“Exercising Your Senses”

(Hebrews 5:11-14)

The writer of Hebrews thought it necessary to temporarily move away from his central topic…

Hebrews 5:11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The Hebrews had become “dull of hearing”…

Hebrews 5:11  of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

Acts 17:11  These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

Are you “dull of hearing”?

Ask yourself these questions: Is the Bible dull? Are the Bible classes dull? Are the sermons dull? Is anything that is spiritual in nature (like

singing, praying) dull?

If so, then you have become “dull of hearing”!

2Timothy 4:3  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; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

The Hebrews should have been able to teach others…

Hebrews 5:12  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

Teaching others…

1Corinthians 12:29  Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?

Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

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

Teaching others…

Acts 8:4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

1Peter 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

Titus 2:3  the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things-- 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.

A diet of “milk”…

Hebrews 5:12  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe

Now, a diet of milk is often necessary… 1Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you

as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;

Hebrews 5:12  For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.

But our diet must one day include “solid food”…

Hebrews 5:13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.

What has your “diet” been lately?

Has it been limited to “milk”? Has it even included “milk”? Some christians might not even be

getting the “milk” of the Word! Are you getting any “meat”?

Studying portions of God’s Word that challenges your understanding?

The inability to discern…

Hebrews 5:14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Spiritual immaturity lacks this ability to discern…

Ephesians 4:14  that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

James 1:6  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

There are other indicators of spiritual immaturity…

1Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?

In our lesson we have focused our attention on…

Dullness of hearing The inability to teach others A diet of “milk” The inability to discern

All of these should serve as “warning signs” that something is amiss in our lives as christians.

GROWTH is the “remedy” to falling away…

2Peter 3:17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

Are you GROWING in the grace and knowledge of our Lord?