11 TIMOTHY 2:15

15) STUDY TO SHEW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, A WORKMAN THAT

NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.

STUDY: Strongs # 4704

spoudazo, spoo-dad-zo; from 4710; to use speed. i.e. to make effort, be prompt or earnest: - do ( give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study.

1.Diligent - 1) Constant effort to accompolish something. 2) Done or pursued with perservering attention; painstaking.

WORKMAN: Strongs # 2040

ergates, er-gat'-ace: from 2041: a toiler, fig. a teacher: - labourer, worker (-men)

A. STUDY – This is a word of action It is something that we do. It's a choice to study or not to study.

B. A WORKMAN -

1.The dictionary explains that a workman is a person who is skilled in a manual job. It's a personal ability to do something well.(CORRECTLY DONE – RIGHTLY DIVIDING)

2.This is talking about us studying. We can study in a group and individually but we do need to do it. A person puts a lot of effort into learning a skill because they know it will be the most beneficial to them and to their families to do the very best they can. Like a person with a skill on a job, we also will gain many benefits from learning to be skillful in how we study the Bible, for ourselves and for others around us.

C. RIGHTLY DIVIDING -

1.The word rightly here shows that there is a correct way to study. And also that it must be important

2.The next part of this study will show some of the reasons it is important to study correctly and the benefits to us when we do.

1. THESE WORDS ARE ALIVE!

a.HEBREWS 4:12 FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS QUICK ( QUICK MEANS It is life. It is alive so it can bring life) AND POWERFUL, AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWOEDGED SWORD, PIERCING EVEN TO THE DIVIDING ASUNDER OF SOUL AND SPIRIT, AND OF THE JOINTS AND MARROW, AND IS A DISCERNER OF THE THOUGHTS AND INTENTS OF THE HEART.

Not just any words can slice and dice or separate between our thoughts and hearts intents. God’s word’s can because GOD’S WORDS ARE ALIVE !!!!!!!

These words are alive. God's words in this book are not just ink. They are alive and we can receive life, help and anything else we need from the words in this book. These words are not just an old fable, something from bygone days. They are as much alive today as when Jesus spoke these words or men wrote them all those years ago. We need to let them be alive and work in our lives today. As you read and study in your Bible mark and underline things that interest you or encourage you. Then on your down days go back over some of these and read them. You may not feel like your mind is getting it but your spirit will and you will find yourself encouraged and strengthened.

1.Being a discerner of the thoughts and intents of our heart shows us that God is able to use the words in the Bible to help us figure out why we do the things we do. Like what kinds of things motivate us to do the things we do and maybe some reasons why we think about things the way we do. God can help us get our thoughts and attitudes in line with the way He wants us to think and do things. He wants this for us for our own good.

 

2.God put rules and guide lines in the Bible for us to follow not to make our lives complicated but to help us because He loves us. The following story is an example:

It's a beautiful day out side and a Mom and her five year old daughter decide to take a walk in the park. Mom reminds her daughter to stay close and not to run off. So together they stop and explore a bug or a pretty flower or stop for a few minutes to hear the birds sing or watch a cloud formation in the sky. All the while Mom is explaining to her daughter how Jesus had created all these pretty things in the world for them to enjoy. All of a sudden the little girl sees some beautiful flowers that catch her attention and she begins to run with childlike abandon to see these beautiful creations that Jesus had made for her to enjoy. Mom sees where she is headed and yells for her to stop and not to touch the flowers. But it was too late. When Mom got to her little girl she was sitting in the middle of a very large bunch of rose bushes and she was all scratched up and crying.

The Mom knew that even though the flowers her little girl was running to were pretty and something beautiful to be enjoyed she also knew that if she was not careful about the way she approached the flowers to enjoy them that she would be hurt. Like the little girl who needed to listen to her Mom's strong warnings we to need to listen to Jesus when He tells us things can hurt us or not to do something. It is not to spoil our fun but to keep us from the harm that he knows will come from certain kinds of behavior.

He knows the consequences to sin in our lives.

.

GALATIANS 6:7-8

7)BE NOT DECEIVED: GOD IS NOT MOCKED: FOR WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP.

8)FOR HE THAT SOWETH TO HIS FLESH SHALL OF THE FLESH REAP CORRUPTION; BUT HE THAT SOWETH TO THE SPIRIT SHALL OF THE SPIRIT REAP LIFE EVERLASTING.

1. It’s our choice. We need to learn God’s Words then we can choose to act like He says or not. We choose how to act and what choices we want for ourselves. We cannot blame God for the outcome because we reap what we sow. His advise is out of love for us. What a joyfull thought that our God loves us so much.

