My little children, not let us love in word or in tongue, but in deed and truth.            1 John 3:18

I was thinking about John 21:15-17 the other day, in relation to the melee’ we see going on out in the world. A lot of flesh is being displayed on social media and not much restraint. And the importance of feeding the new man came to my mind. Not just in others but also with ourselves. We eat daily because the flesh needs sustenance to thrive, and so it is also with the new man. It needs nourishment.

Our new man is weakened sometimes as it is assaulted with all the evil in this world. Our minds need renewed and cleansed by His Word. Or maybe it’s not that the new man is weak (it is perfect), but the flesh is too prevalent and gets fed too often.

If you don’t understand the New Man, please stop and listen to this two part series on ‘Understanding the New Natures’.  It will bless your understanding in this area.

So many teachers, so little Word

We have so many out there ‘teaching’, but most are not feeding people with His Word rightly handled. I watch saddened as multiple winds of doctrines float by in regularity on my newsfeed. Then followed by a mixed menagerie of mass confusion in the flurry of comments after the post. At times some mature believers come in to Biblically answer, doing well in laying out His Word. Often it seems the sound voice is passed by unheard or even drowned out by mockers. I want to encourage that person — don’t give up, people are reading and when you use His Word rightly, it will not return void (Is 55:10-11).

Many times we are frustrated and sad as we see a lack of humility, unkind responses, or an unwillingness by people to consider checking out His Word to see if they’ve looked at it in context. Many have a stubborn pride, are unteachable, answering back quickly in disagreement (no possibility they had time to consider the Scriptures patiently laid out).

I do realize there are people that just copy and paste a laundry list of Scriptures that they googled with a key word. But I am speaking of someone who takes time to patiently and gently lay out God’s Word with kindness, patience and respect. And still the unruly cast it aside. I shudder thinking of this passage always (along with others like Is 66:2).

But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth, Seeing you hate instruction And cast My words behind you? Psalm 50:16-17

And even more walking in their self-righteous flesh miss their own sin. Often quick to anger, unkind, proud, suspicious of others, or they tend to commend themselves in discussions.

• They may list how many degrees they have.
• Or they let you know how many times they’ve read through the Bible in their life
• Often they’ll tell you how many years they’ve been a Christian (I’m here to confess I am over a half century as a believer. Sadly, in my experience it meant nothing in that a lot of that time was not spent growing, or some spent in error).
• Or they will tell you how many good works they have done or accuse you of doing nothing or wanting to live like the devil.
• Or they may tell you which seminary they went to (not a positive in most cases)
• I’ve seen some encourage others (often sadly pastors) to go read this or that scholar if they want to be able to ‘understand’.
• Or they proclaim that they are the ones ‘rightly dividing’ God’s Word

I will just say this might be something for them to consider, a mature believer in the right place should not commend or contrast themselves with these people.

For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 2 Cor 10:12

Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other. 1 Cor 4:6

So back to Feeding the New Man

People take in a huge breakfast of YouTube videos, followed by feasting on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter winds of doctrines. They go into multiple groups and watch videos, argue back and forth, and get angry, condescending or nasty with each other. And the Word is often not used and usually not heard (or considered in trembling/reverence if it is). People aren’t Berean’s — contrasting what someone has said with God’s Word (Acts 17:11). 

How important is it to be a Berean?

It’s HUGE. People, friends, loved ones. Hear this. When passages are shared by me or anyone else — LOOK.THEM.UP! Ask questions if you do not understand or search it yourself. Look up every single passage in context. Consider checking the cross references. This is how we learn!

I feel like people need reminded over and over > we need His Word. And in remembering that need, we also are told to respect it, and should humble ourselves to both God and His Word. You are able to figure out His Word in prayer and diligent study if you are His. If you get to a hard passage, and cannot understand, go to the cross references, ask the contextual questions, write things down. Ask who, what, why, where, when, how. Really do that and see if the Holy Spirit won’t teach you as He says He will (1 John 2:27; Prov 22:17-21). You can always come back to it or ask trusted Bible teachers who have shown themselves to be sound in doctrine (Pr 11:14).

People assume they have already studied it out, but often they don’t really study context (which may actually be the whole book and more). But please remember this. You need a good foundation of His Word, so if you are new, don’t expect to understand everything right away, especially if you don’t yet have the basics. So take your time, pray when you read, and ask Him to show you, notate your questions, move on trusting Him to show you in the right time. Above all, read the Scriptures, on the foundation of the multitude of verses that say we are eternally secure, and that is by believing in Christ and His work on the cross (death and resurrection) alone. Everything that seems to contradict that can be understood in light of a solid understanding His Grace.

A warning to some

Those of you who are flogging His sheep? There will be hell to pay on this earth or after this earth, depending on whether you are His or not. Don’t be mini-accusers of the brethren.

