Title: Learn and Do / Philippians 4:8-9
Contents
Tonight, we are offering a worship service of thanks to God ahead of the opening of the Bible School and Mission School. You must first realize how blessed it is to be able to learn the Word of God at will.
When I think of the saints still living in the faith under communism, they don't know how much they struggle to learn the Bible.
Hiding underground, holding your breath and learning the Bible. I am studying the Bible, taking risks as I move from place to place. Also, because there are not enough Bible books and there are not enough teachers to teach them, we can only study the Bible by copying the Bible and waiting for several days or seven days.
But what about us? You can study the Bible in such a free and comfortable environment. Is that all? There are many great teachers and teachers. How grateful are you?
That is why we give thanks before God before the opening of the class.
God wants His loved ones to live a blessed life.
You don't want to live a life of chaos and cowardice. He wants to receive God's grace and love, and also to be respected and praised by all people.
We can empathize because we have had children and raised them. What parent would want their children to be wrong? Even evil parents want their children to do well. Do you want the saints whom our Heavenly Father loves to go wrong? You always want to live a blessed life.
So, he clearly taught me what not to do and what to do with earnestly asking the saints I love. So, in the Bible, the way of salvation, the secret of victory, and the principle of a blessed life were told in every verse.
In particular, if you look at the Bible, you can see the words ‘…do this way, don’t do it, then’. When I counted the number, it was over 200 times.
You can see how much God has emphasized and commanded us so many times when he wants us to be blessed. Therefore, it is not an exaggeration to say that God's command is an expression of God's passionate love for us. As I always say, salvation comes through faith and blessings come through obedience and works. This is an unchanging principle ordained by God.
How can you get so much fruit without sowing? How can you expect without sweating? It is the same with us before God.
Then, as a child of God, the text tells us what we must do to live a blessed and beautiful life and a wise life that accumulates the treasures of heaven.
1. It is to glorify God by living a holy life.
Verse 8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are reverent, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are commendable, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, consider these things.” said
It is not only worship and praise that we glorify God. It is to glorify God through our good deeds and the beautiful fruits of our lives.
In John 15:8 it says, “My Father is glorified, that ye bear much fruit, and ye shall be my disciples.”
Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
In 1 Peter 2:12 it says, “You have good conduct among the Gentiles, so that those who accuse you of doing evil may see your good works and give glory to God on the day that they recommend them.”
How, then, can we lead a holy and godly life? It is not achieved through human effort or discipline. All we have to do is abide in the Lord.
Just as a tree grows and bears fruit when its roots are planted deep in the river, we too can bear the fruit of godliness when we abide in the Lord.
John 15:4-5 says, “Abide in me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of its own accord unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, and you are the vine. If he is in me and I in him, this man bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
(Example). A young prince went to a famous iron man and asked, ‘Teacher, how can I properly behave as a prince?’ Then the philosopher replied, 'Always remember that you are the son of a king.'
Likewise, we must never forget our status as children of the Most High God and always remember that we are children of the holy God.
And to always maintain a right relationship with the Lord, we must repent of our sins, strive to pray, and become humbly obedient believers to receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In doing so, we become like God's disposition and achieve holiness.
2. We must strive to do what we learn, receive, hear, and see.
Verse 9 says, “Do what you have learned and received and heard and seen of Me, and the God of peace will be with you.”
The first is to learn and accept. We must learn how to lead a life of faith in order to glorify God through our blessed life. Without learning, you cannot live a right life of faith, and you cannot live a right life.
2 Timothy 3:14-17 says, “But abide in the things you have learned and have been convinced of. You know from whom you have learned them, and since you were young you have known the Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be perfected for every good work.”
That's right. The Bible is the principle of our faith and conduct. Therefore, without learning the words of the Bible, you cannot lead a right life of faith and you cannot live a right life.
Also, if you learn but do not learn correctly, the result will be the same. Everyone, we need to know how blessed it is to learn the Bible, the word of God, rightly.
When we learn the Bible, we must not just learn it intuitively. It must be taken as a whole. I have to accept it in my heart, in my heart. In other words, we must receive the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and accept it as Amen. It should be received with joy and gratitude.
We must accept the word of God, not the words of men. At that time, the word is like a two-edged sword, and the work of healing, life, and blessing that pierces and splits our soul and marrow will take place.
Second, we must put into practice what we have heard and seen. Learning and accepting is not enough.
Installing a gas pipe or water pipe in your home is not enough to ensure that gas and water enter the house. After installation, be sure to turn on the valve or faucet before use. That way, you can cook rice and drink water.
Learning the Word of God and only knowing it intellectually is like the bread in the picture. It's like someone who doesn't want to move a single hand and starves to death after running out of gas and water pipes.
What did you say in James 4:17? It says, “Therefore, if a man knows how to do good and does not do it, it is sin.” If we only learn and do not do works, we only increase our sins.
Everyone, please remember this clearly. The word of God is to become grace and power to those who obey, and to bless those who obey so that they can live a life that reveals the glory of God. So he spoke through the prophet Samuel the journal.
In 1 Samuel 15:22, it says, "Samuel said to him, "Does the Lord take delight in burnt offerings and other sacrifices, as does the obedience of his voice? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and to hear is better than the fat of rams."
It is precious to offer sacrifices a thousand times or ten thousand times, but God does not accept sacrifices without faith and obedience. Cain's sacrifice was a sacrifice that had nothing to do with God.
God did not accept his sacrifice because he did not offer by faith and did not lead a life of obedience. However, Abel's sacrifice of faith and obedience was pleasing to God.
3. It is a blessing given to those who obey.
Verse 9 says, “Do what you have learned from me, received, heard and seen, and the God of peace will be with you.” This is where the phrase ‘…if you do that’ comes from.
What does it mean? Obedience always brings rewards and blessings.
That's right. Regardless of the age, we can see through the Bible and through history that God used obedient people.
God not only blesses the saints who have obedience, deeds, and devotion, but also lifts them up and uses them, and is glorified through him.
(Example). The mother of George Washington, the first president of the United States, celebrated her birthday, and many congratulatory guests came to celebrate her birthday. Then one of the guests asked the president's mother.
‘How did a mother raise her son to make him so great?’ ‘Yes, I taught my son to be absolutely obedient to God.’ He said that George Washington was great because he was a man of obedience and submission to God.
Guys, what is your greatest blessing? This is what we are talking about in today's text. It means that the God of peace will be with you. When the God of peace is with you, peace comes to your heart. When the God of peace is with you, all things will prosper and you will be blessed.
The God of peace promised to be with us when we always think of the Lord's holy life, pray for it, and obey the guidance of the Holy Spirit in order to achieve a godly life. Therefore, it can be clearly said that the secret to the true blessing of the saints is a life of obedience through faith.
Dear saints, Through our blessed and godly lives, many people will become blessed people who glorify God through the work of salvation that comes before the Lord. If we obey by faith in everything, God is pleased and the God of peace is with us. I bless you in the name of the Lord that you will learn and put into practice what you have learned and enjoy the abundant grace and blessings that God has promised you for eternity.