Transcription
So, I have, uh, been eager to start this, uh, subject with you. Uh, we've finished off, um, I think we finished off—I will double-check—eternal life, and I know we have finished off, um, identity. Um, and I don't know what to call this next subject just yet, um, so I'm just going to get it going, and um, you can leave the title off for now. By the end of the first, uh, couple of lessons, or the first lesson specifically, I'm sure we'll have an answer.
But basically, what we, um, are going to be looking at is the feasts, uh, in terms of types and shadows. So we're looking at the feasts in terms of types and shadows, and more specifically, we're going to, going to be looking at the communion table. Okay. And I want to encourage you, as we go through this, to write down any questions that you might have. Um, and after a couple of lessons, if they're not answered, we'll answer them. Uh, but you know, as we go, usually, uh, it will raise some questions, and then by the time we get, um, you're into it quite thickly, you'll start to understand some of the things that I'm sharing, and only then, I think it's a good idea to start asking questions because we need to lay a strong foundation.
But I really want to encourage you, um, to look at the things that I'm going to be teaching you, study them out. What I'm, what I'm talking about more specifically is also how to study the Bible, and I try and bring that across in every, um, uh, subject that I teach, to a degree. So we're going to start off with that because you cannot really, um, conclude some of the things I'm going to say without understanding the, the foundation of how we get there. Okay, so we need to, like any, with any subject, we need to diligently and carefully study the word. Okay.
Um, and so any Bible teacher, even students like yourselves, need to be patient and, um, uh, endure teaching in terms of the weight of it. I think we need to mature to the place where we don't expect four verses and a poem, um, to try and understand deep spiritual truths. We need to be able to dig in deep and wade through numerous verses. You know, many scriptures is good for your health, and yet a lot of us don't want a lot; we want, we want Grace light, not Grace life. Um, we had someone I was joking with them; they said their daughter doesn't want to come to Grace life because they're looking for a 20-minute message, and they laughed and they said, "Well, this is Grace life, not Grace light." Um, and so, you know, it's, it's important. Like I never knew anybody who, um, um, uh, was mature in the things of God and, um, uh, was experiencing great fruitfulness in their walk with God, um, who didn't go deep in the word. So it's, it's essential; it's essential.
So let's start off in Second Timothy, ch. 2:15, and we're going to spend some time in Timothy, um, so keep your finger there. But 2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of Truth." Okay. So the word study implies being zealous, okay, diligent. It means to give and, and to make an intense effort. A lot of the time when I've had people counter me in what I teach, um, and disagree with me, um, if I ask a few questions and make a few statements, usually, uh, I realize very quickly that they are not very diligent with their study. They're quick to study what other people say about this and that and, and quote other Bible teachers, but they're not very thorough in their own Bible study. You know, we need to be diligent and make an intense effort to know what we're talking about, to know what we believe and why we believe. Okay. The, the word study is translated from the word diligence or diligent, and, uh, it's used in different verses. Uh, 2 Timothy chapter 4:9, it's used and it says, "Do thy diligence to come to me shortly." So this is just to give you an understanding of how the word study is used in other verses, study to show you that it's, it's, it's talking about a lot of intensity; it's talking about a lot of, um, effort and action. That's why Paul uses the same word to describe, "Be diligent to come to me quickly." You know, um, 2 Timothy 4:21 says, "Do thy diligence to come before winter." You know, that's a, the same kind of intensity given, like there, there's a, there's an intensity about following that request. And Titus 3:12 it says, "When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me." So, yeah, again, he, he, he's talking about a, um, a, an intense effort to do something. So when he says, "Study to show thyself approved," he, he's, he's saying, "Make an intense effort with your, with your Bible study." Yeah. Paul's instructing Timothy, um, and he's saying to be diligent to study.
