Are You What Ye Ought to Be?

Hebrews 5:1-14

INTRODUCTION: God’s will for your life will quite likely vary from God’s will for my life. God’s will for your life will likely vary in many ways from others seated round about you today. However, there are some overlapping principles that unite the will of God for all of us. Truth is, there is something that God wants you to be today. There is a level of Christianity that He desires for you to have obtained. There is a level of Bible knowledge and practical Christian living that you should possess. If you have not reached these goals, you are not what you ought to be. You do not have to be me, nor do I have to be you, but I must be what I ought to be, and the same holds true for you.

I. GOD’S PLAN FOR EACH BELIEVER (Hebrews 5:12-14)

A. The Initial Departure from Wickedness (1 Peter 2:1)

1. Laying aside all . . .
2. Desiring . . .

B. The Twofold Nature of Growth (2 Peter 3:16-18)

1. Grow in grace (2 Corinthians 8:5-7; Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:8; Ephesians 4:29)
2. Grow in the knowledge

C. The Levels of Growth

1. Babes in Christ
a. Prone to being drawn away to teachers (Romans 2:17-24)
b. Prone to carnality (1 Corinthians 3:1-4)
c. To desire the sincere milk of the word – for a time (1 Peter 2:2; with 1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:13)
d. Only meant to be for newborn believers (1 Peter 2:2)
2. Mature believers
a. Partakers of strong meat (Hebrews 5:14)
b. Teachers (Hebrews 5:12)
c. Have exercised their senses to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:14)

II. THE POSSIBILITY OF HINDRANCES (Hebrews 5:11)

A. Hindrances Described (Hebrews 5:11; with Isaiah 6:9-10; Matthew 13:14-15; Acts 28:26-27)

1. Dullness of hearing
2. Eyes that are closed
3. Fat hearts

B. Hindrances Welcomed

1. Elevating men’s commandments above God’s commandments (Matthew 15:3-9)
2. General carnality (1 Corinthians 3:1-3)
3. Unwillingness to follow current light (John 14:21)

III. THE DANGER OF HINDRANCES (Hebrews 5:11-14)

A. Limited Education (Hebrews 5:11-12)

1. The apostle had many things to say (Hebrews 5:11)
2. They were things hard to be uttered due to the dullness of hearing (Hebrews 5:11; 1 Corinthians 3:1-3)
3. They were having to relearn the first principles (Hebrews 5:12; Hebrews 6:1-3)

B. Limited Usefulness (Hebrews 5:12)

1. They ought to have been teachers.
2. They were unable to effectively assist others.

C. Limited Discernment (Hebrews 5:13-14)

1. Unskillful in the word of righteousness (Hebrews 5:13)
2. Unable to discern between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14)

CONCLUSION: Are you doctrinally smart, but practically carnal? Do you require the attention due a babe in Christ, when you ought to be mentoring others in doctrine and practice? If you are not helping others, you are hurting them.