Teach me that I might teach (growth as a christian)

I thank God for Jesus, because He was the epitome of what came back in the first part of the history of the Jews. He is for His followers what the Levites were to be for their people. Way back in the day, Levites were to be an example of the firstborn sons, the ultimate of which is Jesus, just like the lambs and calves that were to be used for sacrifice.(Numbers 3:17-45). In this regard, each were given their duty by God. Each one were considered special to God because of their tasks and that He called them. Such as those tasks and that He called them. Such as those that were appointed by God to lead us as elders and shepherds and the apostles of Jesus. The Levites, the apostles, our elders and other leaders in the church today have the responsibility to teach and lead us in the use and learning of God’s Word. More than that, Levites (Numbers 8:14-18) represented their congregation, in that they were part of the sacrifices, being the first born, that were brought before God in atonement, in thanksgiving, and in offering for prayers and worship. In this way, the Levites were not only to issue sacrifices but they were the sacrifices for the Israelites, much like Jesus being the High Priest offers the sacrifice to God and was the sacrifice when nailed to the cross.. The Levites were handpicked by God (Numbers 18:6) and they were specially called to handle the corporal things involved with the Temple. (I Chronicles 15:2) The Levites were numbered and segregated from the rest of the Israelites in Numbers 26:59-62, much as Jesus was marked by God to be His Lamb, much as we as His followers are called to be His royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9) and the stones around Him, who is the Chief Cornerstone. We are called to not be in the world (1 John 2:15-17) for our in inheritance is higher, and we are God’s children. Our existence is no longer merely physical but it is spiritual. Our elders and leaders, our brother Christ, are the examples of being separated from the world by sanctification through allowing the Spirit of God to exist in them via prayer and care for the flock. And God has provided me so that I can be taught His ways and Will. (Psalm 119:108) My leaders, my elders, my teachers are there so that I may be taught pure love and God’s mercy.

 

In Numbers 3:12, God explains that the Levites were special, that they were consecrated by Him. Much like those who now lead us. And in this manner those that are devoted to God are sacrificial, and more, that sacrifice is presented to God. Our leaders and teachers are consecrated before God is to lead us in being sacrificial.

THE SINGING GOD

There were and are also false teachers. Isaiah 28:9-10 even makes fun of them by penning their words to their followers. The wording was repetitious, almost sonorous, and displays the idea of the ludicrousness of the Pharisee’s teaching. This is reiterated in Matthew 23:13-29, in Jesus’ sermon about the various woes that will come upon Pharisees. In fact in looking at Matthew 5:1-48, in which Jesus instructs His apostles about the meek and poor in spirit and mourners, etc., in the Sermon on the Mount as well as divorcing, as well praying and fasting, Jesus shows His people how to look out for false teachers and to be wary of what they are indeed teaching. Mark 12:35 also displays the scribes as false teachers, because of their misinterpretation of who the Messiah is. And there was a warning about being a false teacher, without even knowing that one is a false teacher, is given in James 3:1 which says that one shouldn’t seek to be a teacher because the responsibility is stricter than for those that are not teachers. That doesn’t mean that people who are students are immune to the responsibility of spreading the gospel. No, the responsibility is there as well, according to Galatians 6:6. Hence all of God’s children have the responsibility not to spread things that are not the truth about God’s Word.

There are no Jews, Greeks, men or women...people of the church

So many scriptures in the Old Testament and New Testament point toward unity in the Spirit and in worship. Exodus 25:40 and Leviticus 1:7 for example call for us all to call upon His name, as does 1 Chronicles 22:29 and 2 Chronicles 3:7 and 28:31, Acts 13:2 and 11 Corinthians 11-14 call for us to act and worship in unity and bolster each other up in love. Worship is in the unity of the Spirit, worshipping in reverence to God and in humility before His throne.. And in remembering it is not the building, it is not the order of worship but it is the content and the love shown. We are after all invited into His presence as princes and princesses before a King.

Teach me that I might teach

When I think of ministers and preachers, I don’t really think of teachers, but so very often they are indeed involved in that. Teaching is something that keeps knowledge in the hands of the people and allows people to grow strong in God. As well teaching allows new knowledge or new ideas to be examined and to see if these are in synch with God’s word. Never ever be afraid to attend lectures at a secular college because of what it might teach you about various controversial issues. The point is to absorb and prescribe those issues and filter out what is not in teaching the bible, that is what does not agree with God’s word. The reason God had officials teach the Law in 2 Chronicles 17:7-9 is because they were the ones most versed in that Law, as were the priests. Much as in various colleges Physics is taught by people versed or becoming versed in that topic, and German literature teachers are taught by those who have some knowledge and experience with that topic. I know that my best teachers were experts in their field or else had a wide range of experiences that were attesting to the fact that they could claim to have knowledge and were getting a degree that agreed with that statement. The worst teachers I have ever had were those who had no knowledge of their subject, because they were drafted to teach English History from having taught Typing. God provided His people with a means to gain knowledge of His Word, and He made sure this Word was spread, as in Nehemiah 8:7-8. It could be said that all of the Old Testament was to teach all of God’s people Who God is and what He expects of us. For example, in Leviticus 11:44-47, the LORD speaks and tells them to follow His ways, to make themselves (consecrate) holy because He is. Does that mean perfect? No, and the Old Testament as well as the New Testament stress that God’s people can indeed come back to Him time and time again by just asking for forgiveness. (I John 1) All they have to do is follow Him, and obey His commandments. That means following the footsteps of our prime example, Jesus. After all, all teaching has its focal point in Jesus, whose teaching in Luke 4:6-21 demonstrated that He indeed was the fulfillment of prophecy in Isaiah, lending credibility to His claim to being the Son of God. And what I love most about teachers and preachers is that they give us standards from God’s Word that I can search and verify as truth. This has always been so between God and His people. For instance, Moses and the elders in Deuteronomy 27:1-26 gave God’s people commandments that had been given by God to them. They thereby instructed the people how to proceed according to the commandments and standards God set out. In this way Moses and the elders taught and led God’s people in how to conduct themselves in accordance with God’s Word. In Deuteronomy 31:19, the people were lead to sing, the song intended to tell the people where they came from and what God intended for them, much as I am led in song to know God deeper through songs in that I can see God’s Word and encouragement. God gives me a history and a way to conduct myself and preachers and teachers instruct me in these facets in accordance to His Word.