GOD'S MINISTRY
THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH
BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Revs. Mr. and Mrs. H. Dean Daniels
E-mail: gods-ministry@hdd-gods-ministry.com
Web-site: http://www.hdd-gods-ministry.com/
A TEACHABLE SPIRIT
by
Rev. K. R. Buchanan
WE CAN ALL LEARN
Being “teachable” is explained in many ways, both in the Old
Testament and in the New Testament! If you are teachable, you are capable
of being taught, apt to learn and willing to receive instruction.
Psalms 25:4 Shew me thy
ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
God is not limited, but we can certainly limit what He is
able to accomplish for His kingdom, through us, if we are unwilling to
learn! If we refuse to learn, it is disobedience! Rebellion is as
the sin of witchcraft and is contrary to God’s perfect will!
WE MUST BE HUMBLE
The first thing that each and every one of us must do is
humble ourselves before God, repent for not being sensitive to the conviction
of the Holy Spirit and ask God to pour His words into the spirit of our mind,
teaching us all He desires for us to show others. Once we have humbled
ourselves before God, then He can begin to bring about a good work in us!
Psalms 51:17 The
sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God,
thou wilt not despise.
Two
sacrifices are always acceptable to God:
1. A broken
spirit. Hebrew: shabar, to shiver; break in
pieces; reduce to splinters.
2. A broken
and contrite heart. Hebrew: dakah, to
crumble; beat to pieces; bruise; crush; humble (Psalm 51:8, 17;
Psalm 38:8; Psalm 44:19).
[thou wilt not despise] God won't despise a
broken and contrite spirit or heart because of His infinite compassion, mercy,
and grace which are promised to all who are crushed and beaten to pieces by sin
and satanic powers.
Once we are quiet and humble before God, He can show us
where we have not remained in His perfect will!
Job 6:24 Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and
cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
This is a marvelous Scripture where God says “HUSH!!!”
Notice that being quiet is the key to seeing where a mistake was made! If
we aren’t quiet, we can’t see where we’ve gone wrong! The Holy Spirit is
gentle, and will not scream to get our attention! Being quiet and seeking
God fervently allows the things which confound the wise to be revealed to
us! In all things we ought to pray that God would teach us all He has for
us to learn! However, if you decide that YOU know better than ALMIGHTY GOD,
ignore the Lord’s commandments and Scriptures; He will pour His wrath out upon
you! Trials, tribulations, sickness, hard times are all directly
attributable to living a life that is contrary to God’s ways!
Ezekiel 21:31 And I will
pour out mine indignation upon thee, I will blow against thee in the fire of my
wrath, and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men, [and] skilful to
destroy.
HE WILL TEACH US
If we humbly pray and ask God to illumine His word, He is
more faithful and willing to, than we are to ask Him! God is the author!
Psalms 25:5 Lead me in thy
truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait
all the day.
David was human, just as we are, and his life was filled
with many trials and temptations. Over and over again, David pours his
heart out to God, and then he hands the problem over to Him because God
certainly knows how to work it out! David thanks Him for solving the
problem, believing by faith that God has done so and sings His praises, waiting
to see how God will resolve the problem! If we would follow the same line
of direction, we would not limit God! If we ask the Lord to show us what
He expects us to do and to say, He is faithful to explain His word to us, to
help us understand, abide and grow.
Psalms 32:8 I will instruct
thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine
eye.
It is very clear that God will direct us in every aspect of
our lives!
Exodus 4:15 And thou shalt speak
unto him, and put words in his mouth: and I will be with thy mouth, and with
his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.
This clearly defines inspiration. It is simply God
putting words in the mouths of prophets and being with them in all they say,
causing all to happen that He has had them speak!
Isaiah 55:11 So shall my
word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but
it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing]
whereto I sent it.
Twelve Things to Pray to be Taught:
1.
To hold my tongue (Job 6:24)
2.
What I shall say unto God (Job 37:19)
3.
Your paths (Psalm 25:4)
4.
Your truth (Psalm 25:5)
5.
Your way (Psalm 27:11; Psalm 86:11)
6. To
number my days, that I might apply my heart unto wisdom (Psalm 90:12)
7.
Your statutes (6 times: Psalm 119:12, 26, 64, and 68,124,135)
8.
The way of Your statutes (Psalm 119:33)
9.
