Missions and the Sufficiency of the Word of God

Missions and the All-Sufficient Word of God

Deuteronomy 8:3

[HCC 01.09.21] [Calvary Bible Church – 3.12.23] - By Andy Woodfield

Intro: I count it a blessing and privilege to be asked to participate in this mission Sunday with you all. I have been blessed in life to have known your Pastor Jay Underwood, beginning in The Master’s Seminary and then through shared ministry over the last 15 years. Jay has been a guest speaker for me as I have for him and I thankful to be amongst you all this morning.

As we continue our worship with a focus on missions, I want to direct your thoughts to the Sufficiency of Scripture in Missions.

What gave Martin Luther a 15th Century Monk, the strength to not recant his teaching of “justification by faith alone” before the intimidating Diet of Worms in April, 1521? – The answer… The Authoritative and all-Sufficient Word of God!

Responding to the threats of Meister Eck he declared…

"Unless I am convinced by Scripture and plain reason - I do not accept the authority of the popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other - my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. "Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise." God help me. Amen."

What was the source of the dynamic growth of the first century church? - The Word of God!

· Jesus commission the disciples to make disciples of all nations “Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you (Matt 28:20)

· Under the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit the Apostles were declaring in languages they had never learned the might works of God (Act 2:13)

· “[The early believers] were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)

· “The word of God kept on spreading;and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7)

· Following the death of Herod, Luke records in Acts 12:24 that “the word of the Lord continued to grow and to be multiplied.”

· Following remarkable conversions and the rejection of demonic practices in Ephesus it is recorded that “the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.” (Acts 19:20)

· When Jesus faced the final hour before his crucifixion, he prayed to His Father for the disciples, ““I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:15–17)

When it comes to missions, humanly speaking, I see three components, there is the church, the body of believers who send and support the missionaries, there are the missionaries, those called to leave their own people and go to a different people group to make known the life changing gospel, and there are those to whom the missionary has gone. If missions are to be effective then it requires that all three components remain spiritually healthy – and the God given means is the Word of Go

If the church is to be healthy it must have a solid intake of the authoritative and all-sufficient Word of God. In the prophet Amos’ day there is a famine in the land, not a famine for bread or thirst for water but rather a famine of hearing the words of the Lord (Amos 8:11). The Apostle Paul prophesied to Timothy saying, “For the time will come [in the church] when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.[1] (2 Timothy 4:3). The church is weak not because the Word of God is lacking in the necessary sustenance but because, firstly, the church seeks sustenance elsewhere, and secondly, the Shepherds seem today to be unwilling to fulfill their ministry of preaching unvarnished messages of the Word of God.

If the missionary is to endure and fulfill his callinghe must have nothing to do with old worldly fables and worldly wisdom but be nourished on the words of faith (1 Tim 4:6), and they must “Pay close attention to [themselves] and to [their] teaching; persevere in these things, for as [they] do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.” (1 Timothy 4:16, NASB95)

If the unbeliever is to be saved and the unreached people group are to be transformed into the image and likeness of Christ, they must hear the proclamation of Gospel truth. For the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also the Greek (Rom 1:16). Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ (Rom 10:17).

What I am declaring here is the doctrine of Sola Scriptura which is the Latin translation for Scripture alone. Sola Scripturasimply means that all the truth necessary for salvation and spiritual life is taught either explicitly or implicitly in Scripture.

It is not a claim that all truth of every kind is found in Scripture. We all know that Scripture has little or nothing to say about DNA structures, car engine repairs, rules of Chinese grammar, or rocket science. But Scripture is a “more sure Word,” standing above all other truth in its authority and certainty and “more sure,” than data gathered from firsthand experiences (2 Peter 1:19). Therefore, Scripture is the highest and supreme authority on any matter on which it speaks.

The doctrine of Scripture alone... came out of the Reformation period, where the Bible was translated into the common language of the people so they could read it and understand it themselves for the first time. Shockingly, this exposed the superstitious, works based, anti-biblical religion of Roman Catholicism. The idea that the common man could read the Bible and come to an understanding of faith and practice was a radical change in church history. Up until the Reformation the Catholic church declared itself to be the infallible interpreter of the Bible. No one but a group of bishops called the Magisterium, were allowed to “do” their own theology, the Bible was literally chained to the pulpit and if that wasn’t bad enough, it was written and preached in Latin the language of the elite and unknown to the common people.

Reading the Bible for themselves brought a radical reforming of life and religion. These “Reformers” believed that Scripture alone was the only infallible source for revelation and, therefore, the Scripture alone was the primary source available for instruction on all matters of faith and practice.

