Monday
morning always begins with a prayerful evaluation of the teaching times coming
up in the week ahead: Monday afternoon, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday morning,
and Sunday night. There is no day off. Starting at 5 a.m., I’m always writing
studies or sermons. This is in addition to my own personal studying/devotion
and that which I do with my children. I think I stand in good company.
“The LORD then spoke to Aaron,
saying, ‘...make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between
the unclean and the clean...teach the sons of Israel all the statutes
which the LORD has spoken to them through Moses’” (Leviticus 10:8,10,11).
“Of Levi he said, ‘...they observed
Your word, and kept Your covenant. They shall teach Your ordinances to
Jacob, and Your law to Israel’” (Deuteronomy 33:8-10).
“For Ezra had set his heart to study
the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes
and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).
“Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah,
Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan,
Pelaiah, the Levites, explained the law to the people while the people remained
in their place. They read from the book, from the law of God, translating
to give the sense so that they understood the reading” (Nehemiah 8:7,8).
“But his delight is in the law of
the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a
tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its
season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers” (Psalm 1:2,3).
“And Jesus came up and spoke to
them, saying, ‘...go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you...’” (Matthew 28:18-20).
“So the twelve summoned the
congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to
neglect the word of God...we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the
ministry of the word.’ ...the word of God kept on spreading; and the number
of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many
of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith” (Acts 6:2,4,7).
“For I did not shrink from declaring
to you the whole purpose of God. Be on guard for yourselves and for all the
flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own
blood. I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not
sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking
perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be on the
alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease
to admonish each one with tears” (Acts 20:27-31).
“An overseer, then, must be...able
to teach...”
(1 Timothy 3:2).
“In pointing
out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ
Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine
which you have been following” (1 Timothy 4:6).
“It is a trustworthy statement
deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive,
because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men,
especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one
look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and
purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Until I come, give attention
to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not
neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through
prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with
these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to
all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in
these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself
and for those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:9-16).
“The elders who rule well are to be
considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching
and teaching”
(1 Timothy 5:17).
“Retain the standard of sound
words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in
Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit Who dwells in us, the treasure
which has been entrusted to you” (2 Timothy 1:13,14).
“Remind them of these things,
and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about
words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to
present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately
handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:14,15).
“The Lord's bond-servant must not be
quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with
gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may
grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come
to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held
captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:24-26).
“You, however, continue in the
things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have
learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which
are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is
in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching,
for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man
of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:14-17).
“I solemnly charge you in the presence
of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His
appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out
of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 4:1,2).
“For the overseer must be...holding
fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he
will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who
contradict”
(Titus 1:7-9).
“But as for you, speak the things
which are fitting for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1).
“These things speak and exhort
and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you” (Titus 2:15).
This is the
Word on the matter in both Testaments. I am trying to help others come to this
place in their service to Christ’s Church. I burdened to constantly be digging
the well deep, far deeper than it would need to be delved for a typical Sunday
morning sermon. Why? Because it’s usually needed...needed to answer a question
from someone during the week, to comfort someone who’s struggling, or to guide
the congregation on another matter entirely. It is the only ground for
fellowship, visitation, evangelism, counseling, and good works. The study and
teaching of the Word is never wasted or in vain.
How are you
preparing? “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you
have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the
oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone
who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness,
for he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, who because of
practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil” (Hebrews
5:12-14). The Holy Spirit says through the inspired author of this letter, “by
this time you ought to be teachers.” It doesn’t necessarily mean that they
would be Sunday School teachers or ordained elders/deacons – but those who have
been growing together with Christ’s people in His Church for some time ought to
be an influence for the Word on those around them. We are surrounded by people
who are seeking help, answers, and guidance for the questions of life. We alone
have the answers. Can you handle the “word of righteousness,” having
your “senses trained to discern good and evil”? Have you dug your own
well deep, deeper than you need for your own daily devotions? You never know
when you’ll need to draw the water of life for your family, neighbors, friends,
or that stranger you’ll meet in the Providence
of the Sovereign King this day.