Judgments (Psalm 119:66,108)
10. Knowledge
(Psalm 119:66)
11. Your will
(Psalm 143:10)
12. To pray (Luke 11:1)
Four Classes that God Promises
to Teach:
Sinners in the
way (Psalm 25:8)
The meek (Psalm
25:9)
Those that fear
God (Psalm 25:12)
The godly
(Psalm 32:6-8)
Who Are to Teach:
Parents (Deuteronomy
4:9-10; Deuteronomy 6:7; Deuteronomy 11:19)
Priests
(Deuteronomy 24:8)
Levites
(Deuteronomy 24:8)
Prophets (1
Samuel 12:23)
All Christians
(Matthew 28:19-20; Colossians 3:16)
The Holy Spirit
(Luke 12:12; John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13)
Gifted men (1
Corinthians 12:28-29; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Tim. 3:2)
A WONDERFUL
EXAMPLE
When you think of a group of people in the Bible who had a
teachable spirit, Jesus’ disciples first come to mind. Here was as
diverse a group as you could imagine! This group included fishermen, a
tax collector and a doctor, just to name a few!
Disciple n. One who embraces
and assists in spreading the teachings of another. One
of the original followers of Jesus. These men were the forerunners
to the ministers of today! They most certainly had to have teachable
spirits, to be willing to learn, for God has much for us to do.
Matthew 9:37 Then saith he
unto his disciples, The harvest truly [is] plenteous,
but the labourers [are] few;
Jesus taught the disciples all that God had for them to
learn, because He was preparing them to go and do what they had been
taught!
Matthew 10:1 And when he had
called unto [him] his twelve disciples, he gave them power [against] unclean
spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of
disease.
Then, whether they thought that they were ready or not, it
was time to put all they had been taught to use!
Matthew 11:1 And
it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples,
he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.
Only God could have woven together this group, to charge
them with the Great Commission, as we, the redeemed in Christ, all are: Matthew
28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them,
saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
HE PREPARES US TO
GO OUT AS WELL
He equipped the early disciples, as He continues to equip
the disciples of today!
1 John 2:27 But the
anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need
not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of
all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath
taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Glory to God! It could not be made clearer! We
have His marvelous assurance that He isn’t going to give up on us, that He will
stand by us-whatever the situation-and will see to it that everything works out
for His glory!
Joshua 1:5 There shall not any
man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses,
so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
God is not a man that He should lie!
He has no reason to! His ways are just and true!
John 14:26 But the
Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my
name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
As God presents the circumstances for us to proclaim His
Gospel, telling all that they must repent and confess Jesus Christ and their
Lord and Saviour before it is too late, we have to be obedient! We must
allow God to move, to present His words!
Ephesians 4:23 And be renewed in
the spirit of your mind;
All good thoughts, just and pure, come from Almighty
God!
Job 8:19 Behold, this is the joy of
his way, and out of the earth shall others grow.
You see, God uses us (His redeemed and righteous) as tools
to bring others to repentance, and it is a glorious thing to behold! When
God is moving and blessing, it is a marvelous thing to behold!
Is it difficult to do the Lord’s work? NO! The
difficult part is keeping out of God’s way, not trying to tell Him how to do
the work that He certainly is capable of doing!
Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon
you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest
unto your souls.
We find rest in our souls by taking on God’s work because we
will have the peace of knowing that the lost have known about Jesus and given
the opportunity to proclaim Jesus Christ as the Lord and Saviour! We must
keep our eyes ever-heavenward, sanctified and willing to do that which God has
for us to do, to accomplish all for His kingdom, for His sake and for His
glory!
It is my prayers that as you continue in your Christian
walk, that you will be willing to do all things that are pleasing to God!
WHAT LIMITS
GOD? WE DO!
In our weakness, even though we know the magnificent
blessings and promises of God, when we are hard pressed, turn back to the
iniquity that we knew before Jesus Christ forgave our sins! Lot’s wife is
perfect example!
Genesis 19:26 But his wife
looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
She willfully disobeyed God's Word, showing to what extent
she had become attached to the world! Why do we turn back to the things
that have held us in bondage? It is more comfortable (we think!) to go
back, than to go forward! It is easier (we think!) to endure the pain and
suffering than to RELEASE OUR FAITH and TRUST GOD to deliver us and make a way
for us to go through and MOVE FORWARD!!! A lack of faith limits
what God is able to accomplish through us! We get into trouble when we
think we can figure out a situation better than ALMIGHTY GOD!
