Proverbs 3:5 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding."


 When we lean only on our own understanding and see only our circumstances, it can be easy to give in to discouragement. Our prayers may seem to go unanswered and we may have a little lapse in faith. We may be confused as we see different areas of our lives as spinning out of control. This is when we begin to believe the lies of Satan. We forget who is really in control. Sometimes we just get so caught up in all the trials and tribulations of this life, that we lose sight of our true purpose.


 2 Timothy 2:4 "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."


 It is then that we need to look through our spiritual eyes and see things as they really are. Jesus asked his disciples in Mark 8:18 “Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?”


 The same question could be asked of us. If we’re saved, it isn’t because we cannot see. We know that when we we’re saved our eyes were opened. The Bible tells us so in: Acts 26:18 “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, “


But, very often, we choose not to see and just allow things to go the way they are going, as if we are still without hope. If we could just step back and see the big picture that is really before us we would see the mighty hand of God working in ways that would just amaze us.

 
2 Kings 6:15-17 "And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."
 

If we would look through those eyes, we would probably fall on our knees in praise. We might even regain that wonder we had when we were first saved; when we knew how awesome God was and mighty to save even us. If we saw with those eyes we would be able to say as Elisha, “Fear not!”; confident that the Lord is in control.


I pray that God would open our eyes to see the battle that is before us daily.

Many Christians today have bought into the idea that doctrinal truth doesn’t matter- that showing Christian love and charity and expressing worship toward God are evidences of walking in the Spirit. But, according to the bible, you can’t have one without the other. You cannot walk in the Spirit without walking in truth.


The Holy Spirit is described as the “Spirit of Truth.” His job is to guide us into all truth, and teach us. According to the bible, even the act of worship is inseparable from truth-
John 4:24  “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”


We cannot walk in the Spirit or have true spirituality apart from the truth. All of the good things we do, apart from truth are only works of the flesh. If we refuse truth and accept false doctrine, we are NOT walking in the Spirit, no matter how we may like to think that we are. We are actually quenching the Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God within the believer desires to teach us truth. The Spirit simply will not behave contrary to the word of God, or fail to accomplish his purpose.


John 16:13  “Howbeit when he, the SPIRIT of TRUTH, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”


He also will NOT draw attention to himself. His job is always to point to Christ THROUGH the truth of the word.


John 15:26  “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the SPIRIT of TRUTH, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:”
How important is the truth to you?


3 John 1:3  “For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.”


Can it be said of you that you walk in truth? If not, it’s time to get serious about the truth of the word.


Ephesians 5:8  “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:9  (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and TRUTH;) 10  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

How do you show yourself as a Christian, approved unto God?

By loving, serving and displaying fruits of the spirit, offering ourselves daily, a willing sacrifice to be used as He would choose? That is wonderful and what we all should be doing if we’re Christians, but the bible tells us this is our “reasonable service.” This is not above and beyond, but the bare minimum, the least we should be doing. 

 The bible tells us to also “Study” to show ourselves approved unto God…

 Many people act as though bible knowledge and wisdom are gifts reserved only for the Pastor and teacher and the elite few. But God tells us wisdom is available to ALL MEN. James 1:5 “ If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

The Bereans were commended, NOT for their service, but for their study of the word, daily searching the scriptures to see if what they were hearing was really so.
It takes time, and prayer study, and attention to the word. Hebrews 5:14  “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who BY REASON OF USE have their senses EXERCISED to discern both good and evil.”

As Christians, we should be striving to become more “Christ-like.” How can we become more like Him if we do not know him? To know Him is to know His word!   He is the word of life!

 2Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

 

I’ve heard people say, so many times, “I’m just not getting fed at church 
anymore.” The saddest part is that it is usually from believers who have been 
saved and discipled for many years. I always wonder, “...why don‘t you  try feeding yourself?”

Granted, the church should always disciple new  believers, teaching them basic doctrine and equipping them to minister to  others, but there comes a time when they should be able to feed themselves AND  others.

“For when for the time YE OUGHT TO BE TEACHERS, ye have need that  one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are  become SUCH AS HAVE NEED OF MILK, and not of strong meat.” Hebrews 5:12 

How ridiculous would it be if your grown child still awaited a bottle of  milk every morning or insisted that you spoon feed him? You would honestly have  to question if there was something seriously wrong with him. Isn’t it equally  ridiculous for Christians who have been saved for many years to be unable to  feed themselves?

“Brethren, be not children in understanding:” 1 Cor.  14:20 There are so many that claim to want the Meat and the deep things  of God, but also want it spoon fed. Paul rebuked the Corinthian believers for  their spiritual immaturity. “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto  spiritual, but as unto carnal, even
as unto babes in Christ.” I have fed you  with milk, and not with meat: for
hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither  yet now are ye able.” 1 Corinthians 3:1-2 Because they were as babes in Christ,  he COULDN’T teach them
spiritual things.

“But STRONG MEAT BELONGETH TO  THEM WHICH ARE FULL OF
AGE, even those WHO BY REASON OF USE have their senses  EXERCISED to discern both good and evil. “ Heb. 5:14 There is no class or  shortcut to wisdom. 

The deep things do not come from a simple class or  lesson, but are revealed to us through the Holy Spirit of God himself. “But God  hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things,  yea, the deep things of God.” 1 Cor. 2:10

Therefore, “STUDY to shew  thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly  dividing the word of truth.” 2 Tim. 2:15