He wants to help us avoid trouble and heartache that we wouldn't have to go through if we knew to act and react the way God tells us in the Bible.

B.JAMES 1:22-25 22)BUT BE YE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEARERS ONLY, DECEIVING YOUR OWN SELVES. 23)FOR IF ANY BE A HEARER OF THE WORD, AND NOT A DOER, HE IS LIKE UNTO A MAN BEHOLDING HIS NATURAL FACE IN A GLASS: 24)FOR HE BEHOLDETH HIMSELF, AND GOETH HIS WAY AND STRAIGHTWAY FORGETTETH WHAT MANNER OF MAN HE WAS. 25)BUT WHOSO LOOKETH INTO THE PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY, AND CONTINUETH THEREIN, HE BEING NOT A FORGETFUL HEARER, BUT A DOER OF THE WORK, THIS MAN SHALL BE BLESSED IN HIS DEED.

1.When we look into a mirror and see a hair out of place or food between out teeth we go right then and try to fix our hair or get the food that is stuck between our teeth. We would be embarrassed for someone to see us that way. We should feel that way about something God shows us in the Bible that we should or shouldn't be doing. We should want to change. We should want to get that thing out of our lives and be the way God shows us we should be

c.ISAIAH 55:10-11 10)FOR AS THE

1.God is faithful to send rain, to provide what is needed for us to have an end result that will feed and sustain our bodies to give us physical strength.

2.God has also been faithful to send His Words which are our spiritual food. It gives life to our spirit to provide what is needed to keep our spirit alive and strengthened.

3. God has been faithful to do His part for us. We just need to take advantage of what He has given us not just to keep our bodies alive but our spirit strengthened. Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness to provide for us what we need both physically and spiritually. Help us please to take full advantage of your goodness.

d.JOHN 6:63 63)IT IS THE SPIRIT THAT QUICKENETH;{make alive, give live.} THE FLESH PROFITETH NOTHING: THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK UNTO YOU, THEY ARE SPIRIT, AND THEY ARE LIFE.

Our spirits need to be fed God’s words. They are alive. They give life to our spirit so it can grow and get strong. We can draw on that life and strength to get through each day. Our bodies go through ups and downs but if we keep our spirit fed and strong it will have the strength to get us through.

2. THE TRUTH WILL SET US FREE

a. JOHN 8:31-32 31) THEN SAID JESUS TO THOSE JEWS WHICH BELIEVED ON HIM. IF YE CONTINUE IN MY WORD, THEN ARE YE MY DISCIPLES INDEED; 32) AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.

This is one of those scriptures where there is an IF and a THEN. Meaning we have our part to do then God will do His part.

I heard someone say once’ that only the truth we know can set us free’. We can say we cherish our Bible and hug it to us and carry it everywhere but never open and read it then it won’t do us any good. So as we study we learn more and more about how to handle ourselves in this life and the helps that God has provided for us. This truth not only sets us free but others that we may be trying to reach and help for Jesus.

If you can’t read or feel you don’t have time to read you can buy the Bible on tapes or cd and you can put them on and listen while you clean house or drive especially if you get stuck in traffic a lot. What a good time to take advantage of a chance to strengthen your spirit and relax during a maybe stressful time.

3. REMEMBERED FOR OUR HELP

a. JOHN 14:26 BUT THE COMFORTER, WHICH IS THE HOLY GHOST, WHOM THE FATHER WILL SEND IN MY NAME, HE SHALL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS, AND BRING ALL THINGS TO YOUR REMEMBRANCE, WHATSOEVER I HAVE SAID UNTO YOU. God can only teach us or bring to our remembrance what we have studied or heard of His word. The more we study and learn, the more the Holy Spirit will have to bring to our remembrance as we need it. It's really neat the way God does to provide for us. I remember times that I studied something and then not long after that discovered that it was just what I needed for something I was going through in my life. God is a good God. He provides for us through His word.

 

3a. A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THIS IS:

a. EPHESIANS 6:15 in #11 it shows us that we are being taught here about putting on the whole armour of God. 15)AND YOUR FEET SHOD WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;

{This is a part of the armour. By studying the Bible, we are being prepared for what is next for us in our lives. What we may be going through or maybe someone we may talk to soon who may need to know what we have just learned. The word prepares us for daily life, as we step out, we are ready if we have allowed God to prepare us.

4. SO WE DON'T SIN AGAINST GOD

a. PSALM 119:11 THY WORD HAVE I HID IN MINE HEART, THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST THEE.

It is really special that God loved us so much to give us His book to study and learn about Him. We can take advantage of this special blessing though or not. This is a choice we make on a daily basis. Minute by minute second by second.

First, I am the one who hides God's words in my heart. Second, just because the word is in my heart doesn't mean I won't sin. I still have to choose to follow the word in my heart. It's my choice to obey God's words or not. Lord Jesus, Please help us to obey your word as we hide it in our heart. Help us please to not sin against you. Thank you, Amen.

5. DON'T BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST:

a. ROMANS 1:16 16)FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH; TO THE JEW FIRST, AND ALSO TO THE GREEK.

{We don’t want to be ashamed of these precious words of God.They give us the ability to have spiritual life to begin with. Then to grow and have spiritual knowledge and strength as we begin to study and learn what all is written in it. Just think these words teach us about Jesus and His death for us – for our sins. We are truly a blessed people if we just take advantage of what God has given to us in His Word.Thank you Jesus for the power to be saved.}

6. THESE WORDS ARE FOOD TO US

a. MATTHEW 4:4 4)BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID , IT IS WRITTEN, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.

1.It doesn’t say we can’t live by bread alone. It says we shall not live by bread alone.

2.So I began to wonder how much time is involved in our lives in making sure we have bread – food to eat. So I began to make a list. So here goes. You may come up with some of your own but this gives us a good start.

a. Someone has a job to bring in the money to buy the food we’ll eat.

b. We need a shopping list of the basics and everybody’s favorites food and snacks.

c. Someone goes shopping being careful not to leave anyone’s favorites off the list. Everything goes in the basket. If you are like most of us you stand in a fairly long line waiting for your turn to check out. Then out of the basket to put on the register belt. Then the food is handled again as it is passed over the scanner then bagged and put again back in the cart. Then it is pushed out to the car where it is handled again and put in the car. Then from the car to the house where it is carried again this time into the house where it is handled again when every thing is put away. Wow that is a lot of handling!!!!!!! And that’s just the beginning!!!

d. Next a decision is made as to what to have for which ever meal we are eating at the time. Could be breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks in between.

e. So once the meal is chosen it is prepared and ready to cook.

f. Then it is cooked .

g. We make it appetizing to please everyone the way they like it.

h. Then the meal is eaten .

i. Then clean up is done afterwards. Dishes are done and things put away in preparation for the next meal.

j. If someone doesn’t eat we worry

K. And that’s just one meal!!!!!

3.What are some of the reasons that we eat?

a. We are hungry we eat.

b. To celebrate we eat. Who won the ‘big game’. A baby shower. A wedding. A birthday. Little league games. Anniversaries or that long awaited wedding proposal. This list could go on and on. {Each list could go on and on but we get the idea anyway.J }

c. To fellowship we eat. (For those of you who remember root beer floats after baptisms at the lake J ) Coffee Houses are popular today. Of course we can’t leave out church potluck meals. Yum yum. Lots of good food and memories.

d. To show appreciation we may take someone out to eat or take a dessert.

e. To welcome a new neighbor we might take a dessert.

f. If we are nervous we nibble.

4. What kind of a list do we have for the time and effort that goes into feeding our spirit? Only each one of us can answer that for ourselves. But it is an interesting comparison. So just for the sake of the long list I think I should repeat the scripture so we don’t loose what our focus was on.

a. MATTHEW 4:4 4)BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID , IT IS WRITTEN, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.

b. HEBREWS 5:12-14 12)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. 13)FOR EVERYONE THAT USETH MILK IS UNSKILFUL IN THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS: FOR HE IS A BABE. 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. {These scriptures refer to the words of God as food. Jesus also put much emphasis on the words of God being important food for us as in the scripture we just discussed above.}

 

7. A TREASURE ABOVE ALL TREASURES

a. PROVERBS 3:13-15 13)HAPPY IS THE MAN THAT FINDETH WISDOM, AND THE MAN THAT GETTETH UNDERSTANDING. 14)FOR THE MERCHANDISE OF IT IS BETTER THAN THE MERCHANDISE OF SILVER, AND THE GAIN THEREOF THAN FINE GOLD. 15)SHE IS MORE PRECIOUS THAN RUBIES: AND ALL THE THINGS THOU CANST DESIRE ARE NOT TO BE COMPARED UNTO HER.

 

b. PROVERBS 8:10-11 10)RECEIVE MY INSTRUCTION, AND NOT SILVER; AND KNOWLEDGE RATHER THAN CHOICE GOLD. 11)FOR WISDOM IS BETTER THAN RUBIES; AND ALL THE THINGS THAT MAY BE DESIRED ARE NOT TO BE COMPARED TO IT.

