Sunday Service

I just want to thank the band and for all those who put time in, you know that I'm not Jay and and I'm the youth pastor here and I didn't realize just how much work it goes into Services Christmas Eve service and this service and all the moving parts and all the people that give time and their energy to play music in 2 hours to put something like this together Fulton bulletins and printing the bulletins and music and so I'm just so grateful for that. And so I tell everybody that is a part of that. Thank you or if this week or not, but normally you are. Thank you. Thank you for serving us before I begin. I'm going to ask the Lord for help. So please bear with me as I pray.

Father this morning. We we get a sing to you. We're reminded that there is no one worthy of our praise. Besides you Lord, you are worthy. We know from your word that each of us our hearts deep because you will not to happen. Or do you have brought us here this Sunday morning. in your Providence Forward if there is any of us who are distracted by the pressures of life. Or maybe the the joy of this past Christmas season or the pain of this Christmas season or whatever wherever we're at Lord. Would you meet us would you? Calm our hearts, would you give us a tension? To look at your word this morning and God by your spirit. Would you drive us to Faith? Would you drive us to repentance? Would you bring about change in our lives so that your name is honored in this Valley in and all over the world for Jesus's name? I pray amen.

Well, grab your Bibles and turn them to Genesis chapter 3. I'm not going to spend our whole time there. But as of way of introduction, I want us to just contemplate Genesis chapter 3.

Genesis chapter 3 verse 1

Is the scene of all of our pain all of our anguish all of the death that's in the world is traced right back to Genesis chapter 3. All that we go through. all of the struggle Olive planting and storms coming and wiping out crops all of The evil of the world all of sin is brought right back and it drives us to Genesis chapter 3. Genesis chapter 3 begins this way now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field, which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman indeed has God said You shall not eat from any tree of the garden. The woman said to the serpent from the fruit of the Trees of the garden we may eat but from the fruit of the trees, which is in the middle of the garden. God has said You shall not eat from it or touch it or you will die. The serpent said to the woman you surely will not die. For God knows that in the day you eat from it. Your eyes will be opened and you will be like God knowing Good and Evil. The reason I bring us here this morning to Genesis chapter 3 is to show us and to remind us of Satan's attempt against God and his word. To the woman in verse to this Converse One, excuse me. He asks, the woman indeed has God said as if God need to be questioned did God really say?

He continues in as soon as Eve answers The Serpent and verse 2 and 3 in verse for the serpent says to the woman. You surely will not die. Dad said that you'll die. But you won't you can't trust his word. What he says is not true. In verse 5 the serpent says for God knows that in the day you eat from it. Your eyes will be opened. You will be like God knowing good and evil in other words is God is holding out on you Eve. If you would do this, you know that in his just holding back. He knows that if you do this, then you'll actually have a better life. Mr. Satan, always from Genesis chapter 3 to our present reality right now. He always wants us to discredit God's word into the doubt God's character is just holding out. If God really loved you, then this would happen in your life or as soon as God says something. Well, you can't really take that serious. God didn't really mean when he said something. As far as that way of background turn where we're going to spend the most or the rest of our time to 2nd Timothy chapter 3 2nd Timothy chapter 3. With that and ringing in our mind of Satan always wanting to make us question God's character in doubt what he says and we really see that from from all history. We have heard of time and time again of leaders and rulers who have tried to burn God's word or in our present time. There are Scholars that try to make us doubt everything that God says or there's even the people that would claim that the Bible is true and accurate but when it comes to helping people change, they turn away from what the Bible teaches and they look for something else. Satan is always been about that and he continues to be about that even to our day right now.

Ezra let's look at 2nd Timothy. I'm going to read chapter 3 verse 10 through 17, but we're going to spend our by the bulk of our time and verse 16 and 17.

2nd Timothy chapter 3 verse 10 now you followed my teaching conduct purpose Faith patience, love perserverence persecutions and suffering such as happened to me at Antioch at Iconium and at lystra what persecutions I endured and out of them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed all who desire to live Godly in Christ. Jesus will be persecuted but evil men and imposters will proceed from bad to worse deceiving and being deceived. You however continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of knowing from whom you have learned them and that from your childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to Salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching for reproof for correction for training in righteousness. So that the man of God may be adequate equipped for every good work.

