Several years ago I attended a t-ball game and observed an interesting behavior. A t-ball player brought the crowd down in laughter. His behavior proved he had more to learn about playing ball. This little guy was excited about the game. He was intent about hitting the ball. He tensed his muscles and focused his attention and swung the bat with gusto. He connected to the best of his ability. After hitting he ran straight to first base; however, after getting to first base he did something unusual. He walked off of the field. He thought his job was complete! Can you imagine how boring it would be if all baseball players had this mentality? They work hard to strengthen their muscles in order to be a better batter. They strengthen their legs in order to be a good base runner. All the hard work and preparation is for naught if they do not follow through in playing the game. Follow through is vital. First base is not the goal. First base is not the end. First base is only one step on the path to success.
There is a parallel to this truth in the Christian life. Many people view Christianity much like an insurance policy. Some people think you purchase a policy and get prepared to go to Heaven. They think a commitment to Jesus Christ is an end in itself. Many people stop at first base. There must be follow through in the spiritual life. Follow through is vital in any area of life.
• Suppose a salesman, who sells business machines, makes a contact and finds a customer who is interested in his product. He shares all of the positive benefits of his machine. However, after making the initial contact he never goes back for a follow up visit. Will his business prosper?
• We are in the midst of the college football recruiting season. Coaches are feverishly working to recruit the best players. Suppose a coach finds a talented recruit and makes an in-home visit with the recruit and his parents. The coach sells the benefits of his school. The coach courts the athlete and his parents. However, after the initial visit he never returns to follow up. Will he sign the player?
• Suppose a young man meets a young woman at a party. They flirt and hit it off in their relationship. At the conclusion of the party she gives him her phone number. However, he never gives her a call. Will the relationship go anywhere?
Follow through is vital. The Bible describes this need. Look at Heb. 5:11-14. “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.”
In using the scripture I would like to share a message entitled “Getting Beyond First Base.” I would like to share three lessons every t-ball player must learn. In addition, every believer should learn these same lessons. These lessons will help you understand what it takes to get beyond first base and follow through on your commitment to Christ.
1. First lesson: a good start is essential. In these verses the writer compares the spiritual life to the birth of a baby. A baby enters life through a birth. Even so, the New Testament calls the beginning of the spiritual life a new birth. We first find this phrase in John. Jesus told a man named Nicodemus “you must be born again.” (3:7) Paul used this phrase in I Cor. 15. He described himself as one “born out of due time.” (vs. 8) Peter described himself as “having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible.” In other words he was born from above and not by the power of men. (I Peter 1:23) The point of these passages is that spiritual life has a distinct beginning and that beginning is called a new birth. A baby cannot enter this life except through a birth. Even so, a believer cannot enter the spiritual life except through a new birth. Thus, a good start is essential.
Illustration: This past summer I, like the rest of the world, watched in awe as Michael Phelps captured his eight gold medals. I watched most of those races. The sports announcers were meticulous in describing Phelp’s swimming style. As the race began they would describe his leap from the platform into the water. They would describe his first lung. They let you know that a good start is important.
Illustration: A few weeks ago we baptized Randall. Randall shared his testimony. He said he walked forward as a child, based on the dare of some friends, and told his pastor he wanted to be saved. He said, as a child, he did not know what he was doing. He was baptized at that point; however, he actually made a “real” commitment to Christ as a teenager. A few months ago he decided he needed to follow through on the decision he made as a teenager and experience a “real” baptism. The first time was only a dunk in the water. Real baptism is the baptism of a believer. Randall’s testimony is the testimony of a good start. Faith based on a dare is not real faith.
The t-ball player made a good start. He hit the ball. He ran to first base. He was sincere. He also had other lessons he needed to learn.
2. A second lesson is the lesson of advancement. A t-ball player must be taught to advance around the bases. A believer must learn the same lesson. The writer of Hebrews wrote to instruct believers about the importance of advancing. In the text it is indicated the believers had stopped advancing in their spiritual life. When you accept Jesus Christ and become a Christian God expects you to advance and grow. Consider the following scriptures.
The apostle Paul said we must “grow up in all things into Him who is the head Christ.” Eph. 4:15
Peter said “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” I Peter 2.2
In II Peter, Peter said “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” II Peter 3:18
The instructions in each of those verses represent commands. You and I have a responsibility to grow. Growth must be intentionally.
Illustration: Several years ago there was an article in the Virginia Medical Monthly about a lady who regressed in her life development. This lady had three children. When her husband died she started regressing in her development. Initially she started dressing like a twenty year old. She regressed backward at the rate of one year for every three or four months of time that went forward. At 61 she acted and talked like a 6 year old. She was sent to a sanitarium, where she insisted on wearing short dresses, playing with toys, and babbling like a child. Then she became like a three year old; she spilled her food, crawled on the floor, and cried “mama.” She regressed to the age of a one year old. She drank milk and curled up like a baby. Finally, she went back over the line and died. (Illustration 381 in Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations. Paul Lee Tan)
This story represents an unnatural phenomenon. Even so, it is unnatural for a believer to regress in the spiritual life. However, that is the situation addressed in the book of Hebrews. What can we do to avoid regressing in the spiritual life? What must we do in order to advance?
The writer of Hebrews identifies certain qualities that will be evident if you are going to advance in the spiritual life. The writer of Hebrews states them in the negative. I am going to reverse them and state them in the positive.
