Why do most Christians remain
spiritual babies? The author of Hebrews tells us it
is because they choose not to go on to maturity in
Christ Jesus.
The capacity for entering into
deeper spiritual truths depends on the faithfulness
with which the soul has been obedient in discerning
good and evil in our daily lives.
Our fellowship with God depends
upon our obedience to His Word, and our obedience
determines how much spiritual maturity takes place
in our lives. If we do not act
upon what we know to be true in God’s Word, we will
not grow in the likeness of Jesus Christ.
Neither will we move from “milk” to “meat” in
God’s word.
It is very simple; if we love
Him, we will obey Him. There is
no getting around that spiritual truth.
The writer of Hebrews carefully
tells his readers, "Concerning Him we have much to
say, and it is hard to explain, since you have
become dull of hearing" (Hebrews 5:11).
Charles Williams words it this way, “You have
become lazy. You have become so
dull in you spiritual senses. You
are so slow to grasp spiritual truth.”
Why had the early baby
believers become so dull in their spiritual hearing,
and sluggish, even slothful in gaining spiritual
insight? They had never
progressed from the need of spiritual milk.
Solid food is for full-grown individuals
“whose senses and mental faculties are trained by
practice to discriminate and distinguish between
what is morally good and noble and what is evil and
contrary either to divine or human law” (Amplified
Bible, Heb. 5:14).
Maturity produces more
maturity. Immaturity reinforces
and leads to more immaturity. You
do not jump from immaturity to a fully mature
person. Christians become mature
spiritually “on account of long usage have their
powers of perception exercised to the point where
they are able to discriminate between both that
which is good in character and that which is evil”
(v.14, Wuest Expanded Translation).
The emphasis is on spiritual
progress. Laziness prevents
spiritual development. When you
drift from God’s word, you will begin doubting it,
and you will become “dull listeners.”
If you have the attitude that everything
spiritual is dull, you will begin a dangerous slide
into spiritual immaturity. The
Bible is dull. The preacher is
dull. The Sunday School lesson is
dull, and you are dead spiritually.
When there is no hunger and thirsting for the
righteousness of God, you are spiritually dead or in
grave condition.
The neglect of past
opportunities to put into practice God’s teachings
or moral truths results in spiritual dullness.
We become lazy spiritually and unresponsive
to the pleading of the Holy Spirit to pursue
godliness.
Both milk and meat are needed
for nourishment, but the former is for infants and
the latter for adults.
The Christian in every
generation is confronted by the cultures of the
world. Pressure is constantly
applied for us to conform. "Therefore I urge you,
brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your
bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to
God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And
do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that
you may prove what the will of God is, that which is
good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:1-2).
We are to focus our eyes upon Jesus Christ
who always confronts every culture of every
generation. Meat for strong
Christians deals with the hard issues of moral good
and evil. It distinguishes the difference between
that which is good and better, and better and best.
The spiritually mature believer
by the exercise of his senses discerns good and evil
and builds through these experiences a standard of
righteousness by which he exercises an even more
mature spiritual discernment.
How is your spiritual appetite?
What are you hungry for spiritually?
Maturity comes with habitual
spiritual practice. Our spiritual perception and
discernment comes through constant practice.
When we put into daily practice
the spiritual light, we have already received which
prepares us for more spiritual truth. We move from
spiritual milk to meat as we obey our Lord and
Master.
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author's written consent.
Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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