The B-I-B-L-E
Notes
Transcript
“The B-I-B-L-E”
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I enjoy westerns, John Wayne, Steve McQueen, stage coaches, outlaw run and the pony express.
I read something recently about the pony express that I thought was really cool. The pony express route ran from St. Joe Missouri to Sacramento California, a distance of 1,900 miles. The trip was made in 10 days by 40 men, each riding 50 miles a day. The riders were all young men and many of them orphans, because the life expectance was no long. To conserve weight clothing was light weight, saddles were small and thin, no weapons were carried, and the mail pouch was flat and small.
Yet, each rider carried a full-size Bible; it was presented to him when he joined the pony express, and he took it with him despite the weight restrictions. When I read that I thought, the journey that we are on through this world is more dangerous than a pony express rider going west. Yet we often fill the saddle bags of our lives with so much stuff we don’t have room for the Bible, that is a great mistake. Make room for the bible in your life, read God’s word daily, think on God’s word, quote God’s word in your mind.
You and I cannot make the journey thought this life without the Bible! Is the Bible standard equipment in your life, or is your life so full you don’t have room for the Bible?
I want to encourage you today, to clean somethings out of your life and make room for your Bible!
I mean you need to make time daily to read your bible; get up 15-30 min’s early and read your bible, or stay up 15-30 min’s later and read your bible. But don’t fail to read your bible, it is the bread of life for you, it is meat to strength you, it is essential for your spiritual survival, understanding, success, and victory as a Christian.
In this chapter Paul the older Christian, preacher is talking to Timothy the younger Christian and preacher. Paul is at the end of his road; Timothy is at the beginning of his road; so Paul tells Timothy and us the importance of the Bible for life and ministry!!
Paul has told Timothy you are living in perilous times; wickedness was all around in the city Timothy was living in Ephesus. Paul told Timothy that there were false teachers everywhere, who didn’t believe in the power of God-miracles, that didn’t believe in the inspiration of the bible; it will get worse and worse, V:13.
Then Paul says to Timothy, V:14- But you must continue in God’s Word.
He is saying thinks in this world are going to get worse, and there will be people who deny the Word of God, but you must not; continue in what you have learned from a child, the “Holy Scriptures”!
This book is a Holy book, a special book, it is God’s Word!
Paul gives three reasons we must value, read, and continue in God’s Word.
1st of all because of;
1. The Intention of the Bible.
V:15-“ And that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
The first intention of the Bible is to bring us to a place of:
a. Salvation.
God is His great love and grace has revealed Himself to us in the pages of the bible. We would never know about God’s love and plan of redemption outside of the pages of the Bible.
We know about the Glory of God through creation, but we know about the Grace of God through the Bible!!
Timothy had been taught the word of God from childhood, V:15-“From a child you have known the Holy scriptures”
He reminded Timothy of his childhood and those who had taught him the bible; Timothy had a godly mother and grandmother who taught him the bible, who read the bible to him.
Oh how important it is to read the bible in your home, to teach your children the stories of the bible, to have them in Sunday school and under the teaching and preaching of the Word of God!!
As soon as your baby is born surround them with the Word of God, books, songs, pictures, and Vega tales.
It is thought the teaching of the scriptures that Timothy was saved.
I imagine that Timothy’s mother Eunice, and his grandmother Lois teaching Timothy; they would say today Tiny Tim we are going to read about:
· God creating the heavens and the earth.
· Noah building the Ark- Jesus is our Ark.
· Abraham placing Isaac on the altar, and God providing a ram in his place-Jesus is the Lamb of God who took our place and died on the cross and rose from the grave!
They taught him the word of God; they prepared his heart for the day he would be saved.
The one day a fire-ball preacher named Paul came to preach at the first Baptist Church of Lystra, Paul preached the gospel, the truth of Jesus death, burial and resurrection and when the invitation song was sung Timothy walked down the aisle and got saved! Timothy’s mom and grandmother were lifting their hands in praise to God, wiping tears, Timothy got saved; Timothy trusted Jesus as his savior today!! They were so happy, their prayers had been answered!!
I wonder what was said at the lunch table at Bored Baptist house that day; somebody asked him, did anything happen at church today? Bored Baptist said, well not much, we had a long-winded preacher named Paul, and oh yeah, Eunice’s boy Tim got saved. NOT MUCH HAPPENED!! Are you kidding me Bored Baptist!!!
· He is the man who became Paul’s traveling companion.
· Here is the man who two books in the N.T. are written to.
· Here is the man who became the pastor of the church of Ephesus.
Not much happened are you kidding me!!
