Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Milk and Meat; Obeying and Ministering the Gospel

John 4:32-35 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.  Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him [ought] to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and [then] cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

It appears that "meat" refers to ministering the gospel. It appears that "milk refers to obeying the gospel and learning the elements of the gospel.

Hebrews 5:12-14, 6:1-2 ¶ 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. 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. ¶ Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

“Perfection” (Hebrews 6:1) is from the Greek word “perfect”. Besides meaning “perfect”, it means “full-grown, adult, of fullll age, mature” (Thayer).

1Corinthians 3:1-3 ¶ 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?

When Jesus was ministering in the gospel, he had compassion on the multitudes and made a plea.

Matthew 9:35-38 ¶ And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly [is] plenteous, but the labourers [are] few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

It appears the Lord is saying, It's time to GROW UP! There is a harvest READY of lost, hurting, and dying souls that NEED the ministry of the gospel!  Acts 2:38-39

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