STRONGER SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT
by Tony Alamo
GOD uses parables and scale models in many places in the Bible so that people will understand the important things HE wants us to know.1 We are human, we are made out of dust,2 and we have hard heads, so GOD uses parables or scale models to get HIS message through to us, since there is no point in reading the WORD of GOD if we don’t understand what it means.
One example is HIS telling us that we need to use the milk of the WORD when we first become born again of the SPIRIT.3 This is because we are baby Christians and are unable to assimilate anything more. We are like blades of grass, corn, or wheat that first shoot up out of the earth. At this time, we are too young in the LORD to receive too much water, pesticides, or too much plant food. We take small feedings many times throughout the day so we can grow, just as a small human baby, born to its mother, eats small amounts many times a day. Small babies can’t eat adult food. After the baby becomes a toddler, it begins eating strained baby food, graduating up to that which has a little more roughage. If we try to give it beef steak, the baby will choke to death, because it is unable to chew it, assimilate it into its system, and digest it. However, once the child is full grown, it is able to eat beef steak. This is one of the examples that the Apostle Paul gives us.
In 1 Corinthians 3:2, the Apostle Paul states, “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.” This Paul told the carnal Corinthians because they were going back to their former lives of idolatry. Some preferred Paul, and others preferred Apollos, which are only men and not the LORD.
I now will give you some beef steak, whether you are able to receive it or not. The world is full of false and/or shallow messages, so here is something deep for you.
In Ezekiel chapter 4, the LORD commands the prophet Ezekiel to take a tile and make a scale model of Jerusalem so GOD could explain to Ezekiel how to tell the people from Jerusalem about the plagues HE would soon pour out on them. Read chapter 4 of Ezekiel and you will see what GOD means.
In 1 Corinthians 10:17, the Apostle Paul tells us, “For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.” Unless I explain this to you through the HOLY SPIRIT, you will not know what this means. Nor will you understand what the last supper means in 1 Corinthians, chapter 11 any more than the people of Israel could understand what the scale model of Jerusalem on the tile meant. If you read it, you will see that this is GOD showing the destruction that GOD was going to do to Jerusalem for their sins, using Ezekiel and the tile to make his meaning clear.
In chapter 11 of 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul shows us a scale model of what the bread or CHRIST’S body is. He states, “For I have received of the LORD that which also I delivered unto you, That the LORD JESUS the same night in which HE was betrayed took bread [Chapter 10 says we are the bread, we are one bread]: And when HE had given thanks, HE brake it [we have no communion with GOD unless HE breaks us], and said, Take, eat: this is MY body [we are HIS body], which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of ME” (1 Corinthians 11:23-24). This is what Holy Communion is—fellowship with GOD (communicating with GOD). HE tries us with fire, and as the Apostle Peter tells us, we who are the bread of life, members of CHRIST’S body, a scale model of the communion with CHRIST, who is the head of HIS body, HIS bread, “…think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of CHRIST’S sufferings [breaking like the breaking of bread]; that, when HIS glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached [broken] for the name of CHRIST [as we, CHRIST’S body, must be in order to be HIS body], happy are ye; for the SPIRIT of glory and of GOD resteth upon you: on their part HE is evil spoken of, but on your part HE is glorified” (1 Peter 4:12-14).
Holy Communion is not just a ritual. It is a scale model of that which we are to participate in, CHRIST’S sufferings as CHRIST’S body (which we are), in order for us to know CHRIST, HIS life, the cross, and HIS sufferings, as well as to know what the whole WORD of GOD means.4 HE said, This is MY body, which HE (JESUS) has broken for us. It is for our benefit that we are to be broken. In Psalms 34:18, it states: “The LORD is nigh [near] unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” Contrite means a soul that is sorrowful over former sins which have been repented. We as CHRIST’S body must be broken by HIM. HE is the one that breaks the bread, which is us, HIS body.5 How wonderful to be broken by the hand of GOD! Peter said, Think it not strange, the fiery trials, but think of it as being normal.
