Drawing The Line

1 Corinthians 11:28-30 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. (30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (KJV)  

You know, it’s up to you personally to hear the message being delivered by God through Christ so that you can know for yourself what the true meaning of it is. There is a line if you would, where once you cross it there is no going back, at least not in peace. Those that entered the Lord’s realm did so because they examined themselves and realized that they were in dire need of something better, that being our Lord and His truth that would set them free. When people don’t discern or rightly divide the truth, the meaning of the Word of God, then they enter a realm of darkness, where if continued in makes them weak; some become spiritually sick as well, and some are sleepwalking, claiming to be serving our Lord but yet they are still walking according to the flesh. For many they just blindly accept whatever is thrown their way in the form of man’s doctrine and then wonder why they don’t get any real results, something of substance.  

Hebrews 5:11-14 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. (12) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles  of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (13) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) But strong meat 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. (KJV)  

Nothing will pull a person down quicker than a lousy diet and a lack of exercise. Spiritually the same holds true; those that should have been teaching needed to be re-taught themselves because they had become dull in their hearing, that being, hearing the Word of God. Many do hear things that many claim to be of God, but only a few really take the time and effort to seek for themselves the true meaning and interpretation of the Word.  

Strong’s definition for ‘dull’: 3576  nothros (no-thros'); from a derivative of 3541; sluggish, i.e. (literally) lazy, or (figuratively) stupid: KJV-- dull, slothful.  

Not a very pleasant picture, someone that should have been strong in the Lord and the power of His might is now basically useless, you know, like when the salt has lost its savor? Verse 14 uses the term ‘strong meat’ which would make one strong if they are partaking of it. However, if one is not properly exercising their Spiritual senses instead of rejecting the unhealthy things, they accept them wholeheartedly and end up weak and sick. Isn’t that one of the first things that you as a parent try to teach the children, how to eat a healthy diet so that they don’t end up sick? Well, for those that should be leading by example, what kind of spiritual diet have you been partaking of, and is it something that is building you up or pulling you down?  

1 Corinthians 11:30-32 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (31) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (32) But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (KJV)  

Hmmm, there is that word ‘many’ again; you know, like many false prophets that would arise and deceive many? How about the many that are called and yet only a few are chosen; so what happened to the ‘many’? Well many are bedridden, having not shown up for their spiritual calling, but rather they called in sick because they have become weak, weakened by doctrines that are man-made with man-made unhealthy additives, shortcuts would be another way of describing it. Many are asleep as well, because rather than give ear to the Lord and His correction (chastening is another way of putting it) they spend more time trying to appease man rather than God which is why they are in the category of ‘the many’.  

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (KJV)  

God did His part and sent His Son so that we could be furnished with everything needed to walk His path of life. Oh it is so nice to hear about the blessings of God and all the good stuff that goes along with them, but how about some of the other things, like reproof or correction, you know, like when you were a child and would rather have the dessert instead of the broccoli? Well, just like with all those sugar coated doctrines that we have out there, the payoff is that they are not healthy, and neither are those that partake of them and don’t take the time to rightly divide or get the Lord’s true take on the meaning. For many they hear only what they want to hear and discard the rest, which is like watching children in a school cafeteria, most of what is discarded is what is the healthiest.  

1 Corinthians 3:1-4 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. (2) I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. (3) For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? (4) For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? (KJV)  

The scriptures were to inspire us, to make us perfect (which means mature), not stuck in the carnal realm acting like a bunch of babies. Many people associate themselves more with an organization rather than the Word of God. They become dependent and stuck on the doctrine or denomination, and can quote their beliefs more than the truth. When I hear many claim that they are associated with a denomination it tells me that they hold more to man than God; after all, what denominational name did the Lord attach to Himself? Ever hear a child trying to speak their first words? Most of what they say is something they hear from others.  

1 Corinthians 13:10-11 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. (11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (KJV)  

There is a line drawn that separates soul from Spirit, a realm that separates the men from the children. One has come, a perfect sacrifice, so that we could have a perfect mature understanding for ourselves of God’s plan of salvation; which by the way, one of the definitions of salvation is health. What kind of health spiritually are you in today, and what kind of diet are you partaking of? If it is Spiritual then it will bring life as well as a healthy walk with the Lord, while anything else will leave one weak, sickly, and basically sleeping like a baby.  

God bless dearly loved and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord.