Heb.5:11-12 – Concerning him we have much to say, and it is difficult to explain, since you have become poor listeners. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the actual words of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
Obviously the author of Hebrews is disturbed by the immaturity of the church. How could he make such a conclusion? He was determining spiritual maturity by spiritual passion and hunger. It is impossible to be a strong, mature Christian without having a hunger for God. At the same time, passion overflows into ministry. It is quite impossible to be on fire and keep it to yourselves. In the early days of the Jerusalem church the city was filled with home meetings being led by fiery converts. Paul apparently thinks that fire has gone out and needs to be rekindled. Here is how Murray describes it.
“We have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, because ye are become dull of hearing. The writer’s complaint is not that they have not sufficient education or mental power to understand what he says. By no means. But spiritual things must be spiritually discerned. Spiritual truth can only be received by the spiritual mind, by a heart that thirsts for God, and sacrifices this world for the knowledge and enjoyment of the unseen One. They were content with their knowledge of the crucified Christ; the heavenly Christ, and His power to draw them up out of the world, and to give heaven into their hearts, had but little attraction. He further says, By reason of the time ye ought to be teachers in the Christian life every one who makes real progress feels himself constrained to teach others. Christ’s love in the heart must overflow to those around.”
The really scary thing about this is that it all sounds too familiar. People who were once on fire for the Lord and passionately involved in evangelism and discipleship are no longer on the front lines. Apparently this all starts when a passion and hunger for God begins to cool off. You can’t really lead others when you are overcome with apathy yourself. Lord keep me from apathy and lukewarmness. Lord, light the fire again.
5 thoughts on “TEACHERS”
To keep the fire burning you must add wood to the fire. The word of God is our wood.
Baptize me with 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥Lord
This ties well with the don’t be a baby blog last week. I can speak from having been all of these. Luke 17: 7-10 (Passion) has become a focal point in this season.
But…. “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” (James 3:1, NIV)
Obviously the author of Hebrews and James are talking about two different things. James apparently is talking about the office of teacher – Hebrews is talking about ministering to others