Text:
Hebrews 5:11-14:
11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
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.
Theme:
We Gotta Grow
Introduction:
- The Book of Hebrews has been debated as to its authorship with the resulting conclusion that the Apostle Paul is the author. However, regardless of the actual author it is agreed upon that it is definitely a Pauline epistle due to its writing style and content.
- Written to the Hebrew nation
- Written in the context of those who were raised under the Jewish law and traditions
- In the 5th chapter of the Book of Hebrews we find the author addressing the dichotomy of being a baby versus being an adult. A sensitive subject for the community of believers…
- We are physically born as babes
- We naturally grow into being physical adults
- We are taught that God wants us to be AS a child
- Luke 18:17, “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.”
- Not BE a child but be AS a child J
- We are expected to BECOME men to be shown by the putting away of CHILDISH things
- 1Corinthians 13:11, “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
- It’s ok to be as a child but just don’t get bogged down by “childish things”!
- It’s tough when both being a child and being an adult are to be sought!
- The SITUATION
- Being a child with God AND being an ADULT with God
- Being a child with people AND being an ADULT with people
- Being a child within AND being an ADULT within
- The Solution è We GOTTA GROW
- Grown from being a child to being an adult
- Grow from being an adult in God to the simplicity of being a child of God
- Let us face the simple fact that…
- We GOTTA GROW
- The SITUATION
Body:
- How do we GROW?
- CHANGE what we HAVE
- Develop
- Don’t act like a child…BE GROWN…
- Ephesians 4:14-15, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
- Use what you got to be a better child of God and give God the glory due to Him…
- 2Peter 3:18, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
- Don’t act like a child…BE GROWN…
- Develop
- GAIN what we NEED
- Add
- Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
- Put on TRUTH
- Put on RIGHTEOUSNESS
- Put on the GOSPEL OF PEACE
- Put on FAITH
- Put on SALVATION
- Put on the SPIRIT
- Put on the WORD OF GOD
- Put on PRAYER
- In summary…
- Colossians 3:10, “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him”
- Ephesians 6:11, “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
- Add
- LOSE what we DON’T NEED
- Lose
- Sin
- Colossians 3:8-9, “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;”
- Current Baggage or Issues
- Hebrews 12:1, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
- Memories
- Luke 9:62, “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
- Fear
- 2Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
- Mind/Intellect
- Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
- Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”
- Will
- Luke 22:42, “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
- In all three areas of potential change in our lives…WE GOTTA GROW!
- Sin
- Lose
- CHANGE what we HAVE
Where in our lives do we need GROWTH?
- As PEOPLE
- As PERSONALITIES
- As PARENTS
- As PARTNERS
- As PROFESSIONALS
- As PROSPERERS
- As PREACHERS
- WE GOTTA GROW
Conclusion:
- Our text says it well when it explicates…
“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”
- When you KNOW BETTER, God expects us to DO BETTER!
- We gotta be willing to CHANGE SOMETHING
- We gotta be willing to GAIN SOMETHING
- We gotta be willing to LOSE SOMETHING
- Because I GOTTA GROW, I am willing to…
- Go through hard times
- Deal with trifling folks
- Work through the pain
- Let go and let God
- Give all when I have nothing
- Do even though I am being done
- Live and let live
- Let God break me so that He can make me
- Run when I want to walk
- Walk when I want to run
- Go when I want to stop
- Stand when I want to run
- Yes, we GOTTA GROW!!!
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