Got Milk?
Dec 6, 2021
Dan Li
Key verse: 1 Peter 2:1-5
“Therefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere/pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby: 3 If so be you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To Whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:1-5 DKJV
John 6:3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 ¶When Jesus then lifted up His eyes, and saw a great company come unto Him, He said unto Philip, “From where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 And this He said to prove him: for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. 8 One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto Him, 9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? 10 And Jesus said, “Make the men sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, He said unto His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. 15 ¶When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take Him by force, to make Him a king, He departed again into a mountain Himself alone.
When we read John 6:3-15, especially verse 6, we might want to conclude that Jesus testing the disciples as to whether they would believe Him for this, and that would be true, but there is much more in this than immediately meets they eye. First, Jesus asks Philip a question for which He (Jesus, being God) already knows the answer (v.6). but He has something He is provoking in the disciples. He is placing the burden of feeding the 5,000 men (women and children besides) on the disciples by asking them this question. The account in Mark of this same event is this:
“And when it grew late, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” But He answered them, “You give them something to eat.”” Mark 6:35-37
Philip’s reply was from the natural, we don’t have enough money, supplies, etc. But Jesus put this upon them to do, “You give them something to eat”. So how would they (the disciples) do this, if there was no physical possible way to do so? They would not only learn to trust Jesus for food, but they would learn to trust Jesus for the food that they would provide for the people.
We are to feed God’s sheep. Jesus told Peter three times, “Do you love Me?… feed My sheep” (John 21:15-18). For to demonstrate his love for Jesus, Peter was to feed Jesus’ sheep. With what food? Jesus is not speaking of loaves and fishes here to Peter, He is speaking of spiritual food. It was the responsibility of the disciples to feed the sheep of Jesus. With what spiritual food?, and where do we get it? It is God’s Word, it is what the Holy Ghost gives us to speak, to feed them from God’s Word– this Word comes from the Bible, but it also comes by the unction and instruction from the Holy Ghost– the food comes from Jesus. We do not have this food of ourselves:
“He saith unto Philip, “From where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 And this He said to prove him: for He Himself knew what He would do. 7 Philip answered Him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.” John 6:5-7
Our own capabilities are not sufficient to feed the sheep with, our own logic, our own understanding, our own ‘psychological training’ are totally and desperately pathetic and inadequate– what we need is food from Jesus to give to others, true spiritual food: “And Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.” (in KJV). We do not provide our own food, we ask of Jesus, He provides it to us, this food from Heaven, we then give it to others (and also eat of it ourselves). We also need to provide fresh food, not old or spoiled food. There is a timely Word from the Lord for us to give to others, to feed others, not some old word, not someone else’s word, not just any word, but a fresh Word from the Lord.
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver. As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.” Proverbs 25:11-12
Just a few verses down in John chapter 6, we realize that Jesus is ‘the bread from Heaven’. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh (John 1).
“Then Jesus said unto them, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.” John 6:33 “For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and gives life unto the world. 34 Then said they unto Him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35 And Jesus said unto them, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.” John 6:32-35
Are we looking for fixes for our natural needs and wants from Jesus, or are we looking to have more of Jesus? What kind of bread are people after?
“26 Jesus answered them and said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, You seek me, not because you saw the miracles, but because you did eat of the loaves, and were filled.”27 “Labor not for the food which perishes, but for that food which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him has God the Father sealed.” John 6:26-27
What we should be feeding the sheep, is to come from Jesus only, the Word of God. We cannot possibly supply the need from our own abilities– we are to operate by faith, trusting God to provide the spiritual food, and feed with spiritual food that which Jesus gives us first, then we are to distribute to others. Food which perishes is natural. What Jesus does in us is not natural, but supernatural, and eternal. Christians, Jesus’ sheep, need food, that is, more specifically, spiritual food. Are we teaching people the Word of God, to deepen into our love and devotion to Jesus Christ, or are we teaching people to believe for physical prosperity, stuff, comforts, our own desires and dreams, etc?
“From where do wars and fightings come from among you? Do they not come from here, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 You lust, and have not: you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: you fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not. 3 You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts. 4 You adulterers and adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do you think that the Scripture says in vain, The Spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded.” James 4:1-8
When we seek miracles for physical “prosperity”, we are asking ‘amiss’ so that we can spend it on our lusts. We have become ‘double-minded’ having a love for this present world, and also for God, both- but God will not have it, “you cannot love God and mammon”, you cannot serve both, God is totally exclusive. We need to have a hunger for the eternal things of God– more of Jesus in us. We need to seek things above, not below. Also, “you have not, because you ask not” does not mean to ask people for things that you need (to say that is to twist Scripture), it means to ask your Heavenly Father. Asking other people for these things when we should be asking our Father is not right. Our focus should be on God, not others, and God promises to provide what we need (but will not for our lusts).
