You Are What You Eat

“as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby”   1 Peter 2:2  NKJV

Do you have a favorite pastor?  Have you, in the course of your Christian life, encountered a teacher that seemed to have a charismatic aura that drew people in?  I’m sure that most of us have, and in my own life I would easily name several whom I have enjoyed learning from immensely.  Yet I think most of us would agree that it is all too easy, especially in the church today, to focus on the teacher rather than the message.  Peter’s standing in the church Jesus created, and his importance to the development and direction it went is universally acknowledged.  Yet as such, especially in light of where many believe the church today is headed, I think it important if not essential that we look to the very first sermon ever taught to see what God instructed Peter to teach.

“But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.”   Acts 2:14  NKJV

Did you notice that the first thing Peter says is that the people are to focus on his words, and not on himself?  “heed my words”  Not listen to me, but listen to the message.  One of the most encouraging things I sometimes hear is that while many large, popular churches today are described by their “followers” in terms referring to the preacher who leads them, there are others in the body who choose to describe their churches in relation to the doctrine taught, and the if the “words” follow what the Bible has to say.  In his first sermon to the church, Peter makes it abundantly clear what that message and those words are supposed to be.

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—“Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; “whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.”   Acts 2:22-24  NKJV

The first words to the church, and the most important message to mankind from God was this; Jesus is my Son.  This was the message Jesus shared during His ministry and the reason He was crucified.

“The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”   John 19:7  NKJV

Of course, as the perfect Son of God, Jesus was qualified to become the Savior of the world, and by His death the price for our salvation was paid.  The Father then proved His point by raising Jesus from the dead in the ultimate sign of His power and Jesus’ position as His Son, confirming all that Jesus had taught in His time on this earth.

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”   Acts 2:37-38  NKJV

This is what we call the gospel, and it is the foundation of the church as it was created on the day of Pentecost.  Unfortunately, confirming the prophecy of the Laodicean church model in Revelation 3, you will never hear this message taught in the majority of churches today.  So what should we as believers strive for in light of what we see the church becoming, and what we find in this first message to the church by Peter?  My thought is that we should simply follow the example of those first believers and imitate what they did after hearing this message of the Gospel of Christ.

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”   Acts 2:42  NKJV

Peter’s charge to the church in his letter to fellow believers was to “desire the pure milk of the word”.  In essence, he was saying that in order to grow, the first thing we need to do is learn.  The early church learned by continuing “steadfastly” in what they had been taught.  The “apostles’ doctrine” was the gospel message taught by Jesus.  The Word of God is the manual for life that we as believers need to focus on, and the doctrine or teaching that it contains should always be the focus of our attention.  Sadly, the desire to abandon that doctrine as Jesus and the apostles taught was clearly anticipated and predicted.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”   2 Timothy 4:3  NKJV

So obviously, in order to learn we must also hear sound doctrine.  We must always compare what we hear, with what the Word of God has to say, in order to know if the doctrine we are being taught is what Jesus and His apostles taught or something man has decided should replace it.  The power of the Word comes from the text, not from the preacher.  Unfortunately, in the church today, people focus more on the one doing the talking rather than the words which are being spoken.  It’s my personal belief that anyone who chooses to teach should never forget that they are simply the waiter serving the food and not the chef who cooked it.

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”   Romans 10:14  NKJV

To grow we must learn, to learn we must hear, and in order to hear, those early believers committed themselves “steadfastly” to seek out the proper food or doctrine.  I titled this study “you are what you eat”, and I think it goes without saying that we all know or have experienced what happens when we choose not to eat right.  The word for steadfast in the Greek literally means “to stick and not move”, obviously describing a commitment to examine their spiritual food.  Using the analogy of food, we all as believers should ask ourselves if we are being fed a nutritious healthy meal or a calorie laded sweet dessert.  What would the state of the church be today if everyone demanded the proper food as described here in Acts?  I think we would all agree it would be a lot healthier and obviously look much different.

“For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,”   Hebrews 3:14  NKJV

I would like to suggest that if you commit yourself to eating the proper spiritual food you will get to know God better, know yourself better, and live life better.  Spending time in God’s Word has unfathomable benefits for our spiritual health, and we should never compromise on “the pure milk of the word”.   Never forget, as believers we are what we eat.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”   Psalm 119:105  NKJV

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Cursed by God?

