SUBJECT - IT'S TIME FOR BABIES, TO GROW UP!! [2]
Last month, I left off, talking about how it is time for Spiritual babies, to start walking on their own two feet.
I prefaced this by giving examples of how we, in the physical realm, grow from being babies, in to adults, and the steps that we all went through. We looked at how we started out, with milk, being the only nutritional thing we could handle. Then, as we got older, we advanced to semi solids [baby food]. From there, once we got our teeth, we advanced more solid foods, and finally to meat.
By the same token, our Spiritual growth, in Christ, takes on those same steps.
In both cases, someone that is grown, has to take in meat [so to speak], and digest it. Once their bodies digest it, the body, produces the milk, which, in turn, is extracted and given to the baby.
That, is the way it is done.
This process, has been in existence since God created the animals, and man.
The problem is, in too many Churches, this process Spiritual growth, has become stagnant. People are coming in as babes, but, 10, 20, or more years later, they have not progressed to maturity. They have remained little more than babies that can only digest the very basic nutrition, and that is milk.
What good is a baby??
Well, in the physical sense, it fulfills the basic design of man's existence to be fruitful and multiply. To the parents, it brings great joy. It is a blessing from God. It holds the potential of keeping the lineage of the family alive. It holds innumerable prospects for the future. It may be the one that God has designated to discover a cure from some disease that plagues mankind, or bring peace to the world. Who knows.
The one thing we do know, is that it will only happen, if that baby, grows in to a mature adult.
By the same token, God has certain things He wants for His children to do, that can only be accomplished when the Spiritual baby, grows in to a mature adult. As long as they remain a baby, then they cannot fulfill that destiny. And therefore opportunities are missed.
So, how is it that the Spiritual growth that I am talking about, never takes place??
It usually starts, first, with the man in the pulpit. He is, for all intents, the parent, that takes the meat of the Word of God, chews on it, swallows and digests it, then provides the 'Milk' for the babies in the congregation.
From there, one of these things can happen. The baby, becomes used to the milk, likes it, and wants to stay in that position. This means, they don't have to take any responsibility of growing up, where they will become adults and have to deal with adult matters.
Or, the parent, wants to keep the baby, a baby, that is totally dependent on him, and therefore, is under his control, telling them what to think, and how to act.
Then we have the case of the parent, being a Spiritual baby himself, and therefore, is incapable of producing the proper nutrition the babies need to become mature.
It's like Jesus said,
[Matt. 10:24]The servant, can't be greater than his/her master, meaning, any one that is teaching you, has to have more knowledge than you.
When learning from any individual, you are limited by that person's knowledge. You can't go beyond it. The only way to go further, is you have to find someone whose knowledge, exceeds yours.
But, that requires work. It requires accepting the fact that, if you want more of what God has for you, you may very well have to leave your comfortable surroundings, where milk is the order of the day, and seek out something more. And that is something, too many in the Church, refuse to do. Either that, or, they don't know any better.
When I listen to some Christians, attacking others as being 'radical' or 'the religious right', I am listening to Spiritual babies.
Why would I say that??
Because, what they see in these radicals, is a group of people that are out to tear down the
Mat16:18 'gates of hell, at all costs.' They realize what the devil is doing, and they know what it will take to defeat him, and they will not stop, despite what public opinion says.
You see, one of the greatest tools the devil has on his side, is public opinion. Or maybe I should say, 'common sense.' Any one that goes against common sense, has to have a screw loose.
Well, that is what God has called the Church, to be. We are supposed to be at war with what the world sees as 'normal', especially when it conflicts with the Word of God.
Try to explain why they [these radicals] are doing what they are doing, and the Spiritual baby, will complain that they are making trouble. They are shaking up their comfortable surroundings. They don't want to hear all of that nonsense. Leave them alone.
The problem is, as I mentioned before, We are in a war, and in a war, there really is no place for complacency. Loving your enemy, sounds good, but, when you know the enemy is intent on destroying not only you, but your family, then, you have to deal with him, on that level.
Sure, I would prefer to love him, and kiss him on the cheek, shake his hand, and maybe give him gifts, but, none of that will stop him. What will stop him, is going in to battle with him, in the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ. But, that takes Spiritual maturity, the kind most Christians lack.
