Food For Spiritual LifeHebrews 5:11-end

The Growing Complexity in Hebrews•Last Week: the Question of Priests

▫Ancient pictures of Jesus Christ

Law of Moses

Rituals

•Washing away sinPri

ests

•By a substitute

The Growing Complexity in Hebrews•Last Week: the Question of Priests

▫Ancient pictures of Jesus Christ

God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 5:9-10

The Growing Complexity in Hebrews•Last Week: the Question of Priests

▫Ancient pictures of Jesus Christ▫“The source of eternal salvation”

God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 5:9-10

The Growing Complexity in Hebrews•Last Week: the Question of Priests

▫Ancient pictures of Jesus Christ▫“The source of eternal salvation”▫‘Melchizedek’ Replaced the ‘Priesthood’

God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 5:9-10

The Growing Complexity in Hebrews•Last Week: the Question of Priests•This Week: Spiritually Dull!There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. Hebrews 5:11

“Stupid!”• nothros, sluggish, i.e. (lit.) lazy, or

(fig.) stupid:--dull, slothful

The Growing Complexity in Hebrews•Last Week: the Question of Priests•This Week: Spiritually Dull!There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. Hebrews 5:11Hard-hearted

DedicatedNon-Learners

The Growing Complexity in Hebrews•Last Week: the Question of Priests•This Week: Spiritually Dull!

▫They were so excited once!

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47

The Growing Complexity in Hebrews•Last Week: the Question of Priests•This Week: Spiritually Dull!

▫They were so excited once!

What Happened!?You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. (5:12)

The Growing Complexity in Hebrews•Last Week: the Question of Priests•This Week: Spiritually Dull!•The Problem: Stagnation

You are still like babies who need milk and cannoteat solid food. 5:12b

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From Stagnation to Death•Grow Increasingly Dense…

Hey, bro!Whattup

?

“spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen”

Say What?

From Stagnation to Death•Grow Increasingly Dense…•Losing Valuable Gains…

“you need someone to teach you again the basic things”

From Stagnation to Death•Grow Increasingly Dense…•Losing Valuable Gains…•Grow Increasingly Hardened…

•Isaiah 6:9 “For this people’s heart has become calloused; •“they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.”

An Ancient Problem

The Problem With Infancy•Infants Are So Cute…

▫“Someone who lives on milk is still an infant…”

Connor at 1 day old.

The Problem With Infancy•Infants Are So Cute…•But So Fragile!

▫Break easily

The Problem With Infancy•Infants Are So Cute…•But So Fragile!

▫Break easily▫So Naïve…

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Heb. 5:14

The Problem With Infancy•Infants Are So Cute…•But So Fragile!

▫Break easily▫So Naïve…▫Stumbling & FumblingAround…

“an infant …doesn’t know how to do what is right.”

The Problem With Infancy•Infants Are So Cute…•But So Fragile!

▫Break easily▫So Naïve…▫Stumbling & FumblingAround…

▫Simple Little Worlds…

“babies…need milk and cannot eat solid food”

The Problem With Infancy•Infants Are So Cute…•But So Fragile!

▫Break easily▫So Naïve…▫Stumbling & FumblingAround…

▫Simple Little Worlds…▫Need Constant Protection…

“you need someone to teach you again the basic things…”

Churchianityin America

“Feel-goodChristianity”

God’s Solution to Infancy•Grow Accustomed to the Word

For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. Hebrews 5:12-13

God’s Solution to Infancy•Grow Accustomed to the Word

▫Normative for All Christians

1 Thess. 5:27 I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.

God’s Solution to Infancy•Grow Accustomed to the Word

▫Normative for All Christians▫Not for Priests!

1 Thess. 5:27 I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.

God’s Solution to Infancy•Grow Accustomed to the Word

▫Normative for All Christians▫Not for Priests!▫“But it’s too difficult!”Yes – God intends it that way.

Mat 13:12 To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them

Separates the kids (hot air) from adults (substance):

“For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.” Heb. 5:13

God’s Solution to Infancy•Grow Accustomed to the Word

▫Normative for All Christians▫Not for Priests!▫“But it’s too difficult!”Yes – God intends it that way.No – it’s not infinite.

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 (NASB)

God’s Solution to Infancy•Grow Accustomed to the Word

▫Normative for All Christians▫Not for Priests!▫“But it’s too difficult!”Yes – God intends it that way.No – it’s not infinite.

1. Know the flow of the biblical story2. Know principles of sound interpretation3. Understand the Major Doctrines in

Scripture

God’s Solution to Infancy•Grow Accustomed to the Word

▫Normative for All Christians▫Not for Priests!▫“But it’s too difficult!”Yes – God intends it that way.No – it’s not infinite.Yes – It does require some effort!

God’s Solution to Infancy•Grow Accustomed to the Word

▫Normative for All Christians▫Not for Priests!▫“But it’s too difficult!”Yes – God intends it that way.No – it’s not infinite. It does require some effort!EVERYONE CAN LEARN THE BIBLE!

God’s Solution to Infancy•Grow Accustomed to the Word•Practice It

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. Hebrews 5:14 (NASB)

God’s Solution to Infancy•Grow Accustomed to the Word•Practice It

▫Know what it means to trust in God

God’s Solution to Infancy•Grow Accustomed to the Word•Practice It

▫Know what it means to trust in God▫Stop Fumbling & Stumbling Around

“an infant …doesn’t know how to do what is right.”

OR: an infant WON’T do what is right.

idiot

God’s Solution to Infancy•Grow Accustomed to the Word•Practice It

▫Know what it means to trust in God▫Stop Fumbling & Stumbling Around▫Teaching Others

For though by this time you ought to be teachers… Hebrews 5:12

God’s Solution to Infancy•Grow Accustomed to the Word•Practice It

▫Know what it means to trust in God▫Stop Fumbling & Stumbling Around▫Teaching Others “But I’m not a teacher!”

For though by this time you ought to be teachers… Hebrews 5:12

God’s Solution to Infancy•Grow Accustomed to the Word•Practice It

▫Know what it means to trust in God▫Stop Fumbling & Stumbling Around▫Teaching Others “But I’m not a teacher!”We’re ALWAYS trying to teach each other!

God’s Solution to Infancy•Grow Accustomed to the Word•Practice It

▫Know what it means to trust in God▫Stop Fumbling & Stumbling Around▫Teaching Others “But I’m not a teacher!”We’re ALWAYS trying to teach each other!

We teach “Hot Air” or God’s Word!

God’s Solution to Infancy•Grow Accustomed to the Word•Practice It

▫Know what it means to trust in God▫Stop Fumbling & Stumbling Around▫Teaching Others “But I’m not a teacher!”We’re ALWAYS trying to teach each other!

We teach “Hot Air” or God’s Word! Arise to the dignity of a Teacher!

One Moment Please…We are working on Technical Difficulties...