Dusty Bibles (2)
Dusty Bibles • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsThe Word of God Reals truth to the eyes and provokes change to the heart.
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Introduction Story: Have you ever had a toy as a kid that you played with a lot or maybe even a shirt that you wore so much that eventually some had to tell you that it was time for a new one?
Introduction Story: Have you ever had a toy as a kid that you played with a lot or maybe even a shirt that you wore so much that eventually some had to tell you that it was time for a new one?
When I was younger I had this plastic treasure chest full of toys and it had all my toys in it. Probably one of my most favorite toys and it sounds so dumb, but it was an old toy steering wheel. I still remember it today in fact! It was red and you could just hold it out and there was 4 buttons on the side that would make a different noise. I absolutely loved this toy and it was my favorite toy. All the time my mom would have me try to purge my toys and some how I still would keep that toy. I kept that toy till I was probably like 14.
When I was in high school I remember being awkward and wanting to look cool and I really worried about how I looked. I know very shocking. I look back now and I had this one shirt that I would wear every chance I get. It was this purple DC shirt that I had and to be honest I loved that shirt so much and after a while it was starting to look really bad. In fact there came to a point where I had to throw out that shirt.
Interestingly enough what was worn down and used up wasn’t because I was neglecting it or didn’t care about it, in fact it was beat up because it was used. If you go into a kids room one day and see a toy that is still in the box then it could mean maybe that kid is a collector, but it could also mean that simply that is the toy that they love the most. It is what they spend the most time with.
Introducing the Problem: Sometimes our lives become a representation of what we have played with the most or what we have worn the most. What we do the most is often what we know the most as well and what you are most knowledgable is what you are more likely to share.
Introducing the Problem: Sometimes our lives become a representation of what we have played with the most or what we have worn the most. What we do the most is often what we know the most as well and what you are most knowledgable is what you are more likely to share.
The life of a believer in Jesus is to look like Christ right? I mean our life is meant to be a representation of Christ. That is what Christian means “little christ” or “like-Christ” The question is how do we look like Christ? We learn more about Christ through reading our Bible knowing The Word of God. There is a value and importance to knowing your Bible because it takes time and devotion. That is why we call it devotionals right. I found this quote while studying for this message and it says this:
It is not the work of the Spirit to tell you the meaning of Scripture, and give you the knowledge of divinity, without your own study and labour, but to bless that study, and give you knowledge thereby. *Richard Baxter
Just like a toy that is ripped apart and a little faded does not mean neglect, but shows love or passion; A Bible that is well loved can be a sign of person knowledgable and devoted to faith.
Just like a toy that is ripped apart and a little faded does not mean neglect, but shows love or passion; A Bible that is well loved can be a sign of person knowledgable and devoted to faith.
When you have a relationship with God it starts to provoke changes in you. You start to talk different, you feel different, You should know that you walk in faith and that you are walking in victory with Christ. But how does one know that? The Spirit does bear witness, but there is a responsibility for the believer to get educated and learn of The Word of God. I had a professor that would state that God assumed a literate people. Why is that true because he had is Word written. And now we get to have this book forever.
Tonight I want to talk about the importance of know your Bible, because often not I feel as though we take for granted that we have our Bibles that we have a God who has made His Word accessible to His people.
The Bible is historically the most printed copy of a book with soaring up over 5 billion copies and yet some have not read it or haven’t finished it.
I need you to know the Bible has power and is powerful to your walk with Christ which is why i advocate that you read it, because here is the thing tonight some of us are confused and we are at a cross roads in life. Some of us are questioning a lot things and we are not sure where to go. maybe we are in a situation where we want answers to things or maybe some of us know like yeah to be honest I really haven’t been reading my Bible as much as I should be. I want you to know this that you can make it through and God has guides on how to do it and encourages us to press forward for the kingdom of God and how do I know that because I have read this Book!
Having Faith In Christ, involves knowing Christ.
Having Faith In Christ, involves knowing Christ.
God: The Word of God Reveals our Eyes to the Truth, and provokes our Heart to change.
God: The Word of God Reveals our Eyes to the Truth, and provokes our Heart to change.
Tonight I want to talk about a story in the Bible of King of Judah who was given a scroll that not only changed his life, but changed a nation.
Background:
Kings is a historical book in the Bible and it is know in Jewish culture as such and shared the tragic history of the different Kings Of Israel which then led to the fall of the nation and exile into Babylon, and the reason this happened was because the people did not obey and seek God and neither did their kings.