A young got saved, a mother and grandmother are rejoicing together, the angels in heaven were shouting-Jesus saves; Jesus saves, hallelujah to the Lamb of God!!
Timothy was made, V:15-“Wise unto salvation”…that is exactly what the Bible is intended to do!!
The Bible is a book that leads us to salvation, because it leads us to Jesus.
-“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul”.
-“ For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures"
These "Scriptures" were the Old Testament.
The intention of the bible is to make you wise unto salvation.
Let me ask you a question, how wise do you have to be to be saved?
1st-You must know you are a Sinner!
The bible clearly and continually tells us that we are sinners. The bible says:
-“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God”
The bible says:
-“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
This book, God’s Holy word, reveals our condition, that we are sinners by birth, nature and practice!!
God’s word tells us we are condemned right now!!
You have to know you are a sinner to be saved!
2nd- You have to know Jesus is the Savior!
Salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone; in , Paul reaches back to Abraham as a pattern of how people are saved: by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
-Quote!
This book is a book that points you to the Lord Jesus Christ!
· The bible has one theme-Salvation.
· The bible has one Hero-Jesus.
· The Bible has Villain-Satan.
· The bible has one Purpose- Glorify God.
Anywhere you open the Bible you will find Jesus nearby. The O.T. predicts Him, The N.T. Presents Him! From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible leads you to Jesus!!!
The Bible is intended to lead you to Jesus, to make you wise unto salvation.
Listen close- You are not saved by believing the Bible, but by trusting Jesus who is revealed in the Bible. Satan knows the bible, but he is not saved.
How wise do you have to be to be saved?
3rd-You have to know your saved by Faith.
Salvation is not by works but,
V:15-“ through faith in Christ Jesus”.
-”For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast”.
The Bible makes it clear that there is nothing you can do to save yourself, the best you can do is filthy rags in the sight of a Holy God.
Salvation is through Faith in Jesus Christ alone!!
I am thankful that I grew up under the preaching of the word of God, that I had a pastor who told me what the bible said- that I was a sinner, lost in my sin, and that Jesus died on the Cross for my sin, and that it I would turn from my sin and place my faith in Jesus He would forgive me and save me; I did and He did!! The intention of the Bible is Salvation.
The second intention of the Bible is:
b. Sanctification.
Paul tells Timothy, V:14-“continue in the word, stay in your Bible”
In the last days there will be more and more lies, lose living, and false teaching! Stay in the Bible!
V:16-“Scripture is profitable for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
The bible is helpful, necessary, and profitable for:
· Doctrine-What’s right.
· Reproof-What’s not right.
· Correction-How to get right.
· Instruction-How to stay right.
The word “sanctify” means- to set apart, to consecrate to God.
Read the bible will sanctified your heart and mind, you will think different and live different than the world around you.
-“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth”.
The bible gives us the truth about every area of life, we don’t look to the media, movies, magazines, movie stars, singers, athletics to tell us the truth about morals, marriage, money, happiness, purpose and meaning of life!!!! No a thousand times no!!
Jesus said, God word is truth; Truth about what? Truth about everything!!!!
God’s word has a sanctifying effect on our lives, it renews our mind, it corrects our thinking, and it revives our hearts!!
-“That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word”.
God’s word like water will wash over your soul and mind like water.
-“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.
“This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book”
The only way to stay clean in this dirty world is by reading and obeying the Bible!
Someone said, “The bible that is falling apart, usually belongs to someone who isn’t”
J.I. Packer said, “If I were the Devil, one on my first aims would be to stop people from reading the bible”
In a day when we have to keep up with: Twitter, Facebook, email, and whatever other social media you are into, don’t neglect the SAVIOR network- Bible and Prayer!! Why would we connect with everybody but the most important person in the universe- God!! Let me ask you a question:
How many of you believe everything in this Bible is true, raise your hand”
How many of you believe everything you read in the News leader, or on the internet is true, raise your hand.
Then why would you spend more time reading what you don’t believe, than what you do believe?
V:17-“ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
How are you and I made perfect- mature, complete, strong, equipped Christians? By reading, learning, and applying the word of God to our lives.
The only way to grow in your Christian life is to have a steady diet of God’s Word. If you don’t read and study your bible you will remain a baby Christian, weak, immature, blown around by every false doctrine.
-“-As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby”.
God’s word is intended to sanctify you, to cleanse your life, to grow and strength you and equip you to service Jesus! You can’t live the Christian life with the Word of God!!
We value, read, and continue in God’s Word; because of the Intention of the Bible.
