The Growth of a Soul

Heb. 5:13-6:3

Intro.:

1.Geoffrey T. Bull, (When Iron Gates Yield) p. 20-21) tells of being in a smoke ridden dungeon of a place in Tibet.  Before the communists pushed in he was doing missionary work.  He was sitting on a sheep skin spread on the earthen floor, talking with a ruler whose face was wrinkled as one of last summer’s apples.  As they talked of the news of the communists, the wooden plows propped against the wall, the old Tibetan said half confidentially:  “I  want to ask you a question, I somehow don’t like asking those lama fellows.  Do you think you can answer me?”  Without waiting for a reply he went on, speaking with increasing seriousness…”How big is a man’s soul?”  The missionary looked into the fire and then into that worn and quizzical face.  “A soul, he replied, is measured like the wind, not by its length and breadth, or even its height, but by its power.  Only as a soul is linked with the Eternal Spirit of the living and true God can it grow to any size.”   There is a little arresting phrase,  “Hell is no vastness, it is full of little rotting souls.”  If we could view the lake of fire, it would probably be no bigger than pin head and yet be able to contain the millions who have shriveled themselves into alienation from their Creator and Redeemer.

2. The writer of the epistle is talking about the soul here.  These Hebrews were small of soul.  They had no grown up in spirit.  Did you ever try to explain the art of farming to a two year old?  Did you ever try to teach a three year old the fine art of driving a tractor?  Did you ever try to teach a four year old the intricacies of making  out your income tax?   The readers of this epistle were still babes in spiritual things no matter how old they were physically.   I remember a man I knew once who had the sad misfortune of a son who was not complete mentally. I remember visiting the home and the boy heard me play the guitar and he had one that he picked around on for pastime and he blurted out with a smile,  “I can play the guitar.”   The father’s heart must ache every time he sees his son to think what he should be and ought to be. How it must make the heart of God ache when he sees his blood redeemed sons and daughters still spiritual dwarves.

3. The writer says, “Therefore, let us leave the elementary doctrines of Christ and go on to maturity.”  How it would have thrilled the heart of that man if his son had grown to maturity.  How it thrills the heart of God when He sees the sons He has adopted by their faith in Christ and grow up to be mature sons and daughters and spiritual giants.

I. Two types of  men   13,14

1. There are two types of Christians spoken about in this Scripture.  There  are the babes who are children and the mature man, the full grown man.  The differences between the two are growth. In the realm of nature growth is determined.  A sparrow grows and at 30 days of age it can take care of itself. At six months it can build its own house.  A little pig almost immediately begins to root. A little kitten isn’t too long in learning from its mother the art of mouseing or catching prey. Baby seals and otters are soon taught to swim by their mother and soon they are on their own.  Growth is determined by God and man’s growth is determined in his physical and mental self.  Man’s physical growth is the slowest of the creation  but one striking fact we learn from the Scripture is that growth in the spiritual area is not determined by laws of nature but according to the willingness of the human to yield himself to the Divine Spirit of God.

2.  There were Christians in those days that had professed to be Christians for 20-30 years but they were still babes.  They had not grown spiritually since the first day they were born by faith into the kingdom of God.  They still needed to be carried about in the arms of the apostles.  They were still babes in activity not having grown to full size.

3.  Then there are the full grown people, the mature Christian who stands on his own two feet.  The person who knows what it is to fellowship Christ.  Paul was such a man and the martyr Stephen and all the apostles. Such are some giants today.   For there is set before the believers the command to ”grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” arriving at a mature state being no longer children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.  The phrase “let  us go on to perfections” is translated,  “Let us go on to maturity.” (RSV)   There is no perfection in this life, but there is maturity in Christ.  When you understand that the great desire of God is that “Christ may be formed in you” and that “perfecting is the operation of God; and that you simply
 have to present your lives and bodies a living sacrifice to God,” all is changed.  It is God who would give the growth if you will give the willingness.

