And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). The peace of God will not only keep your mind but your heart, your soul. His supply of peace is stored in the soul of the born-again Christian. Carry the fruits of the Holy Spirit in your soul, and let the soul feed the mind peace, love, or anything of God needed.

There is no limit to the capacity of a soul. You can have God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost, all the greatness of Heaven within your soul. The soul came from the breath of God; it is like God Himself, eternal. The soul is so much like God that no one can find it, only what it contains. Sooner or later the contents of your soul rise to the surface and become obvious to others, but just as people cannot look upon the face of God, they cannot look on the soul as it is. Through the gift of discerning of spirits, God lets me look inside a soul to see what is there.

Those Carnal-Minded Corinthians

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 (I Corinthians 3:1-3)? Paul, writing to the church in Corinth, said he had fed them with milk. Why didn’t he feed them with meat? They were carnal-minded, too much a part of the world, not separated unto God. Great distress occurs when a church gives in to the mind of carnal nature.

The message the Lord gave the church at Corinth when it failed wasn’t necessary in the very beginning. But then the enemy got in; all kinds of sin, strife, disobedience and confusion appeared. They were embroiled in confusion over speaking in tongues, over the baptism in the Holy Spirit. Why? They wouldn’t receive the meat of the Word. Even the milk they digested was contaminated by the erroneous opinions of those who served it. Paul told the people at Corinth they walked as men, not as Jesus, not as saints of God.

Churches passing up the meat of the Word become involved in the same types of problems as the church of Corinth. Some churches have much division, strife, clamor, murmuring, grumbling, complaining. They lack the meat of the Word.

The meat of the Word gives great strength, God’s strength. What is contained in God’s strength? Love, faith, goodness, mercy, grace and all the greatness of God. Those who have not received the strength of God remain babes. If in that state they take in contaminated milk they become sick. Sick Christians abound today, fed the contaminated opinions of others. The pure meat of the Word is what brings the strength they must have.

God’s Paths Aren’t Meant to Be a Mystery

You must be separated from the world before you can receive the meat of the Word. Little babies thrive on milk, but if they are to grow, they need something stronger. So it is with Christians. Some, however, never mature, never go on to the meat of the Word. Like babies, they can’t think for themselves when it comes to the things of God. God’s paths are a mystery to them, and consequently they become entangled in much confusion. Living their adult lives as babes without the strength of the Word, they never grow in the Lord.

A baby doesn’t have knowledge of this life; it doesn’t know how to act in the valley of life’s problems, how to solve them. Christian babes are like that, too, baffled and frustrated by problems until they find the plain path laid out for them in the Word of God.

The Lord carefully looks after each new convert who comes into the Kingdom, seeing that that one receives the milk of the Word. But this is meant to last only a short period of time.

In the baby stage of salvation, the milk is sufficient because minds are filled with joy, peace, contentment. Excited over experiencing the Jesus life, the things of God, the new convert is caught up into heavenly places; all is beautiful. But then they must grow up, start walking into the deepness of God. The cry of each honest heart: Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path (Psalm 27:11).

God’s people are to mature into the stature of Jesus Christ so they will be strong, facing life without discouragement and weakness, overcomers through Jesus.

In this hour, the Bride will dine daily, saith the Lord, on the meat of the Word, not milk. In the meat lies her strength, her power, her greatness. Many fail to go to the Word for power and overcoming strength to solve problems. Because they are not eating the meat of the Word, only the milk, they fail to receive the strength they need.

Slow Learners

We have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye 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 (Hebrews 5:11,12). Without the meat of the Word you will be dull of hearing, dim of vision. The vitamins of the strength of the Word are necessary for good vision, hearing and the ability to follow the paths of the Lord. Unless you take the meat of the Word, you won’t even know where the paths of the Lord are. Many Christians can’t find their way because they won’t take the meat of the Word; they haven’t mastered the first principles of the oracles of God. The meat of the Word gives the strength of God, the eyesight and vision of God, the hearing to listen to what thus saith the Lord in the Holy Scriptures. You can have knowledge and wisdom from the Word of God, but without the meat, no. How much wisdom and knowledge does a baby have, anyway? Not much.

When you are mature in the Lord, you enter the prayer chamber blessing and being grateful to God, thanking Him for His marvelous grace.

