and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17
which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk,
and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness:
for he is a babe. 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.
Hebrews 5:12-14.
Ouch! We don't get much preaching like that any more, do we? The author of Hebrews wanted to get into the depths of describing Christ, our High Priest, but realized that those he was teaching would not be able to grasp his meaning. At a time when they should have already advanced to the meat of the Word, they were still Bottle Babies. They had been Christians a long time; long enough in fact, that they should have been teaching others. Instead of having PROgressed, they had REgressed. Regressed to the point of needing to be taught the basic fundamentals of righteousness all over again! (What are the basic fundamentals of righteousness? The difference between right and wrong! That is about as basic as it gets, Amen?)
Bottle Babies
They were followers of Christ, some of them for many years, yet they had experienced little, if any, development in their spiritual walk. Long ago "physically matured", they insisted on remaining content with the spiritual development of a "newborn in Christ". Their faith had never grown stronger. Their knowledge of the Word of God had never increased. They had not developed any spiritual wisdom. Every little wind that came along buffeted them about and they had no spiritual discernment between the "doctrine of man" and the "doctrine of God". Why? Because they refused to grow up into Him in ALL things! (Ephesians 4:15)
The same thing is going on the lives of [so-called] "Christians" today. They cannot "rightly divide" the Word of God because they refuse to spend time meditating upon it, studying it, learning its precepts. They don't think on whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8). The Psalmist said, I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. Psalm 119:15,16,27.
We may have to speak of the unpleasantness of this old world from time to time, but nowhere are we taught to DWELL on it! So many of today's "Christians" never seem to have anything good to say--they walk around defeated, in the depths of despair and wonder why. Look on this:
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:13-17.Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. One of the most important sources of faith building is by what we hear. What are we listening to, my friends? Whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report? Glad tidings of good things?
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. Psalm 119:9. (That's for "old folks", too, by the way.) "Taking heed": not only hearing, but accepting and applying that which is heard. But we don't do that, do we? We've got our own agenda and it does NOT include studying the Word of God. We are Bottle Babies: unskilful in the word of righteousness. We've never come of full age--those who have used (and thus, honed or sharpened) their senses to discern both good and evil. So we are 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. Ephesians 4:14. We settle for "it sounds good", and that's only if it doesn't prick our conscience! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Psalm 119:104. It is VERY hard to recognize the "false way" if one has no concept of the "true way", Amen?
Another reason so many remain Bottle Babies is their behavior. The Word of God tells us that we must be "child-like"; nowhere does it say we are to be childish! There is a tremendous difference in the two! As a matter of fact, we have this: 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. I Corinthians 13:11.
Please note that comes from the thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians. Look what Paul had written to them in the third chapter:
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? I Corinthians 3:1-3.If you think that's a bit stiff, gnaw on the same three verses from The Living Bible:
"Dear brothers, I have been talking to you as though you were still just babies in the Christian life, who are not following the Lord, but your own desires; I cannot talk to you as I would to healthy Christians, who are filled with the Spirit. I have had to feed you with milk and not with solid food, because you couldn't digest anything stronger. And even now you still have to be fed on milk. For you are still only baby Christians, controlled by your own desires, not God's. When you are jealous of one another and divide up into quarreling groups, doesn't that prove you are still babies, wanting your own way? In fact, you are acting like people who don't belong to the Lord at all."Arrested Development
Those who stopped learning somewhere along the way. They conduct themselves as a wee child who has not yet learned how to control his (her) emotions; they cannot make sensible decisions for themselves; they whine for advice then want to argue with those who offer it. It's pathetic--it really is. Sure, it could be because something or someone was a stumbling block, but know this: at some point in time, we each have to take responsibility for our own actions (or lack thereof). We cannot allow anything to hinder our walk with God.
Folks who are in a state of "arrested development" can offer countless excuses as to why they are there--none of which are going to stand up before God. He Is Able to lead, guide and direct us, if we will but let Him! Our development gets arrested when we refuse to yield to Him, when we refuse to apply that which the Word of God teaches. And we canNOT apply what we do NOT know (or are unwilling to study and learn)!
We've all known someone in a state of "arrested development". We're not talking about NEW converts to Christ here now--we're talking about those who have been Christians long enough to know better than act the way they do. Those who get offended at the preacher because he preached a little strong. They don't want anyone "telling them what to do"; they don't want the conviction of the Holy Spirit--but that's part of the office of the Holy Spirit in our lives: to convict.
Bottle Babies are dull of hearing--spiritually deaf to the appeals from the Word of God, but ears like radar screens when listening to gossip. Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made even both of them. Proverbs 20:11,12. We need to tune both our eyes and our ears to the things of God. He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; He shall dwell on high: his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure. Isaiah 33:15,16.
Why are folks "dull of hearing"? For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Matthew 13:15.
The Word of God tells us, Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:5. Moderation: "freedom from excess, not extreme". How do we get to "moderation"? Through maturity. If we refuse to "grow up", we won't reach "moderation"; we will operate under extremes--from crisis to crisis, from deepest valleys highest mountains to deepest valleys... Let me tell you, there CAN BE stability in ALL facets of our lives, but it comes ONLY through total commitment to Christ.
You've heard of it: that peace that passeth all understanding? The scripture for it comes right smack in the middle of that which we have already referenced: the moderation we should learn to have in our lives, the things we should think of--the things of God. Let's look at it in closing:
Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the PEACE OF GOD, which PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING, shall KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. Philippians 4:5-9.If you have a pastor/preacher who is preaching THE Truth (and the ONLY WAY you will know he is, is if YOU are studying and learning it for YOURSELF), don't be a Bottle Baby. Be glad that he or she has the courage to teach truth from the written Word of God. Accept it, apply it, allow it to make the changes that need to be made in your life! Grow up into the Lord. The Word of God tells us that he who seeks wisdom shall find it. He who seeks understanding shall find it.
Don't be petty and small-minded, selfish and self-centered. Be willing to learn, to apply, to submit, to study, to pray. Get off the milk diet and onto the MEAT diet. Come and eat with the grown-ups! 'Tis a splendid table spread, at which we may dine--feasting off the good things of God!
"Bottle Babies" Copyright © 2001 by Patricia Sikes.
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