            Stanley High in his book on Billy Graham tells about the effectiveness of the meetings.  Does it really last?  He cites numerous cases. One I will mention is that of a young businessman whose wife persuaded him to go with her to a Crusade meeting which was his  first attendance at a religious service in 16 years.  He had made success of business.  Amateur golf champion of his state, “the only god I had was golf.”  That night he went to the Crusade “straight from a gambling session at his club.  He had a good seat, “My wife had gone two hours before the doors opened to make sure of it.”  What he heard “hit him squarely between the eyes.  For five nights after, he says, I weathered the storm of conviction.  On the six night—the last—“I was patting myself on my back when God took over:  It’s tonight or never.”  Then something really shook me.  My wife got up brushed past me and walked down the aisle.  My last excuse was washed out.  The choir was on the fifth verse of “Just as I am.”  Only one verse to go. “All right, Lord,” I said, I can’t figure it all out.  But I’m going to put one foot forward and let you take me the rest of the way.”
            That was 6 years ago.  Our quarrel-riddled home has been made over.  We didn’t argue with our cocktail-party and gambling friends.  We were finding a bigger thrill in our daily devotions, Bible reading and prayer.  It’s one of the miracles to us how many  of those friends in the years since have discovered the same thrill.
            Today he still plays tournament golf any day but Sunday.  Sundays he teaches a man’s Bible class thru which, in 1955, there were  39 decisions for Christ.  He is chairman of the evangelistic  groups of his church, member of the board of directors of a Christian service center. He leads a laymen group which conducts religious services in the state penitentiary, prison farms, vet’s hospital, and the state university. His words: “I wouldn’t trade one minute of my life in these six years for all the more than 30 years that went before.”

            4.  In six years that man has grown more than those of us who have been Christians for 5-10-15-20-30 years.  Growth in the spiritual world is dependent on yieldedness to God.  How much have you grown?  Are you a babe or a mature Christian?

II. Two conditions or Abilities   14.

1.  There are two conditions or abilities of exercised facilities.  These naturally grow out of what type of person is being described.  Abilities are part of the growth. A little baby has the ability to grip a rod that is put in his hand and hold it but it will be months before he is able to coordinate his hand movements.  While on the other hand an adult normally has the intricate ability of playing the Missouri waltz on the piano or at least chopsticks.  The Scripture exhorts us to be mature in Christ.

2.  In the line of abilities and maturity in the Christian who is a babe in Christ is his lack of experience in the word of righteousness.  The phrase, “without experience in the word of righteousness, does not mean merely inexperience in the face of righteousness by faith in Christ.  But it is an ignorance, an inexperience that results from the lack of use of the spiritual senses.  It refers more particularly to the life which is holy and upright  which every Christian belonging to God ought to have and practice.  It is because of this inexperience in the word of righteousness that many unstable so-called Christians are carried off into the many cults that abound in this day.

3. On the other hand, the adult of maturity in Christ have their senses exercised to discern both God and evil.  Full grown men do have their senses developed.  When you were born into your  family, your parents were eager to know whether all your senses were perfect, sight, hearing, smelling feeling, taste.  In the verses  we have at hand, the spiritual senses are in view.  It is striking that all five bodily senses have their counterparts in the spiritual realm.
            1). Taste: Ps.119.103, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste!” Ps.34.8,”O taste and see that the Lord is good.”  I pet.2:3, “If indeed ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”
            2). Hearing, “Hear and your soul shall live.”  “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
            3).  Sight,  Ps.116.18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”  Ps. 19.8, “The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eye.  Ps. 123.1,  “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou  that dwellest in the heavens.”  Eph.1:18, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened.”
            4). Smell.  There is no sense so subtle and certain as that of scent.  It is beautifully set forth as concerning God, in that Christ offered Himself up for a smelling savor.  His life, walk, and ministry were a constant fragrance of delight to the Father.  Paul wrote to the Philippians,  “I am filled, having received…the things from you, an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.” (4:18)
            5). Feeling.  Concerning King Josiah,  God said about the judgement that was to come upon the nation that it would be forestalled “because his heart was tender.:” Toward one another we are told to be tenderhearted, (Eph.4:32). We are cautioned against wounding the conscience which is weak (I cor. 8.12) while the awful word is spoken of some that “being past feeling” they gave themselves up to lust and to work all uncleanness with greediness.” (Eph.4:19)  Like our Lord, we should be able to be “touched.”

4. To discern good and evil, to refuse the evil and choose the good, describes a holy walk.  How is your taste?  Does the word of God thrill your spirit?  Is it like honey to the tongue?            What about your sight?  Can you discern between good and evil.  Can you feel tenderhearted toward one another?  How is your ability to get along with people?

