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Teaching &
Only a spiritual person can understand spiritual truth. 1 Corinthians 2:14-15 “The natural man [without the Spirit] does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know [understand] them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things.” If we have been taught and trained by God, we are able to make scriptural judgments, and will realize the terrible spiritual condition of the churches today. Jesus had reprimanded the religious teachers Matthew 15:3 about how they “break the command of God” regarding honoring parents for the sake of outward show, and adding 7-8 ”You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’” When his disciples said that the Pharisees “were offended” 12 Jesus said 14 "Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind.” Jesus was saying that if the religious leaders were offended, that is unfortunate, but He had given them His Father’s Truth. They not only refuse to accept it, but they hinder others from accepting it—“if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." Jesus had said 13 "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted.” Our only hope of heaven is to be taught and trained by God Himself, who wants to give us the true nourishment of the gospel so we can grow spiritually—that is the backbone of the Christian life. The only spiritual light we can and must have will come from God Himself. John 3:27, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.” God can use many things or people as instruments in teaching us spiritual truths. We should always be ready to learn when God sends a message of truth. Hebrews 3:7-8 “As the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.” The disciples were instruments of God to declare His Truth. Jesus said Luke 10:16 "He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me.” King Asa was insulted when Hanani the prophet told him that he made a serious mistake in seeking help from Ben-Hadad instead of from God 2 Chronicles 16. “Asa was angry with the seer because of this; he was so enraged that he put him in prison” 10. The prophet was an instrument of God to give a message of truth. When the king rejected the prophet, he was rejecting God’s Word. The king added sin to sin 10 ”At the same time Asa brutally oppressed some of the people.” Asa had previously been in the will of God during the earlier part of his life when he relied on the power of God, but when he sought human help he began to lose spiritual ground. The prophet said 2 Chronicles 16:8-9, “Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen? Yet when you relied on the LORD, he delivered them into your hand. For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing." It was a very foolish thing not to accept a message of truth from the prophet of God. After taking this rebellious attitude, the king was attacked physically 2 Chronicles 16:12 ”In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the LORD, but only from the physicians. Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his fathers.” He refused to correct his unscriptural attitude, so he received the results of sin, rather than the reward of repentance. God in His great love had sent the prophet to warn the king of the seriously wrong choice he made. The king could have repented and received eternal life—if he had continued to trust God instead of turning to man. He refused the message of God by the mouth of the prophet, and received the results of rebellion. God can use anyone or any method to give His truth to someone when He sees that their heart is willing to learn. It is always beneficial to meditate on God’s Word and spend much time in it—all the while asking God to give us an understanding mind and a believing heart. Human intellect cannot discern spiritual truth, but the Holy Spirit can lead us into all truth John 16:13. As we depend on God, the Holy Spirit teaches us—giving us a basis for learning and receiving the full truth of the Bible. We become righteous in the sight of God, when a believing faith is on the Son of God. Colossians 2:9-10 ”For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.” The apostle Peter was an instrument of God to give a message of truth to Cornelius. He only had to listen to a few minutes of teaching on the atonement. Cornelius said Acts 10:33 ”Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us." The apostle then told of 38 ”how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” Reading about the truth of God from the Word of God is first priority everyday. It took God forty years to teach Israel Deuteronomy 8:3 “that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” The most important instrument the Holy Spirit uses to teach spiritual truth is the Word. Jesus said to Jewish believers John 8:31-32, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." What a great gift from a loving God—a written word that tells us how to be delivered from sin, healed of oppression, and prepared to meet Jesus! It is something to thank God for every day. The Word of God is powerful enough to give every promise of God. Mark 11:22-24 "Have faith in God.” Jesus said. "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. ‘Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.’” We must be on scriptural ground if we want to be protected from the attacks of Satan. We must place ourselves under the protection of the cross. God’s Word is our defense against the devil’s attacks. The Holy Spirit enables us to use the Word as a weapon against the evil one, so we can stand victors on the battle field. Whoever is used as an instrument in the hands of God, we must be ready to learn and willing to listen. Ephesians 4:11-13 It was Jesus “who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” God bestows the gift of teaching so that others can learn the truth of the Word, but He is the supreme Teacher and Headmaster who uses men as instruments. What teaching we accept is of great importance, because we should listen only to those whom God has taught, trained, and sent. 2 John 1:10 ”If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching [doctrine], do not take him into your house or welcome him.” There are more false teachers today than ever. Every message must be tested by every Word of God. Isaiah 5:20 ”Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness.” Not many ministers today teach what Jesus taught about faith, trust, and salvation. Matthew 19:21 "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Not many are speaking about the faith of first century believers concerning finances and possessions. Acts 4:34-37 “from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet.” Joseph “sold a field he owned” and gave the money to the poor, because Matthew 6:21 “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Not many are teaching the truth of God’s healing power for those who believe in the atonement of Christ. Acts 3:16 ”By faith in the name of Jesus [faith being the condition], this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him.” Numerous times Jesus said “Your faith has healed you” Luke 8:48. Jesus warned Matthew 7:15 to "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” The average minister today gives nothing in the way of God’s truth. They take your money and give nothing in return. Very few teach their listeners to trust God for health, healing, protection, provisions, or to meet things right as Jesus taught. We can understand God’s truth only if He gives it to us John 3:27. Being taught and trained by God—leads directly to His kingdom. †††
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