DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE READING?
Notes
Transcript
26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert.
27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship,
28 was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”
30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”
acts 8:26-30
INTRO
INTRO
Boy versus Atheist - I am rejoicing because a whole army got drown in 10 centimeters of water!
Intro
Intro
This the the 3rd sermon of our Series “Who are we?”, and it deals with the 3rd value at Unchained Church: the Word of God.
The Bible is the most controversial, the most discussed, the greatest best-seller of all times, and yet, so much questions about it.
Illustration
Illustration
Boy versus Atheist - (Boy was happy reading his Bible in the book of Exodus, on the passage of the crossing of the Red Sea, and saying: “Glory to God!”)
Atheist: “Come on, when the people of Israel crossed there, it was only 10 inches of water...”
Boy: (after continuing reading for a while), shouted: “Glory to God, glory to God even more!!
Atheist: “But I just told you it was only 10 inches of water...”
Boy: “Wow, now I am rejoicing even more because the whole army of the Egyptians got drown in only 10 inches of water!”
“Wow, now I am rejoicing even more because a whole army got drown in 10 centimeters of water!”
Knowing and believing the Word of God AND living by its precepts will make eternal difference in our lives.
The Lord Jesus Himself rebuked people in for not knowing the Word of God.
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.
Matthew
29 Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.
(And He said these things for those who, supposedly were the experts of the Scriptures of His time, the Scribes and Pharisees!)
Most of Americans today do not know who preached the Sermon of the Mountain, and many say it was Billy Graham.
People say that one the most important verses of the Bible is “Do your part and I will help you”; and this is not even in the Bible.
The Bible is in more than 90% of American homes, but very few actually read it.
Now… Because the subject “the Bible” is so vast, and it would take us the whole eternity to try to understand the complexity of the Word of God, today we will concentrate on what the Scriptures, the Word of God, represents to us, Christians, and how the reading and application of the Bible impacted Jesus’ ministry from its beginning to the end.
The Bible was written by approximately 40 authors, in a period of about 1600 years, (that’s the most common sense among most scholars), and it speaks about everything, there is no subject that is not covered by it. It speaks also about the mistakes of its own authors, and because of its complexity, every book of the Bible complements each other, even those written with hundreds of years of difference.
The Bible as we know it today, formed by 39 books in the OT and 27 in the NT, is the most accepted canon among the Christian Community, and the total books inspired by God Himself to be written.
The Bible is loved, read by thousands of people every single day and it is the most fascinating book someone could ever read.
It was the first book to ever be printed, and no other book has been translated in so many languages. All the main ideas of the Western civilization are based on the Bible.
Theme:
Theme:
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE READING?
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE READING?
Context: An encounter between Phillip, the Evangelist, and the eunuch, official of the Queen of Ethiopia, who was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah, coming back from Jerusalem.
Context: Phillip, the evangelist, and the eunuch, servant of the queen of Ethiopia, reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.
So, why is it so important to read, understand, and to live by what the Bible teaches us?
We can list hundreds of reasons, but today we will see 3 of them.
1. ITS AUTHORITY
1. ITS AUTHORITY
It’s the Word of the living God!
It’s the Word of the living God!
Since the Exodus, when the Law was given through the Ten Commandments, and even before that, God would always reveal Himself and His will to mankind.
The Bible is not a common book, it’s God breathing His will through it, that is where we have the word “inspired”.
All the truthfulness of Christianity resides on the authority of the Scriptures.
Archeologists, historians, all agree on that. Few people doubt Plato’s writing of “The Republic.” It’s a classic, written by Plato around 380 B.C. The earliest copies we have of it are dated 900 A.D., which is a 1,300 year time lag from when he wrote it. There are only seven copies in existence
Caesar’s “Gallic Wars” were written around 100-44 B.C. The copies we have today are dated 1,000 years after he wrote it. We have ten copies.
Caesar’s “Gallic Wars” were written around 100-44 B.C. The copies we have today are dated 1,000 years after he wrote it. We have ten copies.
When it comes to the New Testament, written between 50-100 A.D, there are more than 5,000 copies. All are within 50-225 years of their original writing. Further, when it came to Scripture, scribes (monks) were meticulous in their copying of original manuscripts. They checked and rechecked their work, to make sure it perfectly matched. What the New Testament writers originally wrote is preserved better than any other ancient manuscript. We can be more certain of what we read about Jesus’ life and words, than we are certain of the writings of Caesar, Plato, Aristotle and Homer.
Because the Bible is the only book that contains the authority of being God’s Word, it does NOT intend to answer all the questions, in fact the Bible itself is very clear on that.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
and also:
29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
The Bible has a purpose, and it is not to satisfy selfish desires and questions of men.
The Bible is not a book for our personal pleasure or preferences, it is the Word of God, eternal, inerrant and with complete authority to be considered His guide for our daily living.
Archeologists, historians, all agree on that.
2. ITS TRUTH
2. ITS TRUTH
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
PROPHECIES FULFILLED - in detail!:
PROPHECIES FULFILLED - in detail!:
An example of this would be the prophecy of King Cyrus (; ). The prophet Isaiah, writing about 700 b.c., predicts Cyrus by name as the king who will say to Jerusalem that it shall be built and that the temple foundation shall be laid.
