Almost anyone can be used by the Lord to communicate divine revelation. Even a jackass can be the mouthpiece of God (Num 22:28-30). Biblically, Christians are directed to “teach and admonish one another” (Col 3:16), which shows that all believers can teach and counsel one another with the Word of God. Of course, this assumes they’ve been “constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine” (1 Tim 4:6), are spiritually mature in their walk with the Lord (Heb 5:14), and can “speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine” (Tit 2:1).
In the Old Testament, wise men communicated God’s Word to others. Solomon wrote, “The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, to turn aside from the snares of death” (Prov 13:14). These were persons who knew God’s Word and were seasoned in living it out. According to John Kitchen, “The Hebrew word translated ‘teaching’ is ‘torah,’ the word normally associated with the Law of God and the Pentateuch. Here, it has its more general sense of ‘teaching,’ but such teaching arises from, and is in conformity with, the written revelation of God.”[1] King Solomon, as the author of much wisdom literature, played a key teaching role in this tradition (1 Ki 4:29-34).
Under the Mosaic Law, the transmission and teaching of God’s Word to subsequent generations was primarily the responsibility of the parents who served as conduits through which God’s law was passed down to children. The instruction to parents was, “These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up (Deut 6:6-7). The phrase, “teach them diligently,” translates the Hebrew verb “shanan” (שָׁנָן), which means “to engrave or chisel on stone.” The verb is in the Piel stem, which makes it intensive (i.e., teach diligently). Here, the tongue of the parents is likened to a chisel they keep applying to their children’s minds in order to engrave God’s Word into their thinking (cf., Prov 6:20-23). Where and when was this activity of training to take place? Moses said, you “shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up” (Deut 6:7b). “Sitting” suggests times of rest, and “walking” speaks of activity. When you “lie down” suggests evening time, and when you “rise up” suggests the morning hours. These form a double merism which encompass of all of life. In this way, Deuteronomy is aimed at subsequent generations, that they might learn God’s will and faithfully transmit it to their children, who will pass it along to their children, and so on.
There is similar instruction in the NT where Paul directed Christians fathers to raise their children “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Eph 6:4). Hoehner notes, “the training and admonition come from the Lord or are prescribed by the Lord through fathers.”[2] Christian fathers are to be God’s agents who communicate His divine revelation to their children. Mothers also would have been involved in the teaching of God’s Word to their children. Timothy is a good example of someone who received biblical instruction from his grandmother and mother as a child. Paul said to Timothy, “I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well…and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim 1:5; 3:15). Timothy’s mother and grandmother had a big influence on his upbringing, which led to his conversion and spiritual growth. The spiritual seeds they’d planted in his young heart sprouted and flourished into a productive spiritual ministry.
Older women are told to “teach what is good” (Tit 2:3) to younger women so they will know how to live godly lives. They are to train them in matters of character, family life, and behavior, passing on spiritual wisdom. Radmacher states, “Paul in Titus 2:3 makes a case for a special ministry in the church—older women teaching and counseling other women. Women know and understand other women better than men…The phrase ‘older women’ speaks of the maturity required for the woman who conducts such a ministry to others. She should be a maturing, praying, trusting, godly Christian.”[3]
Some of the OT Bible prophets were considered teachers, as they not only delivered God’s direct revelation but also instructed people on how to live according to God’s Word. The role of a prophet included teaching, exhortation, and correcting behavior to align the people with God’s will. For example, Moses, in addition to being a prophet, was also a teacher of God’s law. Moses said, “Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform” (Deut 4:1a), and “See, I have taught you statutes and judgments just as the LORD my God commanded me” (Deut 4:5a). Moses received the Ten Commandments and other laws directly from God and taught them to Israel. Prophets not only foretold future events but also provided guidance, correction, and teaching in righteousness, helping people to understand God’s character and expectations.
God instructed the OT priests “to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken to them through Moses” (Lev 10:11). The Lord spoke to Malachi, saying, “For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts” (Mal 2:7). Together, these verses illustrate the high calling of priests in Israel to be both spiritual guides and legal instructors. They were to preserve the integrity of God’s Word, ensuring it was communicated clearly to each generation, fostering obedience, and guiding the nation in their covenant relationship with God. Failure to teach God’s law to subsequent generations of Israelites would create a theological vacuum in their souls which Satan would gladly fill. Ezra, the priest, was one who “had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10). Concerning Ezra, Wiersbe states:
“When it comes to our relationship to the Word of God, Ezra is a good example for us to follow. He was a man with a prepared heart, devoted to the study of the Scriptures. “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord” (Ezra 7:10). He would have agreed with the psalmist who wrote, “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psa 119:97). Even the king recognized and affirmed Ezra’s great knowledge of the Scriptures (Ezra 7:11–14). But Ezra did more than study the Word of God; he also practiced it in his daily life. It’s in the obeying of the Word that we experience the blessing, not in the reading or the hearing of it (Jam 1:22–25). “This one is blessed in what he does” (Jam 1:25), not in what he thinks he knows. If our knowledge of the truth doesn’t result in obedience, then we end up with a big head instead of a burning heart (1 Cor 8:1; Luke 24:32); and truth becomes a toy to play with, not a tool to build with.”[4]
Though not all Levites were priests, they were sometimes given the role of teaching the Law of God to the people. For instance, Nehemiah recorded, “the Levites explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place. They read from the book, from the law of God, translating to give the sense so that they understood the reading” (Neh 8:7b-8). And King Jehoshaphat sent city officials, Levites, and priests to teach the people of Judah the Law (2 Ch 17:7-8). It’s recorded, “They taught in Judah, having the book of the law of the LORD with them; and they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people” (2 Ch 17:9).
In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul listed several communication gifts that Christ gave to His church, saying, “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers” (Eph 4:11). This is a list of gifted men who are tasked by the Lord to provide education to Christians. Jesus gave these men to His church “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature person, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:12-13).
In the New Testament, the apostles were entrusted not only with preaching and evangelism but also with instructing the early church in doctrine and Christian living. For example, the apostle Paul explicitly refers to himself as “a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth” (1 Tim 2:7). Paul’s ministry involved extensive teaching, as he wrote letters to churches (e.g., Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians) explaining theological doctrines, correcting misunderstandings, and guiding the believers on how to live in accordance with God’s will. According to Hoehner:
The apostles include the Twelve, who had the office of apostleship by virtue of being with Christ (Acts 1:21–22) and having been appointed by Him (which would also include Paul; 1 Cor 15:8–9; Gal 1:1; 2:6–9). But “apostles” also included others who were recognized as apostles, such as James (1 Cor 15:7; Gal 1:19), Barnabas (Acts 14:4, 14; 1 Cor 9:6), Andronicus and Junias (Rom. 16:7), possibly Silas and Timothy (1 Th 1:1; 2:7), and Apollos (1 Cor 4:6, 9). This latter group had the gift of apostleship but not the apostolic “office” as did the Twelve and Paul. Apostles, then, were those who carried the gospel message with God’s authority. “Apostle” means “one sent as an authoritative delegate.”[5]
In the New Testament, prophets were not only those who received direct revelation from God but also served as teachers of His Word. Their role involved both the foretelling of future events (Acts 11:27-28; 21:10-11) and the forth-telling or proclamation of God’s truth, which included explaining and applying existing Scripture. This dual function meant that prophets also acted as teachers in the early church, helping believers understand doctrine and the teachings of Christ. The role of prophets as teachers is seen in passages like 1 Corinthians, where Paul said, “One who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation” (1 Cor 14:3), which were all aspects of instruction and spiritual growth. Prophets, by God’s guidance, helped to build up the church, teaching what had already been revealed in Scripture while also giving inspired messages. Their role was critical before the completion of the New Testament, as they served as communicators of God’s will and truth, similar to how teachers expound upon Scripture today. Hoehner notes, “New Testament prophets were gifts to the church to provide edification, exhortation, and comfort (1 Cor 14:3). They probably revealed God’s will to the church when the biblical canon was incomplete. Since the apostles and prophets were foundational, they did not exist after the first generation of believers.”[6] Wiersbe states:
