Being a professed teacher of the things of the Lord, there perhaps is no more fulfilling words to hear than “I want to learn and am a teachable spirit”. Those that possess this Spirit are whom the Lord delights. But the ones who say this must know (Isaiah 8:20) completely in their heart, for this is the GREAT STANDARD all teachers are judged. ” To the Law and to the Testimony, if they speak not these words, it is because they have no light in them”.
Once we know this standard for the teachers of Christ, we can look back upon history and see that the some of the teachers who were VERY popular in the world didn’t believe in the standard. They spoke a most solid message EXCEPT with subtle but important errors. Men like Martin Luther * and Billy Graham * come to mind. But their comtemporaries–Oswald Glait , Andreas Karlstadt (during Luther’s time) and Joe Crews, all well known in their own time and taught at the same time, yet never got the world wide following that these got. They taught the standard.
In (James 3:1) we read “My Brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgement”. These are stern and warning words that our teaching must be the truth. Our Lord does tell us that there is GREAT REWARD for the righteous teachers (Matt 5:19) “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of the Commandments and teaches others to do so, shall be called least in the kingdom of God, but whoever does and TEACHES THEM, he shall be called great in the kingdom of God”. Here the Lord equates Commandment teaching with “greatness”. This is something us teachers must always remember!
One of the greatest obstacles we as teachers face is pride. It truly saddens me when I try to show someone the truth according to scripture and it goes against their belief or learning they have been told. But when it comes to the opposite situation my joy is great– a open and humble “teachable spirit”. Let me give you a recent example. Her name is Teri.
In my post recently called “If we talk the talk, we must walk the walk” I tried to give a helpful guide to a righteous walk before the Lord. She received the post and was blessed by it. In her excitement she sent it off to her pastor. A SDA pastor no less. She was in mild shock when she received his response. In it he said some was good but alot was “legalistic”, sort of like the teachings of the Pharisees in Jesus’ time. Huh? This was the same response Teri had. Teri wasted no time and sending an email back correcting him according to scripture (Ezekiel 3:19) “If you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor turn from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you shall have delivered your soul”.
Wow. I feel like Jesus did when the centurion so impressed Him with his words. She is really the example of a teachable spirit. Being in the Holy Spirit she reconized the post and the truth it was saying and was warmed by it. She didn’t cower and meekly “accept” his reproof. I honestly fear for people like this pastor. It shows me something is seriously amiss. When we teach that to obey the Commandments is VERY important and that we should teach others, and people find fault in it, I seriously become concerned.
I am also reminded of this very important point. In (John 14:26) we read “But the helper, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you”. Here we see that it is the Holy Spirit who is our primary teacher.
The Holy Spirit is indeed helping us and giving us “Discernment” to know the truth and falsehood.Those who are secretly cherishing sins in their life CANNOT expect to have this clear discernment. As we let go of our sins, our vision and understanding of “Holy” things of God get more clear. I know in my own walk, as I have let go of my idols and many sins, my understanding of God’s word and truth is really clearer than anytime before.
In (Mal 2:7) God points out how the teachers (priests) should be teachers of His Law (Holy 10 Commandments) “For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the LAW from his mouth, for he is a messenger of the Lord of hosts.”
Lastly, as a teacher, one of the most important things to remember is we must NEVER ignore questions directed to us. This shows us to be either ignorant, prideful, or careless. All definitely not Christ like qualities.
So let us desire to use (Isaiah 8:20) as our guideline if we desire to teach. Praying often that we never think we have all the truth and can’t learn. Ellen White has said we will ever be learning new truths through out eternity, I can’t wait to know the vast truths that exist, I want to be a “teachable spirit” amen.
In Christ, your servant, Rob
* Many are well familar that pastor Graham taught Sunday was the Holy day of God. As far as Luther, it is well known among historians that he was anti- Sabbath as well http://concordiatheology.org/2010/05/luther%E2%80%99s-writing-against-emerging-sabbatarianism/
Godsloveandlaw's Blog 
July 23, 2011 at 10:11 pm |
Hi Rob,
Excellent blog! It is always nice to be used as an example when it is a reflection of something positive and good. But, we must always remember that the only good in me is because of Christ in me. And how can we worship God unless we have a teachable spirit. I never want to jeopardize my connection with GOD. To GOD be the glory! Thank you Rob.
P.S. You said I was mildly shocked at my pastor’s response. Correction, I was blown out of the water. 🙂
July 23, 2011 at 11:09 pm |
Well you shoulda told me that,lol. Yes, Teri, it really is the humble in heart that see God and the things of God. Keep up your solid walk 🙂
July 24, 2011 at 3:13 am |
Once again thanks for the blog 🙂
Darell
July 24, 2011 at 6:45 pm |
Thanks for reading this blog, you are always welcome Darell
July 31, 2011 at 7:11 pm |
Hi Rob,
Magnificent blog, Wow! the pastor does not have have the holy spirit. He has Satan spirit and a strong delusion. According to Act 5:32 “We are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, who God has given to them that obey him.” Proverbs 28:9 “He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Many people are deceive, ignorant, or just plain stupid.God means what he says and says what he means. You can not fool God.
God bless
August 7, 2011 at 3:50 am |
Vera
We are counseled not to judge or condemn a brother. John 8:7 Says whoever is without sin cast the first stone. Desire of Ages p 462 says, “Those who are forward in accusing others, and zealous in bringing them to justice, are often in their own lives more guilty than they….Christian love is slow to censure, quick to discern penitence, ready to forgive, to encourage, to set the wanderer in the path of holiness, and to stay his feet therein.
