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The success of the WORKMAN is to be found in the words of the Apostle Paul. The members of the body of Christ in Corinth gave evidence of a strong relationship with the Lord Jesus. They were as an open book, giving evidence to the working of the Spirit of the Lord in their hearts, in their spirit nature, where the Word sown had taken root and had prospered. 2 Cor. 3:3 The anointing of the Spirit and the effect of the Word produced a ministry which was effective. Paul and those who ministered with him were, able ministers, capable and made to be competent through the anointing of the Spirit in their lives. 2 Cor. 3:6.
The ministry of the WORKMAN is not always the most pleasant. There will be those times of instruction and even rebuke which must be administered with love and firmness. The Apostle would have given the complete understanding of this one called Melchisedec, but he found the people to be dull of hearing. Not necessarily physically, most certainly spiritually. Their attitude toward understanding the Word was, rather ho hum, nonchalant, not too concerned to know it’s message. Heb. 5:11 At a time in their spiritual experience where they should have been teachers, there was yet great necessity that they be taught. They failed to understand the ABC’s, the fundamental teachings of the Word. They were still on the bottle and had not yet been able to search the scriptures and to learn doctrine. Heb. 5:12.
They were considered to be ignorant of the Word of righteousness. Regardless of how long they had been saved, they were still babes. Spiritual growth does not come with time. It is achieved by seeking the Lord, being filled with the Spirit and by the study of the Word. These promote spiritual growth and will bring us to maturity in the Lord. The Apostle called it full age, a state of manhood. It is coming to the fullness of the measure of the man Christ Jesus. The grown, fully developed spiritual life is shown in Eph. 4:13 Strong meat, is to be able to comprehend and understand the Word of the Lord. Too often babes feed on frivolity and lightness which is found in some gospel circles, therefore remain babes, feeding on milk. Others, on being born of the Spirit have an immediate hunger for more of the Word. They dig into the Word. They search the Scriptures of Life and find that it exercises the spiritual being and understanding. They are not easily fooled.