DEAR CHILD,

"My little children, for whom I labour in birth again until Christ is formed in you, I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you." - Gal 4:19


I find it necessary to write this note to you today, it is out of a godly compulsion and jealousy, that I intend to express my views about you, whom we labour and pray for. It is not to claim glory over you - but to put you on a check and as a good father would, to be sure of your maturity.


Looking back from the time you didn't have direction up till this present moment, there is a need to be sure that you aren't going round circles, repenting today, confession tomorrow, two steps forward, three, backwards - alas, you're retrogressing. Same tongues, same scriptures, same traditions and same Bible! It is necessary that will consider, whether all these evangelism and follow up is really yielding fruit.


In case, you're saying I am not your spiritual father or mother, let it settle in your mind now that, your spiritual parents asked me to write you this note on their behalf! How come you seem far, how come you no longer thirst as you used to, you no longer get curious about spiritual matters - I would have thought maybe you found another mentor - but if you did, maybe that's a tormentor - you're colder than where I left you. The only difference is that you know the date you got bornagain and the person who led you - but I am afraid, you haven't progressed much.


Please child, don't let the labour be in vain, don't rubbish the diligence of faithful men, who took you as a project. We know that if you want to grow, grace is available - why not avail yourself of the grace. I understand that you were naive, and didn't know that Christianity will be this demanding - but let me remind you also that for those who concede to this Christain life - His yoke becomes easy and the burden will indeed be light.


We the spiritual parents haven't taken the place of Christ and truly we cannot in fact do so at all. But God entrusted you to us to see that you stand, and become as we are, little shepherd, looking after the lambs - and together we being under the Great and Good Shepherd reach our destination.


NEWBORN BABES
"as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby if indeed you have tested that the Lord is gracious." - 1Pet 2:2-3


I have never seen a newborn under normal circumstances who doesn't desire the pure breast mild of the mother. But I have seen newborns in the faith, who wants nothing of the Word, but an association of the saints. They don't thirst, they want to walk like those around, talk like them - but refuse the same word that would make them mature.


Sometimes, I am left to wonder what foundation the faith of these newborns will rest, when they won't sit with the word of God. If there is no desire to know the word - then there is no basis for truth - you are a long way from maturity if you wont desire the word. Sometimes, some want the word but they only have a problem with the milk part, they want to heap teachers for themselves and set the syllabus of what they want to learn. Since they gave their life to Christ, they want to learn miracles, healings, gifts - but they never want holiness, they don't desire faith, they just want to explode - no perseverance, no patience in their study scheme - they just want to 'perform'. The idea is that you are now 'born again' - you have just been born - though you will do all those powerful stuff, but can you just be teachable for now?


The Lord desire that everyone be of a broken spirit, that the things which make up the old man be done away with. I understand that you are supernaturally born, but please you need to be taken care of. Desire the Word, and if you are having issues with the boring topics and all - maybe that's one of the things you need to take to God in prayers.


"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.'" - John 21:16


I know that you may have passed the 'lamb' stage and you have grown up a little to become a sheep - but please, do understand that the sheep still needs some tending, it is dangerous to be without a shepherd. Don't start acting all spiritual when your father shows concern about your standing. Maybe some of the things you base your convictions on, are errors - please, you need to be meek and take the milk.


You cannot grow if you don't avail yourself of the milk, you will be doing superficial spiritual gymnastics if you don't have depth. Though, the person who led you to Christ may not be as sound and educated as some others, but God ordained it that way. No matter the food you take, if you don't take the pure milk of the word, you'll surely be deficient in growth! That's if you survive at all.


It doesn't take forever to be standing in the faith really, but it takes a brokenness to stay under the incubation of Christ. Spiritual songs will not substitute for the place of the word, confession of affirmation will not substitute either - why not sit and learn this word in all simplicity.


OVERGROWN BABIES
"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. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe." - Heb 5:12-13


The matter of the spiritual child takes another unfortunate turn - yes I said unfortunate, when a newborn wants to remain a newborn. It becomes disheartening, when you still have to explain that the Jesus is the son of God over and over again. It becomes funny when this once upon a babe and still a babe don't want to walk. The things they need to know they refuse and say - my father in the Lord will teach me.


You are suppose to be doing evangelism now, but you said you yourself need it - the truth of the matter is that the babe is a babe because he or she wants to. The spiritual parent is suppose to show you the path - and you are suppose to follow with his supervision. But you refuse to pray, you totally depend on your spiritual parent for your spiritual destiny - what a disaster to spiritual destiny.


