I woke this morning with these words in my thoughts:
"Study to show yourself approved."
This is what Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to Apostle Timothy:
2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Paul was not directing him to study in search of truth or to study in search of God’s purpose and will. How do we know this? Let’s look at this further.
Rightly dividing the word of truth: Christ is the word of God. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Christ provides for our discernment within Himself by His own headship.
Rightly dividing speaks of discernment which is only possible with the foundation of truth in the heart. Truth has to do with the foundation knowledge of Christ which comes through the stewardship and oversight of living apostles. Paul had already stewarded the holy ordered knowledge of Christ to Timothy who had already studied the Apostles’ Doctrine and was already functioning in the spiritual priesthood of Christ.
A workman that needs not to be ashamed: A workman is one who is building with substance and tools to bring forth and increase. The increase of our labor of faith with the spiritual tools and eternal substance of Christ is in the form of the fruit of faith. It is this fruit which is born of the Spirit as His record (truth) and witness (of the Father) are joined together in our hearts which is approved by God for it reflects the work of Christ in us.
We are not the ones producing the fruit of faith in our heart. Our truth is not our own. We are receiving from God both His knowledge (blueprint) and power (in all the tools of His Spirit) and so is the fruit after His own kind. For God has said, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Nothing short of faith IN Christ is approved of God.
Study: If we do not exercise our faith in the Doctrine of Christ which is the Apostles’ Doctrine, then our hearts will wander beyond the boundaries God set for faith IN Christ.
The knowledge of His covenant makes distinction between the First and Second (New) Covenants. The record of Christ for faith hasn’t changed but the tools sanctified by God for faith have. Faith has always been defined by God has the humbling of the will in obedience to the power and influence of His grace. Grace has always been defined by God as the form of communication which comes from God to man to direct us into a covenant relationship with Him through our obedience of faith.
Without truth, we cannot be fruitful servants of the Lord who are not ashamed for their labor of faith is not void of fruit. Without studying or reflecting upon the ordered knowledge of Christ, our hearts would wander and so would the lines begin to blur. When we are studying to rightly divide, the lines remain quite clear as the Lord is neither vague nor ambiguous about setting and making known the terms and conditions He set for faith to find approval in His sight.
I conclude my reflections upon the words “Study to show yourself approved” with this spiritual sacrifice of prophecy for your edification:
“Blessed are they who study the knowledge of Christ with faith and truth in their hearts for God is governing their destinies as approved children under the tutelage of His holy angels.”
Walking with God,
John Welty, Apostle of Christ
S8W World Wide Apostolic Assemblies
Apostle John Welty provides a live video stream of his weekly online assemblies at 10 am Central on Sunday mornings. You can tune in to watch this live stream broadcast using this link: http://new.livestream.com/ajwelty
John Welty is a confirmed Apostle in the government of God and valued member of Apostles Today Network of the Second 8th Week, ministering the grace of God to those seeking to build upon the true foundation of Jesus Christ. He is a regular contributor to the Prophetic Path and teaches Body ministry, helping believers regain their Christian priesthood by learning how spiritual sacrifices of prophecy work, how the anointing of truth works, and how the spiritual tools of the Second Covenant work. As God brings the church into a new era, Apostle John is here to help guide your faith into the new work of the Spirit, pray for you, and answer your questions.
For Free Online Study Courses, please use this link: http://www.s8wministries.org/courses.php?mid=24
For your further reading:
Covenant Faith: http://s8wministries.org/course.php?id=1&mid=39
Priesthood and Prophecy: http://s8wministries.org/course.php?id=11&mid=39
Elements of the Gospel: http://s8wministries.org/course.php?id=12&mid=39
Apostles Today: http://s8wministries.org/course.php?id=10&mid=39