Again, JESUS said through the Apostle Paul, through the SPIRIT, “Take, eat [in other words, do what I have done, live MY life so you are able to be MY body]: [you are] MY body, which is broken for you [for your soul’s salvation]: this [keep doing] in remembrance of ME [remember always the kind of life that we have been called to live]. After the same manner also HE took the cup, when HE had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in MY blood [a scale model of how we must be faithful to the shedding of blood from us, HIS body, even to the death6]: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it [which is often, for we cannot forget our calling, to communicate by the SPIRIT, the life of CHRIST, which is our life].” JESUS said, “I am the resurrection, and the life” (John 11:25)]. We are to always remember that we, by the HOLY SPIRIT, must live the kind of life HE lived in HIS mortal body by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT.7 “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the LORD’S death till HE come” (1 Corinthians 11:24-26). The Apostle Paul says that he does just that. In 1 Corinthians 15:31, he said, “In CHRIST JESUS our LORD, I die daily.”
In 1 Corinthians 11:27, Paul says, “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the LORD, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the LORD.” Whosoever is not living by the SPIRIT, the life of CHRIST, cannot be HIS body or blood. They have fallen away from the SPIRIT of GOD.8 Living the life of CHRIST is a 24/7 situation. It is not going to church twice a week for an hour, then going to a restaurant for a chicken dinner afterwards. Those who do such things are not the body or blood of CHRIST, and they shall fall away, DIE.
We are currently living in the period of time of which JESUS spoke in Matthew 24:21. “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” As JESUS stated in the parable of the sower, when tribulation comes, many will be offended at being members of CHRIST’S body and shall fall away from being members of HIS body (Matthew 13:3-9, 18-30). They become offended at being broken for HIM, which in reality is being broken for themselves so that they may enjoy eternity in Heaven.
In Matthew 16:24, JESUS said to HIS disciples, “If any man will come after ME, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow ME.” Second Timothy 2:3 states: “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of JESUS CHRIST.”
Now CHRIST speaks to all of HIS churches, showing again that it is very possible to fall away from HIS body, HIS bread, HIS SPIRIT, HIS life, in these words: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of MY mouth [out of MY body, out of MY SPIRIT]. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked [You are not partaking in Holy Communion with ME, communicating with ME, and sharing in MY body and my blood. Your life is in the blood (Leviticus 17:11, 14)9]: I counsel thee to buy of ME gold tried in the fire [become part of the one bread, MY body, MY blood], that thou mayest be rich [eternally rich]; and white raiment [we must be sinless, pure, white as snow], that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve [study the Bible with all of your heart, soul, mind, and spirit], that thou mayest see” (Revelation 3:15-18).
There is so much to do, and so little time to do it! Our lives are like shadows, vapors, grass which appears in the morning and is cut down at night.10 Study the WORD of GOD, for it is your very life (2 Timothy 2:15). Those of you who have fallen away or become lukewarm, get ready soon to meet your Maker. Those of you who have not yet known CHRIST as your personal SAVIOR, begin knowing HIM now, and begin living HIS life. Start now by saying this prayer:
