Sermon notes
The apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth: "And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it" (1 Corinthians 3:1-2). Even in church there are two categories: spiritual people who are mature in Christ, and carnal people who are still infants and can only drink milk. Growing old happens automatically, but growing mature is a choice. Spiritual maturity is not measured by how many years we have been Christians or how often we attend church, but by whether we can eat solid food (Hebrews 5:14).
Signs of the Carnal Person
The Corinthians were called carnal because they were still envious, quarrelsome and focused on people: "I am of Paul," "I am of Apollos." Yet the centre of the church is not the pastor or the apostle but God, because only God gives the increase. Childishness is also easily afraid and anxious, runs from problems, is selfish, and always demands to be served. So let us examine ourselves and put away childish things (1 Corinthians 13:11).
Feed on God's Word Every Day
The mature spiritual person feeds on God's Word every day. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3). Just as we cannot remember what we ate a few days ago yet our bodies keep growing, the Word we read has power to make us grow. Jeremiah said, "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart" (Jeremiah 15:16). If we have no appetite for the Word, perhaps we are spiritually sick. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). Job came through overwhelming calamity because he treasured God's words in his heart (Job 23:10-12). Meditate on the Word day and night, "for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success" (Joshua 1:8).
Able to Eat Solid Food
After Jesus fed the five thousand, many sought Him only because they had eaten the loaves and were filled (John 6:26-27). When Jesus taught a hard saying, "from that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more" (John 6:66). Solid food means following the Lord not merely for blessings or miracles, but to know His heart, and staying faithful even through a hard process. King Jeroboam witnessed three miracles at once, yet "after this event Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way" (1 Kings 13:33). Miracles alone are not enough; we need to know God's heart, not only His hand.
Growing Up Into Christ
God's desire is that we come to full maturity, "that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:13-15). Christ is the Word Himself. When we know the Word, our lives become calm, just as we can rest on a plane without knowing the pilot. We panic and worry because we are still children who know only milk.
Let us pray as Epaphras did, that we may "stand perfect and complete in all the will of God" (Colossians 4:12). Say: Lord, I want to grow, I want to feed on Your Word every day, and I want to learn to eat solid food. The Lord Jesus bless you.
