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Those In Christ
Looking For 'Strong Meat'
Ok,
we're are all believers in Christ and part of the Body of Christ here, right? I'm
assuming so. If you're not, well, you're welcome to listen, but you probably won't
understand everything I'm going to cover, so don't let it confuse you. Keep ploughin'.
After
hearing the Message of Salvation through Jesus Christ and being baptized in His Name, what
then?
2 Tim
2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more
ungodliness.
Obviously then, we must study God's Word to show ourselves
'approved unto God'. A believer in Christ is to become a 'workman'. This can only be done
by 'rightly dividing the word of truth', which is The Word of God. That's how we know what
to teach, and when to teach It.
At the same time while turning to a serious study of God's
Word, you must try to bring under control the old urges of the flesh that prevent proper
study. If you had groups of friends that refuse to believe, you don't have to totally shun
them out of your life. But the change they will see in you, may make them shun you.
Christ's servants are not to totally separate themselves from the world, but go out and
help bring others to His Truth. Not all want it, and The Holy Spirit will be your Guide in
those matters.
What's the difference
between 'milk' and 'meat'?
If after having accepted Jesus Christ, do you keep hearing
the Message of Salvation and Baptism repeatedly and not 'strong meat' to go with It?
Heb 5:12 For 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.
13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of
righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But 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.
Paul the apostle was speaking this in the Book of Hebrews
(or possibly it was Luke). Paul was a scholar of The Old Testament and prophets. When he
was converted by Jesus Christ, he also received the gift of The Holy Spirit to put his
scholarly learning from The Word into perspective. If we wish to be 'skilful in the word
of righteousness', we are to follow Paul's example of study. The example he set should be
every Christian's goal. Some are given more than others by our Father. They are no
better than any other Christian, for the various administrations of The Spirit make up the
many membered Body of Christ (I Cor.12). Paul wrote most of the New Testament. He had only
The Old Testament for study during his days, for that's what was written at the time. If
you want to be a skillful workman with 'strong meat', study all of The Word, not just
parts. Learn how all of God's Word is applied in our lives today.
For example; the Old Testament and prophets tell us all
events that will happen during this 'flesh age', even after Christ returns at His second
coming. It told us about the coming Savior and His offer of Salvation, and even how He
would die on the cross for us (Ps.22). It warns us of the times we live in today, and
teaches how to understand the Book of Revelation. It reveals our Mission as ambassadors of
Christ, and even teaches about God's coming Millennium reign upon this ancient earth and
thereafter. In other words, the New Testament is the fulfillment of what the Old Testament
told us would happen. And It is not complete yet. What was written in the Old Testament is
still being fulfilled even today, and for our future.
Rightly dividing The Word means being aware of prophecy
given in the Old Testament and Its fulfillment in The New, for today, and evermore. It
also means being able to 'rightly divide' the subject and object of the Chapter, and even
single verses which separate between many years.
Here's an example: Revelation 12 verses 3 through 5
are about Satan's first rebellion, the Woman in Eden who would bring forth the 'Seed' of
the Salvation Promise given to Abraham, down through to Christ Who is the male child
who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. Those three verses cover from the
time 'of old', when Lucifer rebelled against God, then God setting up this flesh age and
providing the Seed that His Son would be born from; then giving Abraham the Promise that
Christ would come offering Salvation; then His Mission as Savior being fulfilled on the
cross; and next Salvation being preached to the world; and finally...Christ's second
coming and God's Kingdom when Christ will rule all nations with a rod of iron. The whole
Plan of God is given in all of His Word.
If we are not familiar with the Old Testament, how will we
know when It is being fulfilled today? Jesus Christ and His Apostles all quoted from
The Old Testament letting us know when portions of Its prophecy came to pass. The Gospel
Books and events of Acts especially were given as direct proof of events prophesied in The
Old Testament.
Christians who are not studied in both New and Old
Testaments, are as 'babes' on the 'milk', and cannot discern both good and evil. And it
still applies even though many may have been attending Church for most of their lives.
Matt 13:51 Jesus saith unto them, "Have ye
understood all these things?" They say unto Him, "Yea, Lord."
52 Then said He unto them, "Therefore every scribe which is
instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which
bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old."
To be instructed of the Kingdom of Heaven is to learn from
our 'Householder' Who is GOD through His Son Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit. The
'treasure' we are instructed in is both New and Old Testaments.
2 Cor 4:6 For God, Who commanded the light to shine out
of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of
the power may be of God, and not of us.
The True Treasure is not of the flesh, but It can dwell in
our flesh, or 'earthen vessels'. That Treasure is not creeds and religious rituals, nor
profane babelings, but The Knowledge of Jesus Christ. How is that perfect Knowledge
received? From Christ's Spirit guiding us in His Treasure which is His Word. And that
means all of The Word.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in Whom they
have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? and how
shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written,
"How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad
tidings of good things!"
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith,
"Lord, who hath believed our report?"
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
We received Christ by 'faith'. We first had to hear about
Christ in order to believe. Paul was quoting from Psalms 19:4, Isaiah 52:7 and 53:1.