“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”    Galatians 1:6-9  NKJV

Let me begin this morning by asking a question; “how many of you would like to be cursed by God?”  Now the answer to that is predictable, but let me go even further.  The word in this passage for “accursed” in the Greek is anathema; a thing devoted to God without hope of being redeemed”.  Speaking for myself, I am pretty sure I would do anything in my power to avoid giving God the Father any reason whatsoever for passing that sort of curse on me.  Yet unbelievable as that might be, at this point in time, many in the Church are doing exactly that.

I’m speaking, of course, of the resurgence in popularity of the social gospel movement which is found in so many churches today, as opposed to the gospel of Christ that Paul so strongly speaks of here.  I have spoken about this before, but the Spirit led me this week to revisit this subject and share a few new thoughts about where we see the church as a whole going today.   While many feel that the emergent church movement is a relatively new concept, the truth is that this social gospel they have chosen to repackage and present as new and socially relevant has been around for quite a while.

The beginnings of what we know as the social gospel movement actually began in the late 1800’s by way of a Baptist minister named Walter Rauschenbusch.  After studying theology at the University of Rochester, an institution funded by John D. Rockefeller, he began teaching and writing about a Jesus, who, rather than coming to save sinners from sin, actually came to introduce a gospel that believed in social activism which would improve the world by reforming politics.   This resulted in the need to create a universal church sharing the same beliefs.  The result was a turning from sharing the Gospel as Jesus taught, and teaching instead a gospel which believed society could change the world for good through social justice, political reform, and religious unity.

“For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”     2 Corinthians 11:13-15  NKJV

As I have watched what many conservative commentators have described as the downfall of our country as a result of rampant liberalism, the thought occurred to me that we could also make the case that the Church itself is on much the same path.  Although we can see the movement away from teaching about the need for repentance of sin and being born again as Jesus taught has been going on for some time, it is only lately with the emergent church movement that this difference has become so apparent.  In fact, in many churches today you will never even hear the words sin, repentance, or salvation.

“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,”            2 Thessalonians 2:3  NASB

The Greek word “apostasia” literally means to fall away, or defect from something previously believed to be true.  When speaking to the Thessalonians’ about the rapture of the Church, Paul makes it clear that many will fall away and defect from the truth of the gospel before the Church is taken away.  Since so many who choose to study the prophecies of the end of the Church Age believe we have arrived at that point in time, and the rapture could occur at any moment, should we as believers be surprised at the state of the Church in light of the apostasy Paul warned us about?

“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.”   James 3:1  NKJV

What you will find in many of these emerging churches is the avoidance of teaching the Gospel as Jesus taught, and replacing it with the social gospel, which is simply the focus and emphasis on works done in the name of Jesus.  These churches choose to describe their members as “followers” of Jesus, and place a great emphasis on “doing” rather than “believing”.  These churches are filled with programs and service opportunities which satisfy the desire of their members to be busy for God, yet ignore the teaching by Jesus that belief comes before works.  What they choose to ignore is what Jesus himself said about works.

“Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”  John 6:28-29  NKJV

“And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”  Acts 16:30-31  NKJV

“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  John 3:3  NKJV

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:”  John 1:12  NKJV

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”  Ephesians 1:13-14  NKJV

If you look closely at the Church today and the majority of those which could be described as subscribing to the emergent church model or teaching a social gospel, is it any wonder that the last church of this age revealed to us in the book of Revelation as the Laodician church is also one in which Jesus appears standing on the outside knocking to come in?  The sad fact is that as a result of not teaching the Gospel of Jesus as He taught it, with the emphasis on being born again as a result of believing in His sacrifice for our sin, these churches may be full of what they call “Christ followers”, but unfortunately, very few true believers.

“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”             Matthew 7:22-23  NKJV

Doing good works in Jesus’ name is what we are called to do, but Jesus made it clear that choosing to believe in Him comes first, and the works come as a result of our belief. The Word of God is clear that it is not enough just to follow, you must believe.  Do you believe?  Have you personally prayed to God and asked for forgiveness of your sins by the power of the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ? If so, you are born again as Jesus taught, and someone who can proudly say “I am a believer”.  We become saved by grace through faith.  This is the Gospel that Jesus taught, and according to Paul, anyone who teaches something different is cursed.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”       John 14:12  NKJV

“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”  John 20:30-31  NKJV

“that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  Romans 10:9-10  NKJV

“And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.”             1 John 5:11-13  NKJV

It’s possible you are reading these words today and have never told God that you truly believe in the sacrifice He made for you by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for your sins. If that is the case, simply pray a prayer like this;

