Doctrinal Statement: Bible
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Speak, O Lord!
Speak, O Lord!
Opening Illustration:
Intro
Keith and Kristen Getty along with Stuart Townend wrote and composed the song we just heard.... “Speak, O Lord”. — When asked for the story behind the song, this is what they said...
“One of Christianity's distinctives is that we worship a God who has spoken - who is not silent. From God the Father, speaking the world into creation, to speaking through His Living word in Christ, to speaking by His Spirit through the written word.
Throughout history the word of God has transformed the most proud leaders and the most hopeless victims, the greatest civilisations and the remotest of villages, in every age to every corner of the world - so incredible is its power.
Often today however the preaching of the word has been diminished in value – from its prominence in a service to its passion, but most of all in our own expectation each time we sit down and ask God to speak to us.
In Isaiah the people were performing many acts in the name of God and the Lord said "This is the one to whom I will turn my face – he who is humble and contrite and trembles at my word".
It is our prayer that through the power of the spirit, this hymn will prepare people to humbly listen to the Bible being taught and respond to the huge consequences it has on their lives.”
Intro:
In our hands we have the privilege of holding the Bible. God’s Word.... 1 book which actually includes … 66 Books, with 1 divine author… but with around 40 human writers... written over a period of about 1600 years… Oh yeah… and it is all 1 message… one story.... about God and how He has revealed Himself to mankind.
Verbally and Plenary inspired…
Here at Wellspring, we believe the Bible is true.... and without apology… we study and teach the Bible as God’s perfect, infallible, unchanging, absolute truth.
Read Wellspring statement on the Bible.... (basic statement of faith for membership)
Today we are going to take a small break from our Study in the gospel of John to begin a series on “What we believe”… we are going to break up our study into small chunks over the course of this year. This week we will study the doctrine of the Bible… next week we will look at the doctrine of God (Theology Proper).... and on March 15th we will study the doctrine of Christ (Christology). Then on March 22nd, Lord willing, we will go back to our study through the Gospel of John.
… Then in the end of May, we’ll plan on pausing our study through John and take 3 weeks to study through the doctrines of the Holy Spirit, Man, and Salvation. Then, in the Fall we’ll take a few more weeks and finish up the series on “What we believe”. … These topics are being taken directly out of our church constitution and statement of faith. (share the purpose…)
As we look at the what we believe about the Bible this week, let’s turn our attention to 2 Timothy chapter 3, where Paul shares several truths about God’s Word with Timothy (the young pastor of the church at Ephesus).
Context of — Throughout Paul’s 2nd letter to Timothy, he is constantly sharing insight about how Timothy can thrive in the ministry that Paul has left to him and that God has called him to.
Timothy has been left behind in Ephesus to shepherd the local church in that city. Paul has encouraged Timothy to remember the fact that God had called him to the ministry and gifted him to succeed in the ministry.... as long as Timothy is dependent on God and His grace.
Paul reminds Timothy about this great treasure (truth of God’s Word… the Gospel) that he has recieved from the apostles and charges him with the heavy responsibility of equipping others for the work of the ministry… so that they can go on to train others also.
When Paul comes to chapter 3, he warns Timothy about those who will rebel against God as well as the the trials persecutions that he will face as a follower of Christ.
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Then in verse 12...
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:12
As Paul brings chapter 3 of this letter to a close, in verses 14 - 15 he shifts Timothy’s attention away from those who would rebel against God and away from the persecutions and trials that Timothy may face.... and challenges Timothy to be dedicated to the “sacred writings” that he has been taught.... the sacred writings are actually the very thing that are able to make men wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
As Paul challenges Timothy to remember his upbringing… and to remember the truths of the sacred writings… the truth of Scripture… he further reinforces the reliability, sufficiency, and divine origins of the Word of God.
As we look at verses 16 and 17, Paul will answer 3 questions related to God’s Word for Timothy.... as well as for us. Scripture... (1) What are its origins? (2) What is it good for? and (3) Why has God communicated through the text of Scripture?