Set a background of Paul writing to Timothy is this. Look back at verse 13. What's the framework of which we get our texts? Well, because we're not teach Cincinnati ch'ing through this book weekend week out. I kind of have to get us up to speed but in verse 13, look at what it says Paul tells Timothy Timothy is a pastor in Ephesus and he says this but evil men. In imposters will proceed from bad to worse deceiving and being deceived jump up the verse 1 of chapter 3 as well. There's difficult times Coming For You Timothy. He says this but realize this that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self lovers of money boastful arrogant revilers disobedient to parents ungrateful. Unholy unloving irreconcilable malicious gossips without self-control haters of good treacherous Reckless conceded lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

The framework which Timothy which Timothy is getting this letter in Paul is writing is one of perseverance. Timothy difficult times are coming. There's deceivers that are going to come in among you. Adverse 14U. However, continue in the things that you've learned that's an imperative you continue. That's a command continue Timothy. You must continue

In the midst of deceivers in the midst of evil men. Answer this is about perseverance. This is about guarding the truth of God's word Timothy. All that says this over to Titus and chapter one. Just listen. He says this of the overseer or of the elder or of the bishop or of the pastor. All those words are used interchangeably. So this is to the leader. Leaders plural for the overseer must be above reproach is God Steward not self-willed not quick-tempered not addicted to why not pugnacious not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable loving what is good sensible. Just devout self-controlled. Those are all character qualities of the man of God. And he also says this to Titus. Holding fast the faithful word, which is in accordance with the teaching. So that he will be able both to exhort and sound Doctrine and refute those who contradict. The pastor the Elder the shepherd is one is have a Godly life, but who knows God's word and is able to exert with it and also to refute those who contradict back in 2nd Timothy chapter 3. It's those who would be able to refute these ones who are leading people astray. This is the charge. Paul is concern that Timothy watch is teaching and his Doctrine and 1st Timothy 4 Paul writes this to Timothy until I come give attention to the public reading of scripture to exhortation and teaching do not neglect the spiritual gift within you which was bestowed on you through the prophetic utterances with the Lang on of Hands by the Presbytery take pains in these things be absorbed in them. So that your progress will be evident to all pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching persevere in these things for as you do this, you will ensure salvation both for yourself. And for those who hear you

This is just a side note application. Sometimes this whole discussion about having right Doctrine and being careful with what God teaches in his word is kind of looked down upon in our culture. But when I read these when Paul was writing to Timothy and Titus, I realize that God is very much concerned with what we believe and what is taught and what is held on to especially because of verse 13 that there's some that are coming in that will try to deceive and they sound so good. but Timothy you must continue. Do not get sidetracked don't buy into what they teach. This is the framework of our texts this morning. And Paul is about to die. This is one of his last if not his last letters of the New Testament. He knows that his time has come. This is his last charge to his dear son in the faith Timothy and he says you continue in the things you've learned. Don't be deceived. As far as that as our framework one of not getting caught up in error. I believe that 2nd Timothy 3:16 and 17 teaches us today to certainties concerning scripture that give us confidence and keep us from error. I'll say it again. I believe that 2nd Timothy 3:16 and 17 teaches us to certainties concerning scripture that give us confidence and keep us from error. The first certainty is that the scripture is from God. The scripture is from God and where I'm getting that is verse 16. Call writing to Timothy not to be deceived to continue and he reminds him of scripture. He reminds him of where to go so that you don't get caught up in error. He reminds him of where he is to turn. And he says this statement in verse 16. all scripture is inspired by God. That's that certainty number one. The scriptures are from God or in other words the source of the Bible. Its source is God himself. Translations go with inspired by God or literally it's two Greek words, and then it's god-breathed chaos and new mithaas Numa meaning Spirit. Chaos. Meaning God God breathed is the only time this is ever used in the New Testament but it gets the same message across Paul is reminding Timothy that the scripture are Gods intended communication of himself. He is the source he is the one behind the Bible. It's the one true God's word. Thesaurus is God himself. Listen to how Peter says it and 2nd Peter chapter one, but know this first of all that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will in other words what we find in God's word is not just man spots placed into a book and now we read them know they're not an active human wealth, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. Man moved by God's spirit to write exactly what God wanted us to have he is the source of our Bible. Now, I need to makes a few things clear. Does that mean that John was just sitting there and God said write this and he just wrote every single word. Well in part of Revelation that is the case. But no God uses John and his style and his vocabulary to communicate with God once God used Paul and his vocabulary and what he wanted to communicate. So he use these human authors. Yes, so we can say that scripture is written by Paul, but we can just as much say but this letter 2nd Timothy. God says all scripture is it's both. It's a dual authorship but its source is God, but he uses men and if you've ever done any translation or if you just go and you read Paul's letters if you read them enough you kind of catches style and then you flip over and you read like Jude or you read the book of Hebrews their style is very different. God is the source but he uses men moved by his Spirit, but he uses their vocabulary and their sentence structure just like you and I don't write the same if we wrote a letter but God is the source. God is the source to Timothy in the midst of are in the midst of deceivers. You need to remember and we need to remember that all scripture. Is inspired by God or God breathed or that God is the source of this book. We need to remember that tonight is our first certainty and so we've seen that the scriptures are from god. Let's take a look at the second certainty number two is that the scripture is useful for God's people. The scripture is useful for God's people. and so when I say that am I asking you to answer out loud, but just contemplate what is this book good for what is its purpose? What is it supposed to do? Is it just a story or is there more to it? Is it just to get some kind of nice Proverbs and how to live better than I was if I didn't have it. What is the purpose of scripture? Well, I'm glad that you asked because I believe that God gives us four words and what scripture is useful for let's look at verse 16. It says again all scripture is inspired by God and all scripture is profitable or you could translate that word is useful. And it's useful for for things and I believe that the first two go together in the last two go together. So we're going to deal with them together, but it's useful or profitable for teaching in for reproof. Verse 16. The first one is for teaching or for instruction. And it makes a lot of sense. Doesn't it? The Bible teaches us many things for instance the Bible teaches us that humans are sinful. Now, we may have come up with that because we see people doing things and we go that is not right. We have a conscience but also it teaches us that. Sin We inherited all the way back to Adam and Eve do we find out that we're our sin came from to a teacher's us about that it teaches us about how a church is to function. It's to have elders and deacons it teaches us how we are to love one another and care for one another it teaches us the gospel. We would have never by looking at creation came up with the gospel. The gospel teaches that none of us are good enough by our good works to be right before God.