In the book of Kings there were 40 kings and of them only 8 were considered good.
So where we are now the people were worshiping other gods and had idols in the land. Israel became filled with pagan worship and they fell away from the word of God and they drifted from God. In fact, the nations were split in two and it says that God had taken his eyes of the northern Kingdom because they were wicked. the last hope was Judah.
Now where we pick up we have a young king who has inherited the throne after a political assassination their last king because they didn’t like him and the two before him were evil in fact one instituted child sacrifice to a false God .
Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.
Starting here we see Josiah was a good guy who was raised in piety. So he was religious he did was right. He followed in the ways of David is father.
To me this means he had an understanding of what it was to be a good man and maybe even a Godly man.
Now we are going to skip down a little to save time but basically the next section of the passage talks about how he gave to the temple and ensured there was some remodeling and rebuilding because of things that have happened in the past, and know to that as a young King he as already created reform throughout Israel changing a few things back for God.
Then when he sent money up to the temple and so the workers could get building supplies and so forth, The priest of the temple Hilkiah sends him back the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.
And Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
This is interesting because he said he as found it and it was suppose to be a book that was highly revered and a scroll that was placed on the altar of the arc of the covenant which it was not there.
This symbolizes Israels lack of search for God and that he was no longer the first and foremost in His temple.
Then we pick up in
Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king.
When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.”
Josiah was a man of piety, but had not read the law. (Tradition vs relationship)
Josiah grew up knowing who God is and loving God, but he did not know everything about the law and the fullness.
He was raised in tradition and had not read the word for himself.
Honestly we can relate and I think things brings me to a point because being in church can only get you so far.
we can be raised in church, go to Sunday school, know the songs, and the reality is that morally you can be a good and you learn a couple of Good life lessons, but look at the way the word provoked his heart.
When you start to read the word, you are reading not just the word of God, but you are learning the heart of God and what breaks his heart.
Josiah saw and his eyes were opened and it provoked change (Reform in our person life and the world around us)
when he read the details in the scripture he knew that his nation was in sin.
the knowledge of sin can be the begin to reform in life.
the reality is that the Bible does give us warning. It is something that shows us what not to do.
It can save you from hurt in the future know God’s word, but he can also reform things you have done wrong.
When I read the word I sometimes see just how much I actually need God!
Josiah made reform not just to see result, but to simply honor God (Do it unto the Lord)
And she said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Tell the man who sent you to me, Thus says the Lord, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read. Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched. But to the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Regarding the words that you have heard, because your heart was penitent, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard how I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the Lord.
Josiah was told by God that Israel had gone to far and would pay for what they had done, but the thing is he saw his heart and that he was grieved, and he he knew his heart so he spared him of seeing it all god down.
But even then Josiah still acted and created reform. He did for the Glory of God and he knew that what he had learned he had to change and he was going to at least make a dent.
Knowledge is information, Wisdom is application of your information.
Application: Make this the year Unto the Lord and read your Bible
Application: Make this the year Unto the Lord and read your Bible
So is your Bible dusty today? Is there there something you need to change to make your devotion.
The scripture helps you to see the truth and then provokes the heart to change. The scriptures will not leave the same way you were without Jesus.
You will have a passsion for him and you have knowledge that you now have a duty to act on.
So many Christians today take for granted all that we have the freedoms that we have to read our Bible.
Reading provokes us to change and to share. When you get to know God you will share your faith and have the confidence to read your word.
Studies show that those who read the Bible Consistently are more hopeful and are more likely to share their faith.
What we are going to do:
In 2009, the Center for Biblical Engagement issued a report that concluded that people who read the Bible at least four days a week experienced the following benefits:
Getting drunk = 57%
lower odds of Sex outside marriage = 68% lower odds
Pornography = 61% lower odds
Gambling = 74% lower odds
Any of these habits = 57% lower odds (see here, pp. 6-7)
Reading the Bible at least four days a week also made it more likely for the average Christian to engage in evangelism and discipleship:
Sharing faith with others = 228% higher odds
Discipling others = 231% higher odds
Memorizing scripture = 407% higher odds
(see here, p. 7).
Imagine a church who knew the Bible who was eager to know more about God. They would have salvations and would know what they know
Inspire for the Future:
Inspire for the Future: