BUILD TRUTH BY REPETITION

Tuesday 1 April

they ask. “Why does he speak to us like this? Are we little children, just recently weaned? He tells us everything over and over— one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there!” Isaiah 28:9-10 (NLT)

When you study this passage you see the prophet Isaiah mimicking Israel in a mocking fashion about the way he was delivering the Word of God to them. They were complaining about the fact that Isaiah was repetitive in his communication which they appeared to view as a negative thing.

They also seemed to have a grievance as to the sparseness of the instruction. Be that as it may, it doesn’t change the fact that Isaiah and the other prophets spoke as they were directed for the most part by the Spirit of God.

Even in the Body of Christ today, many want to hear the Word of God in a way that appeals to them and not in a manner that grows them in the knowledge of God. Part of the reason Apostle Paul called preaching the gospel ‘foolishness’ is because it is the repetition and simplicity of the message that counts. 1 Corinthians 2:3-5 puts it this way.

‘And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.’

We can see from this that it is not about showcasing oratory skills that wins the day but the demonstration of the Word. It goes on to say ‘howbeit we speak wisdom among those who are perfect.’ Perfect means mature in this context. So there is to be a speaking of wisdom that promotes maturity. How is this achieved? By repetitively teaching the Word of God.

Paul said regarding the Corinthian church ‘when I came to you, I could not speak to you as spiritual but as carnal (natural) unto babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with meat, for up to now you are not able to bear it’…

This was the first time Paul interacted with them. It was not where he wanted them to be but it was a start. His goal was always to bring them to maturity in Christ. Jesus spoke to the crowd in parables but he said to his disciples ‘I still have many things to tell you, but you cannot bear them now’. Notice something here though. Jesus says when the Holy Spirit comes things will be different.

The early church were in this ‘different’ category by the Spirit. They were able to bear or handle everything Jesus continued to say in His ministry through His apostles. If repetition of truth is the requirement for coming to maturity then we better make sure that we are preaching and teaching and learning exactly that; truth.

There is a quote that states that ‘repetition is the pathway to deep and meaningful impression’. How appropriate.

This is why we have to inundate our thinking with the truth of God’s Word. To do this effectively, we need to be taught how to ‘rightly divide the word of truth’. Make a commitment to be a life long learner and practitioner of the gospel of Christ.

APPLICATION

Be intentional in how you build and establish truth in your life. Study to show yourself approved unto God not man, and don’t be carried away with every wind of doctrine.