Sunday, January 7, 2007

Scriptures - The Word of God

WELCOME

Welcome to the House of Faith, we’re glad you have chosen to worship the Lord with us, here today in songs, prayer, sacrifice and the hearing of the Word of God.

INTRODUCTION

With Advent over, we return to our Sermon Series; Our Constitution & Bylaws.

I have developed this series to better help each of us understand just what it is we believe, and what our collection of believers believe.

We will be speaking today on our tenets of faith.

This sermon will focus on the Scriptures as THE Word of God.

Everything that we discuss is found written in our Constitution and Bylaws, in not so many words, but with scriptures references so as to show that our beliefs are not mere personal opinions, but founded on the Word of God.

It is the Word of God that we are here by and for, so it is only fitting that we base our faith and belief on it as well.

I watched a series a few months ago on the discovery channel on the seven natural wonders of the world.

They mentioned that thee were also seven man made wonders, and I propose that the founder of this world also has seven wonders that we are going to look at in His Word.

More than seven, but today we will look at seven. The Seven Wonders of The Word of God

SCRIPTURE READING


Psalm 19:7-14

7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul.
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

8 The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

9 The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold, the purest gold;
they are sweeter than honey, honey right from the comb.

11 By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

12 Who can understand his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.

13 Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

PRAYER FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT AND UNDERSTANDING


INTRODUCTION

Psalm 19 and especially these verses have been a favorite of mine for many years.

It first came to my attention years ago when I heard a sermon series on the Word of God.

This Psalm along with Psalm 119 are two Psalms dedicated to exalting the Word of God.

Christians are sometimes accused of worshipping the Bible.

But this is not true. We worship the God who wrote it.

He alone deserves our worship.

But at the same time the Bible makes this declaration concerning the Word of God.

Psalm 138:2

I will bow down toward your holy temple
and will praise your name
for your love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.”


David said of God in this Psalm, “you have exalted above all things your name and your word.

The Bible truly is a wonderful book – a book full of wonders.

This morning I would like us to consider some of these Wonders of the Word of God.

First let’s look at:

I. The Wonder of It’s Inspiration

The Bible is the most unique book ever written for it claims to have as it’s author God.

It may have been written over a period of 1600 years, on three continents, and by 40+ different men.

Yet it had only one author – GOD.

2 Peter 1:20-21

20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

A lot of prophecy today has turned into fortunetelling.

But TRUE PROPHECY concerns the scripture, or the directing of persons in their relationship with God.

I have seen no other examples in scripture.

If I am wrong, please see me after the service and show me the scripture so I can be corrected.

We sometimes do a disservice to God when we give definition to what WE think certain Spiritual Gifts are, and then try to use them in that way.

This is why so many have a hard time believing in the Spiritual Gifts, because they have been misrepresented and misused over the years.

If you want to know what a Spiritual Gift is for, read the Word of God and you will see.

And if you think you have a Spiritual Gift that does ANYTHING other than build up the Body of Christ, you are in trouble, because the Word of God says building up the Body of Christ is the ONLY purpose of Spiritual Gifts.


2 Tim 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

You know, I watched a Documentary a couple days ago about the religion of Islam.

Do you know that before you can confess Islam, you have to recite the entire Koran to sages in their Holy Temple?

The entire thing!

And we claim to love the Word of God…yet hardly pick it up to read it.

If I were to ask how many times a week you read the Bible, what would your answer be?

Could you recite the entire Bible? I couldn’t.

How about 1 Book?

1 Chapter?

Is this not the Word breathed from God’s lips?

How precious these Words should be to us.


1 Thessalonians 2:13

“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”

Inspired, I believe, is not a strong enough word to describe the scriptures. “God-breathed” straight from His lips has much more meaning.

It declares that it is the word of God.

The expression “the Lord said” or “the Lord” occurs over 2000 times in the OT alone.


II. The Wonder of It’s Formation

The Bible contains 66 books – 39 in the OT and 27 in the NT.

