ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT

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.
Hebrews 5:12

So many in the body are dealing with arrested development of the mind. They have grown physically and have been in the Church for decades, but are still dealing with basic issues that should have been overcome years ago. It is basic Christianity 101 to love your neighbor as yourself. It is the very nature of Jesus to love and to demonstrate His love for those he came in contact with. His heart of love was moved to compassion when he would see the sick, demoniac and lost. So many have become so desensitized to suffering that it doesn't even bother them anymore. I don't know if it is the video games, movies or just the demented nature of man to walk away instead of praying or helping a person in need.

In 2012, we are still battling among church adults, issues of how to love and walk in love. How can we walk in agreement when we can't even walk in love? Jesus stated that all men would know that we belonged to Him if we love one another. Yet, there are issues of envy, jealousy and competition among those in leadership. I am not speaking about the young people, but those who are older and should be mature in Christ. Our love walk is suppose to be beautiful, as we celebrate one another's gifts and talents.

I heard a middle aged woman say that she was sick of people "messing" with her and that she wasn't going to "fool" with people anymore in the church, I was amazed because although this woman has been in the church all her life, her spiritual development has been arrested. We all came out of the world, but the ways of the world should be disappearing in our lives as we grow in Christ. Grown people who have been "saved" for over 20 years should not be saying that they are meaner today than they were years ago. They boast that they won't take anything off anyone since they are older. How does the saying go, "there's no fool like an old fool." Too many in the church are in a state of arrested development. We should be the happiest people on the planet and displaying the greatest joy, but too many are still mean mugging one another on Sunday morning. This should not be saints. These churchgoers are immature and walking without wisdom. We are suppose to become transformed by the renewing of our minds. Our thoughts should become more like Christ's thoughts. Those thoughts that enter our minds that are against the word of God are suppose to be cast down; erased and replaced with thoughts that edify and encourage. We are not to just cease from thinking negative, but replace negative thinking with positive thoughts and words that bring life.

When we truly get on one accord we will be a terrible army to come against the forces of darkness. We will put 10,000 or more to flight and praise God while doing it. Unify my brothers and sisters by loving one another. We are blessed to be a blessing on the earth...we are light and salt, seasoned to make a difference and to change the atmospheres wherever we go. We were filled with the Holy Spirit and received power, authority and dominion over every creeping thing. We have authority over our soulish realm to command our thoughts to line up with the Word and will of God. We were not called to function in a state of arrested development, being double minded in our thoughts and emotions. After spending time with God in prayer, command your thoughts to line up with His thoughts and you will mature into the full stature of Christ, loving like He loves; in humility.