Are You Approved Unto God?

  1. INTRODUCTION:

    1. SCRIPTURE READING:
      II Timothy. 2:15 [KJV] = "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
      needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.      "
      II Timothy 2:15 [ASV] = "Give diligence to present thy self approved unto God, a 
      workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth.      "
    2. THREE THINGS ARE POINTED OUT IN THIS VERSE IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT 
      BE APPROVED OF GOD:
      1. "Study" [KJV] or "Give diligence" [ASV].
      2. "A workman that needeth not to be ashamed" [same in both KJV & ASV]
      3. "Rightly dividing the word of truth" {KJV] or "Handling aright the word of truth" [ASV]
    3. LET US TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THESE AS I AM SURE EACH OF US WANTS 
      TO BE APPROVED BY GOD.

  2. DISCUSSION:

    1. THE NEED OF PREPARATION: "STUDY" [KJV]; OR "GIVE DILEGENCE [ASV].
      1. The heart and mind should be cultivated and open to receive the message of God to 
        attain what is necessary for spirituality and deep divine devotion.
      2. This preparation is achieved only by careful study of God’s Word.

        3. John 20:31 = "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the 
        Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.        "

        2 Timothy 3:16-17 = "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, throughly furnished unto 
        all good works.        "

        John 12:48-50 = "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one 
        that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the 
        last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave 
        me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know 
        that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as 
        the Father said unto me, so I speak        "

      3. Bible study should be a part of our daily routine.

      Acts 17:11 = "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that 
      they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures
      daily, whether those things were so.      "

      Acts 2:42 = "And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and
      fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.      "

      Comment: The need of regular study in preparing a healthy spiritual body for approval is just 
      as important as the need of eating, sleeping, drinking, and exercise is in preparation of a healthy physical body.

    2. THE OBJECTIVE TO BE ACHIEVED:
      1. The objective is actually two fold:
        1. "To shew thyself approved unto God" [KJV] or "to present thy self approved unto God" [ASV].
        2. "A workman that needeth not to be ashamed" [The same in both the KJV & ASV].
      2. Why is it important for us go achieve this objective?
        1. God is our Creator, our preserver, and our provider.
        2. It is in God that we live, move and have our being.

          3. Acts 17:28 = "For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as 
          certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.          "

        3. God knows our works as-well-as our innermost thoughts.

          4. Romans 2:6 = "Who will render to every man according to his deeds:"

          1 Corinthians 4:5 = "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the 
          Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, 
          and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every 
          man have praise of God.          "

          2 Corinthians 5:10 = "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
          Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according 
          to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.          "

        4. God is the one unto whom we must give account.

          5. Romans 14:12-13 = "So then every one of us shall give account of himself 
          to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this          "

        5. When we give an account before God, we do not want to be ashamed of our 
          work.

          6. 1 Peter 4:12-18 = "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery 
          trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto 
          you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; 
          that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding 
          joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit 
          of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but 
          on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as 
          a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if 
          any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify
          God on this behalf          . For the time is come that judgment must begin at the
          house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that
          obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where
          shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?          "

          John 12:48 = "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one 
          that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him 
          in the last day.          "

        6. Jesus Christ, God’s Son, is the one that will determine if we have met the approval 
          of God and we strive to meet His approval:
          1. Christ has been given all authority in heaven and in earth.

            2. Matthew 28:18 = "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, 
            All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth            ."

          2. It is only through Christ we have accent to the Father.

            3. John 14:6 = "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the 
            life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.            "

          3. We all want to hear Christ say:

      Matthew 25:34 = "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye 
      blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of 
      the world:      "

    3. THE METHOD TO BE EMPLOYED IN THIS PREPARATION:
      1. "Rightly dividing the word of truth" {KJV] or "Handling aright the word of truth" [ASV].
      2. The meaning of "rightly dividing" or "handling aright" is actually holding a straight course in 
        the study of the Word of truth – which is God’s Word.

        3. Comment: The Greek word here is Orthotomeo pronounced (or-thot-om-eh'-o); from 
        a compound of two other Greek words: Orthos, pronounced (or-thos') and the base of
        Tomoteros, pronounced (tom-o'-ter-os); to make a straight cut, i.e. (figuratively) to 
        dissect (expound) correctly (the divine message); Thus it is translated: rightly divide, or
        handle aright.

      3. Each one of us should see to it that we receive a proper diet of rightly prepared - handled 
        or divided - Word of God.
        1. Milk [simple lessons] for babes.

          2. 1 Corinthians 3:2 = "I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto 
          ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.          "

          Hebrews 5:12-13 = "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have
          need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles 
          of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
          For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for 
          he is a babe.          "

        2. Strong meat for the mature.

          3. Hebrews 5:14 = "But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, 
          even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern 
          both good and evil.          "

        3. First principles for the alien sinner.

          4. I Corinthians 3:1-3 = "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto
          spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you 
          with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, 
          neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is 
          among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk 
          as men?          "

        4. Comfort for the broken-hearted.

          5. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 = "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus
          Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth 
          us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in
          any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.          "

        5. Reproof for the careless and indifferent.

        1 Corinthians 5:1-13 = "It is reported commonly that there is fornication
        among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the
        Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up,
        and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be
        taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present
        in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him
        that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when
        ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord
        Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of
        the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your
        glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the
        whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new
        lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed
        for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with
        the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of
        sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with
        fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or
        with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye
        needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep
        company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or
        covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner;
        with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also
        that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that
        are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves
        that wicked person.        "

      4. The Word of God should be taught in a manner to meet the needs of the hearers.

  3. CONCLUSION:

    1. BRETHREN, UNLESS WE CULTIVATE AND PLANT THE SEED IN THE HEARTS 
      OF MAN:
      1. We will stand before God’s Son in shame.
      2. We will be clearly seen to have mishandled the Word of God..
      3. It will be plainly evident that we have not prepared ourselves.
    2. WILL YOU NOT BEGIN NOW MAKING PROPER PREPARATION BY GIVING 
      GOD YOUR HEART AND US YOUR HAND AND ENTERING INTO CHRIST THE 
      ONLY WAY TO GOD.

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