#2428 0521 17P

            We must be knowledgeable about how God teaches, trains, and explains His truths to those who want Him to do that spiritual work in them.  It is God as the Potter; and we the clay; it is God the Teacher; and we the student.  This training program is ignored by many Christians in the world.  The average ministry thinks that outward religious observances and a stated belief in some doctrine, takes the place of God’s teaching and workmanship.

            Workmanship is defined as something produced by the skill of a craftsman.  Our Teacher is God Himself—He is primary; and every instrument He may use—is secondary.  God uses various types of instruments to teach His children. 

            God is our Headmaster—that is all-important, because if we are not trained by God Himself, we will not grow spiritually, and not bear spiritual fruit.  Matthew 3:10 “The axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”  Fifteen times in Revelation alone, the phrase “cast into” is used to describe the worst of all results of a life that ignores God and does not grow spiritually.  Revelation 20:15 “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”

            Many Christians are zealous in religious activities, and would say Jesus is their Lord and Master, but still not really know God nor trust Him in faith.  1 John 2:3-4 “By this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.  He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

            Jesus was in the home of Mary and Martha, and both would learn a spiritual lesson.  Mary took the position of a student to a teacher—while Martha busied herself with dinner preparations.  Luke 10:40 “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:”

            Mary chose a much more important thing than preparing dinner—she would learn at the feet of Jesus.  It was a valuable opportunity for anyone to have—listening and learning from the Lord Himself.  Mary wanted to hear what Jesus would say—and she would not be denied.  Jesus replies to Martha Luke 10:42 “But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

            We are to be taught by God and to learn spiritual Truth from Him.  Matthew 23:8 “Do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.”  We must not allow anyone to come between us and God as our instructor; nor allow anything to take the place of God as our Teacher.  Some may look up to a religious teacher or minister, but man is only an instrument whom God may use to teach spiritual truth.

            The principal of a school has teachers and assistants under him who impart knowledge to the students, but the principal ultimately controls what is taught.  Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

            We are to be scholars in His school by surrendering our life to His will; we are attached to the yoke or harness with Jesus.  It is the same attitude of student to teacher—they may learn many lessons; and some may be difficult, but the result will be learning something of value.  The spiritual lessons we learn from God, are far more important than any instruction on earth.

            God often uses people as an instrument—some considered the apostle Paul as their teacher and others wanted Apollos, so he explained that all human teachers are just that—human, and no one is to be exalted above another.  1 Corinthians 3:6 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.”

            Without God, nothing of spiritual value would result.  It is God who blesses us with spiritual knowledge and Truth.  The ink pen that a writer uses is never praised for a great speech.  It was the person who wrote the document—the pen is just an instrument.  7 “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.”

            The Bible warns about listening to religious messages.  Most churches are not giving such warnings today, and there are many not giving the full Truth of the Bible.  Some like to hear a variety of speakers, but the Bible warns us not to listen to anyone who has not been taught, trained, and used of God as an instrument—anyone who is not giving God’s full Truth.

            If God does not approve of a religious teacher, we are not to accept what they teach.  No matter how well it may sound, if it is not the clean-cut Gospel of God’s Truth, we are to reject it.  Anyone religious message must be giving “God’s whole truth.”  Acts 20:27 “For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.”

            Jesus told a parable Luke 8:5-7 “A sower went out to sow his seed.  And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it.  Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture.  And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.”

            8 “But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold.”  They heard the Word of God’s Truth, and they put it into practice.  After speaking about the one group 25% who bore fruit, He says Luke 8:18 “Therefore take heed how you hear,” or be careful who you listen to, “For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”

            Job listened to three friends who were not sent by God, so they left him in a worse state than before.  Job was more convinced than ever that he was right.  Elihu was taught and used of God to open Job’s spiritual vision to really see God as He is—but Elihu was just an instrument.

            Any religious speaker or religious book that does not give God’s divine Truth 100%, will prove to be a spiritual hindrance, and not a blessing.  1 Peter 2:1-2 “Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind.  Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.”

            Growing spiritually means accepting full Truth teaching on trusting God alone for daily finances; on meeting difficult things scripturally; and on divine healing by trusting only on the shed Blood of Christ as the merit and means of deliverance.  The pure Truth of the Word is missing from most religious messages.  We must be able to discern between truth and error.

            We can be enlightened by a message, but God must give the increase.  Man can only be an agent for God—spiritual benefit and perfection of faith will be what God does.  A church building is just a place to assemble, sing hymns of praise, fellowship with other believers, pray, and hear a message of truth that will instruct us to trust God alone for all things.

            John 4:24 “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”  We must never shut God out of our life, and His Truth must never be missing from a message.  With all too many doctrines, the Luke 10:42 “one thing that is needful,” has been omitted or lacking.

            God teaches us through trials, temptations, and tests.  Israel faced the Red Sea with enemy troops pursuing.  That was a most serious situation—no way around the obstacle in front, and no defense against a wicked enemy in back.  At that point, Israel did not really know God, and did not have any faith in Him.

            In one lesson, God taught them one important thing—the very thing that most have not learned.  It was that the most desperate human circumstance; the most serious imminent danger; and the worst approaching threat—when there is no way of escape, God could and would deliver them just as if the circumstances did not exist.  Matthew 19:26 “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

            Jehoshaphat was confronted with the same humanly-impossible situation; and he was just as frightened as Israel at the Red Sea.  He learned from that experience that Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”  The king called on God and asked advice; which taught him that God is always present when trouble is met, and if we will trust Him, He can turn our worst enemy into our best friend.

            God was training them—it was not the gold or garments; it was not the food, figs, or pomegranates that were the main aspect of the victory, but it was what no human eye could see; it was really knowing God and having a perfected faith in Him.  Psalm 46:2 “Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.” 

            These real and difficult circumstances, is where we learn real faith and trust on God—if we will meet them right, and trust Him in such times of grave danger.  God taught them that He was a present help; He had great strength, and He will teach anyone else who is willing.

            God is teaching every time we open the Bible.  We need to ask for His increase, and His spiritual light on what is read, so we will see something new.  If anyone is not giving God’s full Truth, we are not to listen to or accept their doctrine.  A minister must give all of God’s plans—spiritually, physically, financially, and concerning every other detail of life.

            With every circumstance that arises, there is a most valuable lesson for us to learn, because God, the Master Teacher, has His hand in it somewhere, and He will use it to give us the knowledge we need, and the ability to meet it right. 

            We must know God as He is, and have faith in Him that we should.  We are to receive the blessings from Him that Jesus died to give us.  This is the all-important thing—staying with God’s training course, and being prepared for eternal life.

            The important aspect is not our conversion; our sanctification, or even our healing—although they are all valuable enough—our one needful thing is that we are learning when God is teaching.  If we are willing to be trained—God will see that we graduate.