Study
I. Introduction
Some things are complex and complicated. Politics. The sport called Cricket. Defining the word “the”. The human brain. Cats.
However, faith was never supposed to be complex or confusing. Man has this propensity to make things harder than they should be. When Jesus arrives on the scene man had severely complicated matters. So, last week I challenged you to really ask yourself if you are truly a disciple. Remember we said disciples are disciples because they choose to obey. This leads me to a conclusion. If we are going to be disciples, then not only must we follow the example of Jesus but of the first disciples. If they were disciples because they obeyed what did they do? Let me pose this question another way. In recent years a local church has defined “disciple” in what may be one of the best and most succinct way. They say a disciples is a “fully devoted follower of Christ.” I think they are right. But my question is what then is a disciple devoted to? Fortunately for us we are told.
Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
We are clearly told exactly what the disciples were devoted to. The very first one is that they were devoted to the apostles’ teaching. Man I wish we had record of those lessons don’t you? I so wished we had a document where their teachings were written so that we could devote ourselves to those teachings! I say that tongue in cheek because we do. What those early disciples were hearing we can read. It is what we call Scripture.
So simply stated the disciples were devoted to study of Scripture. In fact, Paul comes along and instructs those of us who want to obey to devote ourselves to this same practice.
2 Timothy 2:15 (AMP)
Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.
So the early disciples and then Paul giving instruction to his disciple Timothy reveal that disciples should study.
Disciples study.
Most of us after school have an aversion to the concept of study. So we have substituted listening for learning. Notice it didn't say listen to the Word to grow in ability to handle the Word. I am not discounting the necessity and benefit of hearing the Word. However, too many of us only want to learn from someone else’s work. The result is we simply don’t study like we should. We have a tendency to become lazy. We expect to be spoon fed.
One of the issues is that the earliest trick the enemy used against us is the one he will continue to use. He approaches Eve and says “Is that what God said?” That challenge leads Eve into failure and sin simply because she didn’t know what God said. So often just because we don’t study we don’t know. And our lack of study results in the fulfillment of the truth in Hosea 4 which states, “My people perish or are destroyed due to lack of knowledge.”
In the Yosemite and Yellowstone Park' s there are signs that say, "Do not feed the bears". Most people think the signs are to protect people. The signs are to protect the Bears. If they depend upon the tourists for food, then in the fall, they starve to death. Every year the Rangers have to remove the dead carcasses of bears who were so dependent upon the Tourists for food that they forgot how to find food for themselves. If we don't feed on the Word ourselves, we wind up like the Bears, dependent upon pastors, teachers, podcasts, or TV preachers for "food" and we spiritually starve to death.
A recent survey revealed that most Americans don’t know first-hand the overall story of the Bible—because they rarely pick it up,” One of the researchers said, “Even among worship attendees less than half read the Bible daily. The only time most Americans hear from the Bible is when someone else is reading it.” He went on to say “Americans treat reading the Bible a little bit like exercise. They know it’s important and helpful but they don’t do it. Americans are fond of the Bible but don’t read it.”
Disciples study! Why?
There are all kinds of reasons I can give you light, direction, protection, healing, provision, promises, etc. But let’s keep it simple today. We must study for two reasons . . .
Study shows us Him.
John talking about Jesus states that in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. So, Jesus was the literal embodiment of the Word of God. So, when we study the written Word we get revelation about Jesus. We said last week that a disciples would follow a rabbi not just to be with him or just to learn his teaching but also to learn his character. It is as we read the Word that we learn the character of the One we are trying to follow. If we don’t study the Word, then we can’t really know The Word.
Remember, I told you feelings are liars and the truth is our experience can lie to us as well. Too many of us rely on liars to give us a revelation of Jesus. We meet the true Him in the Word. It is His Word that gives us a reliable and clear picture of who He is. If we don’t know His Word someone can tell us untruths about Him that sound right but aren’t true. Too often we allow others to paint the picture of Him rather than seeing the picture that He drew of Himself. We must study so we, as sheep, will know the voice of the Shepherd. Scripture says His sheep will know His voice but you can’t know His voice if you don’t study His talk! Through His Word He speaks for Himself rather than through the filter of someone else’s voice/thoughts/feelings.
Too many of us claim to Jesus while at the same time we’re not devoted to His Word.
The daily saturation in the Word produced disciples. The disciples were the disciples because they were daily disciples and disciplined by the Word.
Study shows us us.
Not only do we study to get a clear picture of Him. We study because as we read the Word . . . The Word reads us.
Hebrews 4:12 NIV
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
God means what He says. What He says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey.
As we study we get a clear picture of what is in us and what needs to change. Until we study we can’t be obedient to change because we don’t know there is change needed. Ever met anyone who had no self awareness? They were rude, angry, calloused, bitter, sarcastic and didn’t even know it? If we read the Word the Word reads us and points out things that need to be addressed in our lives in order for us to change, clean up and become more like the One we are reading about.
How many times have you been reading when illumination takes place and the Scripture suddenly addresses you?
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. (2 Tim. 3:16)
We must be trained in righteousness because without His Word we get trained in religion and rules!
If we want to be disciples we must study! We must become devoted to study. We can’t be satisfied with simply listening. We must dig into His Word so we will know Him and so we will know us!
How much are you studying? Not concerned how long. New Christian start somewhere like John. Seasoned Christian start anywhere.
