Study, Study, Study!!!
“Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge…” Isaiah 5:13
In my Bible, with the above verse, I have written:
“Lack of knowledge makes one vulnerable to bondage!! Study, Study, Study!!”
Reading the verse this morning was an “amen” to a conversation the girls and I had yesterday morning. Our discussion stemmed from a passage in Acts 11 where Barnabas has been sent to encourage new believers in Antioch.
“Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” Acts 11:22,23
Notice the reaction of Barnabas when he witnessed first-hand the evidence of their conversion. He was glad, and then he exhorted them – to cleave to him??? NO! He urged these new Christians to cleave to the Lord! In my Bible, at this passage I have written:
“A true man of God will exhort believers to cleave to the Lord!”
What does all of this have to do with studying? Well, how can we cleave to Someone whose ways we do not know? How can we obey His commands if we do not know them?
If we don’t study God’s Word, how can we be sure we are following God and not man??
It would be a blessing to be able to say that all “spiritual leaders” have their people’s best interest at heart but tragically that is not the case. Jeremiah 23:31-32 gives us some characteristics of false prophets:
“Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the LORD, that use their tongues, and say, He saith. Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:31,32
What Jeremiah is speaking of is still prevalent today – those who claim to “preach or teach” truth yet speak falsely; those who avoid convicting passages for fear of offending and instead choose “lightness” to keep everyone happy; those who claim to be sent from God yet have no calling on their life. And what is the result of this type of “ministry”…if we could call it that? The above verse says – “they shall not profit this people at all” How very, very tragic! Yet, it happens all around us – unsuspecting folks loyal to a place…a man…that is leading them nowhere instead of having complete loyalty to CHRIST Who desires to lead them in paths of righteousness!!
How can we avoid finding ourselves in this type of situation? Study, Study, Study!!! Don’t take a man’s word for it – study to be sure what is being preached is the truth! Be as the Bereans of whom Paul said,
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11
Paul commended these believers for “checking out” the teaching of Silas and himself! Our pastor just said it again recently…something like, “it shouldn’t make a pastor nervous to encourage his people to STUDY to make sure what is being preached lines up with the Bible”.
BEWARE of those who never encourage their people to DIG into God’s Word and thus are saying, “just take my word for it”.
Remember – Barnabas exhorted the new believers in Antioch to cleave to the LORD!
Beware of those who demand unquestioning loyalty to themselves!
Whether it be because of busyness, laziness…or maybe lack of desire (which could be a sign of not being saved – “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” I Peter 2:2)…when we fail to set aside time each day to study God’s Word, we are very vulnerable to becoming captive to false teaching. Does that concern us this morning? Does it concern us for our children…to the point of becoming diligent students of God’s Word?
“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:6-8
“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive: But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: ” Ephesians 4:14,15
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” II Timothy 2:15
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