DO YOU STILL NEED TEACHERS?

Dearly Beloved, DO YOU STILL NEED TEACHERS? “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 5:12 NKJV). The recipients of the Epistle to the Hebrews were in a turbulent time. They faced a lot of persecutions because of their new-found faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Instead of growing in the faith, many of them were contemplating going back to Judaism. The writer of the epistle had to write to them to, in many ways, affirm the supremacy of Jesus Christ over angels, the Old Testament prophets, priests, Levitical laws and priesthood and any other thing or person one can think of. These young Christians needed to be fed with elementary principles of faith instead of feeding other people that are coming up behind them in faith. Instead of being teachers and disciplers to younger believers, they still needed teachers and leaders that would be feeding them with “milk”. It was that pathetic! It is more pathetic nowadays to see many so-called Christians in similar situation. These people cannot study the word of God independently. They cannot pray to God directly except they see a prophet or “father (or mother) in the Lord” who will pray for them and receive from God for them. They cannot handle life challenges because they are still babes in the faith. They rely more on their spiritual mentors and religious leaders more than Jesus Christ. Instead of becoming discipled and start discipling other people, they still prefer to be sucking milk from the teachings of their leaders. They cannot stand on their own in the faith. They still need teachers! There is nothing wrong in having spiritual mentors or giving honour to a “father (or mother) in the Lord”. However, turning such mentors to demi-gods is totally unbiblical. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews later said, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [the heroes of faith in chapter 11], let us lay aside every weight, ...and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith... [NOT any mentor or ‘father (or mother) in the Lord’]” (Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV). We are to “...come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV). Are you in the category of such people? Are you really growing in your Christian faith? Do you still crave for “milk” instead of solid food in your faith? Have you been well discipled and groomed in your faith? Can you stand on your own without resorting to a prophet or “father (or mother) in the Lord”? Can you disciple or teach other people in the ways of the Lord? Or do you still need teachers that will be teaching you the elementary principles of the words of God? In His service, Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor). Prayer Point: Pray that you will be able to stand in your Christian faith and become a teacher/discipler to others instead of endlessly relying on a mentor.