Welcome!
Date: Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Today: The blessing of Christian Education
Passage: 2 Tim 3: 14-16 NIV
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (emphasis added)
In verses 14 and 15, Paul states about the blessing of salvation that comes through the learning of scripture taught by people like Paul
V 16 & 17 talks about the uniqueness and the greatness of the word of God
God always kept talking to people through men (prophets) in the Old Testament, even when the Israelites would not pay attention to them
It was part of God’s justice to keep talking to the people
27 But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth and you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says.’ Whoever will listen let him listen, and whoever will refuse let him refuse; for they are a rebellious house. (Ezekiel 3: 27, NIV)
God knew as well as Ezekiel knew that the people were not going to listen. Yet God spoke to Ezekiel and Ezekiel spoke to the people
These prophets were not trained by another leader on earth. God himself trained them, except in few cases like that of Elisha, who was trained by Elijah and Joshua who was trained by Moses
Being a prophet of God is a tough job. You are not receiving any “kudos” or appreciation from your listeners
But it is a blessing to carry the words of the almighty to the people out there-whether it is to the church or the un-churched
God was almost forcing Ezekiel to speak, because there was such a need and no one wanted to be the prophet of God
Apostle Paul, who mentored Timothy, made a great investment of time and resources, in Timothy
Paul understood the need and advantage of educating and encouraging Timothy, even on the basic stuff
Once you are sure that you are sharing the right message, you must not worry about the response
There are only few men of God who would just say what the Lord told them to say
They will not worry about the attitude or reaction of the people
Timothy’s job included using the scripture for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training
16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (emphasis added)
The blessing or reward for such a work is:
The men of God will be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
These days, we see lot of workshops, training and seminars in the secular world. They know the importance of that. Companies spent millions of dollars for training and educating people
Jesus is the best trainer ever. He took so much of pain to train the twelve
One of them dropped out. That was a (drop-out) ratio of 1 in 12
But the other eleven gained it. Once empowered by the spirit of God, they turned the world upside down
We need the grace of God to train our own, in the house
We need the word and the anointing of the Holy Spirit
It is a powerful mix. The word and the spirit of God together will do wonders
It is time to learn and to share what we learn
God bless
BG
Prayer: Lord, make me a good student of thy word and a good instructor of thy word, starting right in my home. Amen