Teachers Wanted

As a young Christian, I listened to numerous sermon tapes. Among the ministers I gleaned from the most were Mac Hammond, Jerry Savelle, Jesse Duplantis, Kenneth Copeland, Mike Murdock, and Joyce Meyer. God used them at different seasons in my life to build a solid foundation on His word. In recent years, I’ve probably listened to Perry Stone more than any other preacher. Perry estimates he's studied the Bible for more than 100,000 hours in his lifetime. His “Manna-Fest” programs often filmed in Israel help illustrate his points.

Besides their pastor, most believers have a favorite preacher they like listening to. However, one must avoid seeking out ministers who proclaim only what they want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3 warns, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers”

Wrong doctrines have been built based on one Bible verse alone. Look at 1 John 2:27…

“But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.”

Someone could casually glance at this verse and think they don’t need to receive instruction from other believers. That’s not what John is saying at all. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have written any epistles. John pointed out to the people he wrote to that they had no need for anyone to teach them the church’s basic doctrines. They also didn’t need human logic or philosophy to help them understand God’s nature. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate teacher. 

Until Jesus returns, He will continue using ministers to help us grow in knowledge of His word. Ephesians 4:11-13 says the Lord gave us “…teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

Many other Scriptures talk about the importance of receiving instruction from others. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Some translations use the word “teach” instead of “train.” When giving the Great Commission in Matthew 28:20, Jesus told us to make disciples by “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” Numerous times in Psalm 119 it says, “Teach me Your statutes.” 

We should never stop learning God’s word. That’s one way we grow to become more like Jesus.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.” - Matthew 10:24

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