Study to Show Yourself Approved (Part 3 of 3)
Spiritually discerned
While certain principles of scripture are clear and can be understood by all, spiritual understanding can only be revealed through the Holy Spirit. Why does the world mock at the Bible? Why is it so difficult for people to understand the basics of the Christian life? 1 Corinthians 2:13-16 gives us the answer:
13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. 16 For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
If someone gets nothing out of the Bible, this should be a warning that the Holy Spirit is missing from our lives. Another reason people do not get anything out of the Bible is because they never get quiet with God. If you cram your devotional time into your busy schedule and then rush through it so you can do your Christian duty and be off to the next task, you will get very little out of the Bible. If you only study through a devotional guide, you will get very little out of the Bible. You can’t have 10-12 words from a short passage and one or two pages of a devotional commentary and expect to understand the scriptures. If you go through a yearly devotional faithfully each day, you will know a lot about the beliefs and opinions of the author but you will know very little about the Bible. To know the scriptures you must read the scriptures. These two testimonies from scripture explain this principle well:
Psalm 119:97-105 97 Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. 101 I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. 102 I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. 103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Galatians 1:11-12 11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
If you are dependent on your teachers, you severely stunt your spiritual growth. I can give you glimpses into my spiritual life but words cannot teach what God reveals to those who seek Him. What God reveals to you cannot be put into words or taught. Your words can only guide but you cannot open the mind of another for understanding or enlighten someone to the truth that only comes from seeing God’s word come alive before your eyes. You can guide, but you can’t make someone see. You can inspire but you cannot enlighten another. The only way you can truly know the word is to seek, knock and ask with the faith to believe and an expectant heart that does not turn back. It is easy to get someone excited for a few days, but spiritual maturity comes to those who seek God and pursue Him with their whole heart without losing motivation.
To truly understand the word, you must read it in context. You must read a scripture in context to the passage immediately surrounding it. You must also fit the local context into the complete thought being communicated in the book of the Bible you are reading. Finally you must understand the book of the Bible you are reading in the context of the whole of scripture. It is VITAL that you read the scriptures with enough frequency so that when you are reading Revelation you still remember what you read in Matthew. Then you will say, “Aha, this goes along with what I read in Matthew”. I highly recommend reading it over, and over, and over without stopping. Twice a year at a minimum you should read the entire New Testament through three times in a single month. One novel is longer than the New Testament so it is not as big of a challenge as people assume. If each person would adopt this practice, it would virtually eliminate almost all heresy and false teachers within the church. Each person would immediately recognize error.
I like to read the New Testament through and Proverbs through at least once a month. Then I scatter books of the Old Testament in as I see fit. Reading through the Bible in a year sounds good, but if you really want to understand the whole of scripture, once a year will not be sufficient. This is why Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled”. Filled with what? The Spirit, understanding, knowledge, righteousness, wisdom and all the good things of God. If this is too daunting of a task, your priority is not the things of God. You have the God given right to pursue anything you desire but keep in mind that not only is there a day of accountability but there is also a day when we will see everything visible destroyed by God’s purging fire (See 2 Peter 3:10-11, 1 John 2:15-17).
Bill Gates is currently the world’s richest man. I am not sure of his current net worth but at one point he possessed over $60 Billion. This staggering amount of money is impressive but we should not forget that one day every single dollar he has ever possessed will be consumed into ashes and blow away with the wind. What value will that money have when we receive our reward at the judgment seat of Christ. All our works will be tried by fire and anything seen will burn up and pass away but everything we invest into God’s kingdom by faith and obedient love will be eternal. Our reward is based on what remains after our works are tried by fire (see 2 Corinthians 4:18 and 1 Corinthians 3:11-15). Many will suffer a complete loss and see no reward for their labors. How can we receive a full reward if we do not know the word? If our lives are so crowded that we cannot take time out to study and apply ourselves to what is truly important, we only show that we do not have understanding.
According to research on the site of California State University @ Northridge, the average American spends 4 hours each day watching TV. Television is the single most effective weapon against the Christian today. It is so easy to get into the lazy-mind syndrome and vegetate at the end of each day. I am a night person so I do much better at studying at night but many people are morning people. If you are a morning person, turn the TV off and get up earlier each morning to spend time with God. Put the TV into the right perspective by asking yourself, “What significance will this show have in my life in one year, one month, or one week?” Do you even remember what you watched last year? The value is almost non-existent. In fact, the TV does more to harm your spiritual lives and minds than it will ever do for good. It is your responsibility to make time for what you value in your life. If entertainment is what you value most, you will fall into the average American’s habit of watching TV 4 hours per day, 28 hours a week, 120 hours a month and 1,460 hours a year. The average chapter in the Bible can be read in three minutes. This means that if you completely cut out TV, you could read 29,200 chapters in the Bible a year. Since there are only 260 chapters in the Bible, you could theoretically read the Bible through 112 times or twice a week each year by giving it the same devotion most give to the Television set. Even so, most people claim that they simply do not have the time.