The doctrine of Sola Scriptura declared that salvation comes to us through the Bible alone, and that the Bible alone is the only source of objective revelation from God to man. That the WOG alone is sufficient for all matters of life and faith and practice. That it is authoritative, inerrant and inspired, so we can therefore trust in the Bible alone to guide us in matters of salvation and Christian practice.

The RCC went after these people and literally killed 8 million people for simply reading the Scriptures for themselves. Why because the RCC wanted to keep their power and the means to their great wealth. During this same time the RCC declared the Apocrypha which is a series of historical and mystical writings during the 400 years of prophetic silence between the Old and New Testaments to be inspired. They also declared that all writings of the church fathers and conclusions of the church counsels, all Roman Catholic decrees, all papal bulls, papal dogmas and papal writings were all inspired and of equal authority to the Bible. They still believe this to this day.

Now I tell you all of this so that you might come to understand the beauty and wonder of the doctrine of the Scriptures Alone.We have one book, not thousands of books. The Bible alone is the foundation upon which all the other Sola’s stand. Grace alone, Faith alone, Christ alone, for the Glory of God alone, all rest on the Word of God alone.

This brings us to our text this morning Deuteronomy 8:1-6 – The Israelites were about to enter the promised land. Moses is declaring to this new generation an expansion on the 10 Commandments in order to guide them in civil, ceremonial, and personal matters that they would put into practice as they enter the promised land.

Deut 1-4 – are an historical summary of what happened from the time they left Egypt until entering the promised land. Chapter 5 records the 10 commandments. Chapters 6-9 are a Pep talk – Do not forget the Law!!!

Deuteronomy 8:1-6 ““All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your forefathers. “You shall remember all the way which the Lordyour God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. “He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. “Thus you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. “Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lordyour God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. (Deuteronomy 8:1–6)

[PRAY]

I want us to consider four fundament realities concerning God’s, that point us to the importance of Sola Scriptura as it relates to the mission of the church.

The first fundamental truth of Scripture Alone is...

1. The Scriptures Remind us of God’s Faithfulness in the Past v. 2a “You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you.

Why did God lead them into a place where they became hungry? To humble them. We are all naturally proud. We are so self-sufficient, bent on going our own way and doing our own thing, seeking our own glory.

It’s like the story of the elephant and the flea that walked over the bridge – the flea said to the elephant, “Did you see how we shook that bridge?”

We like the flea want to seek the lime-light and fame, we love the glory that belongs to God alone...

Since we are prone to be prideful God uses trials to show us, that we are not in control, but He is, and these trials force us to bow the knee in humble submission to Him.

· Jesus said ““Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt.18:4)

· ““Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” (Matt. 23:12)

· “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” (Jam. 4:10)

· “You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Pet, 5:5–7)

This is what God was trying to build into Israel as a whole. They are in a desert, 2 million of them, with no water source, no food and wild animals, no means of keeping themselves alive. They needed to trust God and His resources and not their own.

Israel was doing pretty good at this time. The previous generation had died off, and this new generation had experienced God’s daily provision and had heard of the wonders done by God in Egypt. They are excited about going into the land to gain their inheritance.

God wants them to remember their history to remain humble...

We need to remember our past and how God has allowed us to go through trials where we had nothing but God to trust in. Why?

Look down at Deuteronomy 8:16 ““In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end.” None of us likes trials, they are not fun, but they are for our good...

Hebrew 12:5-8 – No discipline is pleasant but afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness...

This is the lesson God wants us to learn... That He alone by His Word alone, the true manna from Heaven is what we desperately need in our lives. We cannot live our lives by natural means alone we need God’s supernatural intervention, we need to depend on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

The second truth of Scripture Alone is...

2. The Scriptures Are God’s Light to Expose the Heart of Man v.2b “testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.”(Deuteronomy 8:2)

The point is, would they remember their past deliverances by God and trust Him enough to keep His commands without complaint? Would they enter the promise land knowing that the Lord would deliver them from their enemies?

What’s the issue here? Moses wants them to reflect on the fact that it was impossible for 2 million people to survive in the desert without food or water – yet they survived 40 years... The 1st generation out of Egypt grumbled against Moses and God and disobeyed Him by not believing His Word that He would give them the victory over their enemies.