 

C. PROVERBS 8:18-19 18)RICHES AND HONOUR ARE WITH ME; YEA, DURABLE RICHES AND RIGHTEOUSNESS. 19)MY FRUIT IS BETTER THAN GOLD, YEA, THAN FINE GOLD; AND MY REVENUE THAN CHOICE SILVER.

 

d. PROVERBS 16:16 16)HOW MUCH BETTER IS IT TO GET WISDOM THAN GOLD! AND TO GET UNDERSTANDING RATHER TO BE CHOSEN THAN SILVER!

e. PROVERBS 2:1-11 1)MY SON, IF THOU WILT RECEIVE MY WORDS, AND HIDE MY COMMANDMENTS WITH THEE; 2)SO THAT THOU INCLINE THINE EAR UNTO WISDOM, AND APPLY THINE HEART TO UNDERSTANDING; 3)YEA, IF THOU CRIEST AFTER KNOWLEDGE, AND LIFTEST UP THY VOICE FOR UNDERSTANDING; 4)IF THOU SEEKEST HER AS SILVER, AND SEARCHEST FOR HER AS FOR HID TREASURE; 5)THEN SHALT THOU UNDERSTAND THE FEAR OF THE LORD, AND FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. 6)FOR THE LORD GIVETH WISDOM: OUT OF HIS MOUTH COMETH KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING. 7)HE LAYETH UP SOUND WISDOM FOR THE RIGHTEOUS: HE IS A BUCKLER TO THEM THAT WALK UPRIGHTLY. 8)HE KEEPETH THE PATHS OF JUDGMENT, AND PRESERVETH THE WAY OF HIS SAINTS. 9)THEN SHALT THOU UNDERSTAND RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND JUDGMENT, AND EQUITY; YEA, EVERY GOOD PATH. 10)WHEN WISDOM ENTERETH INTO THINE HEART, AND KNOWLEDGE IS PLEASANT UNTO THY SOUL; 11)DISCRETION SHALL PRESERVE THEE, UNDERSTANDING SHALL KEEP THEE:

{If asked what the greatest treasure was, most people would answer gold, silver, precious stones. But God tells us that when we have wisdom, the knowledge of His word within us that that is the treasure to seek after, to dig for and to put all of our energies into getting, And then we will have real durable riches.}

 

1.We should gladly receive God's words.

2.We should hide these words in us.

3.We should make the conscious effort to incline our ears to wisdom

and apply our hearts to understanding.

4.We should cry after knowledge.

5.We should lift up our voice for understanding.

6.We should seek after it as silver.

7.We should search for it as a treasure.

 

2.These are all action words. Things we do. It takes a conscious effort on our part. We choose. It’s our choice

8. THE WAY TO GET THIS TREASURE

a. PROVERBS 4:20-23 20)MY SON, ATTEND TO MY WORDS; INCLINE THINE EAR UNTO MY SAYINGS. 21)LET THEM NOT DEPART FROM THINE EYES; KEEP THEM IN THE MIDST OF THINE HEART. 22)FOR THEY ARE LIFE UNTO THOSE THAT FIND THEM, AND HEALTH TO ALL THEIR FLESH. 23)KEEP THY HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE; FOR OUT OF IT ARE THE ISSUES OF LIFE.

 

 

b. PROVERBS 7:1-3 1)MY SON, KEEP MY WORDS, AND LAY UP MY COMMANDMENTS WITH THEE. 2)KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS, AND LIVE; AND MY LAW AS THE APPLE OF THINE EYE. 3)BIND THEM UPON THY FINGERS, WRITE THEM UPON THE TABLE OF THINE HEART.

 

{We are told a lot of things here to get and keep God's words

in our life. Attend to His words, listen, keep them before out eyes, keep them in our heart, write them on our heart. They are all things we do. We decide we want this very special treasure in our life and we go for it.}

 

 

9.11 CORINTHIANS 3:2-3

2) YE ARE OUR EPISTLE WRITTEN IN OUR HEARTS, KNOWN AND READ OF ALL MEN: 3)FOR AS MUCH AS YE ARE MANIFESTLY DECLARED TO BE THE EPISTLE OF CHRIST MINISTERED BY US, WRITTEN NOT WITH INK, BUT WITH THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD; NOT IN TABLES OF STONE, BUT IN FLESHLY TABLES OF THE HEART.

1.When we get God's words in us and we begin to let them work in us to help us be who and what God wants us to be then people will see Jesus in us. They will read us like a book and see Jesus.

 

 

Lord God please help us to diligently study your word. Help us to want to change when we see something in us that does not line up to what you are telling us in your words to us. Help us to dig for your wisdom and search for it like for a buried treasure. Thank you for your mercy and goodness in our lives. Amen.

 

©1998