A New Testament prophet is one who proclaims the Word of God (Acts 11:28; Eph 3:5). Believers in the New Testament churches did not possess Bibles, nor was the New Testament written and completed. How, then, would these local assemblies discover God’s will? His Spirit would share God’s truth with those possessing the gift of prophecy. Paul suggests that the gift of prophecy had to do with understanding “all mysteries and all knowledge” (1 Cor 13:2), meaning, of course, spiritual truths. The purpose of prophecy is “edification, encouragement, and consolation” (1 Cor 14:3). Christians today do not get their spiritual knowledge immediately from the Holy Spirit, but mediately through the Spirit teaching the Word. With the Apostles, the prophets had a foundational ministry in the early church and they are not needed today (Eph 2:20).[7]
Evangelists in the Bible were primarily focused on proclaiming the gospel and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, but their role also included teaching. Evangelists were responsible for bringing the message of salvation to unbelievers and helping new converts understand the basics of the Christian faith. In Ephesians 4:11, evangelists are among the list of communication gifts—or gifted persons—God has provided to His church. This shows that their role, like the others listed, was to build up and strengthen the church (Eph 4:12). Evangelists did not just preach a simple message of salvation; they would have needed to teach the foundational truths of the gospel and explain what it meant to live as a disciple of Christ. Philip the evangelist is a good example. In Acts 8, he not only preached the gospel to the Ethiopian eunuch but also explained the meaning of Isaiah 53 and taught about Jesus (Acts 8:26-34). When the eunuch asked Philip about Isaiah 53:7-8, we’re told, “Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him” (Acts 8:35). Philip’s role in that encounter included teaching, since he had to guide the eunuch in understanding Scripture.
Pastors and teachers, as listed in Ephesians 4:11, likely refer to one person who functions in two ways.[8] Hoehner believes “they refer to two characteristics of the same person who is pastoring believers (by comforting and guiding) while at the same time instructing them in God’s ways (overseers or elders are to be able to teach; 1 Tim 3:2; Tit 1:9).”[9] Daniel Wallace is correct when he states that “all pastors were to be teachers, though not all teachers were to be pastors.”[10] Concerning pastors, Wiersbe states:
Pastor means “shepherd,” indicating that the local church is a flock of sheep (Acts 20:28), and it is his responsibility to feed and lead the flock (1 Pet 5:1–4, where “elder” is another name for “pastor”). He does this by means of the Word of God, the food that nourishes the sheep. The Word is the staff that guides and disciplines the sheep. The Word of God is the local church’s protection and provision, and no amount of entertainment, good fellowship, or other religious substitutes can take its place.[11]
Hoehner adds:
In the NT this word [pastor] is used eighteen times, but it is used only once by Paul (Eph 4:11). It is used as a “shepherd” of sheep (Matt 25:32; Luke 2:8, 15, 18, 20; John 10:2, 12) or metaphorically as a “leader” of people (Matt 9:36; 26:3 = Mark 6:34; 14:27). Jesus claims himself to be the good “shepherd” of his flock (John 10:11, 14, 16), and twice the NT writers portray Jesus as the “shepherd” of believers (Heb 13:20; 1 Pet 2:25). In the present context the term is best translated as “pastor,” one who cares for his or her flock as a shepherd cares for his or her sheep. This would include ministering to troubled saints, exhorting and comforting all believers, and administering the activities in the local assembly.[12]
The New Testament references the gift of teaching in several passages (Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:28). This gift involves the ability to clearly communicate biblical truths so that others can understand and apply them. A teacher, in the biblical sense, is responsible for expositional teaching and instructing others in the doctrines of the faith, helping believers grow in their knowledge of God and in their walk with Him. This gift requires a high level of dedication to study and a deep understanding of Scripture, as the teacher’s role is to communicate biblical truths with accuracy and authority. The ideal form of teaching is expository teaching—explaining Scripture verse by verse. It is from exegetical study and expositional teaching that Christian doctrines are formulated. This gift is vital for the building up of the church, as it equips believers to live out their faith more fully (Eph 4:12-13). And each teacher will be held accountable for what he teaches, as James wrote, “Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment” (Jam 3:1).