They were to remember that 3 days from the Red Sea they came to Marah and found the water was undrinkable. They cried out in thirst “What shall we drink?” The Lordshowed [Moses’ a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet. There He made for them a statute and regulation, and there He tested them. [And God says through Moses], “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.”” (Exodus 15:25–26) Then they find themselves in the Wilderness of Sin a couple of months after leaving Egypt and all their food supplies have been exhausted.

What are they going to do? How do they respond to this new challenge? Their heart response was to remember the food they ate in Egypt, meat and bread, they began to grumble against the Lord, saying would that we have died in Egypt...

This revealed their pride and self-reliance rather than a dependence of God and His promises. Instead of trust in God to deliver them from this impossible situation they were thinking of returning to Egypt. Yet, God graciously provided for them by raining Mana down from heaven on a daily basis.

What is God teaching them? Why is God testing them? He wants them to grow spiritually in their trust of Him and their dependance on Him rather than depending on themselves.

Listen we need trials because they are the spiritual gymnasium to grow us to spiritual maturity. To grow our faith that God will perfect and complete what He has begun in us. Because of Him we lack nothing. All he wants of us is to trust Him by walking according to His commands.

What is your heart response when you face a trial in life? May we let these tests grow our spiritual muscle. May we be found to be obedient even when it looks like the wrong thing to do.

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2–4)

God is disciplining them through their trials as a Father does His Son... “Thus you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son.

God wants us to have strong humble trust in His Word.

· Will you let go of your prideful self-trust and look to God for help?

· Will you look at the impossible and know that this is a place to trust in the God of the impossible?

Financial burdens, sicknesses, loss of job, needing a car, income to buy food...

Where is God??? Has God ceased to care for us... No! A thousand times no!!!! The issue isn’t with God, the issue is with us.We are the ones who don’t trust Him. We are the ones who are complaining against God. We haven’t prayed, we haven’t sought his Word, we haven’t trusted Him as we should... Why? Because we still have to high a view of ourselves and not a high enough view of God!

The third truth of Scripture Alone is...

3. The Scriptures Inform us of Our All-Sufficient Sovereign Provider v.3a “He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone...

Bread speaks to that which is temporal. Bread goes moldy after a short time, and we need to go and make some more. But where does this bread come from – The supermarket? No from grain. Grain that grows in the field with the help of the soil’s nutrients, water and sunshine, all things that God provides. We forget this so quickly and seldom give thanks to God for our natural food because we think we are the providers of our food and sustenance.

But, for Israel, they have nothing to bring to the table – They are in the desert, there is nowhere to get food, no McDonalds, or Burger King or Pioneer Market to go to, no soils, no seed. God wants them to see Him as their provider for time and eternity.

Notice this!!! God didn’t just provide for them for one day, one week, one month but for 40 years – an entire generation was cared for by God. And ever since then for all of Creation God has provided... Let is never forget this – God is the source of life and the provider for all we need.

Let us remember that God’s character is trustworthy which means He cannot break His Word... What He has promised He will deliver.

The fourth truth of Scripture Alone is...

4. The Scriptures Are God’s Pure and Inerrant Words of Life v.3b Bread is NOT Enough to Live On...but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord.

A contrast is being made between what we should and shouldn’t live by. God is making clear that our lives and futures are dependent on His Word. We could say that God’s Word is the expression of His heart.

God on occasion causes His people to experience material deprivation, to provide for us a greater spiritual blessing. God by His Word spoke the universe and everything in it into existence. God by His Word sustains everything, God by His Word brings forth Salvation to all who believe.

We need more than food in order to live, we need the provision of the Word of God. One Commentator said of God’s Word...

Remember that Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 to Satan who was tempting Him to feed Himself by using His own resources to turn stones into bread. Jesus by quoting this verse points out to Satan that all that is in this world is temporary, that true life is that which is anchored to the eternal. God’s word is eternal because God is eternal. Jesus passed the test in the wilderness that Israel failed in the wilderness. Jesus humbled Himself and believed the truth of God’s Word above the pressing needs of the moment. He maintained a high view of the Scriptures in extenuating circumstances.

This book we call the Scriptures is Inspired by Godbreathed out by God to Men (2 Tim. 3:16). Its Inerrant because God is holy, perfect and true – God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). Its Infallible meaning that every word God recorded in Scripture will come to pass, “The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.” (Isa. 40:8). Its Authoritativemeaning when the Word speaks God speaks, and when God speaks, He speaks with sovereign authority meaning nothing or no one has greater authority and can change what He says. The words of God are commandments not suggestions. Its also Clear, which means His words are lucid, understandable, not mystical. God does not stutter but speaks with precision and accuracy. The Scriptures are Sufficient,which means that they are able to accomplish all that God sent them forth to do. They will not return to Him void. (Isa. 55:11). They convict, conform, confirm and console the human heart. The Scriptures are Immutable which means they do not change – Right is always right and wrong is always wrong. “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89). The Scriptures are Invincible they are the only offensive weapon given to the believer to resist and have victory over the devil (Eph 6:17). Finally, the Scriptures are the Final Word, meaning we are not looking for some new revelations today. These are the once for all Scriptures delivered to the church to be defended by the church (Jude 3).