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS TO PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER THAT WE MIGHT BE HEALED.
Carolyn
August 7, 2011 at 5:07 am
Amen! Thank you Carolyn for your boldness in sharing that. I believe it is what we all need to be reminded of. I couldn’t have said it any better. 🙂
Teri
August 7, 2011 at 5:12 am
Carolyn, I can understand your view, but in defense of Vera, I was looking at it as a zealousness for righteousness. I really don’t think Vera meant it as “condemning” this pastor, rather rebuking his actions. If she would have said “He’s going to hell” or something like that, then yes, it would have been different. There are many instances in the Bible of strong rebukes. But like you said a passionate concern or reaching out should be our main concern.
August 7, 2011 at 6:50 pm
Hi Rob,
That is very kind of you to want to defend Vera. We must stay true to God’s word. Carolyn merely quoted the holy scriptures as to how to deal with that. When I read, “If we don’t have the holy spirit and have Satan’s spirit”, it sounded to me like he was going to hell. I am sure others could have misunderstood and interpreted it that way as well. Again, in light of the counsel given in Ministry Of Healing, we are instructed, “what we do or say may seem to us of little moment, when, could our eyes be opened, we should see that upon it depended the most important results for good or for evil.”
Because this is a blog, and therefore available for anyone to read, we all must be sensitive and careful what we write. We must remember that we are all ambassadors’ for Christ and for this reason we must exercise the fruit of the spirit.
Sincerely,
Teri
.
July 31, 2011 at 8:32 pm |
Vera, well I guess that makes two “Wow’s” 🙂 Thanks for your comment. You are well on your way to seeing and being with the Lord. The Holy Spirit is showing these truths to you. Just like Teri, you’ve inspired me! Amen.
August 1, 2011 at 5:35 am |
I am so thankful that I am not going to be the ONE who will be judging who will be in heaven or not.We are so fortunate that the Lord forgives us and gives us numerous chances to make things right when we error.
Shalom
August 1, 2011 at 3:54 pm |
Amen sister Teri. But let us also remember to strive to encourage and strengthen our brothers and sister when we can. Hopefully this blog is doing that. You’ve given me a good idea, soon I will post about “judging” and how many misunderstand the term in regard to scripture. Many times we hear “oh you’re JUDGING me” when infact we are showing their error and reaching out to help them spiritually.
August 1, 2011 at 9:22 pm |
Thank you Rob for sharing your feedback. I think there is a misunderstanding as to why I said what I said. I totally understand the difference between judging and pointing out error. Remember, I was the one who shared Ezekiel 3:19.
I was probably not specific enough because I didn’t want to offend anyone. Love doesn’t offend. I absolutely agree that we are to encourage and lift up our brothers and sisters. 🙂 We are counseled not to criticize out pastors. They are ordained by God and as David has said, “touch not the Lord’s anointed”. The prayers of the saints will either convert or remove those in error. We are counseled in the word of God, if we see our brother in error to go to him and to address error in a Christ like spirit. We are living in an extremely high-tech generation. Because of blogs, facebook, and the internet, we are temped to expose peoples’ errors to the world. This is not our christian duty. Our tongues, are nowadays our fingers, are to live to bless and not to curse others. As the wisest man who ever lived has said, “let your words be seasoned with grace”.
Recently, my friend George shared with me an excerpt from “Ministry of Healing”. It is worth repeating and applies well to this discussion. It can be found in the chapter, In Contact With Others, first two paragraphs.
“Every association of life calls for the exercise of self-control, forbearance, and sympathy. We differ so widely in disposition, habits, education, that our ways of looking at things vary. We judge differently. Our understanding of truth, our ideas in regard to the conduct of life, is not in all respects the same. There are no two whose experience is alike in every particular. The trials of one are not the trials of another. The duties that one finds light are to another most difficult and perplexing.”
“So frail, so ignorant, so liable to misconception is human nature, that each should be careful in the estimate he places upon another. We little know the bearing of our acts upon the experience of others. What we do or say may seem to us of little moment, when, could our eyes be opened, we should see that upon it depended the most important results for good or for evil.”
In light of the blog tiltle, “Teachable Spirit”, having a teachable spirit always leaves us open to receiving instructions from the Holy Spirit, which is essential for christian growth. I hope this has brought clarity and is helpful to everyone reading this.
Romans 8:28,
Teri
August 1, 2011 at 9:49 pm |
Thanks for the clarification Teri. Who is author of “Ministry for healing”? EGW? if so we can BANK ON IT 🙂
August 1, 2011 at 9:54 pm |
Amen to that! 🙂
August 3, 2011 at 3:54 am |
As David has said in the Psalm”: How plesant it is for brethern to dwell together in unity” I can see that this seems the focus of this blog. Continue in the way of the Cross dear saints Till we as we border the frontiers of heaven.
SHALOM
Geo.
August 3, 2011 at 4:17 am |
Amen brother George! Thanks for joining us here in this blog, we hope each new post (Friday evening) brightens your walk with the Lord. It’s His truth I speak, whether it’s popular or not, it shall be delivered here, amen.
August 3, 2011 at 4:22 am |
You meant to say, amen brother George! LOL
August 3, 2011 at 4:26 am
Your my right hand gal, what would I do with out you 🙂
August 3, 2011 at 4:49 am |
Rob,
I guess you would drown. You know the old saying, “behind every great man there’s a great woman. We know so and we can bank on it! 🙂
August 3, 2011 at 4:20 am |
Excellent quote from David, and the rest is wisdom from the Lord!