The Bible teaches us that instead we are we are at enmity with God because of our sin against him. And that though we are hopeless and we are helpless. God did something by sending his son to die on a cross. for our sin the Bible teaches us that somehow in God's divine plan that when Jesus died on that cross. He drank the wrath of God upon himself. That means our sin was placed upon him. And that somehow by turning and trusting in Him our sin was placed upon him and that we are credited with his righteous life before God. I'm telling you we would never have come up with a Plan of Salvation like that. To the Bible teaches us that we are to repent of our sin and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. where to look to him the god-man 100% man 100% God we didn't never come up with that the Bible needs to teach us that Should have Bible teaches us and there the list goes on and on about what the Bible teaches but those are just a few answer the Bible teaches us the second word in our list here. It says that scripture is useful not only for teaching but for reproof. Or some translated rebuke or I know some of you use the New Living Translation and it says it this way make us realize what is wrong in our lives. The Bible is useful for exposing our hearts and showing us where we have sinned against God.

You should have you ever experienced that before you grab your bible. You're reading it. If something catches your eye. And you're reminded that you that you've sinned against God. I lost my temper what actually that's called anger. We okay. So there's anger in there. And so I have sinned against God. It's cuz you're reading at your Beretta. I just need to cry out to God right now cuz I know I am guilty and I know that I've sinned against this person and I need to go to them. You see God's word exposes us and it rebukes us of our sin if that's never happened to you before while you're reading the Bible. Let me try this on and I'm not going to try to embarrass you, but I want to show you just how God's word instructs Us and how it rebukes us. Ephesians 4 29 through 32 says this let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth. But only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment so that it will give Grace to those who hear do not grieve the holy spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption, let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you along with all malice be kind to one another tenderhearted forgiving each other. Just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Or you can say OK what had his gods were teachers. Well, that's where teaches us that we're not to use our words to tear people down but to build them up. Okay. Well, that's not natural. At least that's not natural to my heart. Usually I want to tear people down not build them up. So it teachers are sending instructs us and even when I say that it rebukes me because if I've used my mouth to tear somebody down I am in sin. And I need to go to the Lord and ask for forgiveness. It goes on it says do not grieve the holy spirit of God by whom you were sealed. Well, what is this Holy Spirit? And what is its talking about being sealed? And what's this day of redemption? What if you read Ephesians and as you study the Bible it's going to teach you. What all those things are. Going to teach you what it means to be sealed by God Spirit going to teach you what it means on the day of redemption. It goes on it continues and says let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you. Which instructing us as Christians you're not to have these in your lives? This is not what a Christian looks like. But be kind to one another tenderhearted forgiving each other. Just as God in Christ also has forgiven you you see how God's word is just so practical. It instructs us it teaches us and then where we read that we realize while I don't have a forgiving heart. I've been very angry. Let me look at it and it actually right in the same point of its teaching us along the line and all the sudden. It just rebuked us right there to did you realize your sin? God's word is useful as profitable for teaching and reproof, but there's two more words. Let's continue to look at our texts. It says this for correction. And for training in righteousness and his first word comes to that I comes across and it says correction but this is the idea. It's setting something right that was broken or bent. Something's gone off wrong. It's been warped. I think of the piece of wood it gets warped and you want a corrected it needs to be straight again. And as I tried to think of this and I don't have any experience with this if you do and I