Okay. Now what's the context of this? 2 Timothy chap. 2:14 says, "Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit but to the subverting of the hearers." So now Paul is instructing Timothy, the pastor of the church at Ephesus, of his duty in how to deal with wrong Doctrine. Okay, and he's saying, "You need to teach in order to prevent," and let's actually just look this up quickly. 2 Timothy chapter 2:14. I must be, uh, uh, not too much in a rush, but happy to look up different translations. Second Timothy chapter 2, verse 14, New Living Translation, let's check that out. Verse 14: "Remind everyone about these things and command them in God's presence to stop arguing over words; such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them." And then the next verse: "Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. There's some work needed there. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and correctly explains the word of Truth." Okay. If we look at the Amplified Classic, verse 14: "Remind the people of these facts and solemnly charge them in the presence of the Lord to avoid petty controversy over words, which does not, which does no good but upsets and undermines the faith of the hearers." Now that, what that kind of like implies is that when we're teaching, we don't undermine faith; we always need to be building faith. Okay. Verse 15 in the Amplified Classic says, "Study and be eager to do your utmost to present yourself to God approved, tested, to as tested by trial, a workman that has no cause to be ashamed correctly analyzing and accurately dividing, rightly handling and skillfully teaching the word of Truth." So this is showing an intensity in commitment to, um, scrutinizing the word, digging in deep. Okay. And, um, if you look at 216, um, the next verse there, but avoid all empty, vain, useless, idle talk, for it to lead people, people into more and more ungodliness. I want to see that in the New Living. Verse 16 says, "Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior." I like the next verse. This kind of talk spreads like cancer, and he goes on, and there's more that we can look at there, and we'll get there. But the point is, is this: He's, he's showing the pastor, "This is what you need to do in the midst of wrong teaching or wrong Doctrine." Remember when he says Doctrine, it's referring to teaching. Okay. Um, and he's, he's saying, you know, to shun profane and vain babbling; in other words, um, be diligent and, uh, make an intense effort to shun the, the, the, the godless chatter, to stop it. Okay. So now let's look at, to study thy, that to study, sorry, to show thyself approved. Okay. So it says study, which is talking about an intensity, to show thyself approved. Now let's look at that, the word approved relates to something that has been proven, something that's been tried, something that's been tested over time. So other instances where the word was referenced is, um, Romans chap. 14:8, which says, "For he that in these things serveth Christ is accepted, acceptable to God and approved of men." 1 Corinthians 11:19. 1 Corinthians 11:19 says, "For there must also be heresies among you that they which are approved may be made manifest among you." Okay. So the above, the, the, um, Romans chapter 14:8 and 1 Corinthians 11:19 are referring to those who are tested and proven to be true, tested and proven to be true. You know, we need to ask ourselves, "How do you test and prove one to be true?" It can only be according to the word. So, you know, 2 Corinthians 10:18. 2 Corinthians 10, verse 18: "For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth." Okay. Let me actually look this up. 2 Corinthians chapter 10, um, second Corinthians chapter 10, verse [Music] 18: It says, "When people commend themselves, it doesn't count for much; the important thing is the Lord to commend them." That's in a New Living Translation. Um, the voice says it like this: "Now let's be clear; it's not the one who commands himself who is approved; it's the one whom the Lord commands." Okay. Um, and then 2 Corinthians 13:7. Second Corinthians 13, verse 7. I'm going to read in the New Living: "We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won't need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come, even if it makes, uh, if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority." Some strong words, uh, from the Apostle there. Um, James chapter 1, verse 2. James chapter 1, verse 2, laying a good foundation here, um, let's see which version we want to use here. Um, I'm going to try Young's Literal Translation: "Happy the man who doth endure temptation, because becoming approved, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord did promise to those loving him." Okay. So let me just find my place here. So all of these vers, um, verses that I've just read use the word approved in some form or fashion, and it's implying to be proven as true, not proven as false, proven as true. Okay. So when it says, "Study to show yourself approved," it's to show yourself true. Okay. To, to show yourself true. Then it, let's look at that, um, um, phrase, "to show yourself," yeah. The word show basically means to exhibit. Okay. The word present means to display. So, in other words, it's talking about presenting, exhibiting, or displaying our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. So I'm going to say that again: "Study to show yourself approved," it's talking about presenting