The Magnitude of Spiritual InstructionJust how important is the spiritual teaching that we receive? Is it a good idea to just hope that it really won’t matter how, what or even if, we learn spiritual things at all? Does God have a higher standard for the teacher than for the disciple? Listen to this message from Pastor: Landis and learn the answers to these and many other thought provoking features delivered in the Epistle of James as our study through this intense practical book continues.
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Proverbs 2:1 – 15 (NASB)
Prov 2:1 My son, if you will receive my sayings, And treasure my commandments within you, Prov 2:2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; Prov 2:3 For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; Prov 2:4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; Prov 2:5 Then you will discern the fear of the LORD, And discover the knowledge of God. Prov 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Prov 2:7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, Prov 2:8 Guarding the paths of justice, And He preserves the way of His godly ones. Prov 2:9 Then you will discern righteousness and justice And equity and every good course. Prov 2:10 For wisdom will enter your heart, And knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; Prov 2:11 Discretion will guard you, Understanding will watch over you, Prov 2:12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things; Prov 2:13 From those who leave the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness; Prov 2:14 Who delight in doing evil, And rejoice in the perversity of evil; Prov 2:15 Whose paths are crooked, And who are devious in their ways;
New Testament Scripture Reading: James 3:1- 12 (NASB)
James 3:1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment. James 3:2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. James 3:3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, we direct their entire body as well. James 3:4 Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder, wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. James 3:5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. James 3:7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the human race. James 3:8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. James 3:9 With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; James 3:10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. James 3:11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? James 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh.
Transforming Power Statements:
Definition: True spiritual teaching is: Communication containing instruction and application of the things of God directly and only from His Word. It is teaching biblical spiritual knowledge which God has concealed from those who do not believe God; but that God has chosen to openly make known by faith to those who are born from above through their personal faith in Jesus the Messiah. (John 6:63; Matthew 11:28; 2 Timothy 2:15)
#1) True spiritual instruction is the most important learning to be received for every child of God, because it is directly proportional to their spiritual growth, which is directly related to all areas of spiritual development as being “God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus”.
#2) False teachers are one of the greatest forces against the spiritual progress of many and have existed in the world from the fall of man to the present and will continue till the end.
#3) The total depravity of mankind, which is most easily observed through the use of the tongue, coupled with pride and pragmatism, makes the passing of error most easy to occur and persist.
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