Bye, Bye Baby

November 12, 2006

Dakota Community Church

Bye, Bye Baby!

Introduction:

Leaving spiritual infancy behind.

At some point in time each of us must make the decision to stop coming to church to be fed and to instead come prepared to feed others.

Ephesians 4:11-15

It was he [Jesus] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

The popular commercial encourages us to; “Never stop, with the milk.”

But as believers we need to:

1. Add meat.

Growth is optional in spiritual matters. This is not something that happens with the passing of time! “Never stop, with the spiritual growth.”

Hebrews 5: 11-14

In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

Think about the stages of life.

(a.) Newborn

They are totally helpless, - They are cute, - They can say and do anything, - Every need is looked after (Instant Prayer answers).

(b.) Infant or childhood.

They start to learn the basics, - They feed themselves with help, - They potty train (Clean own messes), - Tie shoes and other basic necessities. Still at risk if unwatched.

(c.) The teen years.

They gradually become responsible for themselves, - They get a job, find a purpose, - They begin to earn authority like driving the car; they start to make small contributions to the family, pay board.

(d.) Adulthood.

They take on responsibility for others, - they reproduce.

In this stage you cannot expect to be treated like you were in the younger stages.

My Dad no longer gets excited when I tie my shoes, it is just expected behavior.

Have you noticed that no one gets excited when you attend Church regularly, if you miss a service there is no great concern – You are an adult Christian – it is like tying your shoes, just expected behavior.

2. Eliminate the middle man.

Who is primarily responsible for feeding you spiritually?

If there is someone between you and God, that guy has got to go.

You need to learn to load your own gun!

Are you planting a garden of your own?

People fail to progress in their walks with God when they depend on sources other than Him for their fulfillment in life.

A husband or wife can not satisfy all your needs.

A pastor cannot hear from God for you.

A ministry job cannot do it.

Children and family activity cannot do it.

A new house, car, furniture boat, cottage or vacation cannot do it.

Only God can do it.

Quote:

He who has God and many other things has no more than he who has God alone. - C.S. Lewis

John 4: 31-34

Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”

But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”

“My food,” said Jesus “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

Jesus’ joy came from doing the will of God and so will yours. How did He know that will?

He walked in relationship – only doing and saying what the Father did and said.

John 5: 16-21

So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him. Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.