say something wrong come up, correct me since that's what I'm on right now. I'm for correction, but I but I thought about this when I was a little kid. I remember having to lift our shirts up and leaned forward and they check for scoliosis to see if your back is going straight or if it's kind of warped and what needs to happen and I didn't have that but I would assume that if they found a kid that had that that there's ways in which to straighten it out or at least attempt to maybe it's never lie perfectly straight, but there's something that you can do and I remember doing it as a kindergartener. So I think to try to catch it pretty early. But I just there's got to be a way that they try to set that spine straight again. Or at least attempt to and that's the picture. It's for correction. It's just set us straight when we've aired and so as you think about that Ephesians 4 passage, maybe you've erred you're not completely off the path, but you haven't been speaking very kindly with your with your wife or your husband or with your brother or with your sister. And so it corrects us it brings us back to how we are ought to be living not only does it teach us not only does it rebuke us and puts it right before our face that we have sinned but it also helps us and it corrects us into right living. interwrite living In a second word in our list. is this For training in righteousness for training and righteous. I think we understand what this is as we obey God's word. It is training us to live righteous lives. It's her teachers us and it rebukes us of our sending it corrects us and it continues to help us train us to live righteous lives.

I tried to think of an illustration from my own life, and I I could think of when I Rodeo that I miss you. And we would have practice Monday and Wednesday and I was a bull rider and so we would practice and there's not really practice in the rodeo World. You've got to get on live bull. So, um, it's just the same as a rodeo and show in practice though because we are roughstock guys and you guys know this there was at least one out of ten that was hurt or if not more than one out of ten that was sort of the time and so their job was to video practice so that guys could watch it and see where they need to correct their and what they're doing cuz I thought about God's word in this way and I remember my Rodeo coach he would give me instruction. He would teach me things about what it meant to ride Bulls in your posture and what you're looking for and what you're to do and so there was instruction. But then as we watch the video there be instruction and at some point I did something wrong. Usually I did something wrong. Even when you ride in for 8 seconds, you get off any land in the back of your head and you still didn't do something right anyway, but that's beside the point but for but for reproof for that rebuke, it wasn't harsh with me, but he would show me my error. He would say, hey, we're not both turn to the left. You got behind your hips got out and you fell off. You got to make sure you drive your knee in and you know, I mean he give me instruction, but he would also point out my air. And then he would do for correction. So he would get me back. Okay, then you need to do this and instead try to do this and in training in righteousness. I remember him saying you need to go get on a horse bareback set up some jumps at your house and start riding to get that and strengthen your legs and get used to the movement. And so he would train me to do what was right in order so that I could be successful and I think we can realize that you can think of your own work and what you do there's instructions specially for little kids. You have to give them instruction and point out where they've done are and help them. And train them to do what is right. And so I think God's word is exactly the same.

Can I teach you? It's going to point out your are and it's going to correct you and it's going to train you in righteousness.

And so we're God's word isn't done with just saying that God's word is profitable for that. What's the result in your life and in my life? What is the result? Take a look at verse 17.

Show that the man or you can answer or woman the man or woman of God may be adequate that word adequate is so unique. I love it because you could translate it a whole Myriad of ways, but it's this. The man or woman of God may be complete or may be capable or maybe proficient or able to meet all demands. Did you hear that? meet all demands of life God's word is profitable to do that so that the result is that you man or woman of God may be complete may be proficient may be able to meet all demands of life.

