Answering the CALL of GOD III
2 Tim 2:14-15
14 Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (NIV)
v Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.
1 Cor 8:1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2 The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.
Knowing about something is not knowing it. Learning is a life long experience.
v Do your best
o Don’t give God anything less than your best.
v to present yourself
o There are always people and angels and God watching us. Live like someone is watching us, because they are.
v to God
o 1 Cor 4:3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. 4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
o There will be times that men do not understand what God is teaching us or why we do the things that we do, i.e. tithing, church attendance, bible study, praying, etc.
v as one approved
o We will receive a stamp of approval by the Holy Spirit. Authority, anointing, grace,
v a workman
o Work! Always a workman, self motivated, responsible, diligent.
v who does not need to be ashamed
o Ashamed? Those times when we are called upon to do things and we run or we are not prepared or we are wrong in what we share or do.
v who correctly handles the word of truth
o vs. incorrectly! What we teach and preach will affect people forever.
§ We must have pure motives.
§ We must understand the heart of God and what he means.
§ We cannot take things out of context to prove our theories
§ His word is to build up not tear down (spirit and Life)
§ His words will penetrate deeper than the head. Heb.4:12