The Word and Prayer Complete You

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:15-17)

Paul wrote that Timothy had known the Holy Scriptures from childhood. The Word was not new to him. The Word had been working in him for years before he ever stood behind a pulpit or led a church. How deep Timothy could go as a minister was directly tied to how long and how seriously the Word had been at work in him. You can't shortcut that and expect the same result. Then Paul unpacked what the Word actually does in a life.

It works in four specific directions.

• It instructs, giving you the doctrinal foundation you need to think correctly about God and about life.

• It reproves, convicting you of where you have gone wrong and showing you the evidence.

• It corrects, straightening you up when you have drifted off course.

• It trains you in righteousness, educating you over time on how to live as God intended.

The result of all four working consistently in life is a mature, fully equipped person.

A younger minister on staff recently asked me what it takes to grow and develop as a ministry leader. I told him to pray in the Holy Ghost for at least an hour a day. That is the standard at the ministerial level, not because of religious obligation, but because the person behind the desk, the one responsible for leading and feeding others, cannot afford to operate on a thin spiritual diet.

Practical Application

The Word and prayer in the Spirit together build the kind of person God can use without limitation.

Hebrews 4:12; Romans 15:4