We are Teachers and Students Both

We are always students but we should all be teachers too. It doesn't mean we are over anyone, it just means we are wise enough to share the truth with anyone who will listen.

Hebrews 5:12-14

"12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the actual words of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil."

No one has authority over anyone else except the Holy Spirit. There are no authorities in the church, there are only leaders who lead by example and teaching but they are not the ultimate authority over anyone.

1 Peter 5:3

"Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock."

God did not say we are to imitate others, but that we are to imitate Christ. If we imitate others as they imitate Christ then it is Christ we follow not men.

1 Corinthians 11:1

"Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."

2 Timothy 2:15

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

Nowhere does God say "Do your best to present yourselves to the pastor."

We listen to teachers and leaders to discern whether or not they are speaking the truth. They are present to edify us in the Word of God, not dominate us. If they follow Christ then wonderful they have been a good example, however, if they are in error then they must be corrected and even removed if the error is frequently against the Word of God.

Believers must stop elevating their pastors above others merely because they have been educated in Bible schools. Sadly those who have formal degrees are seen as superior to those who have been trained by the Holy Spirit.

Education does not make someone spiritual or wiser, it merely means that they have been trained by man how to think and the things to say. When we are trained by the Holy Spirit we are given much more than rules and manipulations to cause others to respond the way we want them to respond.

The danger of becoming full of pride is great when education is the goal more than learning through the Holy Spirit.

John 16:13-14"

"13 However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify Me by taking from what is Mine and disclosing it to you."

The Holy Spirit does not operate differently in our day than He did in the days of the apostles.

All of the Bible was not written to us but it was all written for us.

Isaiah 11:2

"The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him--the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD."

No man can teach or counsel better than the Holy Spirit.

Everyone who has been born again should be teaching and sharing the Word with those God places in their path. No one is exempt from this charge.

John 14:26

"But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you."

John 14:17

"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

Remember the Holy Spirit only lives within those who are born again. The world does not have Him nor could they understand Him.

1 John 4:6

"We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error."

Allowing All Circumstances to Grow us!

2 Timothy 2:20-21
"20 Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver implements, but also implements of wood and of earthenware, and some are for honor while others are for dishonor. 21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be an implement for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work."

When we became born again we were no longer of the world.

Ephesians 2:19. Ephesians 2:19
"19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,"

There are those who will say we are the problem in a relationship breakdown. If we are walking with Christ and have prayed to be shown and found to be innocent then we can dismiss it as a ploy of the devil to accuse the brethren. However, if we are found to be guilty of wrongdoing we can confess it to be cleansed and move ahead in Spiritual growth.

 
There are some who never self-reflect but live in the blame game to deflect any responsibility in a broken relationship. There is nothing we can do about that, we must love them from afar and pray for them. Some relationships on this earth will never be reconciled, but we can be the peacemaker through addressing the problem and then walking away when we see there cannot be a discussion without rage emerging from the one who loves their sin.

 
We will not be able to reconcile many relationships because the problem of self-love has permeated every aspect of our culture. One can live in fear of offending over the smallest matters when a culture demands that we only speak words they like to hear.

Isaiah 30:9-11 "…9 These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction. 10 They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions. 11 Get out of the way; turn off the road. Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!”…"

Romans 16:18
"For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive."

2 Timothy 4:3
"For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires."

2 Timothy 4:4
"So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."

Since we cannot change an entire culture or even one other person we are not responsible to do so, we must focus on our own walk, making sure we are not disobeying God in our relationships. Some people who love Christ will be able to reconcile and are deeply empathetic toward one another but others are stubborn and prideful. We must let the prideful ones walk away as we embrace those who want a deeper walk with Christ.

Proverbs 22:23-25 "…23 for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder those who rob them. 24 Do not make friends with an angry man, and do not associate with a hot-tempered man, 25or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.…"

We are all capable of becoming like those who attack us, we must not allow ourselves to be influenced by their bad manners. The best way to combat the possibility of becoming like others is to choose our friends careful. Those in our inner circle must be those who love Christ and do not do mean and petty things.

 
Everyone can fall, but we are less likely to fall if we have lovely friends who care enough about us to keep us accountable and if we receive their correction. Every correction is an asset to us if we desire cleansing and growth.

 
1 John 1:9-10 "9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us."

There will be times when the devil brings someone along to accuse us of things they are doing but we are not, we must evaluate ourselves making sure that we are being obedient to Christ and ignore those who love their anger.

Isaiah 5:20
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter."

Psalm 32:5
"Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah"

Every born-again believer can grow and move forward in holiness if they speak the truth, refrain from becoming like the world and admit a wrong quickly, only then can we be cleansed to progress.

 
We are to be peaceful even if no one else around us practices love. If others treat us contemptuously we can return it with love, showing them the respect they refused to show us.

Hallelujah!!!!

Hebrews 12:14
"Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord."

Listen with Wisdom

"Be careful what you hear about others, you may be hearing it from the problem."