All Christians Have the Anointing
We have already looked at the passages that teach us that the scriptures are spiritually discerned and revealed by the Holy Spirit. In both the Old and New Testaments, men of God state that man did not teach them the deep things of God but that the greatest teaching comes from God Himself. You also have the same abilities that the Apostles had if you choose to seek it. Look at 1 John 2:26-29
26 These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. 27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. 28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.
I read a Word of Faith teacher who claimed that you can only grow in accordance with your leader. If he doesn’t grow, you don’t grow. The argument is that you receive what God has for you through the leader of your church. It is falsely taught that the anointing of God flows down from God to your ‘shepherd’ and out to the people. This is a lie from those who are trying to deceive you as John states in the scriptures. Look at 1 Corinthians 11:3
But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
The father is the spiritual head of the family and Christ alone is the head of the man – not a pastor or religious leader. When we look expectantly to Christ to teach us, we were grow even if those around us do not. A layman can outgrow a pastor if he is seeking God. If a pastor struggles or turns from the truth, this does not prevent us from continuing to seek God. King David stated that he grew far beyond the wisdom and understanding of his teachers because he trusted in the Lord and His word. The apostle Paul taught that he did not receive his teaching from any man but from Jesus Christ. If you read the New Testament you will see that Paul used the word of God (the Old Testament) to prove that Jesus was the Christ. The revelation came through the word. Now we see the same thing being taught by the Apostle John. Instead of saying, “We were with Jesus, you must learn from us”, the apostles taught that you don’t need man at all. Anyone who tries to make you man-dependent is a deceiver. If you put your trust in a man, you are under a curse. Look at Jeremiah 17:5-10
5 Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, And shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, In a salt land which is not inhabited. 7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. 9 " The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? 10 I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings.
If you want to walk in God’s blessing, place your trust and hope in the Lord. If you trust in a prophet, so-called apostle, preacher, teacher or any other man to give you enlightenment, you are not walking with God but are walking under the curse. God searches the hearts, reveals truth, opens our eyes and gives us understanding.
If you have received Jesus Christ and died to your sins, you have the Holy Spirit within you. If the Holy Spirit is within you, you have the anointing of God. You don’t need a teacher to understand the scriptures. You do not need commentaries, study notes or any other prepared material. You only need to read the word expectantly and listen for the Holy Spirit to speak to you through the word.
There is a place for teaching but it does not replace God’s teaching in your life. A teacher challenges you, provokes you to dig in, shares what has been revealed to him in the word and instructs you to seek. Look at 2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
And also look at 2 Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
A teacher first studies diligently so that he is able to rightly divide the word of truth and do the work of God faithfully. Then we are able to use the scriptures rightly to teach doctrine, reprove error, correct, and instruct in righteousness. This is the profit of studying. The ultimate goal of a teacher is to get others to a point in their life where they are able to study faithfully and then able to teach and disciple others to replicate true ministry. A teacher that tries to make you dependent is not a faithful teacher. Each believer is commissioned from Christ to make disciples. A disciple is someone who lays down their lives in this world, follows Jesus, seeks the things of God and then leads others down the same path that they themselves are traveling.
Everything in the Christian life is founded upon the Word of God. If you do not know the word, you cannot be a faithful disciple nor can you live a godly life. Look at Psalm 119:9-12
9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. 10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! 11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You! 12 Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes!
You hide the word by study. Memorization is also a great tool; however, I have found that it is more important to study the whole council of scripture. Many memorize passages and never grasp the context around the passage. If you have time to study and memorize, you do very well. If you only have time for one, it is better to commit yourself to reading and understanding the scriptures as a whole.
Let’s wrap up this study by looking at Jesus’ teaching on applying the word to your life. Knowing the word does not profit you unless you believe and then act upon your faith by applying it to your life. There are many who are very knowledgeable but lack understanding or genuine faith. Look at Matthew 7:21-27
21 " Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' 24 " Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
Take notice of the fact that many who do works are not considered doers of the word according to this passage. Many will call Jesus Lord and do good works and even wonders in His name, yet Jesus will reject them and call them lawless workers. The scribes, Pharisees, and lawyers in Jesus’ day knew the scriptures inside and out, but they missed truth and lacked understanding. Why? They lacked faith. Saving faith is active. If you believe, you will follow. You can say you believe but never surrender and it profits nothing. By faith, the word of God changes your life. When you respond and become doers of the word, you will be founded upon the rock of Jesus Christ. It is easy to obey when God’s ways agree with your own; however, those who have true faith will obey even when it requires a sacrifice. That sacrifice may begin with removing TV from your life. God will try you, shape you, refine you and chastise you to mold you into the image of Christ. Those who seek Christ will be satisfied with His goodness. Look again at Luke 14:33
"So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
We can forsake all because we see the glory of heaven and understand the claim God gave Abraham:
“I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward." (Genesis 15:1).
Is God your reward? We must forsake this world in order to reach for the calling of God. We must also know the word in order to understand the calling of God. God’s will for your life flows through the Bible; therefore, discipline your life so that you can be diligent in your studies to show yourself approved to God.
2 Chronicles 2:9a For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.
Psalm 119:9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
Study to show yourself approved.
Go to Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
Eddie Snipes
Exchanged Life Outreach
http://www.exchangedlife.com
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