Laying The Foundation

LAYING THE FOUNDATION

Hebrews 5:12-14; 6:1-3

Matthew 7:21-24

For our scriptures this morning let us consider Hebrews 5:12-14.

We will also consider this morning a few background passages or should I say supportive scriptures from Hebrews 6:1-3 and Matthew 7:21-24.

But for are immediate text let us turn to Hebrews 5:12-14 -- When you find it please say Amen. And it reads:

(v.12) For when the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. (v.13) For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. (v.14) But solid food 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.

I to use as theme or title this morning: Laying the Foundation (repeat)

Turn to your neighbor and say: Neighbor -- is your foundation sure? [Repeat]

We are going to pick up a magnifying glass this morning and examine our foundations in great detail. So I ask your forbearance this morning as I give you a brief introduction as to what is taking place here in the fifth chapter of Hebrews.

You see -- The writer of Hebrews recognized that there was something wrong in the lives of the people to whom he has ministering. You see -- they were not growing and developing, as they should. Read it for yourself and you will discover that, he did not scold them or bring them under condemnation; he just simply appealed and warned them and showed them a way out. The writer instructed them and his words are now preserved for you and for me. Let us consider our scripture again which reads:

(v.12) For when the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. (v.13) For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. (v.14) But solid food 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.

Well -- what are you talking about preacher -- you see, the writer is addressing a people very near and dear to his own heart. He wants them to develop in the things of the Holy Spirit so that they can be happy and enjoy life in God to the fullest. But they are not enjoying their inheritance in the Lord. So we find the writer of Hebrews taking inventory of their lives to determine what is needed.

Well -- what did the writer discover about his people. He discovered that they were spiritually immature because of their lack of disciplined study. He told them that by this time -- they each should be able to teach. In other words, he is saying that they ought to be able to communicate the gospel to others around them. But such was not the case.

Instead of being in the place of maturity -- where they could teach and help others, they still needed all the help they could get themselves. Yeah, read it for yourselves, and you will discover that the writer told them that they needed to have someone teach them again the first principles of Christian living.

What’s your point preacher -- well, I hesitate to say this, but the problems that the writer of Hebrews faced with the church back in 68 AD are still prevalent today. You see -- the average black church in America is filled with people who have been there for many years but who cannot communicate to others the most basic truths of the gospel.

If you ask them to teach a Sunday School Class, they are horrified. They insist, “No, No, superintendent, I can’t do that.” The reason they feel they cannot make positive contributions within and outside the church is that they have never been properly schooled, properly planted, and given a solid foundation. They have never been given systematic instructions in the primary truths of God’s Word.

The writer is in essence saying that -- those who have never mastered the fundamentals cannot really grasp more advanced truths. Brothers and sisters - I think that we would all agree that “MILK DOES THE BODY GOOD,” so the writer is saying that since they insisted on continually being fed milk, they cannot handle the meat of God’s Word.

Monument of Love -- I stopped by to tell you this morning that yes, “MILK DOES DO THE BODY GOOD” and that milk is fine for babies, but you cannot go through your whole life without adding more substance to your diet. You must advance to other spiritual foods.