What does Scripture say vs. mans teachings about the steps to being a Christian beginning to end?
1. Man teaches that: We must reproduce our kind by witnessing right away.
God's Word teaches otherwise: The Word says that we are babes that are in need of milk not meat.
Context:
A newborn babe in Christ can only handle milk as so the babe in this world. God uses carnal applications so that we can understand spiritual Truths. As a new born we cannot talk, walk, care for ourselves, or in any wise "reproduce" our kind. In fact we are relying on "our kind" to "teach us", help us to continue, and fill in all that is lacking in us to "manifest" our Creator. In fact we are almost useless to function with power or influence. Aside from belonging to Christ and having His revelation in us (some more and some less depending on the revelation received at conversion, (Paul vs the brothers at Ephesus Acts 19:2-7). As a baby shows forth his or her parents so we do Christ but aside from "relationship" we are quite powerless. That is why we must be fed milk not meat to start. In the flesh we gain weight with body function including development and mobility. As a babe in the spirit we gain confidence in our salvation, depth of heart, wisdom, knowledge, and faith. As a babe in the spirit we learn that we are "unprotected" without the armor of God, and what that armor consists of that needs be fitted to us and adorned.
It is unheard of to expect a baby to be anything more than a developing baby. So it is in Christ. If a babe in Christ is expected to go out and witness that which he knows nothing about then he will be a lamb before wolves and devoured, causing frustration in that he cannot satisfy his heart representation of his Father in Heaven. This of course, (as mentioned before), depends on the witness he received and whether or not (at that time) he received the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. If saved and Baptized in the Holy Spirit then (even though there is still a maturing period) he possesses all that is needed to mature quickly enough to be effective among men but only by the Holy Spirit. Otherwise there is a "learning period" that needs to take place before he can be expected to "manifest the gospel" with the ease of faith and the Scriptures both in word and deed. By a learning period I do not mean just a carnal exposure to the Scriptures but I mean that "God takes the heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh wherein God's word is written upon it". This happens by seeking, asking, knocking, by prayer, faith, and passion. God is able to "reveal" His Word (and the Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us" Jesus Christ) by revelation as much as by written Scripture, spoken Scripture, or taught Scripture. If all we have is the carnal, (unless revealed by the Holy Spirit), exposure to the written, spoken, and taught Word with no revelation by the Holy Spirit, than we will never have the passion or heart that it takes to seek, ask or knock with the passion that rewards with results that are divine, (here we can only rely on the promise that "God's word will not return void").
A babe in Christ is destined for milk (of the spirit) as a babe in the flesh is destined for the (carnal) milk feeding. This is a mystery of the Creator that is somewhat overlooked in today's "mentoring" of babes in Christ. Instead (my opinion) of encouraging babe's to get into the Word, prayerfully, passionately, and believing all things that are written (otherwise "in faith"), we cram them into a "study" that we feel is just what they need to get started and forget that they may not have the capacity (let alone God's timing for where they are at) to understand. I believe that if we took the new babe in Christ and encouraged an exposure to the Scriptures, prayer and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit (if that didn't already take place) under the training, revelation and "watch care" of the Holy Spirit we would be hand in hand with God's design and maturity would be greatly aided and sped along. Who knows better? God or man? Might I also ask: Are we trying to "reproduce" God's heritage or mans "religion"? Are we trying to reproduce our own practices or God's power? Are we so afraid of our own "immaturity" that we don't have the faith or oversight to trust the One who Created all thing for "Whom nothing is impossible" with His own offspring? Do we really believe that we have the "right way" to raise His babes and fear that His arm is shortened to preform that which He promised. I tell you the answer is in this "let God be True and every man a lair".
Bible study is profoundly important but only when "the study is by the Holy Spirit, by those who are led by the Holy Spirit, and they must have the witness of men "filled with the Holy Spirit" present when instruction is given. With all the for mentioned those who are "taught" in the study should take the time to diligently seek out in the Scriptures those things that were said to see if that which was instructed in was in agreement with the written Word. God's word will never violate itself, ever! It is better for a teacher to say "I don't know or understand the context" then to conjure up an answer that "sounds good" or "seems right."
Milk for babes.
2. Now meat for developing Christians:
Hebrews 5:11-14
11Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Notice that those who use milk are unskillful in the word of righteousness for he is a babe.
Then "strong meat belongeth to them that are full of age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Strong meat belongs to the "full of age" practiced (experienced) in discerning good and evil.
Babes look at strong meat as impossible or unobtainable whereas those who are full of age find the impossibilities an encouragement and challenge to increase faith.
My own personal belief and practice is "to see the impossible as a great blessing of God brought to me so that I can see by faith Him glorifying Himself in the deliverance of the matter. And I do this with great excitement and expectation for "with God all things are possible".
Hebrews 6:1-3
1Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3And this will we do, if God permit.
This is where the rubber meets the road. The mention of leaving the founding principles of the doctrine of Christ is not an abandoning of them but a resting in the surety of them to the point of being unshakable so one can move forward with the deeper things of God. By setting to rest the first we can free ourselves to receive and practice the increasing revelation of Christ with power by faith. A Christian who has never had a revelation of Christ or an experience of His promises is like a sailing ship with all sails set and no wind. Yes it is a ship. Yes it carries a cargo. But no it has no "delivering power" to allow the cargo to be carried to it's destination. If the condition exists long enough even those who are a part of the fleet will wonder, "what is their purpose.? Christians are the same with one exception: After not experiencing "the promises and fulfilling commands" long enough, they will wrest the Word of God by teaching that the promises and commands don't exist any more, there by derailing others who are weak in the faith and polluting the pure Word of God.
Those who practice the use of strong meat prove God's provisions for power, and by doing that: His immutable existence. They also set the bar for those who watch to be higher so that the excitement of "growing in faith" catches them up and spurs a desire to do the same. Not out of pride or comparison but out of the humility that comes with doing the "will of the Father."
Strong meat is "being conformed to the image and likeness of Christ". It is "decreasing so He may increase in us." Strong meat is the teaching of death to the old man and life in the new, but not just in the teaching but also in the accomplishment thereof as proof to others that this is just the "norm" for all those who are "called by His name".
Strong meat is "doing the things that Jesus did and greater".
What did Jesus do?
Lets see what His strong meat was:
He saw the Father doing His work and did it also.
He spoke the Words that His Father in heaven told Him to speak.
He made sure that if you seen Him you seen the Father.
He "glorified" His Father in Heaven.
He served man although all heaven worshiped Him as God.
His strong meat allowed Him to "raise the dead and heal the sick."
His strong meat gave Him the power to "give sight to the blind and make the lame to walk."
He opened the ears of the deaf and loosed the tongue of the mute.
To sum it up "His strong meat was represented by the intimacy He had with His Father in Heaven and thereby He received power from on high to do His will and Glorify His name even unto death.
Now lets take a moment to look what kind of food we have on our plates!
Can you only suck yours through a straw still arguing about faith, baptism, who is more righteous?
Or is your plate full of "dedication to Christ to manifest your Father in Heaven?" Full of faith to work the impossible (God working through you), giving hope in the spirit when hope doesn't exist in the flesh, spreading the Gospel with power in both word and deed, dying to self so Christ can increase and do His work in you, then finally serving others with Love, Joy and Peace in the Holy Spirit with power from on high.
Are you ready for strong meat? Ask, seek and knock until your answer comes. Then eat with passion and act with Love having the anointing of the Holy Spirit to guide and bless.
God's speed as you grow in grace and faith.
Love in Christ
J&E
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