|
The Fathers Eternal Purpose for Believers |
|
|
|
|
Written by John K. Eichmann
|
|
Friday, 14 December 2007 |
|
Page 4 of 7
In many cases, the modern pastor is to busy running all over the places catering to his congregation to find the time to study and teach the Word of God the way he should be doing it. In other cases, the pastor has found his comfort zone. He has a guaranteed income as long as he goes through the motions and doesn’t offend the power structure of his local assembly. The power circle consists of the “big givers” and the “dependable hard workers”.
“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:4
Every pastor needs to pray for his sheep, study the Word and teach it to them!
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” II Timothy 3:16-17
The Holy Bible is the absolute Word of God! As believers, we have a duty and a responsibility to spend our Christian lives studying and learning the Word of God. Not for the purpose of gaining a lot of theological knowledge but so that we can come to a spiritually mature knowledge and understanding of the being of God and the works of God. We study the Canon of Scripture because it is God’s message to us! A message designed to allow us to daily expand our knowledge of God, our appreciation for God and for the plan of God.
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” II Peter 3:18
We have too many spiritually illiterate believers in the United States of America! The Bible teaches us that we all started out as new born spiritual babes and that we had a positive volitional desire to be fed the milk of the Word of God (cf. I Pet. 2:2). All believers have to start out with basic foundational doctrine because they have not yet developed the ability to comprehend and believe advanced doctrine (cf. I Cor. 3:2). The problem is that many believers never grow up spiritually and after being saved for years they are pathetic spiritually retarded babies who still need someone to change their spiritual diapers for them on a daily basis (cf. Heb. 5:12-13). Every believer should seek to develop spiritual maturity and to learn to appreciate the in-depth teaching of the Word of God (c.f. Heb. 5:14). God gave us a brain and we need to use it.
“That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death;” Philippians 3:10
|
