Can We Please Grow-up?!
Hebrews 5: 11 –6: 12
Blunt Truth…
Heb 5: 11 –14,
“11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to
make it clear to you because you no longer try to
understand. 12 In fact, though by this time you ought to
be teachers, you need someone to teach you the
elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You
need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk,
being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching
about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the
mature, who by constant use have trained themselves
to distinguish good from evil.”
11 We have much to say about this, but it is hard to
make it clear to you because you no longer try to
understand.
We have much more to say and teach!
Problem: Hard to make it clear to you…
Why? You no longer try to understand… you used to
love His Word and love to pray, spend time studying
His Word…but now you not try… give up… no
motivation … or let other things turn your attention
away from Him…
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers,
you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of
God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!
By this time (accepted Jesus long time) you should to
be teachers…know His Word well and able to share
Jesus with other non-believers
But you still need to be taught the elementary/simple
truths of God’s Word…all over again…
You need milk, not solid food…
13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not
acquainted with the teaching about righteousness…
Rom 12:1&2, “I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of
God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy
and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper
worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be
able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good,
pleasing and perfect will”.
14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use
have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
Living a life that actively grows/lives the fruit of the Spirit
“…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
forbearance/patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control…” Galatians 5
Erickson’s 8 Stages of Development:
Stage 1: Trust vs Mistrust (ages birth to 18 months)
#2: Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt (18 months –3yrs)
#3: Initiative vs Guilt (3 yrs –5 yrs)
#4: Industry vs Inferiority (6 yrs –11 yrs)
#5: Identity vs Confusion (12 yrs –18 yrs) [Who me?!]
#6: Intimacy vs Isolation (18 yrs –40 yrs)
#7: Generative vs Stagnation (40 yrs –65 yrs) = create or
nurture things that will outlast self; fostering things that
benefit others
#8: Integrity vs Despair (65 yrs –death)
Heb 6: 1-3, “Therefore, let us move beyond the
elementary teachings about Christ and be
taken forward to maturity, not laying again the
foundation of repentance from acts that lead
to death, and of faith in God, 2instruction
about cleansing rites, the laying on of
hands, the resurrection of the dead, and
eternal judgment. 3And God permitting, we will
do so”.
4It is impossible for those who have once been
enlightened,
who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in
the Holy Spirit,
5who have tasted the goodness of the word of
God and the powers of the coming age
6and who have fallen away, (impossible) to be brought
back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the
Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public
disgrace.
An Allegory:
Hebrews 6: 7 & 8
7Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces
a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing
of God. 8But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless
and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.
Blessed Tossed into the fire
In Conclusion:
9Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are
convinced of better things in your case—the things that
have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; He will
not forget your work and the love you have shown Him
as you have helped His people and continue to help
them. 11 We want each of you to show this same
diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for
may be fully realized.12 We do not want you to
become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith
and patience inherit what has been promised.
Rom 12:1&2
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy,
to offer yourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing
to God—this is your true and proper worship.2Do not
conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed
by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to
test and approve what God’s will is—His good,
pleasing and perfect will”.
Galatians 5: “…Let your life grow the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, forbearance/patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…”
The Choice is Yours!
