Introduction - John 21:4-6
Likewise the scriptures provides us with meat as well. More than we can hau...
- Introduction - John 21:4-6
- Likewise the scriptures provides us with meat as well. More than we can haul in.
- Example - Thanksgiving day. Everyone is gathered around the table awaiting
the main course. Mom comes into the dining room carrying a big bowl of milk
and says, "Here's the main course, Happy Thanksgiving!". Although the
meal would suffice toward nurturing our bodies, it would be unsatisfying not to
enjoy the meat that was expected. Just as we should crave meat in our spiritual
lives and not be satisfied with the spiritual milk.
- The Difference Between Milk and Meat
- Milk is easier to digest - Example-If you read
1 Corinthians 13 and understand the
nature of love, then that is good. But you've only tasted the milk in that reading.
If you read that passage and also understand the nature of spiritual gifts, the
reasons for them and how to prioritize your desires for them, then you've made
a fuller understanding of the passage.
- Milk always tastes like milk. Meat has many different variations. Using the
above example...If you study that chapter with the purpose of understanding
love, you will easily get the same conclusion each time. If you dig for meat you
will find different questions to answer like, "what are tongues of angels?" (v1), "what is that
which is perfect?" (v10), and "when shall we see face to face or do we already?" (v12).
- Milk is easier to obtain. - Also to use the same example... A study on
love can begin and end within Chapter 13 of I Corinthians. However to understand
the more complex topics that are covered there, you have to at least read chapters
12 and 14 (and perhaps more).
- Growth Patterns
- Learn to walk - 1 Corinthians 3:1-2/1 Peter 2:1
- Learn to run - 1 Corinthians 13:11
- Learn to race - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
- Consequences of not growing up
- Not accepted by God - Genesis 4:2-7
- Inability to Teach - Hebrews 5:12-14
- Hypocrisy can happen accidentally if we don't know the basis of our believes.
- Story-A man goes to the zoo for a job. The only one offered is to
suit up to replace their star Gorilla that died. The man excepts because he
needs the cash. After acting like a gorilla for a couple of days, he really
gets into the act and accidentally swings into the lions cage. Knowing that
a cry for help will get him fired he tries to play it cool, but when the lion
leaps toward him he gives in and cries out. The lion then leans over to say,
"Shut up or you'll get us both fired!". The point is that without meat (understanding),
we are men acting like gorillas instead actually being gorillas.
1 Peter 3:15-16
- Conclude by completing the thought in a previous scripture on how to grow up
Hebrews 5:12 - Hebrews 6:3. Expand
your scripture knowledge beyond that of repentance, faith, baptism, and eternal judgement
to that of deep study and enlightenment. Make a conscience decision to continually grow your
knowledge base. Example of Solomon and his decision to ask for wisdom over wealth.
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