February 2000

by Carole Forde

eing a teacher of Truth is a blessed calling of God; but to all who seek after such a calling, I exhort you, before you begin, to know exactly what this will mean in your life. Jesus counsels, (Lu 14:28) "Which of you desiring to build a tower would not first sit down and count the cost to see if you have what you will need to finish the job?" It is foolish to begin a task without having the means to finish it. Christ is "The Author and The Finisher" of God’s purpose and pleasure. (Heb 12:2) As God desires a mighty harvest of"Fruits of the Spirit" (Gal 5:22-23) from the Seed-(Christ) He sowed into our earthen flesh! He tells us His "Reproofs of Instruction (in Truth) are The Way of Life" (Pr 6:23) and Christ calls Himself all three: "The Way, the Truth, and the Life"! (Jn 14:6) God’s Teachings are portrayed in Pr 25:11 as: "Words fitly spoken like Apples of gold in a setting of silver."[In scripture, gold = Divine Life of Christ; and silver = Redemption.]
               To be a teacher of the Gospel means that if we claim to speak "in the Name of the Lord", the only Voice heard is "The Anointing that teaches us of all things" (1 Jn 2:27) And according to Jn 14:26, Jesus defines the "Anointing" as "The Holy Spirit, Whom the Father sends in My Name and shall teach you all things!" Indeed, the earthy vessels through which the Anointing speaks are "Men subject to the same passions as we are"; (Jas 5:17) which means that if they are not moving in the Anointing, they will still behave as human beings; but when they speak as Oracles of God, ( 1 Pet 4:11 ) they become the Voice of Divine Authority! Therefore it is a sober responsibility, and one not to be taken lightly, for anyone to call himself a Messenger of God!!
                What is a teacher? A true purveyor of knowledge (be it human or divine revelation) should, first and foremost, be an unceasing student! Only those with insatiable appetites to learn and grow are sincere and enthusiastic mentors of others. The who has "lived" the subject he teaches is the most effective educator of all. Anyone who can speak French might be able to communicate that language to others; but a Frenchman sharing his native tongue is much more effective and credible! So it is with the Gospel of Christ. Any literate believer can recite Scriptures, but the truly effective teacher is one who has walked the lonely footsteps of Christ, carrying his own cross up to Calvary , and subjected himself willingly to the crucifixion of self will; for he displays the Heart of Christ, the Mind of Christ, and the Life of Christ in the word he teaches. He manifest Resurrection Power when he speaks in the Anointing; so that hearts are stirred and lives are changed! The day is coming when a people will be called "Sons of God" that totally "walk their talk" 24 hours a day; for Christ will fully possess them as He did Jesus. They will still occupy bodies of flesh but will be filled with the Holy Spirit, the Anointing, the Christ! As true sons of God, they shall speak- or even just think- a thing, and it shall come to pass instantly! They will know the Will of God in every situation and be empowered to perform it effectively. Even the elements of nature will be at their command, just as they were for Jesus. Their Light will have power over the darkest principalities. They will work miracles; and be to the world, Trees of Righteousness! Till then, they are still confined to being teachers of Truth who only "Know in part". (1 Cor 13:12)
                 A teacher that is sent from God "Is a Light to all who are in darkness" (Ro 2:19) and that Light is Christ! (Jn 8:12; 2 Cor 4:4-6) Hear this again: a teacher from God "IS a Light" (i.e., he is "Christ") to all those in darkness. He does not merely "talk about" the Light (which, alone, is still a good thing); but he "IS" the Light of Christ! The difference is like one who talks about birds, and one who "IS" a bird- with wings to prove it, and the ability to fly!!
                 A spirit-filled teacher imparts truth; which is Christ! God says that these anointed ones "Serve in the newness of Spirit (which gives life)", (Ro 7:6; 2 Cor 3:6) but then He scolds all who "Serve in the oldness of the letter" (that kills)"; "You teach others, why do you not teach yourself as well?" (Ro 2:21) The religious leaders of Jesus’ day called themselves "rabbi"- a title given to all Jewish teachers; but only One is anointed as "Rabbi, the Son of God" (Jn 1:49) and it is Christ! For in Greek 4461, the title "rabbi" lit. means: "Master"; so Jesus said in Mt 23:8-10, "Do not call yourselves *Rabbi; for only Christ is your Master; and you are His brethren. Also do not call any man on earth ‘Father’, for you have only One Father Who is in heaven. And let no man allow himself to be called master, for only Christ, is your Master".

[*Interesting to note that Rabbi also stems from Hebrew roots: 7227, 7231, 7240 7241 which include the meanings: "ABUNDANT, PLENTEOUS, MANY, MULTITUDE, MANIFOLD (in size, age, number, quantity, rank, and quality}, EXCEEDINGLY GREAT, MIGHTY, CAPTAIN, OFFICER, ELDER, MASTER, TO INCREASE BY TEN THOUSANDS, TO MULTIPLY BY MYRIADS; AN INDEFINITE NUMBER, TEN THOUSANDS TIMES TEN THOUSANDS; ALSO AN ACCUMULATION OF DROPS AS RAIN, ESP. SHOWERS. (This synonym is also in the following: Dt 32:2, "Let My TEACHING fall like rain; and My Words distill as the dew and the small rain upon tender plants; and as the SHOWERS on new grass (flesh);." Ps 72:6, "May He (Christ) come down like rain upon the mown grass; and as the SHOWERS that water the earth"; Jer 14:22, "Can any of the worthless idols or false gods of the nations cause rain? Or can the heavens (of their own will) give SHOWERS?No, You, Alone ,O Lord our God, can do this. Therefore our hope is in You and we will wait upon You"; Mic 5:7, "The remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as dew from the Lord; and as SHOWERS upon the grass; and it does not wait for man, nor delay for the sons of men.." Therefore, our"RABBI", Christ, is a many-membered company of Sons who, through union with Him, bring forth the Latter Rain by their revelations of Christ!]

               "Not many of you should become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we, teachers, will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity than other people. Thus we assume the greater accountability and more condemnation. For we all often stumble and fall, and offend in many things. But if anyone does not offend in speech, that is, never says the wrong thing, he is a fully developed character, and a perfect man- able to control his entire nature." (Jas 3:1-2)
                Being a teacher of Truth is not an easy walk. "To whom much is given, much is required" (Lu 12:48) It is often a solitary walk, being misunderstood and shunned by those still embracing religious systems. Paul warned that not many should seek to be teachers because the demands on them are far more stringent than on others; as they are held to a higher level of accountability. They suffer more fiery tests of faith to be made living examples of the blessed Hope in Christ. They are lifted to higher realms of discernment, therefore they are detached from earthly dependencies. Their priorities are refocused to the spiritual rather than the natural. And hardest of all, they are required to "Forsake (into the safe and wise care of God) houses, lands, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife and children for His Name’s sake; as they will receive 100 fold and Eternal Life in return!" ( Mt 19:29) For Christ says, "Whoever does not forsake (to My Perfect care) ALL THAT HE HAS,
                 He cannot be My disciple." (Lk 14:33) However we need not be fearful about those who cannot yet receive these SHOWERS of Kingdom Truth, for as the saying goes, "When the student is ready, the (true) Teacher will appear"! Amen.