Text On Trail

Good morning and welcome to Living Faith Church. I am so excited to be able to worship Jesus Christ with you on this amazing Sunday. If we have never met before, my name is Aaron. My wife Stella and I are honored to be able to serve on the Pastoral team at LFC. Today we are starting a new teaching series called We Are Pillars, a series on faith. Over the next several weeks we are going to take an in depth look at the defining statements of our faith. Topics such as water baptism, the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, and the fall and redemption of mankind. The Apostle Paul told the young pastor Timothy…

Series Introduction

1 Timothy 3:15 (NASB95)

15 but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

The church, defined as the collective people who call themselves “of Christ”, are commissioned to live in such a way that our lifestyle, laws, language, and liberties, uphold a canopy of truth in our community. But as we said last week; Church is not something we go to, church is who we are. I am not a preacher who goes to church on Sunday, and you are not a school teacher, mechanic, data technician, farmer, or homemaker that goes to church, you are “the church” revealing God’s glory and power, upholding truth in the world God has called you to live in. Based on this calling from God on each of our lives, I believe it is vital that we look at these basic tenants of our faith.

What Is the Scripture?

Today we are going to open this series by looking at the supreme authority in all matters of faith and morals, That which we call “The Bible”. To Timothy, the Apostle Paul wrote: 2 Timothy 3:16

2 Timothy 3:16 NASB95

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

In this passage Paul is confirming and affirming to this pastor who has been commissioned to confront the false teaching circulating the church of Ephesus, the authority, centrality, and purpose of these holy writings called Scripture. For this early church, the Scriptures would have contained what we now call the Old Testament.

The Torah, or in the Greek called the Pentateuch, consisting of the books, Genesis, Exodus Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Written by Moses between the years of 1400 and 1440 BC.

The Historical writings. A collection of 12 books of the Bible, Joshua through 2 Chronicles written between 1300 and 450 BC.

The Poetic writings, Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastics, and Song of Solomon.

The Prophetic writings, a collection of 17 books written between the years of 800 and 400 BC.

The New Testament Scriptures would not be written until much later, all of those writings are scripted after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The earliest book, the book of James, was written in 43 A.D. and the latest, the book of Revelation, was written around 95 A.D. By AD 250 there was nearly universal agreement on the canonization of the Hebrew scriptures. Canon meaning “measuring rod”. The canonization of Scripture was not man deciding what books of Scripture were Divinely inspired, but rather God revealing to man what was Divinely inspired.

Now, these are helpful facts. However, what is most important to you is this. While the word Scripture is a secular Greek word that simply means writings, in the Biblical text it means writings of Truth.

Daniel 10:21 (NASB95)

21 “However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.

The word Scripture is used 24 times in the Gospels, 28 times in the New Testament and twice in the Old testament and every time it references: Scriptures of Truth, The Scriptures, Holy Scriptures. Every time speaking of itself as a divine collection of writings intended to bring Truth like a hammer, fire to consume, a lamp to reveal, a mirror to reflect, milk to nourish, A rod to measure, a seed to produce life, water, honey, gold, a sword to separate things like soul and spirit… I don’t have time to keep on going.

These Are Holy Writings

In the New Testament, the writer of Hebrews says this:

Hebrews 4:12 (NASB95)

12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

This is a critical passage to us, because it let’s us know that Gods word, the entirety of Holy Writings, Genesis through Revelation, are not simply ancient documents containing historical truth. These are living documents that do not simply contain Gods Words, but are Gods Word. They are “living and active” speaking to us still today. In these Holy, living Scriptures we find God revealing His nature, character and being. He is revealing the purpose of man’s existence and His redemptive plan for all mankind. These things can not be found through reason or the intellectual pursuits of men. They are only found through the Divine revelation of Gods Word.

These Are Inspired Writings

Thus it is vital that we resolve one very important fact.

The Holy Scriptures are the only inspired and infallible divine revelation ever given to man and are the supreme authority in all matters of faith and morals.

Through inspiration, the Holy Spirit brought a revelation to the holy writers of old, revealing a truth that could not be discovered by natural reason. Your Holy Scriptures are God unveiling His person and purpose to you. The Bible is not mans thoughts about God, but God revealing Himself and His purpose to you.

The old saying: Bible stands for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth is the most pitiful explanation of Scripture. This is not an instruction manual for life, this is God breathing His life into you. It is not a document, it is a living illumination. Paul clued us in on this when he wrote to the church of Corinth these words.

1 Corinthians 2:11–12 (NASB95)

11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God,

What is he saying? He is telling us that no one can naturally know God, or the thoughts of God. But, he goes on to say in verse 12, that God has given us His thoughts. Now, let me stop here and remind you that God has never, ever had a new thought. We define this be saying that God is omniscient. He knows all things, has always known all things, and will never learn anything new. So, when you read your Bible, the Holy Spirit is Illuminating your Spirit to understand the Revelation that was transcribed by Divine Inspiration.

This means that there is nothing that God intended us to know about Him that He did not reveal to us through Scripture. Let me say this again this way. Everything that God wants you to know about Him, He has shared with you through the Bible. And yet, most Christians rely upon human reasoning, and emotionalism to discern Gods purpose and will. Let me put a finer point on this.

We pray, but we do not study

We think, but we do not read

We ask for wisdom, but we do not meditate

We study good habits, but we do not study righteousness

How often people think that God has spoken, when a simple study of the God they think they have heard would reveal that this was not the true God of the universe speaking, but rather the false god of humanism, pleasure, and self will. Hear me out here. There is no revelation of God apart from the Holy Scripture. There is illumination, but there is no new revelation. Let me explain this. John in Revelation gives us a stern warning.