III.  Diet   13-14     

1.  The apostle is saying, Let us to on to maturity in matters of diet.  Diet is important in the life of any creature.  Some have dug their graves with their teeth.  Others have ruined their health by lack of diet. The disheartening thing  about these diet fades is that it does so much for the will power and so little for the waist line.  Diet is important for the well-being of the person.  A day’s work can’t be done for long on a few bottles of milk.  On the other hand,  a baby needs something beside a steak with veggies and coffee.’

2. These Christians were living or trying to live on milk.  They were trying to live on their first and past experience with Christ.  We frown on people who are living in the past but that is just what they were doing.  There had been a time that they had repented and put their  faith in Christ and now they were trying to live on that past experience.  Let us go on to maturity:  there is more in the Christian life than repentance and turning to Christ with faith.  There is the daily walk.  One must repent of sins and put one’ faith in Christ to enter into the Christian life, but  one must go on.

3.  Briefly described are the phrases in this passage as follows.
            1) principles of the doctrine of Christ—the elementary teachings about Christ.
            2) not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward Christ….Once the foundation is laid you must begin to build.  The dead works were the deeds by which the people were trying to do to fulfill the law. They are described as dead and useless.  These are the principles that are necessary to become a Christian…repentance and faith in Christ.
            3) Doctrines of baptisms.  The term “baptism” by itself does not specify  Christian baptism either in this epistle  but ablutions or immersions carried on by the Jews.  This was required of the Jewish converts and worshippers on general. Usually connected with washing of cups,  pots, etc.
            4) Laying on of hands.  The laying on of hands was a common sign of blessing or healing (Mt.19:13; Mk.7:32), was used in separation for a special task (Acts 13:3) and in ordination (Tim. 4:14).
            5) The resurrection of the dead.  There was controversy at the time of the coming of Christ whether there was to be a resurrection and consequently many of the Jews debated much about it.
            6)  Eternal judgement  was believed and taught by them as one of the elements of the Christian faith. There is to be a resurrection and then the judgement.

4. These are things that are basic to Christianity, but they are first principles which must be done thru and left as you move on to maturity in Christ.  The diet of the strong is meat.  Meat is something that will give you energy and strength.   Jesus stood by a well talking with a  woman who was married five times.  Soon she returned to her village and told of meeting the Messiah and while she was gone the disciples returned and brought him meat to eat.  He told them that he had meat that they knew nothing about.  They questioned if anyone had brought him food and meat. He said these wonderful words: “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”   The meat of the strong man of God is not to fiddle around with the elementary things, but to get busy and do the will of God every day.  What have you been eating on?  Are you so concerned about elementary doctrines that you neglect to do the will of the Lord daily?  Do you seek to do his will and finish eh work left for you.

Concl.:
            1.  The growth of your soul is your most important job.  A shriveled up pint-size soul is an unhappy one.  Dr. George Truett tells about talking with a strong business man in his office of the First Baptist church of Dallas.  He had troubles that came upon  him with terrible force and fury.  Years ago, he had found Christ and nobly confessed him before men. Now he was down in the dark and deep valley of distress.  He said,  “I have come a long way to go over this matter with you.”   Dr. Truett said, “The physician must diagnose his case before he is willing to give any medicine.  Now answer me,  first, some questions honestly, and we will go over the whole matter.”And when he probed the man with questions he could find that he had not one religious habit in his  life which he lived up to with a day’s consistency—not one.  He said,  “Why, I see after my business on Sunday, and I have not read my Bible for months, and I go  church with irregularity, and I can hardly tell you when I do go alone, and  get down and utter a prayer. I said,  “You have come this distance to ask to tell you the trouble.  You do not need that I tell you that you have trifled with your profession, and are trifling with your profession, and are trifling with your Saviour, and are trifling with your church, and are trifling with the Scriptures, and are trifling with everything holy.  You want to know why you have doubts, you have the answer.”  There is no conscientious devotion in your life to God, there is no growth in your soul, nor will you have these bright blessed days again until you see the Almighty.”

2.  What kind of growth is going on in your soul?  Are you a spiritual midget?  Are you living on your past experience with Christ?  Are you daily seeking to do the will of Christ and do his work?  Let us go on to maturity in Christ.