A baby is limited in how much it can learn, and that’s the way it is with a babe in the Lord. But some Christians never mature because they are not teachable, never get anywhere with God. Their limited capacity for learning has come about because they refused the meat of the Word. Without the meat of the Word you will never learn about the greatness of God, never have the Jesus victory. It’s an impossibility.

Strength to Cry, Kick and Complain

Just as Paul told the Hebrews they ought to be teachers rather than needing to be taught, he could say the same thing today to many: be real witnesses for the Lord to others. So weak, some Christians depend on others to be their constant crutch. Living for the time they run into someone who will listen to their troubles, they never touch the meat of the Word.

A baby has strength enough to cry over trifles. So do a lot of Christians. Often they exercise their strength to cry, kick and complain. Mother gives her baby food stronger than milk so it will grow, develop and begin to walk. The Lord also seeks to nourish His children so they will grow. He doesn’t want to carry them when they are fully capable of walking, when they are so big their feet would drag on the ground.

Babies want a lot of attention; if they don’t get it, they whimper, cry, pout. They’re spoiled. Some Christian babies are spoiled, too. Babies must develop, grow out of wanting to be the center of attention, wanting someone to wait on them hand and foot.

Almost from day one, a baby learns that when it gives out a scream someone will come running. It screams to get service. Some people try to get God’s attention that way. Like a baby, they expect to be waited on themselves.

Have you ever tried to reason with a baby? Try telling it there is no need to cry. Explain why it should be sleeping. Mention, too, that you need your rest and would rather not be awakened in the middle of the night to carry it around. Reasoning with Christians whose spiritual diet consists only of milk is difficult, also. Weaning time can create a great fuss because there is no understanding why meat is better than milk.

A baby begs and cries for what it wants. Some Christians beg and cry to get their prayers through instead of asking God in faith believing. The Lord said, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened (Matthew 7:7,8). The Lord didn’t say to scream your lungs out and hope He would hear. Just beg, beg, beg and I’ll come—but first learn how to beg. No, Jesus didn’t say that at all. Jesus never told us to beg Him for anything. We’re to grow up in the Lord so we won’t beg. I’m not talking now about babes in Christ who really need the milk of the Word, those just beginning in their Christian walk. Many feel the cry of God in their hearts but have no idea how to respond. I’m talking about those who have been Christians for years yet have never grown up in the Lord, never accepted the meat of the Word. They’re always on milk and always weak.

Trust God with All Your Heart

The Bible says to trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5,6). That’s a promise. God will direct your paths when you trust Him with all your heart. He is not the author of confusion; He doesn’t give it to His children. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace (I Corinthians 14:33). The meat of the Word removes confusion when you yield to God in perfect trust.

After a baby has been fed milk long enough, it’s time for that one to walk. It needs the strength of solid food. We must have the solid food of the Word if we are to work for the Lord, walking the paths He wants us to walk. The Lord made paths that would take strength, His strength, paths that are beyond man and woman to walk on their own. Jesus came to bring that strength, that solid food of trust. It’s yours to dine on if you really want it.

Christians who refuse the meat of the Word, taking only the milk over and over, never really learn to walk. They haven’t the strength to stand. The overcoming power and greatness of God do not operate through them. Unhappy, bound with fear and despair, they collapse as the devil spins them around like tops, totally disorienting them. No wonder they can’t find their way! They won’t use the meat of the Word for the spiritual body, only meat for the physical body. The body needs more than milk—and so does the soul.

You can have the meat of the Word. The way God will lead and direct you then will amaze you, using you to help others.

The Right Foundation

After I received salvation, I started helping others immediately because as a child I had received much of the meat of the Word. Gathering the family around, my dad would get out the Bible and begin to read the Word of God to us. It was family prayer time. They served us the meat of the Word in holy living, the meat of the Word in righteousness, the meat of the Word in the holiness of God, the meat of the Word in regeneration, sanctification, the baptism in the Holy Ghost—the meat of the Word. My parents served us signs following believers, the promises of God. Although we didn’t use all we were served, it was put into us in such a way that we had much to draw from. I can’t remember ever not being able to separate sin from the righteousness of God. From the cradle up we were taught the difference.

Many Christians today have no foundation on which to build because they either weren’t taught the Bible when they were children, or else they learned it the wrong way and now won’t accept the meat of the Word. They think they must have a crutch all the way to Glory. I’m not talking about those who from time-to-time need extra help. Anyone who drives a car can at sometime or other have a flat. If, however, they have a flat every day, something is basically wrong. Pastors are accustomed to fixing “flats,” but when a person starts having an unreasonable amount of spiritual problems, it’s time to reach for the meat of the Word.

Enoch was raptured because he dined on the meat of the Word. The Lord came down and served him personally—meat. Jesus came down to serve us personally. The Holy Ghost lives in you who are saved and baptized in Him. Jesus didn’t come to serve us milk every day, but meat. We’re in the final hour; the Lord told me that His people must have the meat of the Word to do what He wants them to do, to have His understanding, His knowledge, His greatness. To please Him, they must have the meat of the Word, I say again. Get rid of the bottle; stand up with the adults and be counted.

The Bread of Heaven

Thomas, following Jesus for over three years, had not gone on to the meat of the Word; if he had, he would not have doubted. So many times we doubt, fail God because we don’t have the meat, the strength of God’s promises working on the inside. We don’t realize the power of the meat from Heaven. Jesus said, I am the living bread which came down from heaven (John 6:51).

Heaven holds much food; the supply is unlimited, but we must eat it. Looking at food will never give a baby strength. That food must be eaten. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). The Word is the spiritual strength, the life of the child of God.

Vision of This Endtime

In my name, Jesus said, shall they cast out devils (Mark 16:17). In the name of Jesus it will be done; but it can’t be done without the meat, the power and the greatness of the Word. Just as the baby has no knowledge, no vision of the future, no concern for lost souls, so it is with many babes in Christ. They have no burden for the lost at all, no vision. They don’t see what is coming upon the earth nor feel the need of evangelizing the world.

Those living on the meat of the Word have vision of this final hour. Anyone feeding their spiritual being on the meat of the Word today knows that we are the Rapture generation. They know that our generation is the one that will be on Earth when Jesus comes, that the nations are getting ready for the Battle of Armageddon. They know because they have the meat of the Word to give them God’s vision, God’s hearing, the go ye into all the world to preach the Gospel.

Sin Shall Not Have Dominion

For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil (Hebrews 5:13,14). If you use only the milk of the Word, the Bible says you are unskillful in the word of righteousness, babes without understanding. Those who stay on the milk of the Word of God don’t understand the holiness and purity of Him or how He operates. They don’t know how to explain the Word, much less how to use it. That’s the reason some people claim they cannot live free from sin. They don’t have the meat of the Word.

The meat of the Word declares he that committeth sin is of the devil (I John 3:8). When you are born new, sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:14). The meat of the Word declares, sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee (John 5:14). You have that power through His righteousness to sin no more.

By the meat of the Word you are able to discern that which is good and that which is evil. You can separate them. No one can convince you that you can’t live free from sin, for the Word tells you otherwise. You recognize sin for what it is. You recognize righteousness. Babes do not. They are on dangerous ground.

Grow Up in the Lord

Many come to the Lord without the knowledge of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. They need teaching; they need help. Even the honest-hearted can be confused if there has been no opportunity to have knowledge. We are here to help those people, to help them grow in the Lord. No one is to continue in the milk stage year after year.

The baby is without understanding; Mom and Dad have to make all the infant’s decisions for it. They decide when to feed it, when to bathe it, when to change its clothes, when to put it into bed. However, they don’t expect to do that forever. The Lord gives great care to babes in Christ, but He intends for them to grow up.

Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby (I Peter 2:1,2). Notice, this verse says “newborn babes.” As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word and you will grow. However, if you have no desire for the sincere milk, you will never grow, never get into the meat of the Word.

If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious (I Peter 2:3). The meat of the Word is wonderful, indeed. Study what it means to be a newborn babe in Christ, to go on to grow into the meat of the Word. How long can you safely exist on just the milk of the Word? How soon will you be in danger of the enemy defeating and overcoming you? If he can’t overcome you completely he will try to cripple your mind so it won’t function in agreement with the Lord. You can’t think right, can’t pull your thoughts together. It’s time to grow up.

Of course you can seek help when you really need it, I say again. But let that help take hold through the meat of the Word. Don’t use others as crutches when you can walk alone with the Lord. God doesn’t expect you to be always in a fog, a state of confusion, always weak in the Lord. It can’t be. You never will get to Rapture ground, saith the Lord; you’ll never get there. Rise up and decide that the milk of the Word was fine for you when you were a newborn babe, but now it’s time to grow up and start eating meat. Look around for those who have just come into the Kingdom. They are the ones who require the most attention; show them God’s love and faith.

The Lord needs you. He wants you to help others around you. If you want the same help over and over, you are not growing. You are to get help when you need it, but don’t be a baby about it all the days of your life. Put that help to use. Growing up is the plan of God, living on the meat of the Word.

Like a baby unable to keep its milk, some won’t keep the Word. Something is wrong with their spiritual system. If you have a baby who can’t keep the milk it drinks, you do everything you can to remedy the situation so that baby will grow. Night and day you look after that baby, take it to various specialists. The Lord spends much time with babes in Christ, trying to help them grow up. Grow up we must in this final hour, if we’re going to make it, saith the Lord. You will have to grow up if you are going to do battle for God in this final hour. You need the strength, the power of Heaven to trample devils underfoot. To wear the shoes of Jesus, you must have that strong meat from Heaven that He brought down.

Jesus had trouble with His disciples: They had plenty of milk but not enough meat to provide them with strength to handle the Crucifixion and to expect the Resurrection. Only after Jesus ascended back to Heaven did they really go after the meat.

Strong meat belongs to them that are of full age. A child of God is meant to come to full age in the Lord. Have you come to full age, have you matured or are you still just a babe always getting your feelings hurt, always crying or pouting about something? Paul said, When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things (I Corinthians 13:11). Have you become an adult in the Lord? Have you put away those things that hinder? Strong meat belongs to those who are of full age.

Special Care

When a person comes to the Lord with little knowledge of Him, he needs special care from those who have gone into the meat of the Word. Day and night he needs the milk of the Word until he can begin to digest the meat. He needs strength in the Lord because the devil will be coming after him to defeat him. Everyone mature in the Lord should be helpful to new converts coming to Jesus.

My mother, who had gone to the aid of so many people, said, “I never helped anyone out of the valley but what I came out myself.” Often I have thought about that statement; it has meant much to me in my ministry. “I’ve been sick,” my mother said, “when someone wanted me to pray for them. In praying Heaven down on them and helping them out of the valley of sickness, I came out and had my healing, too.” In her discouraging moments, people came knocking, saying, “Mrs. Angley, I need help.” She always asked them in. It was prayer meeting time. I never saw my mother fail to be lit up, her face shining like an angel’s with the glory of God after she prayed for those who came to her. She had helped another soul out of the valley. You think a housewife can’t do much for the Lord? Mom had a testimony for the insurance man who came to collect each week. I’d hear her telling him about Jesus, how wonderful it was to serve the Lord. The grocery man would stop by; Mom talked to him about Jesus. Anyone that came to the house met a true witness for the Lord. She had something wonderful to say about Jesus, and then she would send them on their way.

I remember in the days of the Great Depression when we had hardly anything at all. An old man knocked on the door. He was hungry. His feet were in a terrible condition; he didn’t have proper socks. Mom fed him, gave him a pair of Pop’s socks—and poor Pop needed his socks, but this man needed them more. Mama handed him a little money out of her meager supply—it may have been the last she had in the house. But he needed help. Where would he go? Take this. Mom passed up her children—God would make a way for us. She passed up herself—God would make a way for her somehow. God would bring in money for the necessities, but here was someone who needed help desperately. She prayed over him and sent him on his way. I never saw him again, but I may meet him up in Heaven one day.

It’s wonderful to have the meat of the Word, to be strong enough to help those struggling in the Lord! My parents dined on the meat of the Word; they both loved it. Strong meat belongs to them of full age.

A Reluctant Baby Sitter

There were seven children in our home. Every time a new one came, the baby had to have the most attention. The other children were expected to help take care of the littlest one even though we didn’t always want to. My baby brother, now one of the partners in my ministry, was a cute one; but I thought we had been blessed with enough babies in our home. Now I was a reluctant baby sitter; I wanted to be out running across the plowed ground in my bare feet, chasing rabbits, throwing rocks at the wasp nests; but my job was to swing the baby to sleep on the front porch. He needed care. I just didn’t feel the need to give it.

That’s the way some Christians are: they don’t feel the need of caring for the newborn babes in Christ. They want the attention. Someone helped them get where they are, and now they aren’t willing to do the same for others.

My two oldest sisters had taken care of me when I was little, but I didn’t want to take care of my baby brother. I thought people should just appreciate my presence and not expect anything from me. Some Christians have no time to listen to problems, no time to teach the babes. Here’s the Bible, take it and get what you can out of it, is their philosophy. Those feelings can be overpowering.

