Strong meat.

[Sunshinee777]

“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, eventhose who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Hebrews 5:14

Ok, so I don’t understand what this ”strong meat” is?

 

[Sketcher]

Here's a look at the verse, in context, in an easier to read translation:

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,
13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.
14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

-Hebrews 5:12-14, ESV​

 

[Maria Billingsley]

“But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, eventhose who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
Hebrews 5:14

Ok, so I don’t understand what this ”strong meat” is?

1Corinthians may help explain. Paul is being hyperbolic when dealing with the immaturity of the Corinthians. "Strong meat "are those who are mature in the Faith.

3 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Strong meat = hard truths that underlie the commandments.

 

[trophy33]

Truths that are hard to digest but giving more strength.

 

[Trusting in Him]

Strong meat is also that which we need to stand in impossible situations. Being filled with his spirit frees us from relying upon our own strength and our natural abilities. It is true that this applies to our doctrinal understanding, but going on to full maturity can only come from a closer walk with Him and being filled with His spirit is when we are freed from our inhibitions which limit us from fully commiting our lives to Him.

When we live for Him to such an extent that we would willing lose our lives for Him, our walk with Him knows no limits. After surviving the extremities of a heart attack and two strokes, will I trust him and His love for me? What further proof do I need? Like Job, I am powerless to resist those things, which He has chosen for me. Job said "Though He slay me, yet will I trust him". Do not under estimate the trust in God of those who have been reduced to weakness and trials in their walk with Him.

You will meet many who are the Lords and have been refined by this process. Many are those who suffer brokeness that they may prove the goodness of a loving God to those around us who will not hear him. We are an enigma to them which is difficult to reason away. We often should be dead and yet we still live and our trust in Him is a challenge to those who think that they have got everything all planned and sorted. The broken will cling so closely to him and this will speak volumes!

When I am called to be with Him a new and undamaged body awaits me! Yes, will trust Him and Hope in Him. He is my only hope and without Him, I am nothing!

 

[Sunshinee777]

Strong meat is also that which we need to stand in impossible situations. Being filled with his spirit frees us from relying upon our own strength and our natural abilities. It is true that this applies to our doctrinal understanding, but going on to full maturity can only come from a closer walk with Him and being filled with His spirit is when we are freed from our inhibitions which limit us from fully commiting our lives to Him.

When we live for Him to such an extent that we would willing lose our lives for Him, our walk with Him knows no limits. After surviving the extremities of a heart attack and two strokes, will I trust him and His love for me? What further proof do I need? Like Job, I am powerless to resist those things, which He has chosen for me. Job said "Though He slay me, yet will I trust him". Do not under estimate the trust in God of those who have been reduced to weakness and trials in their walk with Him.

You will meet many who are the Lords and have been refined by this process. Many are those who suffer brokeness that they may prove the goodness of a loving God to those around us who will not hear him. We are an enigma to them which is difficult to reason away. We often should be dead and yet we still live and our trust in Him is a challenge to those who think that they have got everything all planned and sorted. The broken will cling so closely to him and this will speak volumes!

When I am called to be with Him a new and undamaged body awaits me! Yes, will trust Him and Hope in Him. He is my only hope and without Him, I am nothing!

Indeed situations like that will make us mature in Christ. Instead of crying miserable situations we can embrace them as we know it will be good for us, we know that God wants to strengthen our relationship with Him and what is better way than hardships?

James 1:3-6

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

 

[Trusting in Him]

Receiving these things as from the hand of the Lord, removes much of the sting which comes from them. Misery is not how I want to live, it leads only downwards and to negativity. The bible says "that David encouraged himself in the Lord". It's not an interlectual thing, or anything like that. He is just there when we need strengthening. "The Lord is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever".

I stand on this verse, when I not feeling strong. I don't know what I would do without it and without him.

 

[rocknanchor]

Misery is not how I want to live, it leads only downwards and to negativity.

