Friday, June 15, 2018

* A Call to the Faithful




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.  
(2 Timothy 2:2)



Millions of believers throughout the world do not have a biblical worldview. Their concern focuses on their own family, community, and church. Because they have not yet understood God's plan for the world, they are not actively fulfilling their part in this plan.

A key to effective communication of the Biblical world view is to select faithful men and women for training:   

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.  (2 Timothy 2:2)

The word "faithful" means active, reliable, and trustworthy.

Not everyone will be receptive to the Biblical world view. In sharing the vision, we must have the qualities of an active, reliable, and trustworthy response to God. Those with whom we share the "Biblical World View" must be faithful to teach others also.

As we share what we have learned with others, remember we are not called to share our own cultural views. We are to share the Biblical world view.

Culture is the acquired pattern of how things are done in a certain environment. It involves customs, traditions, language. . . actually all of lifestyle and behavior.

We are greatly affected by the culture in which we live. You come to think that your way of doing things is best. But we need to realize that no one culture is superior to another. Our call is not to change the culture or share our own way of doing things which we might perceive as superior.

Our only concern with culture is when practices are in direct violation of God's written Word.

. . . Then we must confront and deal with them as sin. We are not called to take civilization to other cultures. Our purpose is not to save society, but to save souls. The purpose of a fisherman is not to change the sea but to catch the fish in it.

Focus on the major task at hand: The teaching of faithful men and women.  Four steps to take in order to share the Biblical world view:

     1.      Become a model of the vision of the world as God’s field ripe for harvest.
     2.      Communicate the vision to others.
     3.      Keep the vision as the central focus of life.
     4.      Obey the vision.

First, we must embrace the Biblical world view our self. When we have recognized our responsibility to the Great Commission and our heart has been touched with concern for the nations of the world, then we can become a model of the vision.

As a model, we become a living example before our friends and church fellowship and even strangers; everyone in whom we come into contact. Let others see our own concern for the cause of Christ and recognize our concern for the nations of the world. Let them see us as we actively engaged in reaching others with the Gospel. The greatest teaching is not done by words. It is done by example.  We see this in the life and ministry of Jesus.

We must keep the vision as the central focus of our life and the lives of other faithful men and women.

It is not enough just to develop a Biblical world view and communicate it to others. We must act upon what we have learned:  

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Every principle of Scripture we learn should equip us to do good works. But knowledge without action is like faith without works. If you only learn principles and there is no active response to the knowledge gained, then it is a spiritual dead end. Receiving the vision is not enough. Communicating it to others is not enough. We must also obey the vision.

Begin to obey the vision right now, right where we are.  

Ö     Share the Gospel with others in your own neighborhood, community, and city.  
Ö     Work with your local church in evangelistic outreaches both locally, nationally, and internationally.  
Ö     Pray for the nations of the world.
Ö     Become a model of the vision you have received, 
Ö     Communicate it to others by both example and teaching. 
Ö     Keep the Biblical world view as the central focus in your own life and in the lives of those you train. 


As we join with those we train in obeying the vision, we will become a model of the vision and the cycle continues as they communicate it to others.


(Biblical Studies)


05/18/15
06/15/18
01/10/22





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