Desire the Sincere Milk of the Word!
1 peter 2:2 Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed]
salvation,
I had a pastor say to me one time, that pastoring is kind of like a nurturing a new born baby. First thing a newborn wants to do, is nurse. There is this innate ‘sucking mechanism’ that every healthy baby exhibits.
When I asked him how to decide, as a young pastor, where best to spend my time, when there are so many obviously hurting people in the world, I heard some wise counsel.
“Spend your time with those that want to be fed!”
While at Bible school, I had an instructor read this verse, that answered my question quite clearly:
Acts 20:28
Take care and be on guard for yourselves and the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you bishops and guardians, to shepherd (tend and feed and guide) the church of theLord or of God which He obtained for Himself [buying it and saving it for Himself] with His own blood
Amplified says it fairly plain, but good old King Jimmy English makes my point clearly:
Acts 20:28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
He said: Chris, are the people you are counseling and pouring your life into attending church regularly?
The Word of God is clear, people need to be part of a local Body.
Heb 10:25 Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching.
He said, ‘Although I understand the good shepherd left the ninety-nine to go after the one, that one was still part of the flock. Chris, the Bible says to feed the flock of God. If they will not even attend church, they are not part of your church.
Again, I remembered the thoughts of that newborn infant, hungry to nurse.
If someone is hungry, they will eat. My job is to serve hot, fresh out of God’s oven, bread of life from the Word.
Yet, here, I don’t get to see all of you face to face. People stumble across this post, hungry for a Word from heaven, and I, in obedience to the Holy Spirit, am breaking the bread of God’s Word for you, daily, trusting that through this, Holy Spirit is feeding, leading, and ministering to you, just because He loves you, and I do too!
There are many verses on spiritual growth; we took an entire course on it at Bible school, and this is not the purpose of this teaching today, rather, to put before you a good meal from the Word, that will help you to be all you can be in Jesus.
With respect to church attendance though, the way I see it, we need to be either in attendance at a local church, or out pioneering or pastoring one.
Even if we are evangelists, prophets, teachers whose primary ministry is outside of the local assembly, we still need to bring our families into the house of the Lord.
Let’s pray:
‘Father, we desire to do only you will. Please show me clearly, what church I am supposed to be attending, supporting, serving in, or providing leadership to, at this point in my life and ministry. May I continually be in Your perfect will, intimately hearing Your voice, and moving fully obedient to You Holy Spirit, in Your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen’