How to Get Spiritually Fit - Part 11: Spiritual Nourishment

REVIEW
 
Getting spiritually fit … This is not something that you hear a lot about from the pulpits of churches today, but it is most definitely something we do well to give attention to. The reason being is because the real us is the part of us that resides in this physical body. And if this outward man needs to be in shape in order to get the most out of it, how much more do you think our inward man needs to be in shape to experience its best?
 
It's true! Our inward man is where the life is. So we must give it its due attention in order to live in the spirit, walk in the spirit, and run in the spirit. Amen? 
 
So most recently, we’ve been looking at some practical things that go into spiritual exercise –namely, the importance of hydration & rest, and also the importance of walking and taking care of the “kardia” – that is, the heart.   
 
Now as I said, this most recent part of our spiritual exercise that we looked at is one that might not be the go-to form of exercise for most people because most people’s focus is external. In other words, most exercise to improve their physique like strengthening their muscles or shedding some excess weight. But most forget how important it is that we also give attention to strengthening the most important muscle in our body – that is, our heart.
 
You see, like the world, oftentimes we as Christians are guilty of the same – We become too focused on the outward man, our physical bodies, and never spend any time focusing on our inward man, our spirits. But exercising the spiritual heart is so key to our spiritual health just as exercising our physical heart is key to our physical health.
 
So yes, just as the LORD said that He doesn’t look at the outward appearance, but rather focuses on the heart (See First Samuel 16:7), likewise we ought to do the same.
 
So we looked at a little at the importance of “cardio” exercise, but mainly to look at how important the “kardia” is for our spiritual well-being. We looked at various Scriptures that teach us the importance of the heart from how Jesus came to us teaching us so much about the condition of the heart to the second wisest man’s assessment of the heart in Proverbs 4:23 – “Keep your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.”
 
Notice again what Solomon says comes from the heart – He says out of it “spring” the “issues” of life! Now the words “spring” and “issues” give us a word picture that I believe is extremely helpful to understanding the importance of the heart …
 
This word “issues” was oftentimes used in the times of the Old Testament to describe the “outgoings, goings forth” of a body of water or you could say the “channels or streams” that come from that larger body of water. So then when you combine this definition with the word “spring” the picture is painted of water that flows up out of our heart like a fountain or spring. It’s what “issues” from the heart like a well spring. (i.e. the outflow)
 
But it is not water that Solomon says flows from our heart; He says that the “issues in our life” are what flow out of it. You see, many of the conditions of our life are directly tied to the condition of our heart. Let me say it this way since we are talking about a spring of water: The purity and satisfaction of our life is determined by the fountainhead of our heart! If our heart is corrupt and impure then our life will be corrupt and impure. In other words, the currents & channels that come from a large body of water are symbolic of the influence (i.e. currents) and direction (i.e. channels) of our heart. 
 
You see, in the Middle East – especially during the days of Solomon – fountains and wells were watched over with special care. Why? It was because if the source of their water was contaminated, then their supply of water was useless. There were not many sources of water in those days (No, they didn’t have Macon Water Authority back then), so they protected the ones that they had at all costs. It was vital for them to do that! Likewise, the part of us that all the issues of our life stem from must be protected at all costs, lest we allow the enemy to contaminate our life. Therefore, this is a vital issue for us as well!
 
But not only did we see the analogy of a wellspring being used in Proverbs 4:23, but we also saw the analogy of a garden being used …
 
Any of us who have ever had a garden understand fully well that it takes work to keep a productive garden. In many cases, if you do not spray it down with insecticides or put an electric fence around it, different kinds of critters will devour your harvest. Likewise, our hearts are like the garden, and we must keep it with all diligence.
 
We then looked at the phrase – “Keep your heart with all diligence”: The word “keep” literally means “to guard, watch, protect and preserve.” It describes keeping something in a safe, secret place, and then, guarding that place. So Solomon was saying that we are to keep our heart in a safe and secret place similar to how we would keep our wallet, checkbook, or jewelry in a safe & secret place.
 
In the world, an extremely valuable jewel is oftentimes placed in a high security vault with all kinds of motion detectors, cameras, etc. And they do this for a rock which only has temporal value! How much more, should we apply this same kind of diligent guarding to our heart, which has eternal value?
 
We noticed that Solomon went on to say that we are to guard our heart “with all diligence” and that the Hebrew word for “diligence” here describes “keeping or guarding; to keep in custody or to imprison” and is actually translated “ward” in most cases in the King James Version. So that’s right – It has the essentially the same meaning as the word “guard” at the beginning of this verse!
 
So what the first portion of this verse literally says is – “Guard your heart above everything else you guard!” In other words, the Holy Spirit through Solomon was saying that the most important thing you have to guard is your heart! Therefore, guarding & keeping our heart is more important than guarding & keeping our most valuable possessions!
 
Now most people obviously don’t think this way. Most value things like fame, friends, family, finances, etc. But I think the LORD knows what is truly valuable, amen? And here we see wisdom telling us that the heart of man is one of the most important things that we possess, and we should guard & keep it with the same diligence as we would the physical things that we value the most.  
 
Like we’ve said, just consider the physical heart in this. When it comes to physical fitness, most only esteem vain things like how we look and that’s their motivation for exercise. But exercising the heart through cardiovascular exercise is by far the most important thing we can work on – because next to our brain, the heart is the most important organ we possess. And the reason for this is the heart is responsible for the “issues” (the channels & streams) of blood that flows through the body (and the life is in the blood, right? See Leviticus 17:11).   
 
Church, I cannot fully convey to you just how important the condition of our heart is! Please do not miss the truth that your spiritual heart is just as important to your spiritual life as your physical heart muscle is to your natural life.
 
THE ROLE NUTRITION PLAYS
 
So, this week, I want us to move into one of the most important parts of getting fit both spiritually and physically – and that is the role that nutrition plays in it.
 
You see, in the world of physical fitness, many focus on the hours spent in the gym, the intensity of the workouts, or the types of exercises. But one crucial element often gets overlooked – and that is how we are fueling our bodies for those exercises.
 
But the fact is, our bodies require the right nutrients to function optimally and perform at their best. So whether we are training for a marathon or simply aiming to get stronger, fueling our bodies with the right nutrition can make all the difference in achieving our fitness goals. Therefore, by understanding the relationship between nutrition and fitness, we can maximize our performance, accelerate recovery, and stay energized throughout our physical journey.
 
But again, the same goes for our spiritual journey: As we’ve been learning, the spiritual oftentimes is mirrored by the way things work physically. So that means that just as there is a thing called physical fitness, there is a thing called spiritual fitness. Therefore, just like nutrition plays a vital role in our physical fitness, there is spiritual nutrition that also plays a role in our spiritual fitness. Amen!
 
So that’s what I want to start talking to you about today – what good, healthy spiritual nutrition is and how to actually become nourished by it. So let’s begin by answering the question – What is our healthy spiritual food?
 
Well, the answer to that question is found in none other than one of the verses of our golden text for this series – First Timothy 4:6, where the apostle Paul told Timothy to be “nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine.”
 
First of all, notice the word Paul used – “nourished.” The Greek word he used here is only used in this one place, and part of this word’s definition was used to describe “feeding, nurturing, or fattening” someone physically. But he added the word en to the beginning of it which carries more of the idea of “to nourish up in” something.
 
Now it’s important to note that the New American Standard & Amplified Bible more correctly translate this word “nourished” as “constantly nourished.” Which makes sense, because if we must be constantly nourished physically, we must also need to be constantly nourished spiritually as well. In other words, our spirits must be fed healthy spiritual food continuously so that we can be spiritually nourished just as this is necessary for being nourished physically.
 
So the question now is – What is this healthy spiritual food that we are to be nourished by? What did the apostle Paul tell Timothy here that he was to be “nourished” in? Well, Paul specifically said in this passage of Scripture that we are to be nourished “in the words of faith and of the good doctrine.”
 
How many of you know that these two things – the words of faith and the good doctrine – are clearly talking about God’s Word? Therefore, according to this verse, what feeds and nourishes us spiritually is the Word of God. 
 
Now we will come back to this verse shortly because those phrases need to be explained, but what I wanted to make sure we understand today is that our spiritual nourishment comes from the Scriptures.
 
You see, the Bible clearly teaches us that the Word of God itself is our healthy spiritual food! Yes, God’s Word is to our spirit what meat, milk, bread, and vegetables are to our physical bodies. This is why I like to call the Word of God the only real “soul food.”
 
This is why those so-called believers out there who want nothing to do with the Word of God are so off-base.
 
You see, there are those who only want their religious practices and others who are only interested in the “spiritual” things. They call themselves Christians but for various reasons, they don’t have any interest in the Bible. But what they might as well be saying is that they have no interest in eating, because that’s essentially what they are doing – ignoring their spiritual nutrition & nourishment.
 
Now we know that Christianity is not all about God’s Word – any more than life is all about eating. However, try to permanently take food away from someone and see what happens. You’ll have a fight on your hands! The same should be true for the child of God – We should esteem God’s Word like the spiritual food it is, and make sure we are feeding our spirits regularly with it. Amen?   
 
EXAMPLES OF GOD’S WORD BEING OUR SPIRITUAL FOOD
 
So, let’s look at some other verses that echo this truth that God’s Word is where we get our spiritual nutrition from:

• First Peter 2:2 says, “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby.”

 
You see, oftentimes we see God’s Word referred to as both “milk” and “meat” (Compare First Corinthians 3:2 & Hebrews 5:12-14) – “milk” for the spiritually immature and “meat” for the spiritually mature. But the main point I want you to see from these verses is specifically how the Word of God was being referred to – as natural things that we eat.
 
So if God’s Word is food for our spirit, why on earth would we ever neglect partaking of it? I mean, we would never do that physically, would we? The only time we go days or even weeks without food is when we are intentionally fasting or we are sick. But other than those times, we make sure we don’t do without. Amen?
 
So shouldn’t we do that spiritually? Shouldn’t we be sure that we are constantly being nourished by God’s Word? Well here, the apostle Peter shows us how we should feel about feeding ourselves spiritually – that we should crave it like a baby desires to be fed.
 
You see, God’s Word is something that we should “desire” from an early spiritual age. The word for “desire” literally means to cry out for & crave, like a baby cries out for and craves milk. And Peter makes sure to let us know that just as this physical nourishment is necessary for the growth of a newborn, this pure milk of His Word is necessary for us to grow up in our salvation. Amen?

• Job 23:12 says, “I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.”

 
Now Job didn’t necessarily call God’s Words “food” here, but he did make the comparison.
 
You see, in this verse, we see how Job compared treasuring God’s Word to his “necessary food,” or his allotted portion of food. So by Job comparing the commandment of the LORD’s lips and the words of His mouth to his portion of food, we can again see that God’s Word is even more “necessary” than any of our physical meals that we think we might need.
 
In fact, might we say that we need at least “three square meals” a day from God’s Word even more than we need our “three square meals” a day physically? Perhaps, but the fact is that if we “treasure” His Word, we will partake of it with at least the same diligence that we value our daily portions of food. Amen!

• Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.”

 
Here, the prophet Jeremiah describes finding God’s Words and then eating them – again, likening God’s Word to something that is consumed.
 
Now this isn’t the only time that we see this concept in God’s Word: In both Ezekiel 3:2 and Revelation 10:9-10, we see the LORD instructing these men of God to “eat the book.” In some cases, it produced a taste “as sweet as honey” and in others it had a “bitterness in the stomach.” So this is not an uncommon thing to see the LORD’s prophets “eating” His Words as opposed to “eating” their words.
 
And here we see that the Words that Jeremiah ate were to him, the joy and rejoicing of his heart. Church, this is exactly what we too will experience when we consume God’s Word. It will produce joy and a rejoicing in our hearts.
 
To me, this speaks of how God’s Word can have different effects on us like physical food does. You see, some foods are “sweet” and others are “salty.” Some are “bitter” and others are “spicy.” Here, we see that Jeremiah found the specific Words that he ate brought him joy. Might we say that he was eating something more sweet, like a “dessert”?
 
That’s beside the point, but what I want you to again see is that God’s Word is likened to food and the effects of eating certain foods.
 
One more, and this might be one of my favorite examples …

• Matthew 4:4 says, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

 
This is, of course, when Jesus was being tempted by the devil in the wilderness, and specifically when satan tried to get Him to turn the stones into bread to satisfy His hunger after fasting for 40 days. So Jesus responded with one of those “It is writtens” that declares that we are not to live by bread alone. In other words, eating physically is not all there is to living.
 
Now there is something to be said for whether we eat to live or we live to eat. Most people, unfortunately, fall under the latter category. We will learn more about this later on, but eating to live should obviously be our main motivation as food is fuel and not just something that we consume for gluttonous reasons.
 
But I want you to notice here that this is not all there is to living. Sure, we can eat healthier and benefit physically from it, but this truth teaches us that there is more to living than just eating good physically. As this Scripture Jesus was quoting went on to say, “… but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” What this is saying is that while eating physically is part of life, eating the words that proceed from God’s mouth are another part of living. Amen! In other words, we live by both eating physically and eating spiritually.
 
Didn’t Jesus say in John 6:63 that “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”? So His Words are where life is found. They are what the Spirit gives life through.
 
HOW GOD’S WORD NOURISHES US
 
So I hope that’s enough Scriptures to prove to you how God’s Word is the food that nourishes us up spiritually, and at the same time, stir you up to start feeding your spirit regularly.
 
But there is something that is really important to understand about how God’s Word nourishes us. It’s not just about reading or listening to the Bible; it’s about extracting the life that is found within it. That’s what nourishes us!
 
You see, when it comes to physical nutrition & nourishment, the world even teaches that it’s not just food that fuels our body, but it’s what’s in the food that fuels our body.
 
Science likes to classify these good things contained within food with two terms:

1. Macronutrients
2. Micronutrients

 
Now I understand that those might not be familiar terms to us, but these are just words that describe the two different classifications of things that are contained in our foods that nourish us. 
 
Now “macronutrients” are the main nutrients found in food. These are the things that maintain our body’s structure and keep it functioning. In fact, you typically need a large amount of macronutrients to keep your body working properly. Yes, these “macronutrients” give our bodies “energy” in the form of what we call “calories.” These macronutrients are typically measured in grams (g), and this can be a useful way to track what we are consuming.
 
So what exactly are macronutrients? Macronutrients include carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

1. Carbohydrates – As the main source of energy, carbs break down into glucose and aid digestion and fullness. Carbs include bread, rice, pasta, grains, fruits, starchy vegetables, beans, milk, yogurt, etc. They provide 4 calories per gram.
2. Fat – Fats are broken down into fatty acids and glycerol and provide fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. Foods like nuts, seeds, oils, butter, sour cream, mayo and cream cheese provide 9 calories per gram.
3. Protein – Protein helps build and repair muscle, tissues and organs, as well as aid in hormone regulation. Foods like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, cottage cheese, plain Greek yogurt and tofu provide 4 calories per gram.

 
Now these macronutrients — proteins, carbohydrates, and fats — are the building blocks of any well-rounded diet, and each macronutrient plays a pivotal role in supporting different aspects of fitness, from muscle growth to endurance.
 
Let’s look at these three macronutrients in a little more detail …
 
Protein is often regarded as the cornerstone of fitness nutrition. It is essential for muscle repair and growth, especially after intense workouts. So without adequate protein intake, our bodies may struggle to recover and build lean muscle mass. Whether you’re lifting weights or some other intense form of exercise, protein helps repair the tiny tears in muscle fibers caused by exercise.
 
Carbohydrates are our body’s preferred energy source during physical activity. When you exercise, your muscles rely on glycogen, which is stored carbohydrate energy. Consuming the right amount of carbohydrates ensures that your body has a steady energy supply to perform at peak levels.
 
Fats might seem like an unlikely ally in a fitness regimen, but they are crucial for long-term energy and hormone regulation. Healthy fats, such as those found in avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil, help maintain steady energy levels during longer workouts and support the production of essential hormones, including those responsible for muscle growth.
 
But these macronutrients are not the only kind of nutrients that are important. We also have “micronutrients,” which are considered the unsung heroes of fitness.
 
You see, while macronutrients take center stage in fitness nutrition, micronutrients are equally important because these micronutrients play a significant role in our energy levels, immune function, and muscle recovery.
 
Now “micronutrients” consist of the vitamins and minerals found in our foods. Just like macronutrients, micronutrients can be found in the foods that you and I eat every day, which are measured in either milligrams (mg) or micrograms (mcg).
 
The following are a few examples of micronutrients considered vitamins:

1. Vitamin B1 – Also known as thiamine, vitamin B1 aids in converting nutrients into energy. Foods include white rice, fortified breakfast cereals, and black beans.
2. Vitamin B2 – Also known as riboflavin, this vitamin is good for energy production, cell function and fat metabolism. Foods include instant oats, fat-free yogurt, and milk.
3. Vitamin B3 – Also known as niacin, vitamin B3 drives the production of energy from food. Foods include chicken breast, turkey breast, salmon, and tuna.
4. Vitamin B5 – Also called pantothenic acid, this vitamin helps with fatty acid synthesis. Foods include shitake mushrooms, sunflower seeds and avocados.
5. Vitamin B6 – Also called pyridoxine, vitamin B6 helps your body release sugar from stored carbohydrates for energy, and creates red blood cells. Foods include chickpeas, tuna, and potatoes.
6. Vitamin B7 – Also known as biotin, it aids the metabolism of fatty acids, amino acids and glucose. Biotin-rich foods include eggs, salmon, pork chops, and sweet potatoes.
7. Vitamin B9 – Also known as folate. Vitamin B9 is important for proper cell division. Foods include spinach, fortified breakfast cereals, white rice, and asparagus.
8. Vitamin B12 – Also called cobalamin, vitamin B12 helps with red blood cell formation and proper nervous system and brain function. Foods include beef liver, salmon, milk, and yogurt.
9. Vitamin C – Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is required for the creation of neurotransmitters and collagen. Foods include red peppers, oranges, grapefruits, and kiwis.

 
Now some minerals that are good examples of micronutrients include:

1. Calcium – This mineral helps build strong bones and teeth and helps with muscle function. Foods include yogurt, orange juice, cheese and milk.
2. Magnesium – Found in foods like pumpkin seeds, almonds and spinach, this mineral aids in the regulation of blood pressure.
3. Sodium – You need sodium for optimal fluid balance and to maintain your blood pressure.
4. Potassium – Potassium helps with muscle function and nerve transmission. You can find potassium in foods like apricots, lentils, prunes, and raisins.

 
Compared to macronutrients, our bodies need a smaller amount of micronutrients for optimal performance. Though micronutrients don’t provide energy, they’re essential for functions like digestion, hormone production, and brain function.
 
And while it can be beneficial to track your macronutrients, it can be hard to measure and gauge how many micronutrients you consume each day.
 
For example, vitamin D is essential for bone health and muscle function, while magnesium helps prevent muscle cramps and supports proper muscle contraction during exercise. Iron, on the other hand, helps transport oxygen to our muscles, preventing fatigue during physical exertion.
 
But my point is that proper nutrition is the cornerstone of a successful fitness journey. By fueling your body with the right combination of macronutrients, micronutrients, and hydration, you can optimize performance, enhance recovery, and ultimately achieve your fitness goals. The impact of a well-balanced diet on your physical abilities cannot be overstated, whether you’re focused on strength training, endurance sports, or overall health. Remember, the path to peak fitness begins in the kitchen—nourish your body, and it will reward you with improved performance and long-term health.
 
So this is how it works in our physical bodies, but how many of you know that it works the same in our spiritual bodies? Yes, just as there are proteins, fats, and carbohydrates; and vitamins and minerals that fuel our bodies, there are spiritual macronutrients and spiritual micronutrients that fuel our spiritual, inner man.
 
But like I’ve said a couple of times already throughout this series, most don’t even know they are a spirit and have an inward man much less know they have to feed it like they do their body/outward man. 
 
But it’s true! The real us – the hidden man of the heart – has to be nourished in the same way our physical body does.
 
You see, an important truth that we need to understand is that your inner man needs nourishment just as your outer man needs nourishment. In other words, your spirit has an appetite and needs to be fed constantly just like your body does. The reason this is so important to understand is because, just as in the natural, if you don’t eat every day, you will get weaker.
 
So here is the real lesson in all of this: It’s not the food itself that nourishes us, but what is contained in the food that truly nourishes us. So, we don’t want to just eat for the sake of eating, but we actually need to pay attention to what is in the foods we are eating so that we can get a proper balance of macronutrients & micronutrients to fuel our bodies properly.
 
Likewise, while the Scriptures are our spiritual food, it’s what’s in the Bible that truly nourishes us.
 
I make this point because a lot of Christians treat their Bibles this way. They think that just because they own a Bible, carry it to church, or even read it occasionally, that they are eating spiritually. Well, that wouldn’t be much different than someone making sure that their refrigerator & pantry stays full, but they don’t give much thought to what’s in that food that they are eating.
 
I know I’ve been guilty of this before – both in the natural and in the spiritual. For example, when it comes to physical food, I have lived the majority of my life both making sure I keep my belly full and ignoring what I fill it with. I have also had my times where I eat spiritually by reading or listening to the Scriptures, while not paying attention to what I’m feeding myself with.
 
But what I want you to understand today is that this Book we call the Bible, in and of itself, will not feed your spirit. It’s what’s contained within it that nourishes our inward man. Yes, it’s the Word of God contained within these pages. It’s the spirit and the life that are in these words. It’s the truth written therein that makes us free. Amen?
 
But I want us to now go back now to First Timothy 4:6 and see how Paul said that it nourishes us – for it is one thing to know that we need to eat spiritually, but it’s another thing to know how we do it.
 
Again, the apostle Paul told Timothy to be constantly nourished “in the words of faith and of the good doctrine.” These two things not only teach us what we are nourished in, but they show us how we partake of those spiritual nutrients.
 
Let’s look at what Paul mentioned first – “the words of faith.” Some incorrectly read this as referring to the subject of faith, like this topic alone is what nourishes us. But this phrase would be better translated “the words of the faith” because the original text implies that it’s a specific kind of faith that Paul was talking about.
 
You see, while “faith” might seem like we are talking about the subject of “faith” itself, “faith” also refers to the Christian faith altogether. This is what we call “the Christian faith.” And “the faith” can be summed up as “the belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel of the kingdom of God.” So what Paul was basically describing was being constantly nourished in the truth delivered to us in the Scriptures – namely, in the New Testament where the faith is fully revealed.  
 
The second thing that Paul said would nourish us is – “the good doctrine.” The word “good” describes something that is “right or correct,” and the word “doctrine” simply means “teaching.” So “good doctrine” literally means “right, correct, and good teaching.”
 
So according to Paul, there are two ways to get nourished through God’s Word:

1. It is through our own personal study of the written Word of God (primarily the New Testament) 
2. It is through the teaching of the Word of God that is good & right. 

 
So taking this back to the example of food, I compare this as the two ways that we eat physically – by what others prepare for us and by how we feed ourselves. And how many of you know that both are viable ways of getting fed?
 
But I believe the apostle Paul intentionally & correctly put the “words of the faith” first – because this is the first & primary way we should be getting fed, through our own personal reading, study, and meditation of God’s Word.
 
This should be rather obvious, right? While it is certainly understandable for a young child to depend on its parents to provide its nourishment, it would be considered a perverted thing if a child became an adult and still had to have its parents cook for it. Likewise, just as we should learn how to prepare meals for ourselves and not always depend on someone else to feed us, we need to learn how to feed ourselves spiritually.
 
While I’ve learned a lot from others, nothing compares to what I have received directly from the LORD through my personal reading, study, and meditation. This has certainly been what has “nourished” me the most – all of the truth that He has revealed to me. These are the things which I will never forget.  
 
But as important as our personal study is and what we get directly from Him, that doesn’t mean that what is served up for us through other anointed five-fold ministry gifts is not important. That’s where the “good doctrine” part comes into play.
 
You see, I’ve heard a lot in our circles that we don’t need anyone to teach us because we’ve all got the Holy Spirit. Well, while that technically is true, that doesn’t mean that we can’t benefit from some “good doctrine.”
 
Didn’t the LORD tell us that we are to be built up on the foundation of the apostles & prophets (See Ephesians 2:20)? Ephesians 4:12 goes on to say that these gifts to the Body of Christ are what equip us. Well, how do you suppose that they do that? Through their “good doctrine,” of course. 
 
Someone will say, “Pastor, doesn’t the Bible say that we don’t need anyone to teach, but that the Anointing will be our teacher?” (See First John 2:27). To which I would answer – You need to look that verse up and look at in context. That verse is not saying that it’s just you and the Holy Spirit now. It’s simply making the point that the Holy Spirit will teach you “concerning” everything you hear.
 
So no, the Holy Spirit isn’t there to replace good, anointed teachers & preachers. He’s there to bear witness to what you are hearing – showing you both when things are correct & right, and also when things are error. Amen?
 
Therefore, when it comes to being spiritually nourished, it’s important that what we are hearing is “good doctrine.” You see, we can hear teaching of the Word of God and not necessarily be nourished. The reasons can be similar to the reasons we aren’t nourished in the natural or physical,
 
Like, for instance, one reason can be how it is prepared. That is how preachers put together their messages. If it is not prepared well, it won’t taste too good. You see, some preachers need to learn how to cook! They might have all the right ingredients, but they haven’t necessarily learned how to put those things together. Another example could be what it is served with. If a preacher always puts a little condemnation in with the Word of God, then it won’t be too tasty, will it?
 
Then, on the other hand, some preachers only serve desserts. Second Timothy 4:3 says, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers.” The word for “sound” is the same Greek word that is translated “health” in Third John 2. These believers that Paul describes in Second Timothy 4:3 are like little kids who only want to eat the “sweets.” They only want to hear the preachers that will give them what they want to hear and what makes their flesh comfortable. I like to call these kinds of sermons “cotton candy sermons.” That’s because they seem great, they are colorful, and they will make people swing from the chandeliers from a temporary “sugar high,” but there is no substance or nourishment that came through those sermons. 
 
I have heard it said that it would be great if teaching tapes, Christian books, and even preachers themselves would have nutrition labels attached to them. Just think about it: What if there were these labels that said things like, “10 grams of faith, 60% hype, 2 grams of filler, 100% love, 2,000 milligrams of grace, etc.”? Although this is obviously not possible, there is one thing you can be assured of – The Word of God in itself has no added preservatives and no artificial additives!
 
But again, while we all need to listen to good doctrine, and God gave the Body of Christ these teachers for the purpose of nourishing us, they are not to be a substitute for our personal time in “the words of the faith.” We are not supposed to completely live off “vitamin supplements” and I can assure you all teaching tapes, Christian books, and preachers have at least a little bit of preservatives and artificial additives contained in them. The key is found in the word “balance” – add some good teaching together with your personal study time in God’s Word.                     
 
So remember, everyday try and make time to nourish your spirit through the Word of God. Take some time to get quiet, pull out your Bible and feed on some “Matthew” and then maybe have “Philippians” for dessert. This is how we become spiritually nourished.