Gaining Real-World Training Through the School of the Holy Spirit: The Key to Success Like Joshua

God wants you educated in the school of the Holy Spirit and ready to enter the world fully trained and ready for every situation. Joshua was taught how to be successful. Like Joshua, you need instruction and training.

The Bible says, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). This Scripture speaks of studying and equipping to become workmen. A workman is one that applies what they have learned.

There is a learning pitfall worth mentioning. It's the trap of learning without doing. Some don't take the knowledge they learned in the classroom and apply it. This sounds simple to avoid but many fail to grasp this truth. One must apply what's been learned. This is what James meant when he said to be a doer of the word and not a forgetful hearer.

Apostle Paul spoke of a group of people that spent much time learning but were never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7). These had a form of godliness but denied the power of God. In other words, they looked the part but didn't have the goods. What they had was head knowledge. We see the same powerlessness today with people doing all kinds of foolish things to get titles and positions of authority who aren't qualified. They have classroom knowledge but that's about it.

We could liken these to those that achieved academic levels of knowledge but lack real-world training. Because they are not doers of the word of God, they cheat themselves and disappoint God. Learning has to move beyond the accumulation of book knowledge and that's accomplished through hands-on training. This is why Christ gave us five ascension gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:11-12). 

God gave Joshua the key to success. He said, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” (Joshua 1:8). The instruction was simple: study, meditate, and do.

A hunger to learn is great but you must also learn to do. That means to apply what you have learned. There is no doubt that hands-on training trumps classroom academics. Unfortunately, sometimes a formal education focuses on the ability to take tests, and write essays. All of this can instill a passive mindset toward education.

Jesus had a better approach with his Disciples. Christ taught them while immersing them in the process of walking out what he taught. Watching Jesus increased the Disciple's ability to grasp many Kingdom truths. It's important that you get out of the classroom and enter the real world. Learn from Joshua's instruction: study, meditate, and do. 

© Your partner,
Apostle Jonas Clark
www.jonasclark.com