God's word and then it says equipped. For some good works. Anybody have that in there or first for just a couple of good things to do no equipped for every good work.

This is what Theologian called the sufficiency of God's word. God is telling us this morning. That his word is able to make you adequate and equipped for every good work. every single one you don't have to look anywhere else. You don't have to go anywhere else. You look to God's word. And as you study it and you obey ahead and you seek the Lord it says that you will be out of quit. equipped for every good work

answer for Paul telling mr. Timothy. Why was this so important for a pastor and emphasis as well? Because he realized that there was deceivers coming in but I think secondly he wanted to remind Timothy of the power of God's word in the life of God's people. Don't go away from it Timothy. and look at verse 1 of chapter 4 What's the conclusion if this is what God's work and do in the light in your life and in my life? And as a pastor. 4 Timothy and for the people that he cares for verse 1 says I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus who is the judge the living in the dead and by his appearing and his kingdom. Don't take Serious God's word. No preach the word be ready in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort with great patience and instruction.

Because of what God's word is and what it says it will do in the lives of believers. Paul charges Timothy in God's presence and in Christ. Jesus is presents. You just feel like he's just keeping it on like this is really important for you Timothy. You must do this and he says preach the word be ready in season and out of season. In other words be ready all the time to use God's word.

You are not Timothy. I'm not Timothy. What can we learn from this?

I think the application is clear.

I just have to ask you do you view scripture this way?

Do you believe scripture what God is just said like this. Here's a good test. When times are difficult or when a decision needs to be made, where do you go for Council?

Do you say okay? I know that I'm a Rancher and I know that that that the Bible doesn't necessarily talk about ranching, but I know that the Bible talks about my heart in this situation so okay what's going on in my life? Okay. Am I okay. I know I need to not be nervous. So I don't I don't need to be anxious about this if its finances and that's the struggle if I seek God's kingdom and his righteousness. He says that he'll take care of me. Okay. Well, then I've got great instruction on finances. I got grade instruction on where my heart is to be. What about the neighbor who is kind of being difficult with me? This is God's word have anything to say about how we're supposed to treat our enemies. Yes, it does. What about having to deal with my spouse who is always doing things wrong? I don't know how it's always her though. It's always her. Or him. I shouldn't it's always him. It's always the same. It's always him. What does God's word have things to instruct you on how to deal with your with your marital problems. Struggles, or do I need to go somewhere else? I would argue that God's word this morning reminds us and tells us that know God's word has the answers in there. Has the answers about how our hearts are to be before the Lord and now we are to conduct our business and how we are to use our retirement and how we are to live at High School. God's word has the answers.

And so I know that it's not exhaustive. I know that God's word is an exhaustive and every single situation, but I do know that God's word is exhaustive on where our hearts have to be in every single situation. How to live before him in a way that honors him no matter what we do. It's all we've seen two certainties concerning scripture this morning that give us confidence the confidence peace knowing that the scriptures are from God. He is thesaurus. And second keep us from air or scripture is useful for God's people it will train us. It will teach us. It will rebuke us where we're wrong. It'll correct us when we go veering off the path and it will train as to do what is right so that you and I are adequately equipped for every good work. Let's pray.

Father as I think of your word and as we have just contemplated it. There may be some here that they've never thought of it that way.

Or they've been discouraged because it doesn't seem like your word addresses this issue and how to deal with this ordeal with that Lord. I just pray that you would Grant those who have had many years that they would be able to instruct and help. And that their first inclination my first inclination my first desire in any situation is what is God's word say about this.

What is God's word? What do you got the source of this work? What would you have me do here?

How am I to live? What am I to do?

I got it. I think of the people who are here that maybe don't know. You ain't never been instructed from your word or never heard that Jesus has come. to die on a cross For there soon. And that I can receive him by simply trusting and bye-bye by confessing their sin and their waywardness and by clinging to the Savior the Lord Jesus Christ that they can have a right relationship with you today.

Lord would we be a church as committed to your word? Would you grant us perseverance? Like Timothy? That we would stay true to what you say so that your name is honored. And that you get glory Lord bless these people this week remind them of your word. I ask through Jesus. Amen.

A Manuel you are dismissed. Have a great Lord's Day.