What do I mean by that? I’ll share with you the words of a famous writer who was also frustrated with the church. Then I’ll continue by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
“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. 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. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.” Hebrews 5:11-14 NLT
When is the Church going to grow up? When are we going to stop repeating the same mistakes and making excuses for doing so? When are we going to allow the Holy Spirit and the Word to fully transform us? The Church of Jesus Christ is filled with ten, twenty, thirty, forty and fifty year old babies. I’m not speaking of chronological age here, I’m speaking of the years most people claim that they have been born again. When will we move from infancy to mature children of God? No longer needing milk but solid meat? Creation is groaning, waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. Adam, where are you? If we’re not growing we’re sick!
Something has gone radically wrong with the Church. We say we are His but our lives aren’t showing it. Where’s the proof? I’m not talking here about church attendance, I’m talking about maturing past the old unregenerate mindset to a life filled with the Holy Spirit doing the Father’s will. When are we going to stop sinning against God? We compromise, deceive, cheat on our spouses, cheat on our taxes, cuss, lust, prideful, arrogant, lie against the Truth, doubters, unbelieving, faithless. These are the things babies in Christ used to do. But mature children who understand the requirements of the Spirit, grow past these things. Listen to what the apostle Paul said in Romans 8. There’s a stark contrast between the Spirit filled believers and those who won’t give up the old man and his ways. I will highlight some key words throughout.
“Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to Him at all.)”
Romans 8:5-9 NLT
Paul was not addressing the unsaved here, he was speaking to the Church. If we remain under the control of our sinful nature, that’s the direction of our gravitation and we will never mature beyond the salvation prayer. It’s imperative that we crucify the flesh and put on the new man. Listen to Paul’s letter to the Christians in Ephesus telling them and us what the teaching of the Word is supposed to produce in us who want to leave the baby stages.
“This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of His body, the church. With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against Him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity. But that isn’t what you learned about Christ. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”
Ephesians 4:13-15, 17-24 NLT
That’s what the mature Church is supposed to be doing. If we are indeed filled with and are being led by the Holy Spirit. I wrote the other day that some Christians want just enough Jesus to avoid hell, and just enough of the old man to live carnal. They love the old life so much that there are some aspects of the carnal nature they’re not willing to relinquish. But guess what? A little leaven (yeast) affects the whole loaf. The stench isn’t exclusive to you, it’s stinking up the entire body, because we’re one family. Have you ever smelled a skunk aroma without seeing or being near one? That’s what happens when members of our family want to continue carrying the corpse of their old life into the new one. When one falls, we all fall. That’s the way the world lumps us all in, and rightfully so. We’re the body of Christ. The dual lifestyle will not and cannot work. We’re supposed to be putting off and putting on. Not continuing the same old patterns of the past.
How frustrating this must be to our Heavenly Father who sacrificed His son to fully redeem and transform us, only to watch us continue doing the very things He’s delivered us from. I told the class last evening that the problem isn’t with the cross, the blood, the Spirit, God, Jesus or the Bible. It isn’t even with the devil! It’s with us! We have been given every possible tool necessary to help us transition from the old life to the new. We just don’t want to grow up. We love the old life a little too much. When are we going to grow up?! If you’re still struggling with old habits you haven’t fully surrendered to the work of the Holy Spirit. If you’re always backsliding you’re an unfaithful spouse. If you still have stinking thinking, You have not allowed the Word to renew your mind. It’s a choice. Changing is a choice, maturing is a choice. Even if you’re sick mentally and have some deep underlying issues and need therapy, getting help with your problems is a choice. But there’s nothing impossible with God. He can deliver you from all things, but deliverance is a choice.
The question is, do you want to grow up? Do you want to change? Second Corinthians five says this.
“Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!”
2 Corinthians 5:17 AMPC
What does new mean? Exactly! So if you’re still sucking your thumb, needing a binky, drinking milk from a bottle, wearing stinky diapers, You haven’t been made new. Paul is right-If we possess His Spirit, we are His and do His stuff, the things that the righteous Spirit does. Babies make messes. Grownups take responsibility for their actions and make changes not excuses. If you’re still struggling with an old sin, you’re not delivered. Your salvation wasn’t done piecemeal, it wasn’t patched up. It’s brand spanking new! The flesh must be made subject to the Spirit, the new man and nature must be given full control. Remember you cannot serve two masters. We cannot win the world if the Church is filled with babies. It’s time to grow up! Stop making excuses for why you do what you do! Change course! If God is your God, and Jesus is your Lord, serve Him! If your carnal nature is your god then serve it! But for heaven’s sake make a decision and stick with it! Life is too short to be indecisive. This is about life and death here. GROW UP CHURCH! The One who redeemed us by His blood has this to say to those who refuse to grow up.
“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” Revelation 3:16 NKJV
The real problem we’re having with the Church is that we don’t believe God’s Word the way He does. That’s why the Word isn’t working for us in the same way we read about it working for the apostles. It’s also another reason why we’re jealous when we see it working in the lives of those who are mature and do believe. The Word is settled, it’s a done deal. We’re just too lazy to act upon it. Believing places responsibility on us. We want God, who’s already done everything, to now believe for us. We say things like “ I’m just waiting on God '' but the real truth is God is waiting on us to believe Him period! We’re just lazy. This isn’t fast food or door dash, this is occupying until He comes. What are you doing in your problem or struggle? You have a responsibility to activate your faith and grow up. What preparation are you making while you wait? Faith without works is dead. It’s time to move from infancy to maturity, cold to hot. Creation is waiting for us to demonstrate who we really are. Romans 8:19
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
October 1, 2021