Teach Me
October 5, 2003
Psalm 32:8
17th Sunday after Pentecost
Galena-Warwick United Methodist Charge
Warwick & Galena, Maryland
Rev. Dr. Lawrence D. Jameson
back to our church home page
Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you
in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.
The sermon today is about Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you
in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.
God instructs us.
He teaches us.
He gives us wise counsel.
And he watches over us.
God cares about us a lot!
His plan is to improve us
and make us wise.
His plan is
to make us morally good and strong.
His plan is
to make us useful and effective.
His plan is to build up our lives
so that we can help other people.
His plan is for us to know
how to enjoy relationships of quality
with people of excellence.
God has a plan
that will unfold one step at a time
even if we don’t see it unfolding.
God teaches us!
Hallelujah!
Obstacles
Did you know that’s it’s hard to teach?
It’s hard for a number of reasons.
1) Most people don’t want to learn.
There was a teacher who
wanted her class to learn new vocabulary words.
Each week she put two new words
on heavy cardboard
and held them up for the class to see.
One week she said:
“Today’s vocabulary words are:
ignorance and apathy.
Johnny, would you tell us what they mean?”
Johnny said,
“I don’t know
and I don’t care.”
“That’s right!” said the teacher.
God has to deal with us
because we have a lot more
ignorance and apathy
than we realize.
Sin has diminished our ability to learn from God.
But God still wants us to learn!
Psalm 86:11 says
“give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name”
God has lessons for you.
Do you WANT to learn them?
Ask God for an “undivided heart”
a heart that is eager to learn.
2) Some teachers don’t prepare well.
If you are a teacher (like me)
you know that there are days
when you just want a break.
So you fudge a little bit.
You don’t try as hard.
If you are a teacher, you know what I am talking about.
Everyone gets tired.
Everyone falls short of perfection, Right?
Wrong!
God is ALWAYS PREPARED
always ready with a custom lesson plan
made just for Y-O-U.
Our God is perfect in wisdom, power, and love.
He never slips up,
never loses his enthusiasm,
never takes half measures!
We have the finest teacher, private tutor, Personal Professor
in the universe!
If you were Richie Rich
and could afford to buy all the
colleges and universities in the world
NOBODY COULD TEACH YOU
AS WELL AS ALMIGHTY GOD.
Jesus said:
"There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not
be made known.”
Matthew 10:26
Jesus also said:
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes,
he will guide you into all truth.
John 16:13
There isn’t anything God isn’t ready to teach you.
But you must be willing to learn.
3) Knowledge usually comes in layers.
What does this mean?
God is ready and willing to teach you
incredible things!
Some of these things are complex and fantastic!
But God designed you and me
to build knowledge upon knowledge.
So before you can run,
you have to walk,
and before you can walk,
you have to crawl.
It’s called development and growth.
It’s part of God’s wonderful universe.
In James 1:2 the Bible says:
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not
lacking anything.”
Is this a crazy verse?
No!
This verse recognizes the layered nature of
Christian knowledge and character.
We are a learning, growing people!
The world looks at life
and sees hardship and frustration
as something to be avoided.
Christians see it from a different perspective.
God is laying down the layers!!!!!!
He is making us into something
fine, beautiful, useful, and good.
So if you life is hard,
don’t get discouraged or give up.
God IS AT WORK IN YOUR LIFE!!!!
Of course the first step,
the first layer that must be established
before God can teach you
is called being “born-again”.
When you confess your sin,
ask God to forgive you,
and invite Jesus into your heart
THAT IS THE FOUNDATION
FOR TRUE KNOWLEDGE.
Jesus said
“you will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
He also said:
"I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
If you have a thirst for knowledge,
if there are mysteries that captivate you
if there are facts you would do anything to know
IF YOU REALLY TRULY WANT KNOWLEDGE
take the first step that will enable you to learn anything,
ask Jesus into your life.
Eye guidance
I love the King James Version of this verse.
“I will instruct thee and teach thee
in the way which thou shalt go:
I will guide thee with mine eye.”
Here is something beautiful.
Imagine a eager student
and a wise instructor.
The teacher doesn’t have to work
or waste energy
on the student to keep her alert
the student is eager to learn.
What is that student doing?
She is carefully watching the teacher.
What is she watching?
She is watching the teacher’s hands, and her eyes.
When the teacher looks at something
it must be important.
So that’s where the student looks.
That’s how God wants us to learn.
He wants us to be eager, excited,
full of expectation and joy.
What happens when a congregation
stops trying to do things in its own power
and starts looking to see where
the hands and eyes of God are involved?
That church experiences miracles, signs, and wonders.
That church will learn the power of God.
That church will see healings, and growth in grace.
Isn’t it great to learn that way?
Listen to what God has promised.
I will instruct you and teach you
in the way you should go;
I will counsel you and watch over you.
Amen!