At the time of Isaiah’s writing, the city of Jerusalem was fully built and the entire temple was standing. Not until more than 100 years later would the city and temple be destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar in 586 b.c.
After Jerusalem was taken by the Babylonians, it was conquered by the Persians in about 539 b.c. Shortly after that, a Persian king named Cyrus gave the decree to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. This was around 160 years after the prophecy of Isaiah!
Thus Isaiah predicted that a man named Cyrus, who would not be born for about 100 years, would give the command to rebuild the temple which was still standing in Isaiah’s day and would not be destroyed for more than 100 years. This prophecy is truly amazing, but it is not isolated.
There are, in fact, literally hundreds of prophecies which predict future events. The idea that the fulfillment of the predictions is a result of coincidence or chance is absurd, in light of the evidence. God has given sufficient evidence of His existence and of the divine inspiration of the Scriptures by means of fulfilled prophecy.
Besides that, several other prophecies about the Jesus, the Messiah…
Micah - “will be born in Bethlehem”;
Oseah - “From Egypt called my son” ;
Isaiah - “will live by the sea in Naftali and Zebulom”;
Zacariah - “will enter in Jerusalem on a donkey”.
There are, in fact, literally hundreds of prophecies which predict future events. The idea that the fulfillment of the predictions is a result of coincidence or chance is absurd, in light of the evidence. God has given sufficient evidence of His existence and of the divine inspiration of the Scriptures by means of fulfilled prophecy.
INERRANT TRUTH
20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.
This verse destroys the argument that “paper accepts everything”… God doesn’t make mistakes, neither His Word.
20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,
This verse destroys the argument that “paper accepts everything”...
All we need is in the Word of God, not more, not less, and only truth is the content of the Word of God.
ETERNAL TRUTH
89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.
35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
Real Christians will obey and live by the Word of God, because by it, it’s the only way to know the will of God and walk in holiness.
3. ITS LIFE
3. ITS LIFE
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
We don’t read it only, it reads us!
Comfort, peace and happiness for those who walk according to the Word of God.
6 “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
The reason many people do not understand the Bible is that the Holy Spirit inspired it, and the Holy Spirit is the only one who can make it alive for you.
JESUS AND THE BIBLE
JESUS AND THE BIBLE
1. Jesus knew the Scriptures thoroughly, even to words and verb tenses. He obviously had either memorized vast portions or knew it instinctively: John 7:15.1
12 years - He already discussed with the doctors of the law.
30 years - Being tempted, He quoted the Scriptures and drove the devil away,
In Revelation, He keeps saying “if you have ears, hear what the Spirit has to say...”
2. He believed every word of Scripture. All the prophecies concerning Himself were fulfilled, and He believed beforehand they would be.
3. He believed the OT was historical fact. This is very clear, even though from the Creation (cf. and ) onward, much of what He believed has long been under fire by critics, as being mere fiction. Here are some examples of historical facts:
- Abel was a real individual;
- Noah and the Flood ();
- Abraham;
; ()- Sodom and Gomorrah;
- Lot (and wife!);
- Isaac and Jacob ();
, , - Manna;
- Serpent;
- Jonah (v. 42-Sheba);
- Daniel and Isaiah.
FINAL APPLICATIONS
FINAL APPLICATIONS
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
Caesar’s “Gallic Wars” were written around 100-44 B.C. The copies we have today are dated 1,000 years after he wrote it. We have ten copies.
1. O meu povo perece por falta de conhecimento
O meu povo perece por falta de conhecimento
Hilkiah and the “Book of the Law” - all the spiritual reforms in Israel and Judah passed through the return to the Word of God. When king Josiah reigned, the high priest found the Bible lost in the house of the Lord!!
8 Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it.
2 . Martin Luther changed the world in the 14th century because of the Word of God, when the Emperor Charles V asked him on April 18, 1521 if he would deny the Scriptures or be burned, he said:
“My conscience is captive to the Word of God. Here I stand.” Well, he was not burned and the Word of God is still alive!
When it comes to the New Testament, written between 50-100 A.D, there are more than 5,000 copies. All are within 50-225 years of their original writing. Further, when it came to Scripture, scribes (monks) were meticulous in their copying of original manuscripts. They checked and rechecked their work, to make sure it perfectly matched. What the New Testament writers originally wrote is preserved better than any other ancient manuscript. We can be more certain of what we read about Jesus’ life and words, than we are certain of the writings of Caesar, Plato, Artistotle and Homer.
3. Churches today became place for entertaining, and words like sin, repentance, hell, are not part of the vocabulary anymore.
4. Unchained Church will always be a congregation of Bereans, we will not “handle” (greek as in a commercial transaction) the Word of God, as so many do it, but to live humbly by it, obeying the Lord and carefully studying the Holy Scriptures.
2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
5. Real committed Christians should examine the Word of God daily.
11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.
1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
Psalm 1
6. The Word of God will ALWAYS fulfill its mission
35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.
10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
7. Do you want to understand the real concept of prosperity? Do you want to be happy?
This is the answer:
Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
LET’S PRAY.
LET’S PRAY.