2 Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
Our lesson today is titled “Approved Unto God, Part 1”
In our last lesson series we learned of the Great Commission: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” God has done something in Christ upon which the salvation of the world depends, and all the world needs to hear about it.
Who is going to take the gospel to the world? Those who are servants of God. We who are saved are called to serve God and take the gospel to the lost.
We must not forget that we ourselves were once lost, dead in trespasses and sins, and separated from the life of God. Some servant of God told us about the Lord Jesus; we believed on Him and became children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. Now we must become servants of God that others may hear the gospel and be saved.
Sinner—son—servant! These are the vital links in God’s plan for getting the gospel to the world. Sinners hear the gospel, believe on the Lord Jesus, and become sons. In time, they become servants of God who take the gospel to others.
In this lesson series we are going to learn how we can begin preparing ourselves to be effective servants of God.
To become a doctor, teacher, or lawyer one must spend many, many hours preparing himself. To become an effective servant of God also requires diligent preparation. The Bible says, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
To be an effective servant of God, two things are absolutely essential:
1. A working knowledge of the Bible.
2. Daily fellowship with the Lord
How do we obtain a working knowledge of the Bible? By reading it, by studying it, and by memorizing portions of it. The Bible is the most important book in all the world; yet, sad to say, many Christians do not take time to read it and become familiar with it.
As we read the Bible we must depend upon the Holy Spirit to reveal its truths to us. The Bible is different from other books in that it cannot be understood without the illumination of the Holy Spirit. This explains why an unsaved person cannot understand the Bible. He does not understand it because he does not have the Holy Spirit. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:14, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Those who have been born again have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them; therefore they can understand the things of God. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:12, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
Every time we open God’s Word to read it, let us pause a moment to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal its truths to us. David’s prayer is a good one for us: “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”
Christians should grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. To grow we must have food. Our spiritual food is the Word of God. First Peter 2:2 says, “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.”
When we eat, we take food into our bodies. It becomes a part of us. We must likewise take God’s Word into our lives—it must become a part of us. We take God’s Word into our lives by obeying it. The Bible says, “be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” As we read God’s Word, let us believe its truths, claim its promises, and obey its commands. We will grow in the knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ through reading and obeying the Bible. And it will start us on our path to becoming effective servants of God.
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If you do not know Jesus Christ as your Saviour, John 3:16 states, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The Bible also says in Romans 10:9 and 13: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and I want to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! I want to congratulate you on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
Until next time, May the Lord Bless You!
The Gospel Light Minute X 