One may cause the other.
A pastor who wants to encourage and equip those who “get it,” those who are growing in Christ, love God, and submit to His Word, may be hindered by those who don’t “get it,” and are always “in a crisis,” asking for prayer, counsel etc. because they don’t put the effort necessary in being able to stand during times of trials themselves.
It’s like a teacher who wants to challenge those who are smart but are held back by those who need extra attention. I’m not talking about those who are trying to learn but take longer to comprehend, or those with learning disabilities—but those who are lazy and don’t want to take time to study, or who don’t have motivation to learn. Of course, we all need the support of the body at times, but we also need to learn to stand ourselves (Eph. 6:10-18).
What is the solution?
Pastors have to be able to feed and equip those who are growing, who want to pursue their call and purpose, while at the same time, nurture the true babes who need to learn the basics.
Hebrews 5:11-14
11: Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.
12: For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.13: For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.14: But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.
The writer of Hebrews, (let’s say it’s Paul), had much to say to his readers, yet it was hard to explain because they had become dull of hearing. He wanted to explain to them about Melchizedek, and the priesthood of Jesus, yet it was hard to do because they had become dull of hearing.
Why did they become dull of hearing?
They should have already learned the basic foundational principles of the Word to where they could teach others. Yet they didn’t even understand them themselves. They needed to be taught AGAIN these basic principles. They started to grow but had reverted to a place of needing milk again.
Why?
They had heard these “elementary principles”, but had never put them into practice. They did not have their “senses trained to discern good and evil.” They were not “accustomed to the word of righteousness.”
Jesus called “righteousness” things like giving to the poor, prayer, and fasting (Matthew 6). He described how to “practice” your righteousness (Matthew 6:1) and went on to say at the end of the sermon that those who hear and act on His Word will be the ones who hold up under the storm—because they have built a strong foundation (Matthew 7:24-27).
This hindrance to growth occurs when people neglect the Word of God—the very thing needed to bring them what they need, and to the place they want to go, that they are destined to go—and want others to do it for them.
It will come to a point in your Christian walk, when the prayers of others will only go so far for you—you must resist the devil, and speak the Word to him yourself (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10). But you’ve got to KNOW THE WORD in order to do so. Even if you use the authority in the name of Jesus you’ve been given in Him, if you’re not in the Word, your faith in His name can begin to waver.
A “snowflake” mentality infiltrated the church. A snowflake was used to describe those young people who had grown up so coddled that they didn’t learn how to handle the challenges of life once they reached adulthood. They were never disciplined, always got what they wanted, so they never learned how to handle denial, disappointment, inconvenience, or failure. As a result, they melted at the first bump in the road.
Hebrews 6:1-3
1: Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
2: of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.
3: And this we will do, if God permits.
There are times we will teach on the basic principles of the Word, even after coming to maturity, to strengthen our foundations but that is not the place we are to stay. If we don’t grow beyond that, we won’t develop the stamina we need to overcome in this life.
If a baby receives milk and grows, that’s a good thing. However, if he spits out food when he’s given it, his body will not receive the nourishment it needs to sustain itself and continue growing. He’ll remain perpetually hungry, dissatisfied, and malnourished. By rejecting the solid food and the extra effort it takes to chew and digest, he won’t have the strength to grow, to walk, to run, to live a healthy life. So it is with spiritual babes in Christ. We must put effort into studying the Word of God, getting before the Lord in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to give us understanding and revelation, and applying it to our lives.
There is a danger to not doing this.
Hebrews 6:4-6
4: For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit,5: and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,6: and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.
It’s dangerous to grow to a point in Christ, a point of enlightenment, tasting and partaking of His gifts and goodness but then falling away. There's a certain amount of perseverance and faithfulness required on our part to grow in Christ. Paul reminded his readers of the “former days,” when after being enlightened, they endured a great conflict of sufferings.
Hebrews 10:32
32: But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings,
Learning to endure will bring growth, much like when we train our muscles with extra weight so when we need them, they are strong. So it is with our spiritual endurance.
Hebrews 10:35-36
35: Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
36: You have need of patience, so after you have done the will of God you might receive the promise.
There is a reward--a great reward--and promise. The effort we put into our own spiritual growth is very highly worth it!
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