Christians have the individual responsibility of studying God’s Word directly as well as through gifted teachers. This will help advance their spiritual life to they can grow to maturity (2 Tim 2:15; Heb 5:12-14; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18). They are personally accountable to God for what they learn and how they live. If Christians can find a good Bible teacher and learn from him, they are blessed. However, no Bible teacher is perfect in his teaching, so Christians must be like the Bereans, “examining the Scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11) to verify the teaching is biblical. Furthermore, spiritual growth is a gradual process that requires discipline, perseverance, and a commitment to moving beyond the basics of the faith. The goal is to reach spiritual maturity, reflecting the fullness of Christ, which prepares believers for effective service and eternal rewards.
In summary, the biblical mandate for teaching and communicating God’s Word emphasizes that every believer, regardless of status or experience, can play a vital role in sharing divine revelation. From the Old Testament wisdom of Solomon to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, we see a consistent thread: the responsibility of imparting God’s truth spans generations and encompasses various roles within the community of faith. Parents are tasked with diligently teaching their children, while older women mentor younger ones in godly living, and church leaders—whether apostles, prophets, evangelists, or pastors and teachers—are entrusted with the doctrine that nurtures spiritual maturity. As believers grow in their knowledge and application of Scripture, they become effective instruments for God, enabling the continual flow of His wisdom and truth to impact future generations. Thus, each follower of Christ is called to engage actively in this sacred duty, ensuring that the teachings of the faith remain alive and transformative in a world in desperate need of divine guidance.
Dr. Steven R. Cook
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[1] John A. Kitchen, Proverbs: A Mentor Commentary, Mentor Commentaries (Fearn, Ross-shire, Great Britain: Mentor, 2006), 289.
[2] Harold W. Hoehner, Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002), 798–799.
[3] Earl D. Radmacher, Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House, Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary (Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999), 1625.
[4] Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Heroic, “Be” Commentary Series (Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub., 1997), 38.
[5] Harold W. Hoehner, “Ephesians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 634–635.
[6] Harold W. Hoehner, “Ephesians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 635.
[7] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 38.
[8] The Granville Sharp rule, which is a Greek grammatical rule, states that when two singular nouns are joined by “kai” and share one article, they refer to the same person or thing. It is not likely that the Granville Sharp rule applies to this passage, since the nouns “pastors” (ποιμένας) and “teachers” (διδασκάλους) are both plural. However, it’s possible that the “kai” (and) in Ephesians 4:11 could function as a hendiadys, which is a rhetorical device where two terms are used to express a single idea or a closely connected concept. In this case, “pastors and teachers” (ποιμένας καὶ διδασκάλους) could be understood as describing one group of people with dual functions. If this is the case, “pastors” and “teachers” would be expressing two aspects of the same role. This interpretation aligns with the idea that the primary responsibility of pastors (or shepherds) involves teaching and instructing the flock. This is reinforced by passages such as 1 Timothy 3:2, which states that an overseer (which would include a pastoral role) must be “able to teach” (διδακτικός), and Titus 1:9, which says that an elder must hold “fast the faithful word” so that he can “exhort in sound doctrine and refute those who contradict.”
[9] Harold W. Hoehner, “Ephesians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 635.
[10] Daniel B. Wallace, Greek Grammar beyond the Basics: An Exegetical Syntax of the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1996), 284.
[11] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 38.
[12] Harold W. Hoehner, Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2002), 544.
