SWORDS Bible Study: Results Part 2

By Mari

 

SWORDS: Strong Women Of Rightly Dividing Studies

 

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

(All caps for emphasis only)

 

We all want results we can see.  Like after yard work.  It is a good feeling to see the finished work, mowing, weed eating, edging and such, and enjoy the results of our labor.

Being an ambassador for Christ is sharing the gospel of the grace of God with others, and it is wonderful to see the result of someone believing the gospel and being saved.  However, unlike yard work, the result of our efforts is not always seen, sometimes we never do see or know the end result.

One is physical we can see plainly and the other is spiritual, the internal workings of a soul that we do not see.

It is interesting to note that while it is the most incredible thing to witness when someone hears the gospel and believes God, however that moment is truly, totally between the person and God. You were simply the messenger, but God that giveth the increase.

1Co 3:7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 

We cannot gauge our spiritual labor necessarily by seeing results. The results are God that giveth the increase.

Perhaps we were the one that planted the seed(s)?  Will we even know? Perhaps we were the waterer of the seed(s) that were planted? Or, we may be there at the harvests of the seeds planted and watered…but it really matters not.  Why?

1Co 3:8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 

1Co 3:9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.

 

I know those who have felt so defiled by their own sin and the sin of others, that they wrongly believed they could not be healed or saved by God. In my own case, I did not believe my brokenness could ever be healed, even as saved! I certainly did not understand that God would even save me, though I secretly wanted and knew I needed to be.

However, in several of these circumstances that kept others and myself in unbelief, there were those who planted seeds of hope along the way! I know many of them have no idea how it turned out! I was not made to feel worse than I already did, but with grace, people of God kept dropping seeds, some watered them and one day, seeds took root, something began to grow inside…Hope…that turned into belief!

For myself, even with the joy of being saved…I did not believe for some time that God could heal the lingering sadness within me from the past. I thought I had been too damaged by sin and life. I believed I would be the mouse that would live just inside heaven’s door. I was so grateful for the Lord’s mercy and gift of salvation, but I had no further idea of what this meant.  This beggarly understanding was based on not knowing who I am in Christ!

 

I learned later that there are no ‘mice’ barely saved just inside the door of heaven, but all are made the NEW CREATURE the instant one believed. A member of the Body of Christ!

 

2Co_5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

 

Saved, but still confused with law and grace mixed up. So many like me feel safe in Christ for salvation, but of no real use to the Lord in this life and body. Saved and confused about what to do or how to be.

 

New creature, what did this mean? I was reading the word of God, but not understanding from the Old Testament through the New Testament. It seemed to be a vengeful God and a merciful God. Doing the best, I could do, praying and praying and praying for knowledge and wisdom for understanding.

Then, years later my prayers were answered and I heard about the fellowship of the mystery! (Eph 3:9).  And rightly dividing the word of truth!

 

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 

 

2Ti_2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Confusion was replaced with CLEAR understanding! The next best thing to salvation! I began to see through His word who I am in Christ! Salvation was much grander than I had understood!  You see, I knew what I had been saved FROM, separation from God, eternal darkness and suffering in the fires of Hell’s torment…but not really what I had been saved TO!  Saved to be a child of God, a member of the body of Christ, eternal peace, joy, love with a ministry to fulfil by Him in grace.

 

I learned who I am in Christ! That the Father sees me in Christ’s righteousness, not my sins or my brokenness! He sees me complete in Christ!  I believe God and reckon it so, to walk in the Spirit! He made me an ambassador and a saint with a ministry. The ministry of reconciliation that is for everyone who will believe (1 Cor 15:1-4).  He made me holy, set apart unto Him! He made ME one of His lights in this dark world!

 

Php_2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

 

I learned that upon believing I am crucified with Christ.  Though I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me! Glory, glory, glory.  I am His by faith. He loved me and gave Himself for me.  He lives in me! He lives in ALL who have believed.

What changes this made, albeit slowly, as I was still learning and reckoning what God has said and what it all meant moving forward.

Rom_6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Rom_8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Gal_2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 

Results, yes, we all want them.  We want to see them, experience them and joy in them.  However, I will tell you a little secret.  Only God knows for sure what is done in the hearts and spirit of another man or woman! So, we keep on keeping on until we are called home in faith. We trust in the Lord and HIS results to be good soldiers, ambassadors who do not keep score for ourselves or others, but keep working in Him as He beseeched us to do.

 

2Co_2:8  Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

2Co_5:20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

2Co_6:1  We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

Once again, I find the results we seek are in and of the Lord as he works in and through us!

 

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

1Th 2:13  For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.