“He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.”
Proverbs 15:32 (NKJV)
• A number of believers would not want to be instructed or corrected– they are full of self.
- The text says if you disdain instruction, that is, you treat any instruction given to you with contempt; you despise your soul, you harm yourself.
- However if you embrace instruction, you heed rebuke, you listen 👂 to correction; then you grow in understanding.
-> There are ways to receive godly instructions:
• Godly instructions are received from the Word of God.
- The Bible is given to us for instruction in righteousness.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)
• Godly instructions also come from the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.
- He is the Spirit of the LORD, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD (Isaiah 11:2).
- God has given the Holy Spirit to us, His children; that He may guide us, instruct us about His will—God’s will (John 14:16,17,26; 16:13-15).
“Now if anyone does not have the SPIRIT of CHRIST, he is not HIS."
Romans 8:9 (NKJV)
“But the Helper [Comforter], the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will TEACH you all things, and BRING to your REMEMBRANCE all THINGS that I SAID to YOU."
John 14:26 (NKJV)
“However, when He, the SPIRIT of TRUTH, has come, HE will GUIDE you into all TRUTH; for HE will not SPEAK on HIS own AUTHORITY, but WHATEVER He hears He will speak; and HE will TELL you THINGS to COME.”
John 16:13 (NKJV)
- Holy Spirit has come, He dwells on the inside of those who acknowledge Jesus as their Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10; Acts 2:38).
- And if the Holy Spirit dwells in you, then He is there on the inside of you: to help you, counsel you, instruct you, and direct you in all the affairs of life (Romans 8:11,14).
• In addition, instructions of godly wisdom come from godly leaders—spiritual leaders.
- God has set leaders in the church, and He delegated His authority to them—they are to watch over the flock of God (Ephesians 4:11-15; 1 Peter 5:2).
7 “Remember those who RULE over you, who have SPOKEN the WORD of GOD to YOU, whose faith FOLLOW, considering the OUTCOME of their CONDUCT.
17 OBEY those who RULE over YOU, and be SUBMISSIVE, for they WATCH OUT for your SOULS, as those who must give ACCOUNT. Let them do so with JOY and not with GRIEF, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
Hebrews 13:7,17 (NKJV)
• If you disdain, disregard, the instructions given to you by God through His Word, the Bible; the Holy Spirit; and spiritual leaders, God’s servants; you despise your own soul, you undo yourself.
- In other words, if you treat with contempt the instructions given by God—you may pay dearly for it.
- However, if you receive instructions which are godly, you grow in understanding.
• You will not fail in Jesus’ name.
Peace!