At the moment of faith in Christ, believers know very little about God, His will, or the many blessings He has provided. Spiritually, they are ignorant babies. This is not a negative, but the reality of the situation. Prior to salvation, the soul is filled with human viewpoint, which is often contrary to God and His Word. This is why Christians are directed to renew their minds (Rom 12:1-2). Living spiritually involves expunging human viewpoint and replacing it with divine viewpoint. A soul devoid of God’s Word lacks the capacity to love and serve the Lord, to love and serve others (according to His standards), and has no defense against Satan’s world system or the sin nature within the Christian. The infusion of God’s Word makes possible the advance to spiritual maturity and the fulfillment of His will, and this is accomplished by faith.
Through the consistent study and application of Scripture, Christians are transformed from the inside out, for “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16). This transformative process leads to spiritual maturity, as we learn to discern good from evil (Heb 5:14) and become more conformed to the image of Christ. Additionally, the Word of God equips us “for every good work” (2 Tim 3:17), good works “which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Eph 2:10). As we immerse ourselves in Scripture and apply it to life, we are prepared to serve others, share the gospel, and live out our faith in practical ways. The Bible provides the principles and instructions needed to navigate life’s challenges, make wise decisions, and bear fruit in our Christian walk.
As Christians, our spiritual growth happens as we feed on God’s Word and benefit from its nourishment. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4; cf. Deut 8:3). Job said, “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12b). Jeremiah said, “Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart” (Jer 15:16a). Paul encouraged Timothy to be “constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound teaching” (1 Tim 4:6). Peter said, “like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1 Pet 2:2). Pure milk means it has not been watered down. According to Arnold Fruchtenbaum, “The milk is the basics of the Word of God, and it is necessary for young believers. They need this milk in order to grow spiritually…Essentially, the purpose of partaking of spiritual milk is to grow toward maturity so that believers can begin to partake of the meat of God’s Word.”
Spirituality is the life the Christian enjoys when properly living in dependence upon the Holy Spirit and walking according to Scripture. This advance assumes one has believed in Christ as Savior and has spiritual life (John 3:16; 6:28-29; 20:31; Acts 4:12; Rom 5:6-10; Eph 2:8-9; Tit 3:5; 1 Pet 1:3, 23). Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Only Christ’s atoning work on the cross is sufficient to satisfy God’s righteous demands toward our sin (1 John 2:2). No works are necessary for us to be saved. We need only Christ. When the Philippian Jailer asked the apostle Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30). Paul replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Believing in Christ means we trust Him to do for us that which we cannot do for ourselves; to save us. It means we trust solely in Him and nothing more. Though good works should follow our salvation, they are never the condition of it.
The advance to spiritual maturity is a process that takes time as Christians learn and live God’s Word on a regular basis. There is always opposition, for we live in a fallen world and are confronted with many obstacles and distractions that seek to push or pull us away from God. Though constant distractions are all around us, we move forward by “destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor 10:5). Bringing our thoughts into captivity means focusing our minds on God and His Word (Isa 26:3; Prov 3:5-6; Col 3:1-2), and not allowing our thoughts to be bogged down and trapped with the cares of this world (Matt 6:25-34). Biblically, several things are necessary for us to reach spiritual maturity, and these are as follows.
Continually study God’s Word. Ezra, the priest, was one who “had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezr 7:10). The growing believer is one whose “delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night” (Psa 1:2). As Christians, we understand that “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17). We cannot live what we do not know, and learning God’s Word necessarily precedes living His will. From regeneration onward, we study God’s Word in order to grow spiritually, that we might reach Christian maturity. God helps His people by means of Pastors and Teachers (Eph 4:11), whom He has given to His church “for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature person, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Eph 4:12-13). Pastors and Teachers have an obligation to communicate God’s Word accurately. Christians have the individual responsibility of studying God’s Word in order to live the best life and grow to maturity (2 Tim 2:15; Heb 5:12-14; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18).