God gives us His word not so we can earn our salvation, not so we can be good enough to go to heaven, but so we can express love to Him. If you love Me, you will keep my commandments...

That’s how we show love to God. It’s the only way we can show our love to God by keeping His Word. You don’t need a... vision, feeling, experience. You need the word of God and a heart that humbly obeys it.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 – The Word is completely sufficient for all you need for life

· What did Job cling to in his trials? The Scriptures

· In Proverbs 2 what are we called to search for as for hidden treasure? The Scriptures

· What did the Prophets proclaim – God’s Word

· Why was Joshua to meditate on the ScripturesDay and Night? So, he could have success in his life.

· Why was the Nation of Israel full of chaos and wickedness during the time of the Judges? They had departed from the Scriptures

· In Matthew 4 after having fasted 40 days, what did Jesus use to defend Himself against the devils temptations? The Scriptures In particular Deuteronomy 8:3...

· What did Jesus say in Matthew 5:17-18 would never pass away – The Scriptures

· What did Jesus say in Matthew 26:54 would haveevery detail accomplished? The Scriptures

· When Jesus was confronted by the Scribes and the Pharisees what did He turn to, to defend His ministry? The Scriptures

· In Luke 24:27, 34, 36 – what did Jesus point the two confused and discouraged men on the road to Emmaus to? – The Scriptures

· John 5:45-47 What did Jesus say would judge man on the final day? The Scriptures

· Acts 17:11 – What made the Bereans more noble minded than those in Thessalonica? Because they studied the Scriptures

· In Acts 20:28-32 What did Paul teach the Ephesian Elders night and day for a period of 3 years? The Scriptures

· 1 Cor 15:1-4 – What did the Apostle Paul say the Gospel was according to? The Scriptures

· In Ephesians 6 what was the only offensive weapon we have been given to live a victorious Christian life against Satan’s schemes? The Scriptures

· What in Col 3:16 did Paul say we are to let richly dwell within us? The Scriptures

· In 1 Tim 4:6, 13 what does Paul call all church leaders to be constantly nourished on, preach, teach, exhort and read in public? The Scriptures

· In Titus 1, 9 2:1, 15 what did Paul tell Titus to preach? The Scriptures

v. 6 “Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lordyour God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. A belief in sola Scriptura practically plays itself out in real life through authoritative preaching in the church, personal study of God’s Word, and through our obedience as believers.

Conclusion: If the Bible is confusing and not understandable to you or you think its outdated, or of little interest to you then you are probably not saved or if you are saved there is probably unconfessed sin in your life, and you have grieved the HS who is the divine illuminator of the Word. I’m not trying to be mean; I’m just telling you so you can make a correction here today!

If you are an unbeliever, then repent of your sin and believe, trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior

If you are a believer and living in unrepentant sin, then confess you sin, and God is faithful and just to forgive your sin and cleanse you from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9.

· Are you going to remember God’s past provisions for you and His people?

· Are you going to examine your heart to see if there is a humble trust in God?

· Are you going to rely on God who alone can provide all you need through His Word?

· Are you going to live according to His Word because this is the only way we show love to God?

May we study the Word as if it really is the spiritual d sustenance we need for the mission of the church, missionary and hearers to live healthy spiritual lives that grow and bear fruit.

As James 1:22 warns: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Prayer: Oh Lord may these fundament truths of sola Scriptura be the foundation upon which we build the mission of the Church, knowing that it is the Scriptures that lead to endurance and focus for missionaries, effective missionary work as it brings light to the darkness of unbelief and healthy Churches and endu...

“This book contains: the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers.

Its doctrine is holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

Read it to be wise, believe it to be saved, and practice it to be holy.

It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter.

Here heaven is opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully.

It is a mine of wealth, health to the soul, and a river of pleasure.

It is given to you here in this life, will be opened at the Judgment, and is established forever.

It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and condemn all who trifle with its contents”. (Steve Lawson – The Authority of Scripture)

[1] New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 2 Ti 4:4.