(1) You must learn to listen to God. The writer corrects his readers for not listening to God. This is found in verse 11. Some translators translate this phrase “dull of hearing.” The NLT translates it “spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen.” The TLB translates this as “you don’t seem to listen.” It is imperative that we develop our listening skills if we are to grow in the spiritual life. This is a challenging lesson to learn. When I get to Heaven I want to find out why God did not make listening easier. It is a challenge. We see this illustrated in the life of Samuel. As a boy Samuel did not understand the concept of God’s calling. As a boy God spoke to Samuel about His will for Samuel’s life. Three different times Samuel confused God’s voice for the voice of Eli. Each of the three times Samuel went to Eli. Finally Eli realized what was happening and he instructed Samuel to speak to God. Samuel came to understand the importance of listening to God.
Two elderly, excited Southern women were sitting together in the front pew of church listening to a fiery preacher. When this preacher condemned the sin of stealing, these two ladies cried out at the tops of their lungs, "AMEN, BROTHER!"When the preacher condemned the sin of lust, they yelled again, "PREACH IT, REVEREND!" And when the preacher condemned the sin of lying, they jumped to their feet and screamed, "RIGHT ON, BROTHER! TELL IT LIKE IT IS... AMEN!" But when the preacher condemned the sin of gossip, the two got very quiet. One turned to the other and said, "He’s quit preaching and now he’s meddlin’."
(Contributed to Sermon Central by Michael De Rosa)
Testimony: I accepted Christ as my Savior at the age of 11. There is no doubt in my mind that Christ spoke to me. However, it never occurred to me that God wanted to speak with me on a regular basis. I did not learn that lesson. From the time I was eleven until I was 16 I cannot identify a time when God spoke to me. At the age of 16 God clearly spoke to me about His will for my life. At that point I did not want to hear God. Later on as I submitted to God’s will I grew to treasure God’s voice of direction. I wanted to listen to Him.
Dennis is going to be leading a class beginning next Sunday that every believer should take, Experiencing God. In fact, we should take the class and review the material on a regular basis. The basic content of that class focuses on hearing God speak and getting on His wave length.
(2) In order to advance in the spiritual life you must take responsibility for your spiritual growth. A baby is not responsible for its own nurture. It depends on adults. As a baby matures into childhood and later into adulthood it takes responsibility for its own nourishment. As a Christian it is important that we learn to feed ourselves. This represents many of the lessons you learn in CLASS 201. A daily time with God can be one of the most beneficial aspects of your spiritual life.
Illustration: A couple of years back LSU had a basketball player named Glen Davis. Glen was given the name “Big Baby.” Glen was a good basketball player but he had one major draw back. He was over-weight. He was 6’9” and at one point weighed about 325. That is okay if you are a defensive lineman. Glen wanted to play professional basketball. The professional scouts told him that he needed to lose some weight if he wanted to play professional ball. Glen took responsibility. He lost about 50 pounds. Today he plays for the Boston Celtics.
(3) You must digest the word of God. When I was a child I memorized a verse of scripture that emphasized the importance of scripture study . It was II Tim. 2:15. In the KJV it says “study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” As we handle the word we equip ourselves to serve God.
(4) A fourth quality that will help you advance in the spiritual life is diligence. The writer of Hebrews identified diligence as an important ingredient. In chapter 5:14 he spoke of exercise. In chapter six verses 11 & 12 he warned us not to become lazy. “We want each of you to go on with the same hard work all your lives so you will surely get what you hope for. We do not want you to become lazy.” A believer should be diligent just as a dedicated person in any other field would be.
If you are going to advance in the spiritual life it requires effort on your part. Some of the greatest experiences of my spiritual life have come when I made the effort to meet God. Several months ago there was a men’s retreat at Camp Baldwin. Our men’s coordinator encouraged us to go. I signed up to go; however, I had a bad week the week leading up to the conference. I was thinking to myself. “I have got to sit through a Friday night and Saturday morning conference. I am not ready for this.” I went! I made the effort. God spoke to me and revived me through that conference.
3. The third and final lesson a t-ball player must learn is that scoring is the goal. When a t-ball player hits the ball people clap. When a t-ball player crosses first base people clap. When a t-ball player crosses second base people clap. When a t-ball player crosses third base people clap. However, when a t-ball player crosses home plate and scores a run people go wild. (have congregation pretend it happens on a count of three) When that happens the child learns that scoring is the goal. That is also true in the spiritual life. God wants us to score. God wants us to make a run. God wants us to be productive. Sometimes we stop short of this goal. God desires that we be fruitful and multiply. (refer to Mt. 4:19; John 15:5)
How do you evaluate if you are being fruitful? We can identify three qualities in Heb. 5.
(a) A fruitful believer will share with others and be actively involved in ministry. (vs. 12). Every believer is a minister. That is the lesson of CLASS 301 and 401. If someone asks you this question, “who is the minister at Faith Baptist?” What would you say? The answer is, all of us are ministers.
(b) A fruitful believer will have a healthy appetite. (vs. 13-14)A baby has a: (1) Small diet, (2) Supplied died, (3) Special diet. A healthy diet, for an adult, would go beyond being small, supplied, and special. An adult eats like an adult, not like a baby. A productive believer will have a hunger for the word of God, the will of God, and the ways of God.
(c) A fruitful believer will begin to reflect the character of Christ. I have been reading a little book entitled “The Happening.” This book is about the killings of four Amish school children in Lancaster, PA a couple of years back. The Amish people displayed a special character after that event. The man who killed those four children also killed himself. He left behind a widow who was distraught over the event. Instead of the Amish people feeling resentment and anger they reached out to support that widow. They did fund raisers and raised money for the widow whose husband murdered their children. That represents the character of Christ.
Have you followed through on your commitment to Jesus Christ? If so, you will be able to identify a good start when you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You did this as an act of faith! You will also be able to identify advances you have made in your ability to hear God, in your hunger for the word, in your responsibility, and in your diligence. Finally, you will reflect a fruitful life whereby you are actively sharing your faith and seeking to exemplify the character of Christ in your daily life.
