TO and FRO Saint
TO and FRO Saint
Immaturity! There are people (no fault of theirs) who have a condition where they grow old but still in the childlike body and mannerisms. Metro News had the following headline with photo: 26- year-old man with body of a two-year- old. “Jerly Lyngdoh – who lives with his farmer parents in Meghalaya, northern India – looks like any other tot with his tiny head and delicate 2ft 9ins long body. But it’s only when he opens his mouth to reveal a full set of adult teeth that the truth about the world’s oldest baby is revealed…Said pediatrician Dr. J. Ryndong, ‘We think this is a case of pan-hypo pituitarism leading to poor secretion of growth hormones from the pituitary gland…Jerly – who is still dressed in baby clothes by his parents”. We empathize and pray for such people and God is taking care of them.
In our study today, Paul instructs the Ephesians not to be “To and Fro” believers in Christ acting like infants. Let’s listen to the Holy Spirit thru Paul, Ephesians 4:11-16:
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 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, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Infancy is normal for a certain age. Infancy is not normal and natural after a certain age. Paul has given us all the benefit of doubt of going thru infancy but he now says, “no longer”. If we remain infants, we will be “tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine”. Doctrine is teachings of what we believe about God and Jesus Christ. Paul uses a language that had been used in Job 1. Satan described himself as follows “7 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come? ”So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
This is a sign of danger – “To and Fro”. Satan is in the “To and Fro” business and in this realm he controls and deceives. Look at the rest of the Scripture, blown by the wind thru ”the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting”; all of it engineered by Satan because he is the father of all lies. It is often 99.5% true but it is still a lie. Who wants to drink 0.5% poison?
Are you a “To and Fro” Saint? Yes, you have believed in Jesus as your Lord and Savior and yes you are going to heaven. Thank God. But have you remained in infancy since you believed and not making any progress and showing growth? It is not an indictment but a wake-up call by the Holy Spirit. Jesus can longer tolerate it and He is warning us to grow up and not be lukewarm. 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, [g] I will vomit you out of My mouth”. Revelation 3: 15-16. This is serious Saints. Let’s pay heed.
Part of maturing is forbearance and forgiveness and swallowing offenses which Jesus said must come to us. Are you still trying to win every argument and insist on making your points in your relationships?
“Trickery of men, and cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting”. Infants cannot detect lies; that is why when the wind of false doctrines comes, they are swept away and blown apart. The doctrines that oppose faith and trust in God is what we are talking about. They come from some pulpits and the world around us. They come in the form of get-rich-quick prosperity gospels of today and from the media, entertainment, sports, education, business, government that offer us alternative not to depend only on God. That is why sex outside of marriage sells even now in the Church. Lottery ticket winnings are at the highest jackpots and guess who is playing. Anything that says God, His Word and promises to me are not true and sufficient is a false doctrine and come from the pit of hell. Satan sold it to Adam and Eve in the first place and he is still selling it to us and the whole world today. We must discern and know God’s truth, thus the equipping gifts Jesus gave us – apostle, prophets, evangelists, pastors/teachers.
Part of maturity in Christ is reproduction. A heathy cell reproduces and supplies that which is needed for the body to function. Are you “supplying” that which you ought to and designed for in the body of Christ? Let’s not kid ourselves, a baby cannot have another baby. It is un-natural in the spirit and in the physical. You cannot not be in diapers and carrying baby-feeding bottles and have the capacity to reproduce another believer. Can the Holy Spirit bear witness with our spirit that we have helped someone along the way to know Christ?
How can we be in Christ for 5, 10 and more years and have not opened our mouths to tell someone who Jesus is and the relationship we have with Him? If two people are in love, it is impossible to keep it silent. I remember when I met my wife to be for the first time. We had a long distance dating/romance across the ocean of USA and Nigeria. While here in the States, I carried her photo around everywhere I went to show people. I could not stop talking about her. I was in “love” and you could tell it hanging out with me because you will hear about U.D. my sweet heart. Come on; are we really in “love” with Jesus, the lover of our soul? Then let’s not be silent. There is nothing else to talk about in our lives. Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in us.
