Teachers
Matthew 23.5-11 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.
How do we reconcile this eternal truth for believers with this one:
1 Corinthians 12.27-31.nkjv Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Teachers are important in the body. A teacher gives small tastes of heavenly food, the word of God prepared well, to call others to the place to get filled. A teacher does not have enough food to sustain you, but they have enough to get you interested in ordering your own meal.
Jesus said that unless we abide in him, we can bear no fruit. You bear the fruit of whomever you are fed from. If you abide in a teacher, you will begin bearing a fallen man's fruit. So, this is the way: grab onto the exciting things a teacher reveals and take them to the Lord. Start a conversation with Jesus about that thing that moved your heart. Order your own meal from the One who never runs out...The One who will sustain your life forever... And then share what he gives you to call more to the feast.
This is good servanthood:
Matthew 24.44-51.nkjv Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods....
This is bad servanthood...part of bad servanthood is eating and drinking earthly wisdom:
...But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus wants to make you dinner, but you have to let Him.... You have to want what He has to eat:
Revelation 3.14-22.nkjv “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”
Many go from teacher to teacher...never satisfied because they never go to where meals are made... This is deadly in this hour of human history:
2 Timothy.4.3-5.nkjv For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
How do we reconcile this eternal truth for believers with this one:
1 Corinthians 12.27-31.nkjv Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
Teachers are important in the body. A teacher gives small tastes of heavenly food, the word of God prepared well, to call others to the place to get filled. A teacher does not have enough food to sustain you, but they have enough to get you interested in ordering your own meal.
Jesus said that unless we abide in him, we can bear no fruit. You bear the fruit of whomever you are fed from. If you abide in a teacher, you will begin bearing a fallen man's fruit. So, this is the way: grab onto the exciting things a teacher reveals and take them to the Lord. Start a conversation with Jesus about that thing that moved your heart. Order your own meal from the One who never runs out...The One who will sustain your life forever... And then share what he gives you to call more to the feast.
This is good servanthood:
Matthew 24.44-51.nkjv Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods....
This is bad servanthood...part of bad servanthood is eating and drinking earthly wisdom:
...But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Jesus wants to make you dinner, but you have to let Him.... You have to want what He has to eat:
Revelation 3.14-22.nkjv “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”
Many go from teacher to teacher...never satisfied because they never go to where meals are made... This is deadly in this hour of human history:
2 Timothy.4.3-5.nkjv For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
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