Jun 5 , 2022 Preaching | Bro. Jun Ferrer
Hebrews chapter five poses another warning. It is the third of five and warns against carnality. Noting how stunted the spiritual growth of the ‘flock’ was and compelled with much love for them, the author admonished them for their spiritual immaturity, sluggishness and propensity to return to Judaism (The Law).
The first few verses described Melchizedek’s relationship with Christ as well as the flock’s attitude towards God’s Word. They have become dull, once attentive to the word but has since lost interest. Similarly, in the Greek translation, it means “hard to move” alluding to long time believers but not matured enough to teach and share the gospel.
In the book “Preaching” by Timothy Keller, the author enumerated Three Levels of the Ministry of the Word:
Level 1: Informal and usually one on one. Where every Christian needs to understand the message of the Bible well enough to explain and apply it to other Christians and to his neighbors in formal and personal settings.
Level 2: May include writing, blogging, teaching classes and small groups, mentoring, moderating open discussion forums on issues of faith.
Level 3: Formal – Sermon or Preaching. The ministry of the word or the public sermons and exposition of the bible to assemble God’s people in gathering.
As the writer of Hebrews says, the Christians he was addressing have more than enough time invested. By now, they should be able to teach others, sadly however they are still spiritual infants. Still needing someone to teach them the basic truth of God’s word. Like infants, they are still dependent on milk instead of solid food, as expected from one who is slow-moving, lazy and “dull of hearing.” Instead of teaching, they behave as though they are new converts to the faith.
The author continues by saying, spiritual infants are not accustomed nor acquainted with the word ‘righteousness’. Paul described infants as carnal believers from his letters in 1 Corinthians 3:1-4, still worldly and not ready, there is jealousy, quarrelling, and division in their midst.
The goal of every Christian is to grow and press forward towards spiritual maturity. A mature believer as described in Hebrews 5:14 is someone who can take solid food referring to having an intimate relationship with the Lord, always ready for more revelation from God; someone who hears the word of God, puts it into practice and makes it a habit to follow God. A matured believer is someone who has strong spiritual discernment of good and evil through constant practice. To be a matured believer means we are ready to listen and obey; we develop a habit through time of practice and we train to discern good and evil.
“We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret.” – Jim Rohn
A matured believer is someone who have spiritual muscle in times of persecution, trials, sorrow and pain. Not easily giving up because of his intimacy with the Lord.
So, we ask ourselves, “Do you want to grow?” If we do, we should press forward to maturity. Let us leave (the elementary doctrine about God) and let us go on (to maturity).
The problem is not knowledge but application. Spiritual maturity is not avoiding persecution or turning your back on God in times of trials. God’s desire is for everyone to grow in humility before God and reliance on Jesus.
Jesus is our ultimate model of maturity. Jesus didn’t just tell us to press on toward maturity, He modelled it to us. He came down from heaven to suffer and go through persecution, died on the cross so He can save us from sins.