yourself as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God. It's talking about yielding yourself to God. So the word present is also not speaking about becoming. Okay. This is a, this is an interesting one. It, in presenting ourselves, it's, it's bringing across the idea that we are to show a state of being or show a state that already exists, not something that doesn't exist. So in our study, we actually just discovering what is; we're not creating something in what we're studying. And I think that needs to be said because a lot of people are trying to show themselves approved by what they think their faith is accomplishing in terms of miracles, in terms of money, in terms of all sorts of things, but not in terms of Truth. Okay. Then he says, "Study to show yourself," um, uh, let me just find my place here again. "Study to show yourself approved unto God a workman, a workman that needeth not be ashamed." So workman is really just meaning laborer. Okay. Um, and in talking about laborer, it's specifically talking about someone who ministers the word. That's what Paul's talking about. And, um, you know, in 1 Timothy 5:18, and there's many references for all of this. I'll actually start off with Matthew 10:10. He says in Matthew 10:10: "No scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes nor staves; for the workman is worthy of his meat." So he's saying, you know, you as a workman, as a minister of the word, um, are a worker; you, you know, so you need to study to show yourself approved because this is what you're doing; you're, you're a worker for the Lord. Um, 1 Timothy 5:18, he says, "For the scripture says, 'Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn.' The laborer is worthy of his reward," talking about there being wages or that you're under, um, as a worker, you're under, um, employment almost, or this is like a profession in a way. Okay. And, and so it's just bringing across the idea of not being able to even do your own thing as a worker, not being able to be creative with the message, but being an ambassador of Christ, not an ambassador of self, you could say even. Okay. Um, and there's many other things that we can, uh, dig into that, um, let me see what we want to get into with that. Uh, let's just look at the phrase "that needeth not be ashamed." What does that mean? Think about it for, for a minute. 2 Corinthians or 2 Timothy ch. 2:15: "Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not be ashamed." Okay. What does it mean to not be ashamed? That needeth not be ashamed. Okay. This would be implying that you're, um, executing your duties well, that you're doing your job right. There's, this isn't talking about Jesus having paid for your sins and now you're not, uh, you don't have any guilt, shame, or condemnation. You know, there's a lot of ministers who should be ashamed of themselves because they haven't done due diligence in, in the study of the word, and so they spray doom in people's faces or, um, thinking it's going to bring them deliverance, or they make them drink, you know, anointing oil, um, for the anointing to run, I guess, um, you know, they, they do all sorts of crazy things, or they do the, the, the most accept crazy of, "Say into this offering, and a special anointing will come on your life. Say into this anoint, say into my ministry, and you'll have a ministry like mine," you know, th, those type of things are shameful. And so anyway, in other words, you know, what we, what I'm saying here is a laborer doesn't need to resort to emotional, um, displays to try and get people to be sympathetic to, uh, their teaching. They don't need to try and get gimmicks; they don't need to try and, uh, um, do different things like that because they need to just be true to discharging their duties correctly. They need to focus on studying and presenting the word correctly more than presenting the word with emotion. Emotion doesn't equate with doing it well, and yet there's many people, if you turn on YouTube, who seem to be very emotional, and they, they got thousands of followers, and they, they, they got many likes and things, and, and yet they, they what they're saying is shameful; it's not got any, any weight theologically. And so if we're discharging our duties well, it means that we're doing, we're, we, we've studied it; we've studied to show ourselves approved; we've studied it diligently; we've given it an intense focus; and, um, now we can properly explain what we've studied and present it and teach it and explain it in a way which people would be able to receive it, understand it, and even repeat it. So Paul's instructing that a Bible teacher makes every effort to display himself proven and tested as a laborer for God or co-laborer with Christ who discharges his duties specifically of teaching the word and explaining the word well. Okay. So this is really just the foundation that I'm wanting to lay for everything that we're getting into. How do we do that? How do we, um, discharge our duties well? The next part of that verse says, "Rightly dividing the word of Truth." Rightly dividing the word of truth; that's, uh, that's what the, the 2 Corinthians 5:11 tells us. And so, yeah, the word rightly dividing, um, is found in two other verses, um, uh, from a compound Greek word which referenced from the Old Testament. So there's two Old Testament, um, verses where this is referenced from. Uh, Proverbs 3:6, which says, "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path." So