Prayer
My LORD and my GOD, have mercy upon my soul, a sinner. 1 I believe that JESUS CHRIST is the SON of the living GOD. 2 I believe that HE died on the cross and shed HIS precious blood for the forgiveness of all my former sins. 3 I believe that GOD raised JESUS from the dead by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT 4 and that HE sits on the right hand of GOD at this moment, hearing my confession of sin and this prayer. 5 I open up the door of my heart, and I invite YOU into my heart, LORD JESUS. 6 Wash all of my filthy sins away in the precious blood that YOU shed in my place on the cross at Calvary. 7 YOU will not turn me away, LORD JESUS; YOU will forgive my sins and save my soul. I know because YOUR WORD, the Bible, says so. 8 YOUR WORD says that YOU will turn no one away, and that includes me. 9 Therefore, I know that YOU have heard me, and I know that YOU have answered me, and I know that I am saved. 10 And I thank YOU, LORD JESUS, for saving my soul, and I will show my thankfulness by doing as YOU command and sin no more.11
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Stronger Spiritual Nourishment footnotes:
1. Ex. 12:13, Num. 21:5-9, Psa. 40:6-8, Jer. 25:15-29, 27:1-8, Ch. 28, 32:1-16, 51:60-64, Ezek. 4:1-13, Ch. 5, 12:3-11, 17-20, Ch. 24, 37:27-28, Hos. chaps. 1, 3, Matt. 12:39-40, John 1:29, 36, 3:11-15, 6:32-35, Rom. 4:3, 11, 1 Cor. 5:7, 10:1-11, Heb. 8:4-13, Ch. 9, 10:1-22, Rev. 10:8-11, 11:19return
3. Heb. 5:11-14, 1 Pet. 2:1-2 return
4. Luke 9:22-25, Rom. 6:1-14, 12:1-2, 2 Cor. 4:8-12, Gal. 2:20, 6:14-17, Phlp. 3:10-11, Col. 2:10-15, 3:1-3, 1 Pet. 2:24 return
5. 2 Sam. 7:14-15, 2 Chron. 7:13-14, Job 5:17, Psa. 51:16-17, 118:8, 119:67, 75, Prov. 3:11-12, Matt. 21:44, Luke 20:17-18, Heb. 12:5-11, Rev. 3:19 return
6. Rev. 2:10 Matt. 10:16-22, 24:8-13, Luke 9:23-24, Acts 14:19-22, Rom. 8:35-39, 1 Cor. 15:30-31, 2 Cor. 4:16-18, 11:23-30, 12:9-10, 2 Thes. 1:3-5, Heb. 10:32-29. 12:1-4, 26-29, Rev. 6:9-11, 7:13-17, 11:3-12, 20:4 return
7. Luke 12:11-12, John 15:1-11, 16:7-11, 17:21-23, 26, Rom. 8:1, 10, 1 Cor. 6:19-20, 2 Cor. 5:17-21, Gal. 2:20, 3:26-27, Phlp. 2:12-13, Col. 1:27-29, 1 John 3:6 return
8. Psa. 73:27, Ezek. 33:12-13, John 15:6, Col. 1:21-23, Heb. 10:26-31, 38-39, 2 Pet. 2:20-21, 1 John 3:6-10, 2 John 9, Rev. 2:4-5 return
9. Deut. 12:23, John 6:53-54 return
10. 2 Sam. 14:14, 1 Chron. 29:15, Job 7:1-3, 6-10, 8:9, 9:25-26, 10:18-21, 14:1-2, 17:1, 21:13, Psa. 22:29, 39:4-6, 11, 78:39, 89:47-48, 90:5-6, 9-10, 102:11, 103:14-16, 129:6, 144:3-4, 146:4, Eccl. 6:12, Isa. 2:22, 40:6-8, 24, 51:12, 64:6, James 1:10-11, 4:14, 1 Pet. 1:24-25 return
Prayer footnotes:
1. Psa. 51:5, Rom. 3:10-12, 23 return
2. Matt. 26:63-64, 27:54, Luke 1:30-33, John 9:35-37, Rom. 1:3-4 return
3. Acts 4:12, 20:28, Rom. 3:25, I John 1:7, Rev. 5:9 return
4. Psa. 16:9-10, Matt. 28:5-7, Mark 16:9, 12, 14, John 2:19, 21, 10:17-18, 11:25, Acts 2:24, 3:15, Rom. 8:11, I Cor. 15:3-7 return
5. Luke 22:69, Acts 2:25-36, Heb. 10:12-13 return
6. I Cor. 3:16, Rev. 3:20 return
7. Eph. 2:13-22, Heb. 9:22, 13:12, 20-21, I John 1:7, Rev. 1:5, 7:14 return
8. Matt. 26:28, Acts 2:21, 4:12, Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14 return
9. Matt. 21:22, John 6:35, 37-40, Rom. 10:13 return
10. Heb. 11:6 return
11. John 5:14, 8:11, Rom. 6:4, I Cor. 15:10, Rev. 7:14, 22:14 return