The 39 books of the O.T. are written primarily in Hebrew, with a little Aramaic, and the 27 books of the N.T. are written exclusively in Greek.

Yet these diverse authors each in their own way present a unified portrait of God’s character, plans and purposes in our world.

The 27 books that make up the New Testament were written over a 50 year span, and they deal with Jesus Christ’s birth, life, death, and resurrection, the beginning of the Christian church, and instruction about how to live as a follower of Jesus Christ.
In the King James it contains 1,189 chapters and 31,173 verses.

It was written by 40 authors ranging from kings, to statesmen, to doctors, to farmers and shepherds.

The Bible was written over a period of 1,600 years on three continents.

The Bible is an entire library of different kinds of literature.

As to different kinds of literature, the Bible contains history, poetry, humor, prophecy, romance, letters, biographies, songs, journals, advise, laws and stories.

1. Its Diverse
a. The Bible is not a book of history – yet it is historical.
b. The Bible is not a book of science – yet it is scientific.

2. Its Unique
a. The Bible is the first Book – it is first in pre-eminence.
b. The Bible is the Best Book – As David said of the sword of Goliath, “there is none like it.”
c. The Bible is the oldest book – It was written in the heart of God from eternity.

So when I say "Bible" this is what I’m talking about, these 66 books that have been the foundation for the Christian faith since its very beginning.


III. The Wonder of its Preservation

Psalm 12:6-7

And the words of the LORD are flawless,
like silver refined in a furnace of clay,
purified seven times.

7 O LORD, you will keep us safe
and protect us from such people forever.”


1. Its Hatred - It is the most hated of books.
a. It’s an authority and people reject authority
b. Men hate and reject it because they are ignorant of it’s truth
1) The truths of sin, judgment, and Hell are bitter to them
2) Men reject it because they are too busy with the things of this world to heed the Bible.

2. Its Survival - The Bible has survived every attack against it!

I remember when I took my Bible to work one night and was attacked by a coworker who said to me “I can prove that book is nothing more than lies”.

I responded with, “Men have tried to destroy it. By burning - by ridicule - By so called science. Men have tried to outlaw it. - Under penalty of death or imprisonment if you owned one. Men have tried to pervert it. Add to it or take away from it. Men have tried to hide it. – in dead languages – in perverted translations. Men with more power than you, more authority than you, more wealth than you, Scholars, teachers, Kings have tried to disprove this book. But this man here working third shift at ITT can prove this book is nothing more than lies. Please, enlighten us all with your vast wisdom!”

Of course after that all he had were a few choice descriptive words for me, but he never said another word about my bible at work.
3. Its Prominence - It is the Monarch of books – The king among books. It rules over all.
a. The printing press came into existence because of the Word of God.
b. The Bible was the first book ever printed on the printing press,
c. it’s the best selling book of all time.

What kind of a God would we have if He could give us a Book and then not preserve it?


IV. The Wonder of It’s Design

The Bible declares itself to be many things and to have many uses.

I have in my hand:

1. A Two Edged Sword – Hebrews 4:12
2. A Hammer – Jeremiah 23:29 – It breaks the resistance of the heart.
3. A Mirror – James 1:23-25 – It reflects the true picture of man
4. A Fire – Jeremiah 23:29 & 20:9 – The Word of God is pure and refining
5. A Lamp – Psalm 119:105 – It is illuminating


V. The Wonder of It’s Power

This book has the power to change lives.
It has the power to pick drunkards up out of the gutter.
It has the power to make saints out of infidels.
It has the power to restore broken marriages
It has the power to give hope to the murderer on death row.

Isaiah 55:11

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”


Someone once asked the great preacher Charles Spurgeon if he was prepared to defend the Word of God. He replied, “Defend it! I would as soon try to defend a lion. God’s word doesn’t need defending. Just preach it. Let it out of its cage and it will defend itself.”


