[1 Timothy 4:13 KJV] “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine”.
I want to speak to you today on advancing through reading, especially reading from your father. I believe that one of the greatest and most effective ways of imparting knowledge, fire, and drive into the spirit, heart, mind, and soul of a person is through instruction. Those who receive instruction through reading from their pastor overcome the pitfalls of all stages of life.
[Proverbs 1:1-6 KJV] “The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.”
There are four key stages of life, all with their corresponding challenges;
- The novice, childish or simple stage
- The young energetic exuberant stage
- The wise man stage, and
- The man of understanding stage of life.
People at the first stage lack subtility, those are the young man stage lack touch with reality, those at the wise man stage often don’t read or learn any more, and those at the understanding stage no longer seek wise counsel.
A commitment to keep reading and learning will help you to overcome these dangers because the moment you stop reading and learning, you start dying. I pray that you shall continue reading and gaining instruction throughout all the ages and stages of your life.
It is also important to mention that there are three stages of learning. The stages of knowing, the stage of perceiving, and the stage of receiving. Many learn to know but not to perceive, and an even fewer number learn to receive knowledge. I pray that you shall read and learn and advance to not just to know but to perceive and to receive.
I love you
Pastor Simpe