rightly dividing is like directing your path. Okay. And then Proverbs 11:5: "The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness." So, you know, the background of these words or the understanding of the background of these words is to basically navigate yourself in the midst of something, navigate yourself in the midst of something. So it's like a miner, think about miner, not as in a child, but as in someone going into a hole with an axe to go and get some diamonds or something or some gold. You know, the, the, the, the miner would use, um, this phrase rightly dividing in respect to the process of extracting precious stones out of rock. Okay. The stone is ingrained deep into rocks, and they have to very carefully extract the, um, the stones from the rock. Okay. Um, and it's described as rightly dividing. It's also used in a medical field where, for example, if you're going to have a cesarean as a pregnant woman, you know, there needs to be a high level of care, focus, medical procedure, um, applied to bringing the baby out of the mother's womb. Okay. If it's not done carefully, there's dire consequences to the mother and the baby. So, you know, from these two ideas where you can damage the precious stone if you don't carefully divide the word of the, the, the word of Truth, and if you don't carefully divide in terms of bringing out the baby, there can be loss. Okay. So rightly dividing the word of Truth implies that we accurately handle with caution, carefulness, skillfulness, and patience the word of God. And I'm making a big deal of this because it is a big deal. You know, a lot of people feel like, "I'm just going to stand at the pulpit and teach, and because I've got a message, I've heard a couple good messages, and so I have a couple of good messages; I've got a revelation," you know, and, uh, that's not what we're talking about. You know, um, after coming to see the, the, the gravity, um, of teaching the word of God over the last couple of years, after, after seeing the gravity of it, um, I'm much more, um, stricter with the pulpit. Even I'd rather have people go through intense training before they stand at the pulpit, and if I'm like outsiders, I'd rather have no outsiders coming because it's, um, it's too risky because wrong Doctrine can kill your faith; it can really like cause problems for you. And you know, um, good Doctrine is life, so you don't want a clown at the pulpit. Amen. So words must not be glossed over as we study the word; meanings must not be assumed; proper and detailed interpretation must be, uh, given, um, or, you know, or else the consequences of that is that we misinterpret, uh, the, the word, and major truth is lost. There's, there, there's a lot at stake here. Okay. You know, it's, it's important for us to note that the culture of the church and, um, and Christian life is that is one of learning. If you look through Acts, if you look through Hebrew culture even, like there's a strong culture of learning. What does, what does learning involve? For some people, it's worship and a cup of coffee. Um, that's not, that's not the culture of learning. Okay. Culture of learning involves reading; it involves hearing; it involves being taught. You, a lot of Bible truth you'll never come to by yourself; a lot of Bible truths you'll never find for yourself. Why? Because God, Jesus himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints. There's some things that you can only learn through leadership, and as Leaders teach, you need to be like the Bereans and go into the word and mine and, and test it for yourself and see, "Is this true?" But some things your mind would never be turned on to unless someone turned it on to that, and I believe the Holy Spirit wouldn't even just illuminate you as much as you, because His desire is that we would be interdependent in a way where we would, we would be humble enough to learn from other people, where we would be humble enough to receive from others and not just think we've, we've arrived and no one else can teach me anything.
So what is one of Jesus's major pillars of his ministry on earth when, when he was hearing the gospels, just teaching? Yeah. After his resurrection, he taught the disciples. Yeah. And this is the one of the main practices that we see in the early church and, uh, obviously all the Epistles are teachings. And, um, so if we look at it, Matthew chapter 28, I'm going to have to land now, but if we look at Matthew 28:18-20, and Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in Earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations." That phrase is, is saying, "Go make disciples," because teaching is, is making disciples, or teaching is part of making disciples. Okay. Teaching is a very small, um, a very inadequate description of discipleship because it's much more than teaching, but teaching is an essential part of it. You cannot have discipleship without teaching. "Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Yeah. So verse 19 is Jesus giving us our marching orders, our very, uh, important instruction: "Go teach all nations." You, the word teach, like I said, is, is to make a pupil; it's discipleship. Okay. And this, this comes up throughout the gospels, and, um, uh, it's really talking about an intensity; it's talking about a commitment; it's talking about a, a, um, a desire, uh, to be, um, purposeful in learning to grow. Okay. So you look through the book of Acts, you see how, um, the