Maturity is measured in us by the fullness of Christ in us. Jesus came for only one purpose, “To seek and save the lost”. Everything about Jesus was redemptive. He proved it all the way to the Cross and beyond the cross. Look at the thief dying next to Jesus. Even at the last moment, the thief turned his heart and sought repentance and Jesus saved him. No one is outside of the reach of the saving arm of Jesus. We must let the fullness of Christ be reflected in us by the way we help redeem and restore one another and those who have yet to encounter Jesus. Let’s be grace receivers and givers.
Maturity means being able to deal with anger and but not sin in it. Infants throw temper tantrum. You cannot pray for someone you are angry about. We must give that anger and recompense to the Lord for He will avenge for us. That is why Jesus said, love your enemies and pray for those who spitefully use you. O yes, people will use and abuse us in Christ just as they did to Jesus. Paul said, “For to you, it has been granted on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him and but to suffer for His sake”. Phil 1:29.
Growth is sometimes in compartments so let’s not exonerate ourselves and think we have arrived. You may be an infant in some areas of your life that Christ need to shine his light and cause you and me to grow. Deceit is an equal opportunity benefit and does not discriminate. Truth fights and wins deceit and falsehood all the time. What are you being tempted with today? Let’s act like Jesus, and give Satan the Scripture - “It is written” and “Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”. 2 Cor.10
Growth comes thru “speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ”. Are you and I able to swallow the truth spoken to us and to speak the truth to others in love? Let’s tell ourselves, “grow up”. Let’s in love tell another “grow up and quit acting like a child in this matter. When “every part does its share”, we all grow together in love. Selfishness rules in infancy. Lord, save us from selfishness and independent spirit.
“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”. Hebrews 5: 12-14
Grow up. Please say to me, “grow up” when you see me acting like a baby in any matters of life. Please tell someone else in love, “grow up” and embrace “the solid food” of the Word. No more “to and fro” follower of Jesus! Put away the “milk” baby-feeding bottle. Amen.
Immaturity! There are people (no fault of theirs) who have a condition where they grow old but still in the childlike body and mannerisms. Metro News had the following headline with photo: 26- year-old man with body of a two-year- old. “Jerly Lyngdoh – who lives with his farmer parents in Meghalaya, northern India – looks like any other tot with his tiny head and delicate 2ft 9ins long body. But it’s only when he opens his mouth to reveal a full set of adult teeth that the truth about the world’s oldest baby is revealed…Said pediatrician Dr. J. Ryndong, ‘We think this is a case of pan-hypo pituitarism leading to poor secretion of growth hormones from the pituitary gland…Jerly – who is still dressed in baby clothes by his parents”. We empathize and pray for such people and God is taking care of them.
In our study today, Paul instructs the Ephesians not to be “To and Fro” believers in Christ acting like infants. Let’s listen to the Holy Spirit thru Paul, Ephesians 4:11-16:
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 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, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Infancy is normal for a certain age. Infancy is not normal and natural after a certain age. Paul has given us all the benefit of doubt of going thru infancy but he now says, “no longer”. If we remain infants, we will be “tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine”. Doctrine is teachings of what we believe about God and Jesus Christ. Paul uses a language that had been used in Job 1. Satan described himself as follows “7 And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come? ”So Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”
This is a sign of danger – “To and Fro”. Satan is in the “To and Fro” business and in this realm he controls and deceives. Look at the rest of the Scripture, blown by the wind thru ”the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting”; all of it engineered by Satan because he is the father of all lies. It is often 99.5% true but it is still a lie. Who wants to drink 0.5% poison?
Are you a “To and Fro” Saint? Yes, you have believed in Jesus as your Lord and Savior and yes you are going to heaven. Thank God. But have you remained in infancy since you believed and not making any progress and showing growth? It is not an indictment but a wake-up call by the Holy Spirit. Jesus can longer tolerate it and He is warning us to grow up and not be lukewarm. 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, [g] I will vomit you out of My mouth”. Revelation 3: 15-16. This is serious Saints. Let’s pay heed.
