Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)
Where are you receiving the bulk of your spiritual teaching from? Is it from the Pastor of your church? Is it from a Sunday school teacher? Is it from your favorite television preacher? Is it from Bible commentaries? Is it from your seminary professors and college literature? Is it from religious traditions? Where is it exactly coming from?
You must be able to answer that question. I hope that you can answer that the bulk of your spiritual and biblical teaching comes directly from you spending time in the Word of God yourself and relying on the Holy Spirit to teach and guide you through the Word. Sadly, that is not the case for most people.
We live in a society that wants shortcuts. We want to pay someone else to do all the work and tell us what it all means. We want to delegate and not investigate. That my friend is dangerous!!!
It is fascinating to look at how one of the greatest writers and Apostles of all time (Paul) was taught the Word of God. Let’s look at what Paul said himself as he warned the Galatians about being misled:
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-8)
But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. For ye have heard of my conversation in times past in the Jews’ religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days. (Galatians 1:11-18)
The Apostle Paul was emphasizing the importance of spending personal time with Jesus and the Word. He didn’t have an Apple computer or a library full of commentaries but he had something much better. He had a personal relationship with the Lord. They actually talked to each other.
READ THE WORD!!!! READ THE WORD!!! READ THE WORD!!!
