Part Two  Part Three  Part Four  Part Five

If the Lord allows, we’ll look more thoroughly in subsequent posts at prayer, bible reading and study, gathering together (church), and spreading the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It’s ok to need training, and it’s certainly preferable not to be led astray into falsehood. A sure foundation of biblical training ensures that we don’t depart from the truth as believers.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (The book of Proverbs, Chapter 22, and verse 6)

An infant Christian is a new believer regardless of how many years that person has been alive. The purpose of early doctrinal training for a new believer is to set the sure foundations of the truth about Christ in their heart.

And sadly, many believers have been saved for some time but have never been trained in the essentials of what it means to be a Christian. These also remain in their infancy because they have never been guided or weened, from the milk of the word onto the meat of the word of God.

Those who refuse to be trained and refuse to take it upon themselves to grow and serve are not only a hindrance to the work of God but can be destructive to the work of the body of Christ that God has ordained. Don’t be this person!

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” 1 Peter 2:2-3

The word of God is the milk by which a believer will grow. By taking the milk in abundance, a Christian will grow to desire and need the meat of the word. Christians must come off the milk and learn to eat the solid food (core) of the more difficult passages and deeper doctrines of truth that Holy God reveals in His word.

The word of God exercises the believer’s mind, which will give you an understanding of good and evil and the ability to discern both the spirit of the truth of God and the spirit of evil and error.

“For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 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.” Hebrews 5:13-14

This discernment comes by reason of use in earnest daily prayer with bible reading, asking Holy God to teach you what the Bible says. Without the word of God, you will be misled into error and into following after evil without even knowing it. TCJ is a blog about rulers, weapons, and warfare. Understand that all wars are spiritual wars and that they are won in the counsels of Heaven long before we see the results on earth. These wars are not limited to international conflicts but to your church, family, and self. If you don’t take seriously the rigorous pursuit of the study of the word of God, you can’t even see the war; you can’t discern the truth of good and evil and the spiritual warfare that rages all around you. This war also would take you captive into corruption if you allow it. You’re in this war whether you like it or not.

The Holy Bible shows us God’s great purposes in grace, and in judgment, and for instruction in righteousness. The answer to every question that any believer may have will be found in the word of God. Glory not, except in the Lord.

“But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:24

Holy God is delighted to show you the depth and the breadth of His glorious kingdom and what great things He is doing, but you’ve got to want it. You must pursue Him. Christians give glory only to God.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” John 10:27

A goal of every Christian must be that they grow and mature in Christ. This will not happen unless Christians do it on purpose. And it’s not actually a goal; it’s an attitude of purposefulness throughout life because you love God and want to serve Christ. In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), Jesus says that Christians must “teach all nations” to observe the things that Jesus has commanded. We must be shown what Jesus desires for us to do in service of Him.

Every Christian runs the risk of becoming a permanent infant, therefore always needing the Bible explained to them either through preaching or extra-biblical writings and commentaries or both. Coming under sound Bible teaching and preaching is essential; while reading books about the Bible may be interesting, neither is the same as reading and understanding the Holy Scriptures through prayer and study. You must learn to communicate with Holy God on your own. The word of God is God’s words. There is no other inerrant source for God’s teachings.

We communicate to God through prayer. And God communicates to the believer primarily through the reading and study of His Holy Bible. All Christians must learn how to communicate with God by allowing the Holy Spirit of God to guide and teach them. The Holy Spirit reveals God’s word as you pray, read, and study directly from the text of the Bible.