THE IMPORTANCE OF TEACHING

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel, son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts - to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. And he has given both him and Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them master craftsmen and designers. So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded."

Exodus 35:30-35

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Before I surge toward the final chapters of the Book of Exodus, I wanted to come back to a passage at the end of Chapter 35 because it underscores an important point about our obligation as believers. For when the Lord grant us gifts in the way of talents and skills, He doesn’t expect us to keep all our knowledge and experience to ourselves as we carry out His will. He expects us to teach others as well.

Look again at these six verses here:

Then Moses said to the Israelites, "See, the Lord has chosen Bezalel, son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts - to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship. And he has given both him and Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as craftsmen, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them master craftsmen and designers. So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the Lord has commanded." Vv.30-35

Notice here that God not only gave Bezalel and Oholiab the "skill to do all kinds of work" but He also "the ability to teach others." Two men wouldn’t be able to do everything required on their own and so more men would need trained with the abilities needed to construct the tabernacle and its accessories. This would also be important in case something happened to Bezalel and Oholiab. Further, by teaching others, there would enough people educated in the trades to pass them down to future generations.

In regard to the matter of teaching, the Bible also talks about our responsibility to do so in many other places. Consider the following passages:

The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?" Jesus answered, "My teaching is not My own. It comes from Him who sent Me. If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether My teaching comes from God or whether I speak on My own." John 7:15-17

Here, through the words of our Savior Jesus, we’re reminded that all legitimate teaching first comes from God who sent His only Son to save us. If we’re going to teach others properly, we cannot rely on our own understanding but rather the wisdom and knowledge that God grants when we seek His will.

"In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." Titus 2:7-8

The Word of God is serious business because it literally deals with the matter of life and death, point blank. Whoever who does not believe and trust in God’s Son Jesus will not be saved; they will perish and not have everlasting life (John 3:16). All teachers must deliver the unvarnished truth through the Spirit of Christ, the One who is THE Way, THE Truth and THE Life, and the only One through which anyone can come to God the Father (John 14:16).

When anyone’s teaching is grounded in Christ through the guiding of the Holy Spirit, then they won’t be able to be condemned because their teaching will be delivered on the foundation of “integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech”. This is the teaching I am blessed to bring to readers each and every day.

"Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed My teaching, they will obey yours also." John 15:20

When we teach in the name and Spirit of Jesus and do so with absolute integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech, people will obey that teaching, not because it came from you but Jesus Himself. There’s also a word of warning here because there is often a cost associated with emulating the life and teaching of our Savior. As we see in this verse, He assures His disciples that they would experience persecution just as He did, and this truth continues today, more than 2,000 years later.

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

"Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son." 2 John 1:9

Why should believers always be ready to teach others, sharing the Word?

Because as we see in the scriptures, Jesus commanded it and expects them to do it.

This might be harrowing for some but note the assurance that Jesus provides at the end of His Great Commission:

“...surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Jesus isn’t sending His disciples out to teach what He commanded on their own. Rather, He has promised that He will be with us every step of the way, right down to the very end when He comes to judge the world.

We also need to hear loud and clear what John says regarding those who choose to be disobedient to the call to continue Jesus’ teaching. The scriptures tell us that a person like that doesn’t have God. Conversely, the one who is obedient and walks with Jesus every day, teaching as He did, has “both the Father and the Son”.

Finally, we have this from the Book of Acts:

"The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ." Acts 5:41-42

Remember how Jesus told His disciples that they would be persecuted as He was. Well, as we see in Acts, chapter 5, it doesn’t take long for this promise to come to life for shortly after receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2), Jesus’ chosen followers got to work sharing the Gospel and the Christian church began to take root in Jerusalem, much to the chagrin of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish religious authority.

And so they hauled “the apostles” in to appear before them and after testifying about Jesus and then being ordered to no longer speak in His name, the apostles emerged emboldened as they went into the “temple courts” and “from house to house” daily to teach and proclaim “the good news that Jesus is the Christ (or Messiah)”.

Like those first apostles, we need to see that there’s no expiration date on teaching the good news of Jesus. All believers today need to follow their lead, never ceasing to teach and proclaim the Gospel within every day that we’re blessed with life.

Friends, we need to see that the matter of teaching is central to the Bible, especially in regard to the Gospel. Jesus was our Savior but He also was our great Teacher for we could never learn how to be a Christian had it not been for His instruction. To serve Him properly is to be like Him in every way and the scriptures teach us how to be like that if we would just dedicate our time to study them.

Since 2007, the Lord has called me to share His Word with others through this ministry, The Christian Walk, and I pray that His messages, provided through me as His messenger, will help you to have a greater understanding of the Bible as you grow closer in your relationship with Him and become more like His Son Jesus.

Further, as we see highlighted in this message today, I pray you will see your responsibility to teach others as Jesus commanded in His Great Commission. For there’s much work to be done to help lost souls find salvation and be rescued from Hell by Christ, the only One who can save them.

How will you do your part today?

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.