A Teachable Spirit
Griffith Baptist Church – 12/9/07
P.M. Service
Text: Psalm 25
Main Verse: 25:12
Introduction
What distinguishes a teachable spirit from an unteachable spirit? It is not the willingness to learn that which we would desire to learn but rather a willingness to learn that which we need to learn, even if it is unpleasant or seems unnecessary. The little eaglet does not care to be shoved out of the nest but will never learn if not faced with the prospect of a deadly fall. So the Christian says to the Creator, teach me so that I know and am drawn closer to you, no matter what, for “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” (Ps. 91:1)
Outline of Psalm 25
A. Pleas for Guidance – 25:1-7
B. Plans for the Righteous – 25:8-14
C. Prayer for Forgiveness and Protection – 25:15-22
1. What Are Unteachable People Like?
A. They think they have learned enough
B. They tune out instruction
C. They make excuses for their behavior and attitudes (Like Moses Ex. 4:10-15)
2. Getting Ourselves Ready to Learn
A. Prepare yourself in your heart and mind
B. Be open and anticipate needing to change
C. Focus in on the one thing that God is speaking to you about (do not multi-task – the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step)
Body
1. Who Is Taught?
A. According to our text, one who fears the Lord. What is the fear of the Lord?
i. Purity (holy) in His sight – Psalms 19:9 – The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
ii. It is connected with wisdom and knowledge – Psalms 111:10 – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever. (Prov. 1:7)
iii. It hates sin – Proverbs 8:13 – The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
iv. Because God is our judge – Hebrews 10:30-31 – 30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
v. Humility - James 4:10 – Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (also, the example of Isaiah in Is. 6:1-8)
vi. Bottom line – One who fears God realizes the terrible potential of the Creator to exercise judgment on every living thing because He is holy and yet He exhibits mercy and grace to us constantly. One who fears God realizes that His mercy and grace can be replaced by judgment at any moment, and so seeks to please God.
B. Those who are saved (just) - Proverbs 9:9 – Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
C. Those who are wise and seek wisdom - Proverbs 1:5 - A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
2. What Are We Taught?
A. The contents of teaching
i. To number our days (Ps. 90:12)
ii. Knowledge (Ps. 94:10)
iii. The Law (Ps. 132:12) – the precepts and principles of God’s Word
iv. His Will – Psalms 143:10 - Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
v. Doctrine – 1 Timothy 1:3 – As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, and 1 Timothy 4:13 - Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
B. The results of teaching
i. Godliness - Titus 2:11-12 - 11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
ii. A warning - 1 Timothy 6:3-5 - 3If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
3. How Are We Taught
A. By the Holy Spirit – 1 Corinthians 2:13 – Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
i. Through the Word (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
ii. Conviction (John 16:13)
B. Pastors and teachers – Ephesians 4:11 – And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
i. Pastors must take the helm of teaching and preaching God’s truth to the people
ii. Other teachers are responsible as well - 2 Timothy 2:2 - And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
iii. Teachers are responsible to teach doctrine, not dwell on the external things that please the flesh – 1 Timothy 4:8 - For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
a. This is what is wrong with the church today
b. Churches spend more time pleasing the people than pleasing God
c. Nothing wrong with fellowship, in it’s proper perspective
d. We are in a sinful state when we can’t wait till the teaching and preaching end and we can get to the good stuff. (sarcasm)
iv. Godly teaching ought to perpetuate itself – 2 Tim. 2:2 (Ps. 78:4-6; Deut. 6:7)
C. Each other – Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
D. The wrong and right paths of spiritual learning
i. Wrong: Knowledge Experience
a. Knowledge is reading the word to get it in the head
b. Experience is the works portion of the process
c. That is not how spiritual things are learned
d. We are not being trained for a career but being trained for godliness, so there is an additional step
e. The church today acts like reading the word and than doing the work is all that is needed
f. This removes the element of the Holy Spirit
g. Most of the time, people struggle because it doesn’t stick, there is no glue there
ii. Right: Knowledge Conviction Experience
a. Conviction is the glue that holds true spiritual teaching together
b. Now it goes from the head (knowledge) to the heart (conviction) to the work (experience, being a doer of the Word)
c. This is true and right learning that pertains to godliness
d. This is fruit that remains
Conclusion:
So, How do we have a teachable spirit?
1. We have to make up our minds and our hearts that we want to be taught
2. We need to humble ourselves to take directions from God
3. In order to learn what is right we have to unlearn what is wrong
4. We must realize that Satan will do all he can to hinder you from instruction