Those of you who have believed — we can all bring out the best in others by feeding the new man. He cares that we feed His sheep.

So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”

He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”

He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”

And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”

Peter was grieved because Jesus asked him a third time if he loved Him.  I get tears every single time I read this. We all have different gifts in the body and every single one of us are necessary to His body. But He loves us sheep. Don’t flog His sheep.

We need to encourage and strengthen the new man both in ourselves and others. We are encouraged not to feed the lusts of the flesh, so we need to remember to feed our inner man and walk in the Spirit. 

Washing the Feet of others

John 13 addresses both positional sanctification (you are already clean/forgiven all), and also practical or experiential sanctification of believers. Jesus washed His disciple’s feet, and so if we love Him, we will do the same for others. We walk through this dirty world. We need to clean up other’s feet with the washing of the Water by His Word (Eph 5:26; Jn 17:17). We are His body, His Bride (not one or the other as some will try to tell you), and we can help feed the new man in others by sharing Scripture with them and praying for them. In turn, we may not see so much of the old man in our dealings with them.

So what can we do in order to feed other believers? How can we help them in their walk? How can we tend them?

The very first thing we need to do feed our own new man first. We can’t feed someone  else when we are weak, anorexic or dying of starvation. Worse, many out there are trying to feed or water others from poisoned cisterns. So what is necessary for us, is to first renew our own minds in His Word, choosing the good part (Rom 12:2; Eph 5:26; John 17:17; Luke 10:38-42). Allow it to comfort us, give us hope (Rom 15:4). Apply your heart to His knowledge, He will teach even you!

Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge; For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips, So that your trust may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge, That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you? Pr 22:17-21

Some ideas for feeding His sheep by the Word:

• Encouragement by His Word can feed others (as we see some do on their FB pages). Rom 15:4; 2 Cor 1:3-7
• Send an encouraging passage via email or PM. Proverbs 16:23-24
• Sharing the gospel some way daily, it’s part of our armor (Eph 6:10-18), and I believe it’s good for us to hear it ourselves all the time.
• Those who are teachers, by patiently teaching the Word — whether by expounding upon a certain passage or helping someone understand something (such as lordship or the correct meaning of repentance).
• Speaking the Word in our lives and to others – it won’t return void, it has power (Is 55:10-11; Heb 4:12). But do handle it with care and respect (Is 66:2). Be ready with an answer when they ask (1 Pet 3:15; Pr 22:17-21). It doesn’t mean we cram it down their throats, often the apostles/disciples were asked to speak.
• We can be fed by studying with God’s Approval as our motive. This will help us rightly divide His Word to others (2 Tim 2:15).
• Be obedient to continue in His Word (John 8:31-32), we are told this out of love so we can become disciples.
• As we see someone personally struggling with something, we can look up some passages for them, that may speak to their trials — such as grief, sorrow, pain, etc. We can be like Barnabas, an encourager to others. Rom 12:15-16; 1 Cor 12:25-26; 1 Pet 3:8-9
• As we share any of these things on FB, we can pray for opportunities for His Word to go out to others as others share it also.
• Iron sharpening iron is a part of what we do for one another as believers (Pr 27:17)

Some practical advice

Speak slowly, listen, don’t get angry. I’m sure you recognize that from James 1. 2 Timothy 2:23-26 tells us not to strive with others, and not to have foolish arguments. I see foolish arguing all over facebook, Twitter, etc. Possibly we could either choose not to partake, or to answer in the manner we should to recover brethren. Consider how we are told to speak with non-believers — with wisdom, grace and salt in our speech (Col 4:5-6). Being gentle and patient and apt to teach when we’re trying to help someone out of error. Pray before you speak/type and backspace if needed.

Don’t live on YouTube videos. Some may be sound, others may seem so, but the next thing you know, it’s like watching hacks on video, it sucks you in and the next thing you know you’re not really sitting at the feet of Jesus hearing His Word. Luke 10:38-42

Take quiet time alone with Him. Sermons are good if the pastor is sound (and with your Bible open and being used). But we also need to be feeding ourselves. If we’re getting fed properly, it should accomplish either something for us to eat, or give us some seed to go out and sow. If we’re stagnant, maybe we’re not getting fed ourselves. It’s good to rest by the still waters, but there is a time to get up and eat.

Like Israel, we have a famine in the land for the hearing of God’s Word. The difference is, these last days God has spoken to us through His Son Jesus. Fill up on the Word. No way to know how to take heed to it, if you haven’t hidden it in your heart (Ps 119:9-11, 105).

Find Christian friends who will feed and be fed, and sharpen you and themselves.

Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.  For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.  Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?  Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Pr 27:17

PRACTICAL SANCTIFICATION FROM HIS WORD

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:25-27  

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.  With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Psalm 119:9-11 

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.  John 17:17

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Rom 12:1-2

I hope this has encouraged someone. God bless you, and keep you and yours.