7. ACCURATELY HANDLE THE SCRIPTURES

2 Timothy 2:15 "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

7.1. Like Timothy, you should do your best to be an approved worker

Everyone who serves the Lord should fit the description "worker". You should be counted as among those who "labour in the Word" (1 Timothy 5:17). Teaching the Word of truth requires your best strenuous endeavour.

"Be diligent" (spoudazo) has the idea of eagerness, make effort to be prompt, and exercise earnest carefulness, diligent labour. Do you make yourself an offering approved to God, by implementing the instructions of the apostle Paul to Timothy? Diligently remind those whom you teach, of the truth Paul emphasised. (2 Timothy 2:14).

What your heart and mind are occupied with, that is what you will communicate. Don't fill your mind with the latest fads, and what some call "special revelation ". Keep to foundational truth that establishes believers and sets them apart to God. Don't follow those who seek notoriety by proclaiming sensational interpretations.

7.2. You present yourself approved of God when the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ is prominent in your teaching

	You are to remember and remind others of Christ's death and resurrection (2 Timothy 2:8).
	You are to emphasis that as believers we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, "we died with Him" - sin no longer has dominion - "we shall also live with Him" (2 Timothy 2:11; Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:8).
	Make central in your teaching that Jesus Christ is Lord. In His humility He identified with us in our humanity (2 Timothy 2:8; Cf Gal 4:4)
	Teach the royal descent of Jesus Christ "of the seed of David" (2 Timothy 2:8); that He fulfilled the Messianic promises in every particular; He did exemplify the faithfulness of God.
	Teach that Jesus Christ lives today seated at the right hand of God the Father - He, the risen Lord, is given all power (2 Timothy 2:8; Matthew 28:18; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 2:5-9 and 10:12).
	Proclaim that the risen, living Saviour is everything to you, and those you teach, that in Christ they have everything they need for full salvation with eternal glory (2 Timothy 2:10).
	Keep in mind that anointed messengers can suffer in chains, but the Word of God cannot be chained, it is ever dynamic and life-changing (2 Timothy 2:9-10).
	Teach that perseverance in the face of persecution for the sake of Christ, will be eternally rewarded. "We shall also reign with Him". (2 Timothy 2:12).
	Don't shun informing those who deny the Lord Jesus, of the consequences of His denial of them (2 Timothy 2:12).
	Present the unchanging faithfulness of Christ even when believers are weak and failing (2 Timothy 2:13; E.g Luke 22:31-34).
	Implant the knowledge that Christ is in name and nature, faithful, "He cannot deny Himself". (2 Timothy 2:13; 2 Thessalonians 3:3; Revelation 3:14 and 19:11).
	Edify by reminding your hearers of what they already know of the principles of truth. Repetition protects them from involvement in destructive and worthless false teaching (2 Timothy 2:14).

7.3. Be a zealous labourer for God and in the Word of truth

The approval of God should be your passion. The worst thing that can happen to you is to be shamed before God when He inspects your work (2 Timothy 2:15). Shame comes when you deviate from the Word of truth. It is imperative to rightly divide (orthotomeo - Lit - cutting straight) the Word of truth, and this can mean cutting straight to the true meaning, so as to expound it rightly, without following profitless by-paths that are incorrect interpretations which end in deception, or direct your attention and those you teach, into endless discussion of unprofitable issues.

Be assured that in accurately handling the Word of truth you are on the "solid foundation of God" (2 Timothy 2:19), and that it stands eternal as stated in Isaiah 40:8 "But the word of our God stands forever." Cutting straight to the truth of God you are setting forth the reliable, stable, eternal, divine Word.

There is no need to fail in rightly dividing the word of truth; through prayer in the Holy Spirit you can "build yourself up on your most holy faith" (Jude 20). You can keep straight by communing with the Holy Spirit about God's truth. The gospel message is your pattern of truth, which by obeying from the heart you were delivered from sin (Romans 6:17). Fellowship with the Holy Spirit will protect you from any diversion from the life changing message.

Let the Holy Spirit give you insight. Paul prayed for Timothy to have full understanding of the instruction and truth he was giving him.

2 Timothy 2:7 "Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things."

It is God who gives liberally wisdom that is insight (James 1:5) when you give yourself to consider, meditate, on the Word of truth. Expect the Holy Spirit to open your understanding so that you fully comprehend and apply all things. You need to constantly receive the insight of the Holy Spirit to accurately handle the Scriptures and impart it "in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." (1 Corinthians 2:4). Reliance on the Holy Spirit will give you strength to give a straightforward message that will be accompanied by signs that will magnify God.

7.4. Test all your teaching that it is lined up straight with the principle work of the Holy Spirit, that of glorifying Christ and making Him known

John 16:14 "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you."

You can be sure of God's approval when what you teach accomplishes the function of the Holy Spirit to glorify Christ Jesus. He will guide you and show you the Person of Christ and all that is gathered up in Christ. The glory of the Father is seen in the Son, all things the Father has are Christ's (John 16:15). So the focus of the Holy Spirit is on Christ because He is the "image of the invisible God." (Colossians 1:15; Cf John 14:7-11). The Father is unveiled in Christ. When you rely on the Holy Spirit in your handling of truth, the Lord Jesus will be your central subject, substance, and standpoint. The Holy Spirit will show you the glory of Christ's perfections, ministries, offices and all His fulness. He will use you to magnify Christ so that others "also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." (2 Timothy 2:10).

	Are you willing to pray your answers to the Lord?
	Are you a diligent worker for God? Do you labour in the Word?
	Do you teach the things Paul emphasised to Timothy? If you checked your teaching notes for the past year, would they prove you have? Or have not?
	Do you check the latest emphases of popular teachers with the Word of truth?
	Is the resurrection of Christ prominent in your teaching?
	Why do you think it is essential to teach of the believer being united with Christ in His death and resurrection?
	Do you emphatically teach the deity, Lordship, and humanity of Christ?
	Do you proclaim the fulfilment of the Messianic promises by Christ? What significant message is implied for believers?
	Do you expound the ministries of the living Lord at the Father's right hand?
	Do you believe that God's Word of truth is unstoppable in its life-changing power?
	How would you encourage persevering, persecuted saints?
	Do you boldly tell the consequences of denial of Christ?
	How would you explain the unchanging faithfulness of Christ?
	Why is it required of you in your teaching, to repeat known truth?
	How are you affected by the thought that you could be shamed before God when He inspects your work?
	Is it your careful practice to rightly divide God's Word of truth?
	What does the idea of cutting straight signify to you?
	In which way do you develop your fellowship with the Holy Spirit? How does this aid you in correct handling of the Word?
	How would you summarise the focus of your teaching, and what would you expect your teaching to accomplish? Are you confident that your teaching and its aim meets with God's approval?