You have blessed the thread with excellent insights. Such as with this comment, which brings to mind what happens when we have the support of others in prayer,

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. - 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

 

[trophy33]

I think it can also mean a more strict way of living that is not yet possible for new Christians who just came out of the world. They need to change so many presuppositions and habits that they must begin with some easy milk first.

 

[Trusting in Him]

I don't think that I can take much credit for my insights, I have had to travel a difficult road in my life and I'm probably a product of some of what I've been through. I don't think that I'm anything special, but trusting in the Lord has kept me from being too fearful and I think that people who don't live stressful lives are likely to live longer.

I'm 69 years old and I have been self employed for about 30 to 35 years. People don't take much notice of it these days, but long ago it was the norm to be self employed. The Lord's Prayer says "give us our daily bread" and that was a very big issue, years ago.

Well it has been a real big deal for me over the years. You cannot tell when customers will come into your business to spend money with you and certain seasons of the year can be very difficult, especially when the time to pay bills is approaching and the money does not arrive until the last moment, but you learn to trust God to provide on time!

He has been looking after me for quite a long time now. I'm not a well money'd man, but God has been good to me. When I am able to work, I work with my hands as a picture framer and I do all the old fashioned things which not many people do these days. I'm very different and unlike many picture framers, I am an old fashioned craftsman as well.

I moved premises before my stroke and did not recover very much for a long time and I been paying the bills from money left to me when my mother died shortly after my stroke. I am assuming that I will need to go back to my shop, after my wife comes back home after her stroke.

I'm not complaining. God says that worrying about today is enough and tomorrow will take care of itself. I don't know how these things work and I just trust Him to work out the details. I can cope with that!

 

[Sunshinee777]

I don't think that I can take much credit for my insights, I have had to travel a difficult road in my life and I'm probably a product of some of what I've been through. I don't think that I'm anything special, but trusting in the Lord has kept me from being too fearful and I think that people who don't live stressful lives are likely to live longer.

I'm 69 years old and I have been self employed for about 35 to 35 years. People don't take much notice of it these days, but long ago it was the norm to be self employed. The Lord's Prayer says "give us our daily bread" and that was a very big issue, years ago.

Well it has been a real big deal for me over the years. You cannot tell when customers will come into your business to spend money with you and certain seasons of the year can be very difficult, especially when the time to pay bills is approaching and the money does not arrive until the last moment, but you learn to trust God to provide on time!

He has been looking after me for quite a long time now. I'm not a well money'd man, but God has been good to me. When I am able to work, I work with my hands as a picture framer and I do all the old fashioned things which not many people do these days. I'm very different and unlike many picture framers, I am an old fashioned craftsman as well.

I moved premises before my stroke and did not recover very much for a long time and I been paying the bills from money left to me when my mother died shortly after my stroke. I am assuming that I will need to go back to my shop, after my wife comes back home after her stroke.

I'm not complaining. God says that worrying about today is enough and tomorrow will take care of itself. I don't know how these things work and I just trust Him to work out the details. I can cope with that!

Thanks for sharing your story!
I don’t know why but your story is so inspirational to me that I broke in tears. You seem very blessed to me.
I appreciate when people make effort to keep the ”old ways” of handcrafting. Many things are so mechanical and cold these days. I wish many lovely and happy days for you and yours May God keep blessing you.

 

[rocknanchor]

As to Apostles whom excelled in this degree of maturity, Paul was second to none and authored some of your deepest epistles available, having an 'abundance of revelations' would also recognize wherein the increase exists,

'I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase' , is suitable for everything we aquire.

 

[Sunshinee777]

As to Apostles whom excelled in this degree of maturity, Paul was second to none and authored some of your deepest epistles available, having an 'abundance of revelations' would also recognize wherein the increase exists,

'I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase' , is suitable for everything we aquire.

Im not sure what this ”increase” means here? Is it like abundance of something?

 

[rocknanchor]

Im not sure what this ”increase” means here? Is it like abundance of something?

It can be abundance, or it might only be a very very small increase from God as shown here,

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously (2 Corinthians 9:6)