Psalm 78:41 Yea, they turned back and tempted
God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
Turned back is another term for backsliding! To limit
God is one of the most common sins today. Any limitation of Him and His
promises is the same as those committed by Israel and for which they were cut
off!
Deuteronomy 29:18 Lest there
should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart
turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of
these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and
wormwood;
Ezekiel 18:24 But
when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth
iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked
man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall
not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his
sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.
2 Peter 2:20-21 For if after
they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord
and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome,
the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. [21] For it had
been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than,
after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered
unto them.
WE MUST DESIRE TO
PLEASE GOD ONLY!
God Is Happy When:
1.
Man has attained to the heights of character and godliness after His own
pattern (Psalm 119:1-8).
2.
Man is inquiring as to how to rid himself of sin and is working diligently to
live for God (Psalm 119:9-16).
3.
Man is earnestly seeking enlightenment from God and His Word so as to follow
the whole will of God (Psalm 119:17-24).
4.
Man humbles himself to walk in the light of His Word, propagates truth, removes
lying and deceit, chooses the way of truth, and sticks to God's way of life
(Psalm 119:25-32).
5.
Man wholeheartedly prays for fulfillment of the blessings of His Word through
obedience to known light (Psalm 119:33-40).
6.
Man seeks for salvation by the Word and consecrates himself to a life of faith
in God, obedience to His Word, and faithful service in evangelizing the world
(Psalm 119:41-48).
7.
Man finds his comfort and hope only in God and His Word in times of trouble or
blessing, and abhors sin and backsliding all his days (Psalm 119:49-56).
8.
Man is fully satisfied with God and His Word as his portion in life, and ever
goes deeper in grace and the spiritual life (Psalm 119:57-64).
9.
Man learns well the lesson of the chastening power of the Word, and conforms to
God's corrections (Psalm 119:65-72).
10. Man learns
the true righteousness of God and His Word, and delights in its precepts (Psalm
119:73-80).
11. Man longs
for His salvation, hopes in His Word, and becomes stable in the faith (Psalm
119:81-88).
12. Man
recognizes that His Word is eternal; that His faithfulness to all generations,
His plan for the heavens, the earth and the societies therein have no end; and
that the entire curse will be removed and creation made perfect forever (Psalm
119:89-96).
13. Man,
following the example of the Messiah, learns that the true source of wisdom and
knowledge is God and His Word (Psalm 119:97-104).
14. Man
acknowledges His Word to be his guide and light in life, and refuses to err
from its truths eternally (Psalm 119:105-112).
15. Man rests
in the security of God's Word, and lives in fear of transgression of truth
(Psalm 119:113-120).
16. Man does
judgment and justice according to His Word, and has confidence in the results
of blessing and cursing as being in God's hands (Psalm 119:121-128).
17. Man has
faith in His Word as the source of light, and prays for guidance to walk
therein (Psalm 119:129-136).
18. Man
realizes the true character of God's Word as being altogether pure and
righteous and conforms his life accordingly (Psalm 119:137-144).
19. Man depends
upon His Word as the source of strength in life and conduct (Psalm
119:145-152).
20. Man looks
to God and His Word as the source of salvation and deliverance from sin,
sickness, and trouble (Psalm 119:153-160).
21. Man marvels
at His Word, and has peace in the midst of turmoil (Psalm 119:161-168).
22. Man prays
wholeheartedly in harmony with His Word and rests content in its salvation and
blessings (Psalm 119:169-176).
These are the things which make God happy. There is even rejoicing
over one sinner that repents; how much more rejoicing must there be when men
make God blessed by the above acts (Luke 15:7,10).
Four Secrets of Answered Prayer
1.To please God (1 John 3:21-22; 1 John 5:14-15).
2.To come to God in the right attitude and with the right
motives (Matthew 6:5-15; Matthew 7:7-11; Philippians 4:5-6).
3.To believe that He is (John 16:23).