We are to feed the sheep.
The Great Commission:
“And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, ‘All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world’. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20
What do we feed the sheep? Milk? Yes, milk is given to those who are not yet mature in the Lord enough to eat meat. Clearly, it is God’s desire that Christians mature to the point of being able to eat meat, but many are not yet able, so must drink milk.
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere/pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby” 1 Pet 2:2
And,
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 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. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” 1 Cor 3:1-4
And,
“Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing you are dull of hearing. For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Heb 5:11-14
Got Milk?
In China, someone there knew that pure milk was tested to see if it was real milk (and not diluted) by checking the protein content, and that the quick and common method of checking the milk’s protein content was to check nitrogen content, because protein is nitrogen-based, including milk protein. So, the test tested the nitrogen. Some unscrupulous vendor decided to ‘fudge’ the process, to produce “milk” cheaper (thus more profit) by watering real milk down with water, then to ‘pass the test’, they added melamine powder. Melamine is the ceramic-like material that some bowls and dinner-wear plates are made of. Melamine is a kind of plastic that has the firmness of ceramics that other plastics do not. Melamine is made by mixing cyanide (which is 67% nitrogen by mass) with formaldehyde, which forms the melamine resin. Cyanide and Formaldehyde are both very toxic to human body But the two, cyanide and formaldehyde, mix so well that they are stable and no toxicity exists unless it is burned or ingested, thus it is suitable for dinner-wear. When melamine powder is added to milk, it also suspends in the solution nicely, and is white colored, to make the diluted milk whiter appearing, and even passes the nitrogen tests very well to show a fake high protein content. The melamine particles in the milk do not break down in the body, but instead plug up kidneys, damaging them, and it damages the urinary bladder, and causes cancers. Many infants died and many adults were injured when they drank more and more of this “milk”.
When we mix milk with other things, it is no longer pure milk. With melamine, it even seems to test out as milk sometimes using some basic tests, but it will kill you. Babies don’t know the difference, they are babies!
“For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use, have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Heb 5:13-14
Humanism is melamine in the milk. It is an adulteration of the Word of God and the Gospel, so it is not only no longer pure, but it is very damaging, even deadly to those babes in Christ. Those who are young in the Lord are the ones most damaged drinking that “milk”, in hopes of growing thereby. Some pastors have become salesmen of the “gospel” of prosperity and humanism, and have blended it with the Word of God, and have called this the “gospel” (another gospel) and are preaching it to others. Most churches today are full of it now. Humanism teaches that the world revolves around man, instead of God. Humanism is appealing because it sounds good to our natural ears, it tickles them, it sounds so “good to the body, but it’s bad for the soul”, as a song once said.
“For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.” 2 Pet 2:18.
Some prosperity teachers say things like this: “God wants you to prosper, He doesn’t want you to have to drive that old car around, He wants you to have a new car, new house, new….”. Is that really what the Bible teaches us? No. In addition to James 4:1-8, here is Phil 4:11, “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am, to be content.” Paul trusts God for his needs, and also for when he lacked as well. Consider also this:
“3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Tim 6:3-12
New Christians, babes in Christ, are those who “were clean escaped from them who live in error” but are now being fed melamine “milk”. Immature Christians (no matter the cause) do not know the difference- how could they?! These are vulnerable, and the consequences are eternal.
It is no wonder so few are maturing in the Lord, and so many are “falling away” in our present day – look at what they are drinking.
How to detect the melamine:
How to detect if melamine is in the “milk”, that is: if humanism is present in the teachings of our church that is sickening all, and killing some that are drinking it in.
Humanism is the broad term, and is polymorphic (that is, it comes in varying types and shapes), to make it harder to detect, but it is still detectable, once our “senses are exercised to discern good from evil”.
Defining “Christian Humanism”:
When I say “humanism”, I mean the “Christian” version of it, not secular humanism. “Christian” humanism is a syncretism (a blending) of Christianity and Humanism. Most “churches” in the U.S.A. are full of it and worse yet, most don’t even know it. It didn’t used to be there about 40-50 years ago, depending on the group and region, but now it is endemic, everywhere. “Churches” in America are very plentiful, yet America is in the wicked state it is in now- this is never seen simultaneously unless something is very wrong inside the “churches”.