2nd reason we should value, read and continue in the bible is because of:
2. The Inspiration of the Bible.
V:16-“All scripture is given by inspiration of God”.
It I really understand that I am holding in my hand the very word of God I will value it, and read it, and obey it!!
When we say that the bible is inspired we are saying:
a. God is the Author.
This book is not man speaking for God; it is God speaking for Himself.
The Scriptures are inspired or "breathed-out by God". The Spirit worked through biblical writers to pen God's Word exactly as He intended. Just as God spoke the universe into existence, so also He breathed out His Word.
God is the author of this book, this is a supernatural book. God uses men to pen down the words, but God told them what to write down.
-“holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
When you read the bible keep in mind that you are reading what God wrote for you!! What a gift the Bible is!!
When we say the Bible is inspired we are saying:
b. It is the Authority for life and living.
If this is the very word of God, and it is, then it must be the absolute authority for my life!!
When I hear an opinion that contradicts the bible, I am going with the bible!!! I will live my life under the authority of God’s word. If the Author of the Bible is perfect, then the Bible is perfect.
And every word in the bible is inspired, and must be obeyed not just certain parts of His word, V:16-‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God”
This means we cannot simply pick and choose which parts of the Bible we like, which commands we wish to obey, and which doctrines we will believe. God’s word is divinely, accurately and totally inspired from cover-to-cover. Whatever the bible teaches on any subject is accurate!!
Someone may ask, do you have any evidence that the Bible is inspired by God? Oh yes I do, more than we can look at today: But we have:
· Scientific evidence.
· Historical evidence.
· Fulfilled Prophecy.
· Wonderful unity.
· Indestructibility of the Bible.
-“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
No other book has endured as much opposition as the Bible, men have laughed at it, ridiculed it, burned it, banned it, made laws against it, chained it to the pulpit. Many men have preached its funeral, but it has outlined all its pall-bears.
-“The word of the Lord abides forever”
3rd reason we should value, read and continue in the bible is because of:
3. The Impact of the Bible.
4:1-2.
The chapter changes but the subject doesn’t changed; Paul is still talking about the Bible.
He says to Timothy, V:1- I charge you therefore…
V:2- Preach the Word!
If the Bible is what Paul said it was, then the only conclusion is to preach it.
Listen what you believe about the bible makes an impact on your personal life, your family life, and our church life. He tells him three ways the Bible impacts us, the bible gives us:
a. Boldness for Preaching and teaching.
V:1-2.
Because this is the very word of God we must preach it boldly, it is our authority. We are to preach it, faithfully, consistently, patiently, doctrinally.
Because the Bible is the very word of God it is to be central in my life, family and ministry of this church. There is nothing that can take the place of the teaching and preaching of God’s Word. Paul told Timothy to preach the word with boldness and love.
They say you can’t preach the bible today, it won’t work, people won’t come; God’s people will!!!
The bible gives:
b. Confidence for Witnessing.
V:5-“Do the work of an Evangelist”
Not all of us are called to be evangelist; but all of us are called to do the work of an evangelist, tell people about Jesus.
If you don’t believe the bible is the word of God, if you don’t have confidence in the bible, you won’t be a witness! But if you have been saved, and you know God’s word is true, you can say to that person let me tell you what God’s word says!
I have been in the home where there are beer cans sitting all around, and there sits a wife crying her eyes out over her alcoholic husband, there marriage is on the rocks, there son is selling drugs, what am I going to tell them?
Come to church and join our basket weaving class?
NO!! I am going to tell them:
-“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”
-“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”
-“If you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the death you shall be saved”
The bible has an impact of preaching and teaching, it has an impact on witnessing.
The bible gives us:
c. Assurance when Dying.
V:6-“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
-“The coat that I left at Troas with Carpus, when you come, bring with you, and the books, but especially the parchments.
Paul is getting ready to die; what would a man want when he has come to the end of the road?
Paul is facing death and here is what he asks for:
· Coat-Something warm for his body.
· Timothy and Mark-Some fellowship for his soul.
· Books- Something for his intellect.
· Parchments, bible- Something for his spirit.
But he told Timothy, especially my Bible!!!
There was nothing that Paul valued more than his bible, he wanted to have his bible in his hands and heart as he faced death! I know about life after death because the bible tells me, I know about heaven because the bible tells me so!
I know about the resurrection because the bible tells me! I know about the rapture because the bible tells me about it!
The bible impacts every area of our lives, and that is why I must read it and obey it!
The bible is indispensable for your life, family, church and for our nation. Study it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be Holy.
Do you know the one this book is written about? Do you know Jesus as your savior?
Do you need to be in a bible believing church? Come join today!