I know you cannot force your growth, but it is abnormal to still be a toddler, when you have exhausted all the milk. The Christain race is a quest for growth. Sometimes, the overgrown baby syndrome may not be so visible for some people - until you see that our brother who led prayer still arguing about mundane things.


"Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, 'Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?'" - Luke 13:7


Over grown spiritual babies are those who occupy positions in church yet there is nothing spiritual about them, and because they occupy such positions, it is hard for another to overtake spiritually, it is a law of the lid. They just keep using up the ground, wasting the pastor's time. But they won't just grow.


For the last three years, what has been the growth and fruit of your Christianity? It is not a rhetorical question dear friend...God needs answers because He is not finding fruit for the past three years.


When you gave your life to Christ, He made you a tree of righteousness, but now as John the Baptist said, the ax is laid on you. Any tree that doesn't bear fruit is cut down. You cannot afford to be complacent about your faith. Sometimes these pastors fast that you stand - yet a little sacrifice on your part so that you will grow - you have refused to take. The ax is laid on you. The keeper begged and said just one more year, this message is to let you know and warn you that your kwashiorkor Christianity will no longer be tolerated - grow up!


CHILDREN OBEY
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honour your father and mother,' which is the first commandment with promise: 'that it may be well with you and you may live long on earth.'" - Eph 6:1-3


I am not your father, I am not your mother - but listen, I am your 'parent in the Lord' (don't you dare say I quoted it out of context). I am often taken aback, when without wisdom or out of pride, spiritual babes refuse to heed instruction from their spiritual heads. Not just any instruction but good and godly instruction.


He didn't ask you to bring offering, he only asked that you read one chapter and later explain to him - you suddenly understood and realise that you yourself are no more a babe. You need to be flogged. You have suddenly realised that fasting is a 'grace' thing now - because you are no more a babe.


Let us not be ignorant, there are shepherds who can command us spiritually and it is scriptural! Though we too must be wise, but most times, children have shown foolishness more than wisdom in this regard. We do not want to obey.


"Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you." - Heb 13:17


Do not be deceived, there are people placed over you to give account of your spiritual wellbeing to God, you better fall in line and start obeying. It will be unprofitable because you will miss direction and run into errors. It will be unprofitable because they have been there before too.


Please, would you disown this your spiritual head, so they won't have to be wasting their prayers upon you..since you have decided not to obey. If they know you aren't under them anymore, it will make it easier for both of you. Don't make me grief over you - it will be unprofitable. Samuel mourned, I mean mourned for Saul while he was still alive. A man who rejects instructions is a dead man, though still living.


Sometimes, you overestimate yourself, thinking because you blessed your spiritual head with substance, you have shut him up...even if you don't bless him, as long as he is labouring, he will be blessed - your part is to obey and see where they are pointing to you. As long as your wisdom can discern that it is of God - you are duty-bound to follow!


EXCEPT
"and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matt 19:3


We must understand the scripture in context also, there is a meekness required of every child, there is a childlike attitude we are meant to possess, not childish attitude - while the latter is of immaturity, the former deals with meekness. We must be simple in our approach to followership. We must be open to receive and be bent to be taught - this is the only way a child can keep growing in the faith.


Everyone wants to be sophisticated and all serious, it is good, yet you will do well to understand that severally, we were addressed as little children in the book of 1John, not because of our age, but because of the character that we are meant to possess.


Have you suddenly, become a 'spiritual giant' that you no longer take instructions from anyone, have you become so 'big' that you now insist to be honoured, have you suddenly become so big that your worship is more of an act rather than an attitude - a broken spirit and a contrite heart, the Lord will not despise.


"Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature." - 1Cor 14:20


You cannot remember what you read in the Scripture, but you have a record of those who have crossed the line with you. You no longer forgive as little children do, but you can be so diligent in your expression of grievances. You are too old to be trained.


You need to remain as a child in order to be taught, you need to remain as a child, else all who are suppose to be shepherds over you will think you have grown - that is destruction knocking sir. You need to serve also, do some simple work because, service keeps us humble too. Yes carry something when everyone is carrying. Not for eye service - but as a child would.


I beseech thee, my beloved, if you notice that you are no longer learning or receiving instructions, go out and search for it, sure there's something a shepherd will help you with. I know the Holy Spirit will teach you all things - remember that the practically of our faith is seen and practiced with men and not primarily with God. If you are humble with the Holy Spirit - it should show on how you also relate with your spiritual parents.


PS: This piece is for everyone without exception. Make sure you take instruction. Remember obedience.


God bless you and I love you.
Akinsuroju Femi
© The Fundamentals