Mention warfare, and they cringe. They say we should be making love [not talking about sex], not war.
In the book of Ephesians chapter 6 verse 10, we see these words, 'For the weapons of our warfare, are not carnal, but mighty through God, to the pulling down of strongholds.'
Babies can't pull down strongholds, because they can't stand on their own feet, let alone have the strength to do it, because it takes mature adults, fed by meat, to do that.
Adults can see dangers that babies may see, but not recognize as dangers.
A baby might see a rattlesnake, and think it is pretty, and may attempt to pick it up and play with it. An adult, knows the danger, and will quickly get the child away from it, or kill it.
The same thing goes for Spiritual babies. They see a lot of things going on, and, see no real danger in them. However, mature saints, do see the danger, and are about doing what is necessary to get rid of the problem.
The same thing holds true when looking at the condition of our nation. Spiritual babies don't see the danger, but we do. Our position on strictly moral, biblical truths, is the reason we are suffering like we are.
A young lady bemoans my support of a political party that involved us in a war, that has claimed several hundred thousand innocent lives. But, when I mention her support of a party, whose agenda is to protect abortion rights, that has claimed the lives of over 57 million truly innocent lives, she evades the issue and changes the subject. That is a Spiritual baby.
When I look at the idea of 'separation of Church and state', and seeing what this same party is saying, is that 'We don't need God. We can succeed on our own! And Christians support this foolishness?? They are Spiritual babies. Because God will be a gentleman and withhold blessing us, and let us go for what we think we know. Then, when things go bad, they wonder why??
The list goes on and on, but you can see the point
The condition this nation is in is a direct result of the ignorance of the church in recognizing what is happening to us. We must be able to not only recognize the enemy, recognize his tactics, but to go to war against them. The Bible says, Isa 54:17 No weapon that is formed against us shall prosper. What that means, is that no matter what the enemy tries to do to us, talking about the Church, it will not work. At least, that is the way it is supposed to be. The reason being, that we are supposed to be knowledgeable as to the tactics the enemy is using.
Unfortunately, the Church is so full of babies, that the enemy is not only unrecognized, but, neither are his tactics, devices and weapons. As a result, his weapons are accomplishing what he intends for them to do, and that is, tear down the Church, the body of Christ, and render it impotent in its battle against him.
Spiritual babies, are not capable of warring against anybody, or any thing, because they do not see, or want to be bothered with, anything that they feel uncomfortable with.
The church today should be put on notice that things are going to get a lot worse because, that is what the Word of God says. There is a saying, that goes something like this, 'four warned, is four armed.' What this means, is that we should be preparing for a battle. A battle for the hearts, minds, and souls of every individual in this nation. And we need every available person to get prepared for, and join in this battle. And as such we need men and women and not babies in our army.
If it seems like I am being overly agressive in this matter, it is because there is a lot at stake. The Bible tells us that we are living in the last days. However, it seems as if a lot of Christians are completely ignorant of this fact. We see the wars, we see the famines, we see the earthquakes, we see the proliferation of UNGODLINESS, and still very few tend to realize what's going on, or what to do about it.
What these babies will do, is run to 'daddy', in this case, the government, and seek protection, as if the government, can do anything against, what has been preordained.
Mat 24:6-7 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
This nation is suffering judgment from God, and instead of the Church calling for repentance, babies want the government to do something.
It is time to grow up babies!! It is time to throw the 'baby bottles' away. It is time to get some teeth, so you can chew on some meat, and get strong. It is time for you to get away from those that want to keep feeding you milk, otherwise, you will never grow to be what God wants you to be, and that is a warrior, going forth, in His Name, to do battle with the enemy, where ever he is.
You are going to have to do it quickly, because you never know when he will get around to attacking you, if he hasn't already. And it will take a lot more than a 'goo goo gah gah', to stop him.
Hear me, one and all, 'IT IS TIME FOR YOU SPIRITUAL BABIES, TO GROW UP, OTHERWISE, YOU WILL PERISH!!'
Amen.
***********************************************************************