word disciples is used more to describe people in the church than Christian. So, yeah, Acts chapter 6, verse 1, it speaks about how the disciples were multiplied. You know, it speaks about how the disciples were multiplied. How were the disciples multiplied? Well, the way that they rece, became disciples was the way that they multiplied; that shows us what discipleship is. That's the only way that the disciples could have been multiplied was that they started to do what they, what had been done to them to be able to be where they were, and part of that is teaching. Yeah. Once a ministry school is finished, every single one of us in this school should be able to step into, um, teaching others, even if it's just one person; doesn't have to be a church; it can be one or two people, just helping them understand the truth of the word. So, you know, whenever disciple, the word disciples used in, in Acts, it's, it's pointing to the fact that there was a lot of learning going on; there was a lot of teaching; there was a lot of instruction; and, um, and that's because that's what precedes learning, right? So this was an essential part of the early church discipleship, and this is something that we need to obviously give ourselves to as well. So Second Timothy chapter 3:16. I'm going to read it, and we'll finish with this verse, and we'll get on to this, uh, in our next lesson, which might be recorded for you; we'll see what we can do. But 2 Timothy 3:16 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." So the word profitable there implies helpful; it's, it's, it's for your benefit. Okay. So it's profitable; it's for your benefit; it's something that is good. Doctrine is talking about teaching. Okay. So it's, it's firstly saying that scripture, Genesis to Malachi, is for your good, and it's one of the things that it's good for is teaching Doctrine. Okay. Um, let me see here. Let me see here. I think we're going to have to leave it there. So we haven't gotten very far into, um, what I'm wanting to get into, um, but maybe just before we, we close off, what stands out for you so far? We've just been focusing in on the importance of diligent study when we get into the word and focused in on the importance of rightly dividing the word. Um, what stands out for you so far? Focus on studying the word correctly does not need to be emotional at all; that's—
Good, Alicia. Um, I like that because a lot of the time we get very tempted to; we have to feel this. And I think what we believe does lead to feelings; it should be felt; it needs to be something like that. But it's really important for us to see that, um, um, it's your truth is truth whether you feel it or not. Truth is truth whether you feel it or not. Um, truth will change your life whether you feel it or not; if you accept truth, it's it's it's it's powerful whether you you had a goosebump or not.
Lucas here says, "Intense studying is important." That's good. And our intense study involves, uh, reading; it involves looking at words, context, culture, um, and we'll look a lot more at that in the next couple of lessons. Um, because a lot of the things we're going to discuss around the communion table involve culture, and we need to understand culture. It's another one: Your prosperity does not reflect your worth to God. Being blessed—that's awesome; that's you, man; that's really awesome. You know, we we; it doesn't also, um, it's not an indication of our faith whether we've got lots of faith or little faith or good faith or whatever the case is. And and, um, another one there from you: The right doctrine is life; um, the opposite is is obviously true then too: when there's a bad doctrine, it is is really death.
And if you think about it, like, I don't know if you've ever met people like this, but some of the places I've gone, and you see just these religious people, whether they're religious Christians or whether they're religious, um, Muslims or whatever else, and they're just overburdened with duty and obligation and rituals and all sorts, and it's like as soon as you you speak to them, you can see that they're just under a heavy burden. And as soon as you you start to, um, uh, present the gospel to them, what happens? Life comes, and then they start to experience freedom. And I remember, you know, when I was, um, in Albania at the dentist, and, um, um, Claudia and I were ministering to my, um, uh, dentist, who was, um, more Catholic, and, um, she was shocked that we don't have statues at church and we don't kiss the statues and we don't have candles. And and she, when we spoke to her a bit more about, you know, how we express or live out our faith, she was amazed; like that was a breath of fresh air for her; you could see this is something refreshing.
Shain says, "Yeah, I came from that background and came to choose with grace, love." We we're thankful for that; that's awesome. Another thought from Haley: "Carefully studying the word takes time, effort, and dedication." And, um, Danica says, "The wrong perspective is always reflected when there is worry and anxiety." That's good. Yeah, I think that that's the that's that was a big one as well tonight. So we're going to leave it there for tonight. I trust that that refreshed you and blessed you, and I look forward to getting much deeper into the topic with you, um, but in the next period you're going to have, um, Peter, so get ready to have Peter in the next, uh, session. Have a wonderful evening for the God.