But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. (Hebrews 5:14)

In my student days at Scott Christian College in India, education in sciences such as Physics and Chemistry was provided by two categories of instructors.

Classroom instructors were known as lecturers. Laboratory instructors were called demonstrators.

We learned the theory in class from the lecturers, then verified it through experiments in the lab.

The final mark was determined by our performance in written exams based on theory as well as experiments in the lab, known as “practicals.”

Needless to say we needed to do well in both to successfully complete the course.

During his earthly ministry, we are told that Jesus went about “teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” (Matthew 4:23, 9:35)

He taught and preached the good news of the Kingdom. Then he demonstrated the Kingdom.

He was the lecturer and the demonstrator all rolled into one.

The disciples who hung around him listened intently as he taught and watched closely as he demonstrated.

No wonder then that right after he calls them to follow him, he sends them out on a mission to preach saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ And then “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.” (Matthew 10:7-8)

They are not at all fazed by this commission. It was the most natural thing to do. After all, this is the model that Jesus set for them.

Interesting how, over the centuries since then, most Christians have made Sunday worship the norm for giving expression to their faith.

Sadly, many do nothing beyond attending a worship service. “I got my tank filled, my batteries recharged, the thought that will guide me all week…” You get the idea?

Unfortunately, many of the same faithful churchgoers end up making terrible decisions and poor choices in life that land them in trouble.

Because, you see, the classroom, by itself, is not sufficient.

Yes, the lecture is important, but the course is incomplete without the lab.

The writer of Hebrews makes a distinction between “baby” Christians and “mature” Christians in chapter 5.

The baby Christians and the mature Christians have access to the same lecture/teaching.

The mature train their powers of discernment by “constant practice”.

In an earlier DWOD, we saw that David’s victories (outlined in 2 Samuel 5:17-25) were a direct result of his ability to hear God’s voice and act upon what he heard.

The mature have trained themselves to hear God’s voice by constant practice in the lab.

How about you? How would you classify yourself? As a mature Christian? Or a baby/infant in the Lord?

If you simply settle for head knowledge, the lecture component, you will not successfully complete the course, because you will still be classified as a baby or infant.

However, when you can find a safe environment (small group, equipping session, seminar, etc.) where you can get your laboratory education as well, now you set yourself up to jump up to the “mature” level.

Sometimes those engaged in prophetic ministry such as Darren and I are contacted by those who want us to lay hands and impart our gift to them.

While it is an honour to be asked, we always make sure that they are aware that we grew in our gifting “by constant practice’’—serving on ministry teams, hearing the Lord for our friends and family and delivering prophetic words to literally thousands of people in person, by e-mail and on websites.

Of course, we devoured books, tapes and mp3’s on the prophetic as well (and still do).

Because we need both the Lecture and the Lab, amen?