TRAINING
INSTEAD OF JUST TRYING
Hebrews
5:12-14
1.
If Jesus asked you to try to walk 30 miles
in one day, would you try to do it?
2.
Would you make it? Most likely NOT!
3.
What if you trained, would you be able to make it
then? Most likely YES!
4.
I believe that many of our problems come
because we try
when we should be training.
Hebrews 5:12-14
NASB
12 For though by this time you ought to
be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary
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 not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14
But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to
discern good and evil.
NIV
12 In fact, though by this time you ought
to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's
word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on
milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about
righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves
to distinguish good from evil.
KJV
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.
RSV
12 For though by this time you ought to
be teachers, you need some one to teach you again the first principles of God's
word. You need milk, not solid food; 13 for every one who lives on milk is
unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for
those who have their
faculties trained by practice to distinguish good from evil.
Worldwide
English
12 By this time you should be able to
teach others. But you need someone to teach you God's word again from the very beginning.
Like children, you need milk, not meat. 13 Anyone who takes milk does not
understand the message about which things are right. 14 But meat is for people who are grown up. It is for people who have trained their minds
to know the difference between what is good and what is bad.
5.
Christians grow in the things of God by practice, constant use or training.
6.
There are many good things we might try to do right
now, but we would fail if
we have not trained.
7.
Training would include: purposeful study (II
Tim. 2:15), thoughtful prayer
(I Jn. 5:14-15), learning from mature
Christians (I Cor. 11:1), selflessly helping others (Jas. 1:27; Matt. 20:25-28), identifying specific goals
(Col. 3:1-17), and practicing what we
learn (Jas. 1:21-25; I Jn. 1:7; 3:18).
8.
Evangelism often fails because we try when we have not trained.
9.
Families sometimes do not reach their
potential because they try rather than
train.
10.
Leadership can fail to lead due to trying but not training.
11.
Training involves identifying the desired result
and then personalizing a
strategy of persistent effort (I Sam. 1:28).
12.
Training accepts that growth will come only in increments
as the plan is followed
and the challenges are
increased (Heb. 5:12-14).
13.
Individually and congregationally we must train to achieve godly results (Eph.
4:11-16).
14.
Realization of the need, followed by a persistent implementation of the
plan leading to an actualization of
the goal (Phil. 3:7-14; II Tim. 4:7-8).
15.
We must train and not
just try!
ESJ
3/26/00
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