The God who Preserves

Opening Verse:

Matthew 5:17-18

Before I begin today I just want to give honor to a few. I want to thank Bro. Killmon for this special opportunity to speak today. I also want to thank every staff member here, every single one of you guys have played a massive role in shaping me through the way you teach class but how you carry yourselves everyday here at IBC. I also want to thank my Parents for all of the support that they have given me all of my life and especially here at IBC. Lastly, I want to thank my Pastor, Pastor Jason Cox, for His leadership and mentorship in my life.

King James Version Matthew 5:17–18

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Today I’m not preaching anything theologically deep or complex but I do believe I have a Word from God.

The title of my message today is… The God who Preserves

You may be seated

The Word of God throughout history has faced it’s adversaries and it’s attacks. The slaughter of Christians was not the only method we would see in history used as persecution. We would also see an attack against the Bible as well. Rulers of this world had one goal in mind and that was to remove Christianity. The best way to accomplish this would be to take a way the Bible and to get rid of it forever.

I recently read an article on this topic and it included two specific events where the Bible was attacked.

The first is in 303 AD, where a Roman Emperor issued an edict to remove all Christians and their Bible. This Emperor would build a monument in Rome which was inscribed “The name Christian is extinguished”. After the death of this Emperor, another would rise by the name of Constantine. Constantine would undue all that this previous Emperor had done by legalizing Christianity and ordering that Bible be prepared for government expense

The second attack on the Bible mentioned was less brutal but more of a verbal attack. This attack would take place in 1776. A French Philosopher made the claim that, “One hundred years from my day, there will not be a Bible on earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity-seeker." Ironically enough the house of this philosopher would be used to print Bibles just 100 years later.

These attacks still occur today but God has preserved His Word just as He said. In the 20th century more Bible have been printed in more languages than any other book.

I would like everyone to hold their Bible up. If you haven’t experienced a miracle in your life I am telling you today that you got one in your hand.

I’m thankful for a God that keeps His Word. This world will fail me but all I know is that there is a God that has preserved His Word.

I’ve come to tell someone today that the same God that has preserved His Word can preserve your life. All we got to do is to put our trust in Him. He has proven himself to be faithful again and again. I don’t know about you but I have not seen the righteous forsaken.

A verse that I come back to frequently is Psalms 16:1 which says,

King James Version Psalm 16:1

Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

We need to put all of our trust in God. We need to give all that we for the call of God. It’s been addressed in previous chapels but I feel like sometimes we can have one foot in the door and one foot out when it comes to our calling. We need to make the decision whether we will sell out for the call of God and the life God has given us. It’s an honor to be able to put our trust in Him because we can live a life not dependent on ourself but on the Lord. The Lord preserves those who put their trust in Him.

Conclusion:

As I close today I would like to say that we shall never forget the power that God has given through His Word. I’m thankful that God has not only given His word but has also kept it and has preserved it throughout History. God forbid that we get to the point where we lose the reverence for scripture. There are people in this world that are hungry for truth.

King James Version 2 Peter 1:20

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation

We live in a world where the Word of God has been compromised by many. Many have forced in philosophy and worldly Ideologies to justify themselves. We shall never waver from the truth of the Word. I thank God that through His grace He has given us the opportunity to preach and declare the truth to this world. This world needs someone who will tell them that a Holy life is possible and right, that Essentiality is the Biblical standard for salvation, and that we serve the One true living God who created everything and Has given everyone purpose. So the God who has preserved His Word has promised that whoever will trust in Him and depend on Him will preserve you though whatever you go through.