KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 4:8, 11 “Wherefore he saith, when he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers”.

We continue with our studies on the ministerial offices. This time, we look at the teacher. In all these discussions, I have tried to make it clear that none of these ministerial gifts is made in a classroom. The scripture said “He led captivity captive and gave gifts unto men, and he gave some pastors and teachers. All these offices are divine gifts. Nobody makes himself one. Your availability and devotion to God would allow Him to place that gift on you.

Although none of these gifts is made in the classroom, schooling greatly polishes the gifts of God. One’s ability to present these truths clearly and understandably is all because of the training he obtained from school. Schooling, therefore, is very necessary, yet it is not schooling that makes anyone either an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, a pastor, or a teacher.

A teacher happens to be placed at the tail end of the ministerial gifts, yet it is in no way the least. Please note this, a false teacher is more dangerous than a false prophet.

A prophet may deceive a person or group of people, while a wrong teacher will destroy generations. The teachings of Jehovah Witnesses about the Holy Spirit, blood transfusion, and the deity of our Lord Jesus have influenced and affected generations of people. Dying people have refused blood transfusions because of their teachings. Many of them died as a result of that.

Teaching is programming an individual or a group of people to think, and act in a particular way. It is a very important gift or office that God gives to men.

The Bible is the teaching material. Every teacher of the bible must know the scriptures exceedingly well. He must read the Bible very well. 2nd Timothy 2:15 says “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a Workman that need not be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth”. The word study is not just telling you to read the scriptures. It is the Greek word “Spoudazo” and it means to be diligent, make haste, and exert one’s self. The teacher must be diligent in searching for the truths of the scripture. Many Bible teachers realise that after they have studied the scripture, the Holy Spirit keeps expounding on them even when they are not in their study times. The teacher receives a divine insight into the scriptures as the Spirit compares scripture with scripture.

Does the teacher function in any of the nine supernatural gifts of the Spirit? Yes, he may function in any of the gifts of the Spirit as he avails himself to the Lord in dedication and prayer. A diligent life of prayer is the simplest means for the Spirit to function freely in an individual. The teacher must communicate enough grace that would break satanic powers that hold the minds of people bound.

PRAYER

I pray for all teachers of the word of God to gain more insight into the word of God to bring out truths that would affect our world and the lives of many.

FURTHER STUDIES.
Ezra 7:10 “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.”

1 Timothy 1:7” Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.