Earlier this morning while out on my porch, I watched the familiar sight
of a yellow bus winding it's way up our road to the nearby school filled
with a busload of children. I couldn't help but wonder who might be more
excited about the day, the teachers or the students.... My mind then drifted
to the requirements the school had for the teachers before they were hired.
Then I thought about you and I as Christians, and I wondered whether or
not we prefer being "teachers" or "students" of the Word....
Which category would you put yourself in at this point in your Christian
walk? Do you ever wonder, "When will I be ready to teach others?" Is there
a desire within you to teach the things of God? Perhaps you feel like
you used to be an established teacher of Biblical truths, yet now require
becoming a student again.
If so, what brought you to that place in your life - resistance, or yieldedness?
I am not speaking in regard to taking on a Sunday School class, I am also
referring to teaching that certain someone God has directed you to for
the purpose of discipleship as well. Is there at least one person you
need to make an effort to teach God's ways to? Ladies, before we can take
on the responsibility of teaching others, we must understand what is expected
of us, amen? Therefore, today we will look into the scriptural requirements
of a teacher of the things of God in light of Psalm 51...
Vs. 1-2, "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness:
according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin."
Pictured here in the verses above are words descriptive of salvation as
we cry out to the Lord for His mercy and cleansing from our sins. Hence,
the first requirement is that a teacher of the things of God must obviously
be saved! There are many false teachers in this world today and they are
nothing more than the blind leading the blind unless they have been saved
by the blood of Christ.
Vs. 3-4, "For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before
me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy
sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear
when thou judgest."
Here is a beautiful description of a repentant spirit toward the Lord!
If we are ever going to teach others - even just one - we must be humble
in regard to our own sin. This is the second requirement of a true teacher.
Is this your heart's attitude today? Are you fully aware that you have
sinned against a holy and righteous God? How is it we think we can be
clear in our judgement when it comes to matters of teaching if we have
not judged ourselves properly in God's sight?? You can't build a teaching
career upon a prideful foundation...
Vs. 5-6, "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive
me. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden
part thou shalt make me to know wisdom."
Behold the third requirement... Though man must have a clear understanding
of the origin of sin, you and I must be able to openly admit that we are
sinners individually, not just collectively! Do you typically make excuses
for your sins, or are you in the habit of acknowledging them? Ladies,
we must understand that God wants truth residing within each one of us.
Admitting your sin is telling yourself the truth. Telling the truth is
holy preparation for teaching the truth...
Without truth rooted in our souls we will only end up compromising and
counseling others improperly, not to mention deceiving our own hearts.
A key point Scripture teaches us here is that the wisdom of God is granted
to us only after careful confession of our sins! How are you doing in
your credentials so far, dear lady??
Vs. 7-8, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall
be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones
which thou hast broken may rejoice."
Fourthly, a teacher of the things of God is required to depend upon the
Lord for purity and joy. Do you have confidence in the Lord to create
in you godly credentials? We ourselves are not capable of manufacturing
either of these character traits in our lives apart from a thriving, personal
relationship with the Lord. If we are not living pure, joyful lives, what
effect can our teaching have on others? Perhaps you've been under the
instruction of an individual you knew to be living an impure life and
can remember that their teachings had no impact on your life. Perhaps
you've received counseling from someone whose own life is lacking joy
and you doubted the recipe they were handing you for your problem.
My point is, our testimony can get in the way of others learning from
us if there is no purity or joy present in our lives.
Psalm 51:9-12, "Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from
me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free
spirit."
Lastly, pictured here in these verses is the recognition and respect of
the role of the Holy Spirit. What Christian could succeed if disregarding
God's voice within them?? Hence, in teaching the things of God, we must
maintain a constant awareness of the Holy Spirit's presence. We must daily
yield to His leading in the conviction of sin in our own lives and keep
ourselves sensitive to His voice. We must keep our spirits renewed and
supported by the Spirit's abiding presence. He it is we must lean upon
when teaching others - not our own strengths, or weaknesses! We must walk
through this life hand in hand with our Creator... Many of God's children
never step out to teach a class or an individual simply because they don't
see within themselves the capability to take on such a responsibility.
On the other hand, we must not rule out the fact that there are also many
Christians who have set themselves up as teachers because they are leaning
on their own strengths. Both groups have disregarded the role of the Holy
Spirit and neither become effective teachers of the things of God. Through
the Spirit, our study and application of the Word of God will be blessed
and multiplied. Through ever yielding to the Spirit of God, God's hand
will uphold all that we do and send forth into the lives of others.
Vs. 13, "Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be
converted unto thee."
God's work done God's way brings God's results! In following closely this
scriptural guideline today, you and I can fulfill the requirements for
being an effective teacher of the things of God. However, we can confidently
look forward to being a teacher only after we have enjoyed being a student
of the Word of God! Ladies, God wants to use you to reach lost sinners
and saved sinners not living right. They have some truths they need to
be taught just like you and I did - and still do. Praise God for the faithful,
godly teachers in our lives we have to look back on, amen? No doubt they
influenced our lives greatly because these are the very principles they
lived by as found in Psalm 51 today. Each time you see a yellow school
bus as I did this morning, I pray you'll be provoked to remember this
study and strive to get to this point in your walk with the Lord.
Your students await you!
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
