Milk of the Word (1Peter 2:1-8 )
But what do we see in Christendom? Rather than feeding on the "pure milk of [God's] Word", the young in the Lord are fed "formula" and other concoctions. Instead of the -pure- Word, they are fed the -writings- of this famous person, that "church father", this other notable scholar, the consensus of "church history", "edicts" and "diets" (e.g. "Diet of Worms" Oh, how yummily appropriate!!! Although I don't suppose Martin Luther appreciated the pun!) To them the Bible must agree with "creeds", otherwise it is changed. To be a preacher worth his salt, he must have countless books of commentary on his library shelves. And if questioned, must know how to properly regurgitate the swill of Nimrod's Babylonish traditional barf food.
When a person becomes a 'scholar', they become filled with man's wisdom. But man's wisdom is "foolishness with God" (1Co3:19) But when a person feeds on God's "pure" Word, we find that its "taste" is "good" (vs3)
"The Words of Jehovah are pure Words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." (Ps12:6)
"Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him." (Pr30:5)
And what results from feeding? Growth. And with growth? Strength.
While running the race and 'digging deep', yes, we found the Holy Spirit who resides. But 'how' did we have the strength to even 'dig'? God's Word.
"...man does not live by bread alone; but man lives by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of Jehovah" (De8:3, Mt4:4)
You see... this is the #1 flaw of charismania. They lay aside God's Word in favor of "spirit". Like that meeting I read about some years ago, where a congregation had been "worshiping", becoming 'high in the spirit'...whereupon the pastor abdicated his God-given duty to "preach the Word" (2Ti4:2), and announced words something like: We won't have the Word tonight, we've had the spirit. But without the Word, how do they know -which- spirit they are of? We are told to "test the spirits" and to "not believe every spirit". Not all spirits are from God. (1Jn4:1) What is the ruler against which we measure to ascertain where any spirit (of the moment) is from? God's Word. How do we know if that momentary spirit is proclaiming an "other gospel" (which is accursed)(Ga1:8-9), unless we have the -standard- that HAS BEEN PREACHED and HAS BEEN RECEIVED? How do we know what has already been given "once for all"? (Ju1:3) It's been recorded. It has been written down. Thus, when a strange spirit starts spewing forth some strange things, how does God's child recognize immediately whether that utterance is from God's Holy Spirit, or not? By -knowing- God's Word. How does one know God's Word? By feeding.
How does a young man know how to stay away from evil and keep a "cleansed" way? "By taking heed according to Your Word" (Ps119:9)
So... it starts out with milk; and then with maturity, growth and strength, the building progresses to stones. (vs4-5) Something that is solid and is not easily moved.
Indeed, the apostasy likes to be "spirit-filled", which wafts around in the breeze; and they get tossed around, to and fro, by "every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting" (Eph4:14)
But if we are in Christ, Jesus is the "living stone". He is the Foundation. (1Co3:11) Sinful man rejected Him, but He was "chosen by God" (vs4) And as we are Christ's "Church"... well, we often say that the Church of Jesus Christ is not that 'building', with the sign out front, and padded pews inside. But in fact, the Church -is- a Building. A building of "living stones" that is being built up "a spiritual house" (vs5)
And here we have another Jewish picture. A "holy priesthood" and "spiritual sacrifices". In the OT when animals were offered up, they did so, typically, on stones. Thus, if the Believer -is- a "living stone" with which the Church is being built, the Believer is two things: both the building and the altar.
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