VI. The Wonder of It’s Message

The Word of God gives Jesus Christ the preeminent place

In Genesis – He is the Seed Of The Woman
In Exodus – He is the Passover Lamb
In Leviticus – He is our High Priest
In Numbers – He is the Star Of Jacob
In Deuteronomy – He is the Rock
In Joshua – He is the Captain Of The Lord’s Host
In Judges – He is the Sword Of Gideon
In Ruth – He is the Kinsman Redeemer
In Samuel – He is the Seed Of David
In Kings – He is the Lord God Of Israel
In Chronicles – He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
In Ezra – He is the Lord Of Heaven And Earth
In Nehemiah – He is the Restorer
In Esther – He is the God Of Providence

In Job – He is the daysman
In Psalms – He is the King Of Glory
In Proverbs – He is the Wisdom Of God
In Ecclesiastes – He is the Creator
In Song Of Solomon – He is Altogether Lovely

In Isaiah – He is the Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince Of Peace
In Jeremiah – He is the Lord Our Righteousness
In Lamentations – He is the Weeping Prophet
In Ezekiel – He is the Wheel In The Wheel
In Daniel – He is the Fourth Man If The Fire

In Hosea – He is the Lord God of Hosts
In Joel – He is the Hope of His People
In Amos – He is the God of Hosts
In Obadiah – He is the Destroyer Of The Proud
In Jonah – He is the God Of The Second Chance
In Micah – He is the God Of Jacob
In Nahum – He is the Avenging God
In Habakkuk – He is the Everlasting Glorious God
In Zephaniah – He is the King Of Israel
In Haggai – He is the Desire Of All Nations
In Zechariah – He is the one Pierced In The House Of His Friends
In Malachi– He is the Lord Of Remembrance

In Matthew – He is the King Of The Jews
In Mark – He is the Servant
In Luke – He is the Son Of Man
In John – He is the Eternal God
In Acts – He is the Ascended Lord

In Romans – He is the Lord Our Righteousness
In Corinthians – He is Our Sufficiency
In Galatians – He is Our Liberator
In Ephesians – He is the Head Of The Church
In Philippians – He is Our Strength
In Colossians – He is the Fullness Of The Godhead
In Thessalonians – He is the coming Christ
In Timothy – He is the Mediator Between God And Man
In Titus – He is the Great God And Savior

In Hebrews – He is the Captain Of Our Salvation
In James – He is the Great Physician
In Peter – He is the Unblemished Lamb
In John – He is the Advocate
In Jude – He is the Lord That Cometh With 10,000 Saints
In Revelation – He is the Alpha And Omega, the Lion Of Judah, the Bright And Morning Star,
the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, and King Of Kings And Lord Of Lords

He IS the Word made flesh!!!!



VII. The Wonder of It’s Promises

1. The Promise of Salvation
2. The Promise of Forgiveness of Sin
3. The Promise of Eternal life
4. The Promise of Heaven
5. The Promise of Jesus Coming again
6. The Promise of Hope – The Word of God is all about hope in a hopeless world.



CONCLUSION

In our tenets of Faith, it is written that we believe the Word of God to be “God breathed” and the final authority in our lives.

Our statement of faith is as follows;

“House of Faith, A Bible based, Christ Centered Community of Believers.”

Is the Bible important to us?

Is it not God’s Words?

Dr. Criswell tells of a small N.T. that was taken from the breast-pocket of a fallen American soldier in Vietnam, a young boy from Georgia.

When Mr. Pat Zondervan held up that New Testament before the congregation of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, Dr. Criswell could see the light of a bullet hole through its middle.

Later, when Dr. Criswell held it in his hands, he saw that the pages were stained with the blood of that fallen soldier.

Flipping through it, he found an inscription in the back that had survived intact. It read, "On this date, I Wilton Thomas take Jesus Christ as my personal Savior." Then it was signed and dated by the hand of that young man.

That is what the Bible is for. It is not to amaze us with its scientific accuracy or impress us with its historical integrity, but to lead us to a personal knowledge of God through Jesus Christ as Savior.

Life is all about choices. Salvation is a decision

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