Jesus I know that I am a sinner, and have sinned against you.  I believe you loved me enough to send your Son Jesus to die for my sins, and that He rose from the dead so that I can live.  Forgive me of my sins and come into my life and help me to live for you.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”                 John 6:37-40  NKJV

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Between Two Worlds

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.”    Philippians 1:21-24  NKJV

I expect that most believers who have spent time reading and studying the Word have favorite stories or individuals that they either relate to or use as inspiration.  One person I especially seem to relate to is the apostle Paul.  It took a while for me to figure it out but in the end I decided that one of the biggest reasons I enjoy studying his life and letters is that just like him, I struggle.  Now in truth, I think it’s probably a given that we all could say that, for, in all honesty, we all struggle at times trying to live a godly life in an ungodly world.  So today, especially in light of where the world seems to be going in a hurry, I thought we would look at this passage Paul wrote to the church at Phillipi.

I can’t tell you the numbers of people I have talked to that see eternity with Jesus as not just something to look forward to, but to earnestly desire.  Paul makes his feelings very clear when he says that “to die is gain”.  To many, that might seem like he is looking to take the easy way out but he also makes the point that, “But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor”.  Now at first glance we might all agree that this simply describes what we all feel at times but Paul takes it a little further when he reveals he is “hard-pressed between the two”.

That particular phrase in the Greek is actually translated from just one word, “synechō,”, which means:  “to hold together, i.e. to compress (the ears, with a crowd or siege) or arrest (a prisoner); figuratively, to compel, perplex, afflict, preoccupy:—constrain, hold, keep in, press, lie sick of, stop, be in a strait, straiten, be taken with, throng”.  The idea Paul is trying to convey is that this is not just a simple “wish” to be somewhere else, but a desire so strong that it produces a physical struggle which affects his whole life.  So consider this; if Paul is someone we should look to as an example, is something wrong in our lives if we don’t feel the same way?

I think a clue to answering that question comes from Paul’s choice of words when he says he wants to “depart”.  That word in the Greek is analýō, which literally means “to break up, or depart”.  In Paul’s time, this word was used primarily by three different groups of people, those being sailors, soldiers, and farmers.  Now if that sounds curious, let me explain.  Sailors would use this word when they untied the ropes holding their boat to the dock when they were ready to set sail for another port.  Soldiers on the other hand, used it when they were breaking camp and preparing to move to another site.  Farmers would also use this word at the end of the day when they removed the yoke from whatever animal they were using to do the work.

This last example is especially relevant in that our Lord Jesus Christ also used it as an analogy to encourage us as believers.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30  NKJV

Just like Paul, we know the time will come when our yoke is lifted, we will cast off the lines holding us here, and we will pack up and move to our permanent home.  Yet when he wrote these words, Paul was still here on earth and understood there was a reason.  As strong as his desire to be with the Lord was, he knew there was still work to be done and he was the one God wanted to use for that purpose.  As he told the church at Phillipi, “Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.”  Paul was willing to put his desire on hold for as long as it was necessary to fulfill the work God had for him.

As believers, we should all understand that we are here in order to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in whatever way He has chosen for us to do so.  The mark of a committed believer is the willingness to put their own desires on hold and put the needs of others first.  Paul will go on to say this in the next chapter.

"Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."   Philippians 2:3-4  NKJV

When Paul revealed his struggle between his desire to depart and his willingness to stay, he also said “yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.”  The reasoning behind this statement is Paul’s acknowledgment that it was not his decision to make, but God’s.  When I have had the opportunity to talk with others who share Paul’s desire to depart I always tell them this; if you are still here then God has something for you to do.  I previously asked the question if we don't share these same feelings as Paul, is there something wrong with us?  As believers, I believe we should all have this same attitude Paul had, and if not, ask ourselves the question "are we too comfortable in this life"?  I have heard the expression “too heavenly minded to be any earthly good”, but in truth, is there not another side to that statement?  Is it possible we can be too earthly minded to be any heavenly good?

My personal feeling is that as believers we should all share this struggle of Paul’s.  The more we know about heaven should certainly affect what we think about our life here on earth.  As this world seems to be rapidly spiraling downward, our desire should naturally spiral upward.  Death for the believer is not a departure, but an arrival.  Therefore, until God decides to take us home, we should share Paul’s desire to do whatever work God has for us while we are still here.

If you are reading this today and your desire is to spend eternity in heaven, but you have never made the decision to accept the gift of salvation God has offered you by the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ, I urge you to do it today.   You can do that by simply asking Him to make you one of His own by praying a prayer like this.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me. Amen.

"And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”  Acts 16:30-31  NKJV

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