14/04/14

What age to start Bible study, doctorate and ministry?

Numbers 1:36 - Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;


In the Bible the Lord gave certain guidelines with regards to what activities one gets involved in, at what age towards the Kingdom of God. The Jews do follow many of them but the problem lies that the Jews follow them as traditions without understanding therefore do something else.

We find in scriptures Jesus Himself followed these guidelines set by the Lord through Moses. As a Jew after the age of 8 one is made to study scriptures and when he reaches 12 he is called 'son of the law' and we see Jesus too did that. We see at the temple when He was lost, He was discussing scriptures with the elders. He was not so small that they needed to tug Him close to them, they were responsible parents. We also see the elders did not shun Him away saying you are a kid, but they entertained Him for they knew as a Jewish child of over 8 years they are students of scriptures and at 12 they are considered knowledgeable. It was later in their discussions they were amazed with His wisdom, for He spoke like an expert.

We also see the disciples and other people during His ministry period called Him Rabbi which meant 'noble teacher' and in today's term would be equivalent to calling a person Doctor of Theology (a person who has done his or her doctorate / PhD in Bible study). Paul as a Jew also went through the various stages of learning as stated in Acts 22:3.

In today's scripture we see a youth was found eligible for war at the age of 20. Today we do not battle like the Israelites did in the natural, as in the Old Testament; but we battle in the spiritual and the first weapon of battle is truth, therefore our training of higher level of study (Bible College) should generally start at this age. The Lord desires every Christian over the age of 20 to be having a good knowledge of scripture not just knowing them but having a good depth of understanding of them more of a level like that of a degree in Bible college.

We force our children to do degrees in secular studies but do not do the same for Bible study for we give more importance to the world than to the Kingdom of God.

At the age of 30 we are called to get into ministry. We may be having normal family, a job and children yet we are called to be in ministry since as Christians we are called to witnesses Christ and evangelize Him to the whole world.

In Israel we find every young has to be enrolled in the army and server a number of years, this is strictly implemented especially during war times. We Christians are always in a state of war in this world and we war against the spiritual forces of darkness therefore we are all called to be in the army of God and also arm ourselves with the weapon of truth. Let us give importance to building our children in the knowledge of the Kingdom of God, if not more, than at least as much as we give importance to build them in the knowledge of this world.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, people give more importance to the knowledge of this world than the knowledge of your Kingdom that is why the children lack fear of God and are misled. That is also the reason why the lives of the people are full of yeast. Lord we pray your people give due importance to the knowledge of your Kingdom and they guide their children according to the guidelines You have set...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference ]
Luke 2:43-50
43 And when they had fulfilled the days [12 years old], as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it.
44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.
45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.
46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?
50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

John 1:38 - Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

Luke 4:1-2
1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

Proverbs 22:6 - Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Genesis 18:18-19
18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

Deuteronomy 6:7 - And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Acts 22:3 - I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)