IF YOU'RE A CHRISTIAN, YOU JUST GOTTA... LEARN (PART 2)
Scripture Deuteronomy 4:4-10; Matthew 9:35-38; 2 Timothy 3:1-17
Pastor James Sheldon
February 8, 2009
W.I.F.E. #2 ="Instruction" (Learn what God would teach you.) HOW?
1. vv. 1-7 - Some learning nothing from God (pagan, atheist)
2. vv. 8-9 - Some act like they learn something--but are wrong
3. vv.10-15- Believers clearly learned and grow.
4. vv. 16-17 - Believers are given real power on-going.
This is a second message in the series called wife. the first letter, the "w" stood for "worship." and was a call for the basic reason why we come together as believers--namely to come and life to worship God. Sunday morning is an active show of the attitude we have every day. but we worship God all the time.]
Today, I want to talk about a second act that God calls us to perform. The title of this message is "if you're a Christian, you just gotta...." and the word I would add now is "learn." every Christian needs to learn God's truths. Get good instruction. That's the only way we will live the way God wants us to. So I repeat: "if you're a Christian, you just gotta...learn."
To get ready hear God's word, pray with me now. [Pray] //
Now let me start with a true story about the importance of learning. On January 17th, a "US airways" jetliner, took off from New York airport. It rose into the air. Then suddenly several large birds got sucked into both of its jet engines. Right away the plane lost all power and started to go down.
That's when the pilot, Chesley B. Sullenberger iii (a.k.a "sully") did something amazing. He kept a cool head, radioed for help, found a place to come in for a landing--which was the Hudson river--, told the passengers to prepare for a crash, and brought the plane down onto the water with a tremendous belly-flop.
After that, 155 passengers, plus the staff, the pilot and co-pilot stepped out onto the wings of the plane, and within an hour, every one of them got off safe and alive.
Some say, "oh, they were all really lucky!" but when the pilot was interviewed, people soon realized that the rescue was due, more than anything else, to the pilot's skill and cool-headedness. Had he not had the training and practice he did, the whole situation, could have come out very differently!
Now take this story and realize it is sort of a parable. Realize that at the cross, God took Jesus' blood and printed your ticket to get on board his plane and be saved. That's why you and I travel through this world, headed to heaven. Praise the lord!
But sometimes we run into problems. Sometimes we crash into a bad disease. Sometimes we trip over problems, that slow us down. Or we get over your heads in a tough situation and runs into problems. We have in the past, and will probably in the future.
When this happens, the main thing you need, to overcome these problems, is spiritual training and real guidance from God.
Realize this: God may let you go through challenges; but if he does, he will also supply you with the truths and skills to get you through every situation.
The bible repeats this truth often: in exodus, God used Moses to teach his commands to his people. Later Solomon said in proverbs: "my keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye." (Pro 7:2)
Furthermore, Jesus' at end of his gospel commanded us to, "therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit," and v. 20 "...teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Mt 28:19, 20
So here now, the apostle Paul again calls us to get good teaching! Hear what he says, and realize how important it is for us to receive and share good instruction in your faith. à There are 4 truths for us here. Let me lay them out.
1. First, there are many who refuse to accept God's truths. If you are one of them, you will set yourself up for major problems. Look at 2 Tim 3, and start with verse 1. He says, "There will be terrible times in the last days."
Guess what: we are in the last days. Jesus ascended in heaven, and is going to return soon. but right now there are people in your family, people in our society and leaders in our government, and even some people in some churches--and yes, even some pastors!--who don't know about God. They are ignorant.
Paul describes points out this problem first. verse 2 says, "people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, (3) without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, (4) treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God."
These problems come up when the bible, God's word, is taken out of schools. It happens when families no longer read the bible together. (We all know families like that.) Many of our leaders today, think they know what is right and wrong, but measured by the bible, they fail. They lack true morality. So it says here.
Have you ever heard the joke of the two hippies walking along the boardwalk out over the ocean? One of them lost his balance and fell into the water. He bubbled to the surface and cried out, "help me! I don't know how to swim!"
His friend looked down and answered, "That's ok, man, just fake it!"
In society today, many people are faking their morals. It says in Romans chapter 1 starting with verse 22, "although they claimed to be wise, they became fools (23) and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. (24) Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. (25) They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the creator...."
That's so much like our society today! We live in an all-too-pagan nation.
