Divine Spiritual Nutrition
(week 08/04)
Olubi Johnson
Matthew 4:4 NKJV: But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’
1 Peter 2:2 NKJV: as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby
1 Corinthians 3:1-3 NKJV: And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;
Hebrews 5:12-14 NKJV: 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. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
These scriptures reveal to us that just like eating physical food produces physical growth, feeding on the Word of God produces spiritual growth.
We also see that there are different types of spiritual food: milk and solid food.
How then do we differentiate between spiritual milk and solid food and feed on them systematically to produce balanced spiritual growth?
Milk according to Paul are the elementary principles of the Word of God:
Hebrews 6:1-3 NKJV: 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Solid food are the hidden wisdom of the Word that will cause you to grow into perfection and maturity.
1 Corinthians 2:7 NKJV: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory,
1 Corinthians 2:10 NKJV: But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
1 Corinthians 2:13 NKJV:
These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
We feed on God’s Word personally by reading, studying, meditation, confession and practice of God’s Word.
We also feed on God’s Word by listening to and obeying the instructions of anointed preaching and teaching of the Word.
To have a balanced spiritual growth you read as a daily habit from all scripture that correspond to different spiritual food types:
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV: All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
New Testament: Acts-Revelation corresponds to spiritual protein since they contain the principles of God’s Word of who we are and what we have in Christ that are essential building blocks for spiritual growth and development.
Gospels: Matthew to John correspond to spiritual fats. They contain complementary detailed accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus that highlight principles and instructions of how Jesus the pattern Son walked on earth to inspire and instruct us to walk as Jesus walked and become conformed to His image.
Old Testament: Genesis to Malachi correspond to spiritual carbohydrates. They contain the principles of the New Testament concealed in types and shadows with present prophetic application and timing thereby strongly motivating the new testament Christian or saint to act on these to increase and prosper spiritually, physically and materially.
Proverbs correspond to spiritual vitamins as they are needed in small but vital quantities daily to provide wisdom and instruction to enable the saint to practice the Word of God efficiently.
Psalms correspond to spiritual minerals. They are needed daily in small but vital quantities as they inspire, comfort and encourage the saints. Also because the New Testament church is called the tabernacle of David (Amos. 9.11, Acts. 15.16) the psalms contain vital quantities of prophetic truth that are presently applicable to the New Testament saint.
As you read the scripture daily, questions will arise from what you read and also from anointed preaching and teaching you hear which will lead you to study God’s Word by checking references and using other Bible helps like concordances and dictionaries. Study will give you a deeper understanding of the scriptures.
Confession of God’s Word involves saying with your mouth in faith what the Word promises and declares about you and your life in faith to release God’s creative power to bring into physical manifestation what God’s Word says (Mark 11.23, 2 Cor. 4.13, Rom. 10.10).
Meditation is saying and thinking on God ‘s Word in your heart with a determination to practice it (Prov. 23.7, Josh. 1.8, Ps. 1.2).
Doing the Word involves practicing the things learnt from the Word in your everyday life and conduct (Jam.1.22).
So as you feed on God’s using balanced bible reading and anointed preaching and teaching you will experience divine spiritual growth.