Part of maturing is forbearance and forgiveness and swallowing offenses which Jesus said must come to us. Are you still trying to win every argument and insist on making your points in your relationships?
“Trickery of men, and cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting”. Infants cannot detect lies; that is why when the wind of false doctrines comes, they are swept away and blown apart. The doctrines that oppose faith and trust in God is what we are talking about. They come from some pulpits and the world around us. They come in the form of get-rich-quick prosperity gospels of today and from the media, entertainment, sports, education, business, government that offer us alternative not to depend only on God. That is why sex outside of marriage sells even now in the Church. Lottery ticket winnings are at the highest jackpots and guess who is playing. Anything that says God, His Word and promises to me are not true and sufficient is a false doctrine and come from the pit of hell. Satan sold it to Adam and Eve in the first place and he is still selling it to us and the whole world today. We must discern and know God’s truth, thus the equipping gifts Jesus gave us – apostle, prophets, evangelists, pastors/teachers.
Part of maturity in Christ is reproduction. A heathy cell reproduces and supplies that which is needed for the body to function. Are you “supplying” that which you ought to and designed for in the body of Christ? Let’s not kid ourselves, a baby cannot have another baby. It is un-natural in the spirit and in the physical. You cannot not be in diapers and carrying baby-feeding bottles and have the capacity to reproduce another believer. Can the Holy Spirit bear witness with our spirit that we have helped someone along the way to know Christ?
How can we be in Christ for 5, 10 and more years and have not opened our mouths to tell someone who Jesus is and the relationship we have with Him? If two people are in love, it is impossible to keep it silent. I remember when I met my wife to be for the first time. We had a long distance dating/romance across the ocean of USA and Nigeria. While here in the States, I carried her photo around everywhere I went to show people. I could not stop talking about her. I was in “love” and you could tell it hanging out with me because you will hear about U.D. my sweet heart. Come on; are we really in “love” with Jesus, the lover of our soul? Then let’s not be silent. There is nothing else to talk about in our lives. Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in us.
Maturity is measured in us by the fullness of Christ in us. Jesus came for only one purpose, “To seek and save the lost”. Everything about Jesus was redemptive. He proved it all the way to the Cross and beyond the cross. Look at the thief dying next to Jesus. Even at the last moment, the thief turned his heart and sought repentance and Jesus saved him. No one is outside of the reach of the saving arm of Jesus. We must let the fullness of Christ be reflected in us by the way we help redeem and restore one another and those who have yet to encounter Jesus. Let’s be grace receivers and givers.
Maturity means being able to deal with anger and but not sin in it. Infants throw temper tantrum. You cannot pray for someone you are angry about. We must give that anger and recompense to the Lord for He will avenge for us. That is why Jesus said, love your enemies and pray for those who spitefully use you. O yes, people will use and abuse us in Christ just as they did to Jesus. Paul said, “For to you, it has been granted on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him and but to suffer for His sake”. Phil 1:29.
Growth is sometimes in compartments so let’s not exonerate ourselves and think we have arrived. You may be an infant in some areas of your life that Christ need to shine his light and cause you and me to grow. Deceit is an equal opportunity benefit and does not discriminate. Truth fights and wins deceit and falsehood all the time. What are you being tempted with today? Let’s act like Jesus, and give Satan the Scripture - “It is written” and “Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”. 2 Cor.10
Growth comes thru “speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ”. Are you and I able to swallow the truth spoken to us and to speak the truth to others in love? Let’s tell ourselves, “grow up”. Let’s in love tell another “grow up and quit acting like a child in this matter. When “every part does its share”, we all grow together in love. Selfishness rules in infancy. Lord, save us from selfishness and independent spirit.
“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”. Hebrews 5: 12-14
Grow up. Please say to me, “grow up” when you see me acting like a baby in any matters of life. Please tell someone else in love, “grow up” and embrace “the solid food” of the Word. No more “to and fro” follower of Jesus! Put away the “milk” baby-feeding bottle. Amen.
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