4.To believe that He is a rewarder of them that diligently
seek Him. If one can believe this as much as he believes in the existence of
God, prayer will be granted. If one believes firmly in His existence and doubts
His word, he makes Him a liar and God is under no obligation to answer prayer
(James 1:4-8). The Greek for diligently is ekzeteo,
translated diligently seek (Hebrews 11:6); seek after (Acts
15:17; Romans 3:11); seek carefully (Hebrews 12:17); require (Luke 11:50-51);
and enquire (1 Peter 1:10).
WHAT CAN GOD
ACCOMPLISH THROUGH YOU?
Now comes the time to admit if you are limiting Almighty
God! Are you like Lot’s wife, proclaiming Jesus Christ as your Lord and
Saviour, while worrying about making ends meet and holding onto your desires
for the things of this world? When trials and tribulations come, do you
hand the situation over to God and sing His praises, believing that He can and
will resolve the situation; or do you sink back into worry, depression and
agony because you can’t figure out how to fix the problem? Friend, if
there was any hesitation in your response, then you need to seek the face of
God and ask Him to forgive you for your lack of faith and trust!
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he
that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek him.
WHERE DO YOU
STAND BEFORE GOD?
Do you really believe God, or do
you have more confidence in yourself? How is your faith? Do you
fall into despair at the first sign of trouble, or are you at peace, trusting
in Almighty God and praising Him for doing so?
SIGNS SHALL
FOLLOW!
Signs will follow proving where
you stand! Nothing will be hidden that is not revealed!
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name
shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Are these the signs following you?
Five Signs that Follow Believers
1.
Cast out devils (Mark 16:17; Luke 10:19; Matthew 10:7-8; Matthew 17:20-21; John
14:12)
2.
Speak with new tongues (Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4; Acts 10:44-48; Acts 19:1-7; 1
Corinthians 12-14; Isaiah 28:11)
3.
Take up serpents (Mark 16:18, Luke 10:19; Psalm 91; Acts 28:1-5)
4. Be immune from poisons (Mark 16:18, Psalm 91; Luke 10:18; 2
Kings 4:41)
5.
Heal the sick (Mark 16:18; Matthew 10:1-8; Luke 24:49; John 14:12; Acts 1:8):
(1)
Christ did ( Matthew 13:58)
(2)
Disciples did (Matthew 10:1-8; Mark 6:7-13; Luke 10:1-20; Acts 3:6; Acts 5:16;
Acts 19:11-12; Hebrews 2:3-4)
(3) All
disciples commanded to do it (Matthew 10:8; Luke 10:9; Matthew 28:20)
(4) All
believers promised power to do it (Mark 16:17-18; Matthew 17:20-21; Matthew
21:22; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:22-24; Luke 11:9-13; Luke 24:49; John 7:37-39; John
14:12-15; John 15:7,16; John 16:23-26; Acts 1:8; Acts 2:38-39; Acts 5:32)
(5) Early
church practiced it (James 5:14-16; Acts 5:12; etc.)
Signs are to follow "them that believe," not them
that doubt, disbelieve, constantly deny such possibility and use every excuse
of unbelief to evade doing these things. This means literally what it
says—"even unto the end of the world" (Matthew 28:20). This does not
mean that one cannot be saved or get other benefits from God if he cannot do
these things, nor does it mean that one is an unbeliever in salvation if he
cannot do them. It simply means that he has not attained to faith sufficient to
appropriate the benefits promised.
If you do not believe in God, signs shall follow proving
that fact! If you don’t trust God, signs shall follow to prove that you
don’t trust Him!
Matthew 7:16 Ye
shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of
thistles?
If the Lord lays before you the choice of life or death, I
suggest that you choose LIFE!
Deuteronomy 30:19 I call
heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you
life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and
thy seed may live:
[choose life] God commands men to choose life by choosing
His grace and means of eternal life, thus canceling death and the curses that
separate from Him. People can and must make the choice, because God does not
force anyone to surrender to Him or remain obedient. All people are free to
choose life or death, blessings or curses (Deut. 30:15-20).
[that both thou and thy seed may live] The fivefold
result in choosing God:
1.
Both you and your children may live.
2.
You may love the Lord (Deut. 30:20).
3.
You may obey His voice.
4.
You may cleave to Him.
5.
You may dwell in the land promised to your fathers.
YOUR CHOICE
IS: LIFE OR DEATH!
WHAT IS YOUR
CHOICE?
Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
In Jesus’ precious name,
Rev. K. R. Buchanan