Restore Broken Fellowship with God Through Confession of Personal Sin. All believers sin, and there are none who attain perfection in this life (Pro 20:9; Eccl 7:20; 1 John 1:8-10). For this reason, familial forgiveness is necessary for a healthy relationship with God. David understood the folly of trying to conceal his sins, which resulted in psychological disequilibrium and pain; however, when he confessed his sin, God forgave him (Psa 32:2-5). John wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). God forgives because it is His nature to do so, for He “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth” (Psa 86:15; cf. Psa 103:8-14). And He is able to forgive because Christ has atoned for our sins at the cross, satisfying the Father’s righteous demands regarding our offenses. The apostle John wrote, “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; 2 and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world” (1 John 2:1-2). The challenge for many believers is to trust God at His word and accept His forgiveness and not operate on guilty feelings. William MacDonald states:
Walk in the Spirit. Paul wrote, “walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Gal 5:16). In this passage walking is a metaphor for daily living, which can be influenced by God (Deut 5:33; 10:12), other righteous persons (Prov 13:20), sinners (Psa 1:1; Pro 1:10-16; 1 Cor 15:33), or one’s own sin nature (Gal 5:17-21). To walk in the Spirit means we depend on His counsel to guide and power to sustain as we seek to do His will. The Spirit most often guides us directly by Scripture. Jesus, speaking of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, said, “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you” (John 14:26). The Holy Spirit helps the Christian know the Word of God, and to recall Scripture when needed for guidance. The Holy Spirit also works through mature believers—whose thinking is saturated with God’s Word—to help provide sound biblical advice for others. Warren Wiersbe states:
Worship and Give Thanks to the Lord. The writer to the Hebrews stated, “let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name” (Heb 13:15). And Paul wrote to the Christians at Thessalonica, saying, “in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Th 5:18). To give thanks (εὐχαριστέω eucharisteo) is to have a daily attitude of gratitude toward God for His goodness and mercy toward us. Part of this attitude comes from knowing “that God works all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28). God does this because He “is for us” (Rom 8:31).
Take Advantage of the Time God Gives. Time is a resource we should manage properly. Paul writes, “Be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil” (Eph 5:15-16). Solomon wrote, “Whatever you find to do with your hands, do it with all your might, because there is neither work nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave, the place where you will eventually go” (Ecc 9:10 NET). God has determined the length of our days, as David wrote, “in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for my life when as yet there was not one of them” (Psa 139:16). Every moment is precious and we must make sure our days are not wasted on meaningless pursuits, but on learning God’s Word, living His will, and loving those whom the Lord places in our path.
The testimony of Scripture is that God is righteous (Ps. 11:7; 129:4; 145:17; Lam. 1:18; John 17:25; 1 John 2:1). He is essentially righteous in character. It follows that since God is righteous, He will promote righteousness and approve of those who do. David writes of God, saying, “The LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; the upright will behold His face” (Ps. 11:7). The verse speaks of what God is as well as what God loves. He is righteous and He loves righteousness. David here—and in Psalm 33:5—uses the Hebrew verb אָהֵב aheb to speak of the affection God has for righteousness and those who pursue it. The “upright” refers to those who conform to God’s character and commands, and to “behold His face” means one is welcome into His presence with favor (cf. Ps. 17:5; 140:13). In another place David states, “O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy hill? 2 He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart” (Ps. 15:1-2). Solomon adds, “The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD, but He loves one who pursues righteousness” (Prov. 15:9), and “to do righteousness and justice is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice” (Prov. 21:3). Isaiah states, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Preserve justice and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come and My righteousness to be revealed’” (Isa. 56:1), Jeremiah adds, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place’” (Jer. 22:3; Hos. 14:9; 10:12). Paul writes, “present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Rom. 6:13; cf. 6:19), “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (2 Tim. 2:22), and Peter states, “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Pet. 2:24; cf. Eph. 4:24; 5:8-10; 1 Tim. 6:11; Tit. 2:11-12; Heb. 10:38).