The Move: Milk to Meat

Introduction

(Scripture Quotes, Biblegateway.com)

Hebrews 5:14 NIV says, “But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”

The Teaching is Entitled: The Move: Milk to Meat

The scripture is a part of a broader text that deals with the problem of immaturity in the church. The writer of the text not only deals with immaturity but also makes a call to spiritual growth.

The words “solid food” means a broader understanding of the word of God. The writer is speaking to Christian who were long-time believers: However, he calls them babes because of their lack of spiritual growth. The writer said they couldn’t handle solid food because they were not doing what was right. The believers still needed milk, meaning the basic teachings of Christianity which were repenting from dead works, faith in God, the doctrine of baptisms, laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. (Hebrews 1:1-2)

Some people in the Body of Christ today refuse to repent; they refuse to do what the word of God tells them to do: They make all kinds of excuses for not obeying.

The apostle Paul made the same statement regarding milk to the Corinthian church. He said in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 NIV, “Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?” Paul had to deal with many issues in the Corinthian church ranging from doctrine, jealousy, strife, division, giving, and immorality. The Corinthians were impressed with speaking in tongues but had no interpretation. They had favorites, some followed Peter, and some Apollos. They followed certain individuals because they were impressed with external qualities such as eloquence of speech (Apollos was noted in the book of Acts for his speaking abilities), human wisdom – people become fascinated with those who are educated. Also, they were impressed with connections (Peter also called Cephas walked with Jesus); people get hung up on position or who someone is associated with. However, Paul said to follow Christ. Who is Christ? He is God, He is Lord and Savior of the whole world, and He is the Word.

The Corinthian church was falling into sin because they were not rooted in the word. Paul had to teach them again about having and showing love to one another and holy living.

Another issue in the letter to the Hebrews was falling back into Judaism – unsuccessfully following the law of Moses. The writer is telling them that Christ came and fulfilled the law and the prophets; He conquered sin, shattered all barriers to God, and freely provided eternal life. So, there is no need or benefit in going backward. Scripture tells us that God wants us to grow in stature, favor, and in the grace, and knowledge of Jesus Christ which can only be accomplished through the Word of God. (Luke 2:52)

In Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he said, “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” (Colossians 1:9-12) The word of God helps us to walk worthy of our call, pleasing him, (Ephesians 4:1-6) and bearing fruit. (John 15:5-8)

Our text tells us that solid food is for those who are mature, who through training, (an exercise in reading, studying, inquiring of God, and speaking the word of God) have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. And not just right and wrong for moral living, but the ability to detect right and wrong doctrine as well. The writer of Hebrews told the Church that we must listen very carefully (meaning we must hold fast and cleave) to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

The Bible says in Jude 1:3-4 KJV, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

There is false teaching and blatant apostasy that we must protect ourselves from. There is also apathy in the body of Christ meaning an indifference or a lack of interest toward the immorality that is spreading in the church. We also see compromise with many in the Body of Christ, turning away and coming into agreement with doctrines of demons. (1 Timothy 4:1-16)

Those who call themselves Christians are being tossed around by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14) and accepting universalism, humanism, and yoga/Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, etc.; believing and teaching that everyone is saved if we are spiritual, do good to others, and be one with the universe.

The Bible says that the only way to be spiritual is to have the Holy Spirit living on the inside of us. The Holy Spirit reconciled us to God, and he enables us by his power, to live holy and do good works that give God glory. (2 Corinthians 5) We can only receive the Holy Spirit when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior. (Romans 5) We must understand and teach others this truth. The Bible says in Acts 4:12 KJV, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”  There is no other way to heaven but through Christ Jesus. (John 14)

Finally, The Bible says in Joshua 1:8 KJV, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua was told this because he would be entering into military battles where faith in God was the only way to succeed. Fighting nations was not the only battle. They would also be tempted with greed, disobedience, and idolatry. But if the nation meditated on the word which is God’s power to overcome anything they would be prosperous and successful.

God gave Joshua strategies to fight the enemy, but the nation of Israel had to be holy before Him. The Bible says in Ephesians 6:12 KJV, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

We need God’s strategy which is the meat. However, we must have on the full armor of God if we are to be effective against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11) All soldiers are given weapons and one of our weapons is the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)

The letters to the churches in Asia in in Revelation 2 and 3 ended with, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” The scripture means to have a heart to receive what God has said.

A few years ago, I had a dream about the Church. The saints were sitting in the pew, and some came up to the altar: Some of them that were at the altar had earphones on which meant they could not hear. Satan was going around the church placing the earphones on the people - even babies. We want a heart to hear what the Spirit of God is saying so that we can be doers of his Word. The Bible says in James 1:22-25 NIV, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

Pray and ask for forgiveness for sins and for God to give us a love for His word.

Author: Adrena I Brown