Isaiah declared the first Advent of Messiah Jesus Christ there in Isaiah 53. Israel had
the prophecy of Salvation long before Christ came in the flesh, but the majority of old
Israel did not believe. But those who weren't told about Christ's coming did believe. How
much more of The Word did God open up to us who have believed on Christ? All of It! Those
of Israel today who haven't accepted Jesus Christ as Savior are stumbling at God's Word
(Rom.9). But for us who by 'hearing' The Word of God, and through faith accept Christ, all
the 'meat' is there for us to discover.
The Faithful and Wise
Steward Gives Meat in Due Season
Luke
12:42 And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward,
whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their
portion of meat in due season?
43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall
find so doing.
44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that
he hath.
This is what Christ's entrusted servants should be doing
today. They are to give Christ's members 'meat in due season'. That season is now, as The
Word is opening up to sincere members more now than ever before.
Jer 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and
scatter the sheep of My pasture! saith the LORD.
2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that
feed My people; Ye have scattered My flock, and driven them away, and have not visited
them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
3 And I will gather the remnant of My flock out of all countries whither
I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful
and increase.
4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they
shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
Here's a little warning from our Father to Pastors who don't
feed His sheep. It still applies today, as Christ told Peter to feed His sheep (John 21;
Ps.100:3). That's what a Pastor's job is, to feed God's People His Word, and not man's
word. How many places can you go and hear God's Word being preached? Line by line is
how it is done. And with understanding using the 'renewed' mind which Christ gave us (I
Cor.2:16).
By this we know then, that Christ's Church should have one
fulfilling the office of Pastor, in order to feed the flock of sheep. It was commanded by
our Lord and Savior (John 10; 21; Acts 20:27-31; Titus 1; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 1 Tim.5:17;
Heb.13:7; 1 Peter 5:2; 2 Tim.4).
How to recognize a true Pastor
Acts
17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received
the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those
things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were
Greeks, and of men, not a few.
When you set out to learn a new language, it's almost like
going back to school again. Differences in grammar has to be learned, how to pronounce it,
and the biggest bulk of all, the new vocabulary of words. Learning God's Word is no
different for the beginner. It requires time and applying ourselves, as it doesn't come
overnight. And we never stop learning, for God's Word is The Living Word. It's complete,
yet infinite. Study a Chapter properly once, and you'll get the basic Message. Study
that same Chapter over and over, and you may understand something new every time.
By verifying The Word when you are taught, is how to get the
'meat'. That is, if The Word is being taught to you. That's what a Pastor's job is, to
pastor a flock. In other words, a Pastor/teacher is not an Evangelist or Minister. An
Evangelist is given to go out and specifically preach The Gospel of Christ, much like a
Missionary. A Minister is the office of Deacon in the Church. Those duties are as an
administrator of the Church, to the poor, the sick, etc. But a Pastor is to be 'overseer'
over the flock, giving guidance and direction to the Church.
Each one of these offices for Christ should be able to
preach The Gospel or teach The Word. A Pastor has teaching The Word as the specific 'gift'
of office. Paul was mainly an Evangelist/Pastor, and an apostle to the Churches, but able
in all three. His duty as given by Christ was to preach The Gospel of Christ to the 1)
Gentile, 2) Kings, 3) and to Israel, meaning both 'houses' of Israel (Acts 9). Paul also
was overseer of the Churches he was entrusted with. His Epistles to the Churches he helped
found make up much of The New Testament. He was well prepared for his mission, both as
Evangelist and Pastor.
Many
today are not receiving the 'meat' of God's Word after accepting Christ. The number of
Evangelists and Ministers outnumber Pastors who can teach all of The Word. Most Christians
are not aware of these separate duties within Christ's Church. Stack on top of that, the
three titles of Evangelist, Minister, and Pastor, are used interchangeably today. Most
people think they're all the same office. They are not. A Pastor should be able to teach
from the Hebrew, Chaldee, and Greek Manuscripts of God's Word. In other words, the goal of
a good Pastor should be the level of Paul's scholarship as he was proficient in Hebrew,
Greek, and Roman languages; and a Hebrew scholar of The Old Testament. This is one of the
reasons why the 'meat' is lacking in most Churches today. There are too few real
Pastor/overseers worth their salt who have learning at a level to protect the sheep from
false doctrines and such. That's what a real shepherd does in protecting the sheep from
'ravening wolves'.
Ezekiel 34:1 And the word of the LORD came unto me,
saying,
2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and
say unto them, 'Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; 'Woe be to the
shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are
fed: but ye feed not the flock.
4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that
which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye
brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but
with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.
5 And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and
they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.
6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill:
yea, My flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after
them.
GOD is talking about His People being scattered because the
shepherds, or Pastors, were not feeding His sheep. They were not getting the 'meat' of
God's Word, so they turned to idols and what not. The sheep then became the 'meat' for
'all the beasts of the field'. People are not literally sheep, nor meat for animals, so
what is the spiritual Message here from our Father? The 'beasts' represent the false
prophets of Satan's camp. Satan's children, i.e. the sons of Cain, are the 'beasts of the
field' in the spiritual sense. That's what happens when God's People don't get a proper
pasturing and receive the 'meat' of The Word of God. They get devoured by Satan.
Need I say more about the
state of affairs among many of God's People today?
Peace be to you in Christ
Jesus,
Dave Ramey.
Footnotes:
All references to
"Strong's nos." are from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, PC Study Bible,
Biblesoft, 1993-1996.
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