STAGNANT SAINTS
HEBREWS 5:12-13
I. TEXT
THE PEOPLE HAD BECOME INDIFFERENT TO THE WORD OF GOD. THEY WERE NOT NEW CONVERTS, THEREFORE, THEY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN MORE ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD THAN THEY KNEW. THERE ARE THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE CHURCH FOR YEARS, BUT THEY ARE STAGNANT SAINTS.
THE WRITER INFORMS HIS AUDIENCE THAT THEY ARE BABES IN CHRIST. THEY MIGHT HAVE A BIG POSITION IN THE CHURCH BUT STILL A BABE. THEY MIGHT COME TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY BUT THEY ARE STILL BABES. SINCE THEY ARE BABES THE ONLY THING THEY CAN HANDLE IS MILK AND NOT STRONG MEAT.
A STAGNANT SAINT PRODUCES LITTLE, IF ANY FRUIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. A STAGNANT SAINT HAS A LOW ESTEEM FOR GOD AND THE THINGS OF GOD. THEIR FAITH IN GOD IS CRIPPLED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE AN ONGOING RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. THEY ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH SECULAR MATTERS THAN THEY ARE WITH SACRED MATTERS. THEY ARE COMFORTABLE WHERE THEY ARE.
BREAD, WHEN IT IS NOT USED, HAS THE PROPENSITY TO BECOME MOLDED AND STALE. ANY CHRISTIAN WHO REFUSES TO ADVANCE HIS/HER KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE WORD OF GOD AND THE WAYS OF GOD, WILL FIND THEMSELVES MOLDED AND STALE. THEIR FORGIVENESS BECOMES MOLDED AND THEIR LOVE BECOMES STALE. SO THE QUESTION BECOMES, HOW LONG WILL THEY BE ON MILK?
II. SIGNS OF STAGNANT SAINTS
THE WAY TO RECOGNIZE A MILKY OR A STAGNANT SAINT, IS TO OBSERVE HOW THEY MEASURE UP ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD. THEY FIND FAULT WITH EVERYONE BUT THEMSELVES. GALATIANS 6:1 INSTRUCTS, “BRETHREN, IF A MAN BE OVERTAKEN IN A FAULT, YE WHICH ARE SPIRITUAL, RESTORE SUCH AN ONE IN THE SPIRIT OF MEEKNESS; CONSIDERING THYSELF, LEST THOU ALSO BE TEMPTED.” THEY JUDGE OTHERS BUT GET TICKED OFF WHEN OTHERS JUDGE THEM; FORGETTING THE CONCEPT OF MATTHEW 7:1-2, “JUDGE NOT, THAT YE BE NOT JUDGED. FOR WITH WHAT JUDGEMENT YE JUDGE YE SHALL BE JUDGED.” THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN THE PRINCIPLES THAT TEACH, “BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, BLESS THEM THAT CURSE YOU, DO GOOD TO THEM THAT HATE YOU, AND PRAY FOR THEM WHICH DESPITEFULLY USE YOU, AND PERSECUTE YOU.” THEY ARE JUST STAGNANT!
III. THE REMEDY
IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP MILKY CHRISTIANS BECOME MEATY CHRISTIANS. WE MUST ENCOURAGE OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS TO WALK WORTHY OF THE VOCATION WHEREWITH THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED. WE ARE OBLIGATED TO STRENGTHEN THE BRETHREN. HOW DO WE DO THAT? GOOD QUESTION GLAD YOU ASKED.
ONE, WE MUST ENCOURAGED THEM TO BE CHRIST MINDED. PHILIPPIANS 2:5 TEACHES, “LET THIS MIND BE IN YOU, WHICH WAS ALSO IN CHRIST JESUS.” JESUS WAS A MAN OF PRAYER, STUDY, AND FELLOWSHIP. TWO, WE MUST ENCOURAGE THEM TO PUT THEIR FAITH INTO ACTION. HEBREWS 11:6 TEACHES, “BUT WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM: FOR HE THAT COMETH TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM. “ JAMES 4:17, “THEREFORE TO HIM THAT KNOWETH TO DO GOOD, AND DOETH IT NOT, TO HIM IT IS SIN. “ THREE, WE MUST ENCOURAGE THEM TO ATTEND BIBLE STUDY, PRAYER MEETING, AND SUNDAY SCHOOL. ACTS 1:14 TEACHES, “THESE ALL CONTINUED WITH ONE ACCORD IN PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THE WOMEN, AND MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS, AND WITH HIS BRETHREN.” IN OTHERS WORDS, IT’S GOOD TO STUDY IN PRIVATE, BUT IT IS ALWAYS ACCEPTABLE TO STUDY AS A BODY.
THE MORE WE KNOW ABOUT GOD, THE BETTER OUR APPRECIATION WILL BE FOR HIM. THE MORE WE GROW IN GOD, THE BETTER WE WILL BE TO GO FOR GOD. THE MORE WE KNOW ABOUT GOD, WILL HELP US TO HELP SOMEBODY ELSE.