My little brother wasn’t in any hurry to fall asleep, and I didn’t have patience to wait for him. He stayed awake as long as he could. When Mama wasn’t looking, I would gently try to close his eyelids. I thought it would help him fall asleep faster.

Sometimes the Christian doesn’t have patience with newborn children of God. Be mindful; make sure everything you serve is the pure Word with nothing else mixed in that would hurt the babes in any way, upset their systems. Be very careful to give them the pure milk of the Word with all patience, love, understanding and wisdom. Then you can begin to feed them a little meat. They will begin to grow. After a while, they will be on their own.

Before long, my little brother was on his own. I didn’t have to swing him any more. Mom and Dad saw that he got plenty of milk and then made sure he had meat to make him grow. I was overjoyed to see him walking, being able to run and play; I was delighted to no longer hear my mother’s voice saying, “Come, put the baby to sleep.” It was an ordeal for me, but to many it’s a joy.

Take the Love, Patience and Greatness of the Word

Love does many wonderful things for babies, and love does many wonderful things for the babes in Christ. Just as you grandmothers and grandfathers take such loving care of your grandchildren, the mature Christian takes loving care of the babes in Christ. Never telling them anything that will discourage, they give love. When you meet someone who has been saved a long time but is still living without the meat of the Word, be patient to help him. Perhaps he doesn’t know about the baptism in the Holy Ghost or the gifts in the Spirit. Show great care, great patience in teaching him the meat.

I love to teach people who do not know the deepness of God. I love to work with people who have never had anything but the milk of the Word. I delight in telling them about the real Holy Ghost, teaching them the manifestations of the Spirit and how God works, how to serve God, how to walk with Him.

The meat and the milk of the Word: decide not to stay on the milk, but go on to the meat of the Word. Take it all. The Bride will take all of the strength of the Word in this final hour. All of the greatness of the Word will be hers, her meat, her strength and power, and she will be victorious, saith the Lord.

The Sinners’ Prayer

You who are unsaved, give your heart to God, and become a newborn babe in Christ today. It will be the greatest day of your entire life. Pray the sinners’ prayer with me now: Oh, God, save my soul. Forgive me of my sins. I’m so sorry I sinned against you. I’m going to serve you, Lord. I confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He died for me. I will live for Him. I believe the blood of Jesus washes away all of my sins, all of them. Come on in, Jesus! Come on in!

If you can say Hallelujah! and mean it, you have found the Lord today. Start praying, living in the Word, a newborn babe in Christ. You’ll find the milk of the Word is wonderful. In a little while you will be taking some of the meat and then more and more as you continue to reach for Him in prayers, fasting and living in the Word of God. Go on to receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, on into the way of the Lord. Walk as Jesus walked; live as He lived here on planet Earth.

The Prayer of Faith Shall Save the Sick

You who are sick and afflicted, believe the Word that says, The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up (James 5:15). Divine healing is the meat of the Word. I am not the healer; I am a believer in His healing.

The healing power is flowing into your body if you accept it. Carry that healing power with you; let it get you well. It will, you know. It got me well. The Lord loves you just as much as He loved me that night He came and made me whole all over.

Take not only the milk, but reach out for the meat of the Word now. Really dine, oh, Child of God, on the meat of the Word, and be strong, strong like the Master, Jesus. Do His wonderful work in this last hour.

A Message from the Holy Ghost

Yea, saith the Spirit of God: I am moving for you. I am feeding you my greatness. I am feeding you that which you must have in this your final walk with me. I am giving you Heaven’s strength to win all the battles for me that I have willed you to win. I am giving you the courage of Heaven so that your hearts will not faint within you. I am feeding you my greatness [so] that you will go in the power of my Spirit, and you will defeat the powers of the enemy for the multitudes, and you will rescue the lost. You will bring them into my Kingdom because you will have my love and my faith and my compassion.

I am serving you everything that you need. There will be no lack. You will have abundance, and you will deliver my message of greatness to others. You will show my love to others, and you will serve my kindness, my gentleness to others. You will give others a desire to come out of sin into my righteousness, a desire to live and abide in my holiness.

I will give you great, great vision. You will see that which you could never see before, and you will know my Spirit like you have never known it before. Yes, you will know the mind of the Spirit daily, and you will walk in my greatness. Multitudes and multitudes will be turned to righteousness because of your faithfulness, saith the Lord.