But God's first call for us is this: get into God's word. The world won't teach us God's ways, but as Christians God says to us, "you just gotta learn the bible's truths." seek God's truths in his word.
ii. Now here is a second truth that Paul gives us. Again it's about how we use God's word for good instruction. Go to the passage again and see vs. 8 & 9. I won't read the whole thing, but here is what he is talking about:
Back in the days of Moses, two men tried to join up with God's people, but they caused real problems. They are "Jannes and Jambres." [By the way, these names aren't listed in the OT, but they are true to history. simply put--Paul, as a Jew, knew the history and remembered the actual names of the men. in v. 8 he says, "Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses."
Here is how: Moses went up the mountain to get God's commandments. After he did, God told him to go down and teach them to his people. But in the meantime, two men had already set up a golden calf idol for the people to worship! That's false religion! It's not true study. It's fake ceremony!
Now realize this for us: the same problem can happen in churches today. Some get into ritual or ceremony, and then they ignore God's word. They don't read or study the scripture. They don't seek the real truths of the bible. They often follow false preachers, who ignore God's word.
Recently I watched one preacher on TV, who is real popular. He leads a church of over 1,000 members. I listened to him talk for 30 minutes. As he did, he failed to mention Jesus even once. He said nothing about sin, the cross and salvation. All he did was tell people that they could be happy and rich --if they followed his teaching. He was, in effect, setting up a golden calf!
The bible says about such teachers: v.9 " they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone."
So the second call for good, Christian instruction is: seek God's word, the bible. Follow leaders teach the bible. That's a must for right instruction.
iii. Now third, Paul now says, that we have huge advantages, if we take time and study the word of God. In verse 10, Paul has his own teaching is right with God. He is guided personally by God's word. So he calls us to do the same thing, that is: get into the word and apply it to your life.
It's challenging to obey God; so here's how to do it. Start with verse 14. Through Paul, God says to us: "but as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, (15) and how from infancy you have known the Holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."
He is pointing our 3 steps every one of us needs to take to get God's instruction. Step one: take in the word. Plant scripture in your heart.
Next, come to understand God's truths. And third, start living that way.
If you think about it, this process is very much like taking in regular food! With food, you first put it in your mouth. Next you chew it up, and then swallow it. You take it way down inside you, and it become part of you.
So God's word: take it in, experience the meaning and flavor first-hand. Then take it into your heart, and make it part of your very self.
And as I said before, be sure to be fed by good biblical teachers.
Note one detail here. v. 15 it says in, "from infancy you have known the holy scriptures." You know what? You are never too young to learn God's word.
And I would add, you are never too old to learn God's word either.
Then it also says here, "holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." As I said before, the world and its philosophers have their own, often-faulty view of what's wise and true. But the real source of God's wisdom and his absolute truth is the bible--the scriptures.
Here is what we have begun to realize about scripture. First, scripture separates us from lost pagans. It is God's guide for God's people. Second, the scripture is God's living truth; be careful not to misuse it. Third, scripture is the best source for knowing and learning God's truth, especially the promise of salvation. Are you with me so far? Good.
iv. Now finally, at the end of this passage Paul adds one more, powerful truth about scripture. Please take it to heart. 2 Tim 3:16-17 says, "all scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
Scripture is "God-breathed." that means, God's word has the power of God himself. It is inspired. The Holy Spirit works through it and uses it. God spoke to create the universe; God spoke and the word became flesh in Jesus. God the spirit spoke through the OT prophets, and again he spoke through those who wrote the nt. this showed his real power!
And now, when you then take God's word and apply it to your own life, God speaks thru you with power. When you speak it to others, that releases God's own power. That's when real changes--changes according to God's will--come about.
That's why the very last verse add, "so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." God's power equips you to do what you, if you are a Christian, should really be doing. That is: take in God's word, apply it to your own life, and so have his power in you. That way you can share it with people around you. God's word will not return void.
Take a moment now. Let's get practical. Based on these words answer four simple choices for yourself.
First, in your life do you want to follow the ways of the world? If so, you will be led by the prince of this world, Satan! Or will you follow Jesus? What's your choice? If you chose to follow Jesus then you need good instruction from the bible. That’s your, obvious first choice.
Second, do you want to simply be artificially religious--like Jannes and Jambres? Or will you be truly faithful? If so, you need to put Jesus' word in your hear. Study it often.
Third, are you your "old self," childish in your faith? Or do you want to grow for God? If so, you need to get into God's word often and regularly. Be part of a Sunday school class. Take time every day to study the bible on your own. Then get into a group to study the bible together. In other words, put out a real effort to get good instruction. So says God.
Then finally, realize this: once the word of God is in you, the Holy Spirit will guide you, empower you, enable you, correct you, comfort you... and more. It's really worth it!
So will you take God's call here? Will you study his word? I invite you to make a real commitment today to learn God's word.
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