Sunday 3 October 2021

The Oracles of God

 


Scripture: Hebrews 5 v 12 - 14: "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.
 13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 
 14  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 6 v 1 - 2: "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, 
 2  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."

It is the desire of the Holy Spirit, our Teacher, and the will of God that each one of us would move past the oracles of the first principles of the doctrine of Christ into the deeper teachings or strong meat that He has for us.

So much of church doctrine is based on the basics, the milk of the gospel, that we are in danger of becoming very fat babies instead of robust men and women of God.  In other words stop preaching the way of salvation to those who are already saved.  Stop all the faith messages to those who are already strong in faith.

Paul writes: let us go on to perfection NOT Repeating over and over the foundation of repentance from dead works. He means for us to stop quibbling about past sins, hurts, injustices, bad memories, broken relationships or untimely deaths. These things hold us back and keep us on a treadmill of self pity.

There is a chorus that says: So forget about yourself and concentrate on Him and worship Him, Jesus Christ the Lord. Stop worrying about yourself and get busy serving the Lord by being a blessing to others. Make Jesus real to them through your testimony. We may be the last person they speak to so let's make our words count towards eternity.

Paul says the preaching concerning faith towards God is baby food. Rather go out and exercise your faith, building it up by trusting God to answer prayer. You need to believe you can walk on water like Peter did. Or change water into wine. Or curse a fig tree. Jesus gave us examples of what Adam lost for humanity, but which He restored.

Lay hands on the sick and believe Jesus within you to heal them. He may not heal all of them but He will change their lives in some way.  Sitting Sunday after Sunday hearing the doctrine of laying on of hands preached, does not heal the sick. Jesus said in Mark 16 - Lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. Exercise your faith by doing what Jesus commanded His followers and the results will grow your faith, obedience, ministry more than 20 sermons on the first principles.

What is the milk of the Word?  What is strong meat? Hebrews 5 v 13 says, "Everyone who uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe." In 1 Peter 2 v 2 "As newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow thereby."  The more we read the Bible and understand it, then actually put it into practice, the more we grow into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

What is the doctrine of baptisms?  Firstly, water baptism following salvation, which means we identify with the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Under the water our dead spirit is exchanged for the living Spirit of Jesus.  Our dead spirit is brought to life in Jesus in Heaven.

Ephesians 2 v 5 - 7: "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 
6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."

The next is Baptism in the Holy Spirit, which gives us power to witness of Jesus, and powerful gifts to help us change the world.  Those who reject these gifts, reject a precious gift from the Father to their own hurt.  This is God's promise to us and cannot be altered by man in any shape or form.

My spiritual life changed dramatically when God began to open up the hidden treasures in secret places in His Word. You have to get to the point of desiring to know the secrets of God.  We can never come to an end of the treasures of the Lord.  Once we begin to follow His leading we begin to explore the height and depths of our loving Father to know Him and His Kingdom in undeniable ways.

Many people have not yet ventured into using the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are part of the milk of the Word to help you grow. They are found in 1 Corinthians 12. The more you wisely use these gifts the more you understand the depths and greatness of God. Through the gifts His secrets are revealed; mysteries explained; miracles proclaimed. Let the Holy Spirit guide you into the Treasury of jewels and pearls of wisdom that you will find nowhere else.

The next oracle, foundation teaching, is the resurrection of the dead.  When we pass away on this planet, if we are born again Christians, its like falling asleep and waking up in Heaven.  For those who reject Jesus and His salvation, they only wake up on the Day of Judgment, where their opportunities to be born again are revealed.  The sad news is that they made the wrong choice and will eternally regret it.  The Judgment is the final Oracle that is taught.

Once we know these foundations, and have received the blessings of baptism and the gifts, we have laid a strong foundation upon which we must build our Christian life and experiences.  We must demonstrate our faith by doing the things Jesus did and expecting the same results.  We have an enemy that wants to block our progress so we must overcome his ploys and outwit him.

This is the normal Christian life for the priesthood of all believers.  We all have important things to do, but many do nothing, leaving it to pastors, evangelists, prophets and teachers, the "professionals" to do.  Rather seek the Lord for what He has planned for you, He will provide for it once you put your hand to the wheel.

Prayer: Heavenly Father it so delights You when Your children explore the hidden treasures of Your Kingdom. Lead us to these wonderful places to enjoy Your bounty.   Help us not to procrastinate and waste valuable time quibbling over the non-essentials, but rather let us be full of confidence in Your ability. In Jesus' name. Amen.