When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
(1 Cor. 13:11)
It’s interesting that when Jesus talked about coming into the Kingdom of God, He used the phrase born again. When Paul talked about new Christians, he called them babes and children. In another place, Paul said that we should grow up spiritually and become mature.
I have often thought that the church would be unstoppable on this earth if the church was full of mature adult Christians. It’s sad, but there are Christians all over the world who are infants and children. I am very pleased that people are being born into the Body of Christ. Nothing thrills me any more than to see someone receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
However, we should know more now than what we knew six months ago. And six months from now, we should know more than we know now. As Christians, we must grow up and mature.
Children do things halfway and without understanding. When you tell a child to clean up their room, they only do it if they get a big reward and afterwards don’t understand why it had to be cleaned up in the first place. That’s called immaturity.
A six-month-old child drinking from the bottle and wearing a diaper may be cute, but it doesn’t look cute when you see a forty-year-old doing it.
We shouldn’t expect baby Christians to walk as elder saints. Who would put an army uniform on an infant and ship them off to war? They may look cute, but they wouldn’t survive. A fully grown adult should be able to care for and protect himself and not act as a child.
It is extremely important for newborn Christians to immediately sit under mature Bible based, Spirit-filled teaching. As a mature Christian, your responsibility is to give proper food, training, and guidance to the younger ones. Together we are a growing family and we can accomplish God’s ministry on this earth.
Copyright © Larry Ollison Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of eight books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.