The KJV says, “Study to show thyself approved.” The NKJV says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God.” The meaning of “DILIGENT” depends upon its use. It can mean “to STUDY, to PRESERVE, to be ZEALOUS, to ENDEAVOR, to ATTEND TO, or VERY CAREFUL.” It can also mean “ACCURATELY, EXACTLY, and PERFECTLY.” One thing is for sure, all of the meanings of the word “DILIGENT” refer to someone who SETS A GOAL and ACHIEVES IT.

I) Again 2TIM 2:15 {read}. Many people quote this Verse to say we need to study the Word of God. That’s true but that’s only part of it.

A) The Apostle Paul, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was conveying a deeper thought than what the word “STUDY” implies.

1) The word “study” means to “ENDEAVOR OR GIVE DILIGENCE.”

a) You can look that up in the Strong’s and in the W. E. Vine Dictionary of New Testament Words.

b) “Be zealous” from the Bible Knowledge Commentary.

2) You are to endeavor or give diligence to show thyself approved unto God.

a) As the Wuest translation puts it, “Endeavor or bend your every effort to present yourself to God, approved.”

B) How can you present yourself to God, approved?

1) What are some things that are approving to God?

a) Prayer, fellowship with Him, reading the Word, meditation on the Word, the work of the ministry, Holy Life, and there’s others. But we’re MAINLY TALKING ABOUT DILIGENCE IN THE WORD.

2) At the end of (2TIM 2:15) it says, “Rightly dividing the word of truth.”

a) When you’re diligently presenting yourself approved unto God thru prayer, fellowship, doing the work of the ministry, and studying the Word, the Word of God gives us the IDEA HERE that you will be rightly dividing the Word of truth.

(i) And I believe that. Somebody that doesn't have the Holy Spirit or a prayer life or fellowship with God CANNOT rightly divides the Word of truth.

3) The NIV brings out something a little different in this Verse. It says, "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."

a) From this translation it sounds like Paul is saying, if you diligently present yourself approved unto God AND correctly handle the Word of truth you'll not be ashamed. Not before man, but before God.

4) The idea that the Apostle Paul brings out is that you are to become SUCH A WORKMAN for God in every area you'll have NO CAUSE FOR SHAME when your WORK is UNDER INSPECTION.

a) When is your work under inspection?

b) During a test, trial, or a temptation.

c) I’m not saying that God is bringing a temptation upon you. (JAM 1:13) “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:”

d) If I was to ask for someone to do some carpentry work and everyone in the church volunteered. I wouldn’t know who was a good carpenter and who was not, until I put your work to the test. The good carpenter would not be ashamed, but the poor one would be ashamed.

II) An example of work under inspection is the life of Jesus. I want you to turn with me over to the book of MATT. And we’re going to look at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

A) MAT. 4:1-11.

1) Satan tried to move Jesus from God by tempting him to act on something other than the Word of God. Satan is desirous of being like God.

a) In this case Satan desired Jesus to act on his word.

b) Jesus simply replied with scripture to the tactics of Satan.

c) Each time Jesus replied with the Word of God.

2) I think that we can all agree that Jesus rightly divides the Word of truth, since He is the word.

a) This is a good example of a workman that is diligent in the Word of God, passing the test and being approved.

b) By God sending His angels to come and minister to Jesus, is God’s stamp of approval.

B) Remember Adam and Eve, they were also put under the test caused by Satan. But they failed the test. They sold out to Satan. They acted on something other than the Word of God. They acted on Satan’s word.

1) Look at GEN 3:23-24 [This is right after there fall]

a) No angels came to minister to them. Angels are mentioned, but they came to keep them out of the garden.

b) Adam was a workman put to shame and was robbed of God’s best for him.

2) We always see Jesus staying on the Word of God.

3) JOHN 12:49-50, listen to what Jesus said.

a) (JOHN 8:28) Says, “Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.”[i]

b) In other words Jesus always operated on the Word of his Father.

c) By doing this Jesus never gave place to the devil. He never opened the door for the devil.

d) That’s the results of being diligent in the Word to where you show yourself approved unto God.

e) That’s also our responsibility. We have to be diligent in the Word.

C) By giving the Word of God 1st place in your life (and when I say giving the Word 1st place, I mean doing it not just saying you do), , by always acting on God’s Word and never on false words, you will approved just like Jesus was.

1) He had all of heaven at His command, we see that by the angels that came to minister to Him, and in MATT 26:53 where Jesus said “Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?” [ii]

III) There is one thing that we need to understand and that is that, diligence is going to cost you something. It's going to cost you your COMMITMENT AND TIME.

A) A quality decision is needed. Make that decision today that you are a person diligent in God’s Word.

1) You can’t fool God. Don’t fool yourself; make a decision that will stay.

2) Many times people grow weary in their study.

B) Ecclesiastes 12:12.

1) Study is a weariness of the flesh. That’s why people give up in the area of diligence.

2) Jesus said in (MAT 26:41) that the spirit indeed {is} willing, but the flesh {is} weak.

a) We should continue in the Word, even if our flesh doesn’t like it.

b) God wants us to continue in our well doing. John 6:63.

3) GAL 6:7-9. The word “WEARY” here means “DON’T FAINT, DON’T GIVE UP.”

a) In other words, “Don’t give up in your well doing.”

b) The NIV translation says, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (NIV)

C) Look at Hebrews 11:6.

1) We will reap a harvest, if we don’t give up.

a) Take command over your flesh.

b) Begin to be diligent in the Word of God today!

WOLCC 7/21/91 SUN AM and WOLCC Sunday, 8/22/1999 & Thursday, December 18, 2003

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[i]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Jn 8:28). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[ii]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Mt 26:53). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.