That was a “MEATY” sermon, or was it? (Part 2)

In Part 1 I showed how scripturally milk refers to receiving teaching from the Word in order to form the foundation of our faith. The whole Bible is milk, Sunday sermons are milk and Christian books are also milk. Today I want to show you meat, so you go and get some to grow up further into the fullness of Christ. In John 4 we read the account of Jesus sending His disciples to buy food while He strikes up a conversation with the Samarian woman at the well. He asks her for a drink and ends up revealing to her that He is the Messiah. Before she runs to call everyone from her town, the disciples come back with food. Let’s pick it up there:

John 4:25-34 the woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26 Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. 27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? 28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. (KJV)

Sorry for the King James, it is the only translation I know of that uses the word meat. All the others just say food. Jesus said His meat, His solid food, is to do the will of the Father. Meat is doing the will of God. And by will I mean heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, freely you have received, freely give. You can know all the doctrine on healing (the milk of healing), but you will only learn how to get somebody healed by ministering to them (the meat of healing). It’s like learning to drive a car. You can learn the principles and rules of the road in a book, but you have to get behind the wheel to learn to drive.

Matt 7:24-27 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (NKJV)

This is a very famous parable and many people think Jesus was comparing believers (building on the rock) with unbelievers (not building on the rock). You can interpret it like that, but I believe Jesus was comparing two believers. In verse 24 & 26 He says, “Whoever hears these sayings” meaning both heard. Since faith comes by hearing, both these guys received faith. But one was wise and one was foolish. What was the difference? It is not the hearing and receiving the Word that makes you wise or foolish. “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, AND DOES THEM” = Wise.” “Everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, AND DOES NOT DO THEM” = foolish. Hearing is important because getting the milk is getting the faith. But acting on milk, acting on the Word turns the milk into meat and grows you up! Let’s look at Hebrews 5 again:

Heb 5:12-14 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first 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 unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (NKJV)

We looked at verse 12 in part 1, but we didn’t look at 13 & 14. Everyone who partakes on only milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness. The Greek word for unskilled literally means unable to do, unable to do well and being ignorant towards. In English unskilled means unable to do. The difference between babes and mature believers are in the ability to do what needs to be done. Verse 14 says solid food are for those “who by reason of USE have their sense EXERCISED.” Use and exercise (practicing how to do something) is what solid food is. The first few times I prayed for people for healing not much happened. That doesn’t mean healing is not real, it means I was unskilled in healing. The more I practiced healing, the more things started to happen and the more people started to get healed. Now I not only heal, I also teach others to also heal and some of the people I have taught have seen miracles greater than any of the ones I have seen personally!

James 1:22-24 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. (NKJV)

That is why James wrote to not stop at only hearing like the foolish builder, but to go over into action like the wise builder. He wasn’t teaching works as some often say to keep people passive.

James 2:17-20 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?  (NKJV)

Faith without action is dead, or has no effect in your situation. Believing is good, but even demons believe and tremble. So you shaking in the Presence is not so special, demons do it too… But when you start acting on your faith and casting out demons, healing people and setting captives free, you will start to grow up into Christ. You will resemble your big brother Jesus as you release the glory of God to change situations, lives, and the course of history. Let history be HIS-story, written on the living pages of your life!

The kingdom butchery is now open, go get some meat people!

Cornel

Click here to read a preview of Cornel’s new book, “So You Think Your Mind Is Renewed?” If you’re tired of religion, legalism and the traditions of man, this book will be a great starting block for you to starting living the life you were destined to live in Christ!