“The whole table is full of vomit”:
“But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. Whom shall He teach knowledge? and whom shall He make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little” Isaiah 28:7-10
The True Church:
The state of America is reflected by the state of the “church”. I use “quotes” around the word church because the true church is victorious, and without spot or blemish, or any such thing, and the gates of Hell cannot prevail against it.
Melamine (Humanism) Milk Tests:
1) When someone tells you the benefits of believing upon Jesus, how it will improve your life. (Instead we should think the opposite, think about being a martyr for Christ Jesus, or better yet, a complete living sacrifice unto God).
2) Little or no talk of how you must take up your cross daily, die to yourself, and now live unto Jesus- that it is no longer you who live, but Christ Who lives in you.
3) Little to no talk of how your life is not your own, but you were bought with a price- that is, with the precious blood of Jesus.
4) Is the teaching easy on the flesh? Is it appealing to the flesh? Do we know the difference? Were we taught to know the difference?
5) Who gets the glory? Is it God or man? If it is man, it is humanism and not true Christianity.
6) Where is the focus? Is it God or man? If it is man, it is humanism and not true Christianity.
7) Do we hear that the wrath of God is coming upon all who are in sin? (If not, it may be a seeker-friendly style of humanistic “Christianity”).
8) Do we hear preaching about holiness, and sanctification, without which no man will see God? If not, humanism may be present. This teaching is uncomfortable to those who are in sin and not right with God, and they will either get right with God or leave the church eventually because of the pure Word of God pierces even to the dividing of the soul and spirit, to the intents of the heart. This preaching is avoided in seeker-sensitive or seeker-friendly (worldly-friendly) churches because they would lose people, offering and tithe-paying people.
9) Do we hear the necessity of the Lordship of Jesus Christ in every part of a Christian’s life, obedience. If not, humanism may be present. (“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, we…. In Your name’ and I will tell them plainly ‘I never knew you, you workers of iniquity’… Only those who do the will of My Father in Heaven…”)
10) Are our songs that we sing during “worship” actually focused on God, or are they on how I feel or on me? If it is about human focus, it is humanism, and it is actually worship of man, or me, or how I feel, sensual and not really spiritual. (True worshipers worship God (not man or how I feel) in spirit and in truth.)
11) Are we taught psychological techniques in church? If so, it is humanism and not true Christianity.
12) Are we taught human methodologies, instead of the powerful working of the Holy Ghost within those whom He indwells? If so, we are being taught humanism, and not true Christianity.
13) Humanism can be in the form of self-focus, self-pity, self-care, self-direction (instead of by the Holy Ghost), self-desires, self-pleasures, self-timing, self-comfort, self…. . You get the idea, self-worship.
(“Whoever does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt 10:38),
“And He said to all, ““If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whosoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.“(Luke 9:23-24),
“If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matt 16:24).)
14) Humanism can appear in the form of Word-Faith, or Word-of-Faith doctrine, whereby it is taught that God is not sovereign over the affairs of man, and therefore man must speak ‘faith-filled words’ in order for God to be able to do anything on earth. This teaching is very wicked, blasphemous, proud, wrong on every level, and a form of witchcraft- spell-like speaking to affect changes and powers- demonic! I call this 3rd degree Arminianism, or Word-Of-Lying-Faith (WOLF). It puts faith in man and man’s words instead of in God and God’s Word, as if they were one-in-the-same, and they ARE NOT.
15) Humanism can appear in the form of “social-justice Christianity”, which is a form of political-Christianity, and not really Christianity at all.
16) Humanism focuses on the temporal earth, and the temporal human life, instead of the eternal, eternal God, eternity.
17) Humanism teaches skin-for-skin (see the book of Job)(‘God will do me good’), instead of “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him”.
18) When they teach that God wants to prosper you in physical things and money (Prosperity teaching), it is humanism, and appeals to listeners through the lust of the flesh. (God does take care of needs but not our lusts – those lusts are enmity against God and must die the death of the cross with Christ Jesus our Lord)
19) Putting man/self first. loving “others” more than loving God. Human sentiments and sentimentality, human affinities. humanistic affections towards things God has called evil or accursed (failure to come out and be separate says the Lord): False care, false love for others, false empathy, false friendship, quid-pro-quo. Human alliances not through/via Christ : Peter rebuked by Jesus; compromise with the world. proper friendship, in God/Christ – Jonathan model.
20) Not truly concerned about how God sees us or thinks about what we are doing, a great emphasis is placed on outward showings, face, “nice teeth”, how it looks to others, decoration, presentation, concerned for how others might see us (not to be confused with modern blasphemy).
