate.
- We can overflow with love and become a fountain of blessing to others when we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us.