Revelation 22:18–19 (NASB95)

18 I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book;

19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book.

There is no truth about God that has not already been given to us in Scripture. To have a revelation of God that is extra-Biblical would violate Scripture itself and therefore is impossible and unbiblical. God will illuminate Himself to mankind through visions, and dreams, yet He reveals Himself, His purpose, and His character to man through His Scriptures alone. So when seeking to know God, what do we do? We go to His Word! When we are seeking to know Gods will for our life what do we do? We compare what we are sensing and pondering to Gods Word.

[ Story of intuition violating Gods Word ]

The Purpose Of Scripture

So, the purpose of the Bible is not just to record historical facts about God, but rather it is the means by which God is revealing Himself to you. In Acts 17 Paul visited Thessalonica. Verse two says that for three Sabbaths Paul reasoned with these men in the Synagogue. But how did He do this?

Acts 17:2 (NASB95)

2 And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,

Acts 17:3 (NASB95)

3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”

Never waste your time contending for the divinity and certainty of God without Scripture, because Scripture alone enlightens mans understanding to God. Your words may cause curiosity, and even go as far as to convince someone that God may be real, but Scripture alone can illuminate the darkened spirit of mankind to the revelation of God.

Gods Partnership With Mankind In Scripture

Now someone may be asking, how is all this possible if the Bible was written by man. It is true that men like Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, Paul, John scribed these writings. A total of 40 different authors, wrote 66 different books, in three different languages over a period of 1600 years. Yet, these 66 books are harmonious, with 63,779 cross references.

Yet, it was Gods will to partner with mankind in the writing of the Bible. In doctrinal terms, we use the phrase “plenary-verbal inspiration”. The word plenary means full, so that phrase literally means full-word inspiration. Plenary-verbal inspiration states that the Bible writers were fully inspired even as to the choice of words. It means that the Bible is completely the Word of God including each and every word. And yet, in the process, God never violated mankind's personality or free will. In other words, even with the very choice of words being inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Holy Scriptures still contain and reveal the personality and style of the writer. What makes this so wonderful is that very purpose of the Bible is revealed in the means by which God authored the Bible. Meaning: The goal of the Bible is to bring God and man together. Therefore, God used man to communicate to man His character, His purpose and His will.

We find this clearly demonstrated through the prophetic utterances of Scripture.

2 Peter 1:20–21 (NASB95)

20 But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,

21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

So, the prophecies found in Scripture are Divine and inspired words, transcribed by Holy Men under the direction of the Holy Spirit. This is why the prophecies we find in the Bible are what we call Perfect Prophecy, as compared to imperfect prophecy, which is any prophetic word given outside of Scripture, which may be divine, or it may be the byproduct of too much pizza. But the Bible cannot lie, and therefore every prophecy in Scripture is perfect and of the Holy Spirit.

Think about this. The greatest possible example of prophecy and fulfilment is that which pertains to Messianic prophecy. Jesus is the only man ever to live to have explicit details given beforehand of His birth, life and ministry, death, burial and resurrection. Not to mention, these prophecies were foretold by thirty different persons, over a period of 4,000 years before Jesus was even born. There were approximately 330 Old Testament prophecies that were fulfilled in the first coming of Christ, with 150 of those prophecies being fulfilled on the final day of His crucifixion. Mathematicians have concluded that the probability of this happening are 1 to the 17th power, or one in 10 quadrillion. One author said it this way:

If you took the entire landmass of the state of Texas and covered the state 2 feet deep in silver dollar coins, marked one of them, blindfolded the person and gave them one chance to pick out the right coin. That's the likelihood of all of Jesus’ prophecies being fulfilled in Him.

My purpose today is to remind you that Gods word is alive! John opened his Gospel by writing these words.

John 1:1 NASB95

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

“The Logos”, the word, the reason, the statement, the speech, the saying, the matter, the news, it is God breathing His life into you. So next time you go and open up your Bible, remember this- you are not reading about God, God is making Himself known to you, illuminating the dark places of your mind and spirit. He is speaking with the same power that created the heavens and the earth, the same power that spoke Lazarus from the the dead, the same breath that spoke “peace be still” and calmed the winds and waves is alive in your bedroom, on your couch, in your office, on your back porch, and He is present, with you and ready to bring all of this to pass, if you will simply avail yourself and invite Him.

Salvation Response

For someone, God is desperately desiring to make Himself known. He longs to illuminate the places of your Spirit darkened by a sinful world. Let me read from my Bible to you, what God says about His love. [ read from paper Bible ]

John 3:16 NASB95

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

Ephesians 2:4–5 NASB95

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

While it is true, that each of us have sinned, and failed to reach the goodness and perfection that God requires; it is also true that through Jesus Christ we can be saved from our sin and find our eternal home in heaven.

Romans 10:9 NASB95

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

If you are here today know that Jesus is calling you to Himself, I want to pray with you so that you can leave here certain that your sins are forgiven and your life is secure in God. With every eye closed, if that is you- simply raise your hand so I know who I am praying for.

“Heavenly Father, I trust You to save me through Your Son, Jesus.  Forgive me for all of my sins.  Make me brand new.  Because You died for me, I want to live for You.  Fill me with Your Spirit, so I could follow You.  Jesus, You’re now my Lord and the Savior of my life.  Take my life.  It is Yours.  In Jesus’ name, I pray.” Amen!