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
As we consider God’s Word… the Scriptures… let’s first see how God answers the question… What are its origins?
I. What are its origins? (16a)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16
a. Scripture is God breathed....
The original word used here is actually 2 words put together into one compound word “God and Breath (it is the root word that gives us our word “pneumatic”)
With an accurate understanding the word… we can accurately translate this phrase as “All Scripture is God breathed”… or breathed out by God...
Several reliable Bible translations have chosen to use the word “inspired”… which expresses a a very similar idea of ‘breathing life into something’.
This word picture involving breath draws a pretty significant meaning from the creation account in Genesis.
In the beginning, God created the first human, Adam, from the dust of the ground (), but he would have been nothing more than a pile of dirt if the Lord had not done something miraculous… something He chose to do only for humanity.
He breathed life into the man, and he became a “living being/ soul”… that is, having both body and soul.
… being breathed by God.... the truth of God’s character transfers to His Word.... (Inerrant, Infallible, Eternal, Preserved)
— Paul probably intended to emphasize that the Scripture that is “able to make you wise for salvation” is in its totality God-breathed (reflecting the creative activity of God), is of divine origin (Fee).
The belief that Scripture was “breathed into by God” perfectly expresses the view of the first-century Jews about the Old Testament writings.
The early church believed exactly the same thing. As Peter declared in 2 Peter 1:20-21, (we will look at this verse later…)
knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
The Old Testament Scriptures were God’s breath... God’s Words.
We are also shown that the early church considered the NT writings (the Gospels and epistles) as God-breathed Scripture.
In ,
Paul uses the same word for Scripture (graphe) that he uses here in 3:16 to refer to quotations from both the OT () and the NT ().
For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
Paul uses the same word for Scripture (graphe) throughout his writings that he uses here to refer to quotations from both the OT () and the NT ().
In a similar way, Peter includes Paul’s writings in the category of Scripture (graphe): “His (Paul’s) letters contain things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures” ()
That’s not all… add to this information that Paul’s insistence that his own writings be read (), exchanged and shared (), and obeyed (; ), and his claim that the very words of his message were “words taught by the Spirit” ().
as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
It is evident that Paul regarded his own writings as Scripture.
So, when the text says, “All Scripture is God-breathed,” Paul is including the apostolic writings as well as all of the OT Scriptures.
This was certainly the belief that the early church held to… and the truth that many would eventually for die for.
One writer pointed out that.... “Paul probably intended to emphasize that the same Scripture that is “able to make you wise for salvation” in vs. 15… is in its totality God-breathed (reflecting the creative activity of God), and is of divine origin” (Fee).
If Scripture is breathed by God (we are told it is), then that concept also expresses the truth that .... the reliability, inerrancy, infallibility, and eternality of God’s Word… is directly rooted in God’s character.
Why is God’s word reliable, without error, and trustworthy?
Because God is all of those things and more!
(If we had the time we could connect each those characteristics God and show how they are also attributed to Scripture. But, that will have to be for another study.)
So, we know that God’s Word… the Scriptures… OT and NT are breathed out by God....
Let’s take just a moment and talk about how they were transmitted to us. gives us one of the most concise explanations of how God’s Words were put into writing.
b. Men moved by the Holy Spirit.... (2 Peter 1:21)
OT… and NT (show where the NT writers referred to each others writings as Scripture)
How did we receive it? (16a)
How did we receive it?
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
God Breathed.....
Here in verses 20-21 Peter paints the picture of how God superintended the writing of Scripture. God could have just created a book and dropped it from heaven.... but He didn’t.
God could have the writers of Scripture go into some kind of zombie like trance and write whatever he wanted them to write.... But He didn’t.
No, God chose to use about 40 different authors over a period around 1600 years to communicate His written Word.
So, How did God communicate the information? Through the Holy Spirit. God used the human personalities of each individual author, but superintended the work so that the information… the truth was exactly how He wanted it.
As Peter said in verse 20, “no prophecy of Scripture was ever produced by the will of man...”
No human dreamed up any of the content.... any of the revealed truth that is recorded within the 66 books of this Bible.
No, in verse 21 Peter says that men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Peter is a fisherman… and he is using a word picture from his context that perfectly describes the superintending of the Holy Spirit. Peter uses the illustration of a sail boat…
(describe how the picture of a sail boat describes the truth revealed in ).
Holy Spirit moved men… () — preserved
As we turn our attention back to … let’s remember that for Timothy, this amazing understanding that Scripture is breathed out by God… it is inspired... is meant to help him to be able to continue on in the ministry.
After explaining the origins of Scripture… Paul further encourages and equips Timothy by describing the usefulness and sufficiency of Scripture.... as he answers the question… “What is it good for?”
For Timothy, this amazing view of Scripture is meant to help him to be able to continue on in the ministry. Paul further encourages and equips Timothy by describing the usefulness and sufficiency of Scripture.... as he answers the question… “What is it good for?”
II. What is it good for? (16b)
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
The first two things Paul says that Scripture is profitable for… is useful for… is teaching and reproof/ rebuke. These are areas of life that have to do with Doctrine.
a. Doctrine: Teaching & Reproof/Rebuking
Teaching:
The word “teaching” here does not refer to the process of any specific method… but to the content being taught. Teaching provides instruction.
In the context of this verse… Paul is talking about divine instruction or doctrine that is to be communicated.
Paul uses the same word for “teaching” in , when he says… “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
In , Paul uses the same word to describe the “Doctrines of God or Savior”.
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
In other words… “God-breathed Scripture provides for us the comprehensive and complete body of divine truth necessary to live in the way that our heavenly Father desires for us to live.” (Mac)
The wisdom and guidance for fulfilling everything that God commands us to believe, think, say, and do is found in His inerrant, authoritative, comprehensive, and completed Word.
Do you want to reach your full potential as a Christian? As a subject of King Jesus? Then invest time in this book…
Where does one find the truth? Where does one begin the process of learning about God and how to live as a created image bearer of God?
In God’s Word!
Most people who are never taught to read... usually cannot reach their full potential… in a similar way.... people without faithful teaching from the Scriptures fail to develop fully. God’s Word gives us tools for life. (adapted from Swindoll)
All Scripture is “useful for teaching”. That is why the whole of both Testaments must be studied… no just Romans.... not just the narratives in the OT… and not just the Gospels.
Now… what did Paul mean by “reproof/ Rebuke”?
Reproof/ Rebuke: What does it mean?
Paul purposely places teaching and reproof together.
These two truths are linked together because as… “all Scripture” is taught.... there will also be “rebuking/ reproof”.
Together the “teaching” and the “reproof” produce the basis for sound doctrine.
When “all Scripture is taught.... there will also be “rebuking”. Those true to the Scriptures cannot escape this duty. Together the “teaching” and the “rebuking” produce the basis for sound doctrine. The times when the aspects of teaching and rebuking are not done well… are the times when we see the church so often fallen into error....
They both deal with equipping believers with accurate knowledge and understanding of divine truth.
The teaching of divine truth will expose falsehood and sin… wrong beliefs, and ungodly conduct.
Whenever there is a truth established.... in this case… truth from God… there will be times when, if the truth is not heeded… that reproof will need to take place.
We see this numerous times in the OT… God reveals truth to the Israelites.... God give truth (many times in the form of a command to be followed).... and when His truth is not responded to appropriately.... there is eventually a rebuke… a reproof.
The times when both teaching and reproof are not done well within the body.... in the church… are the times when we see the church so often fall into error....
A reproof / rebuke convinces us to behave and even think differently … A rebuke can reveal areas of our lives that others may not see or that we prefer to ignore.
How many of us like to be rebuked? Not many! It’s not fun.... but it is necessary if we are going to grow as Christians. And… it is necessary if we are to truly embrace and apply the truths of God’s Word… because God’s word is profitable… it is useful for teaching and reproof.
In , Paul gives a command to the believers in Thessalonica… He says… as you wait… anticipating the coming of the Lord… “… encourage one another and build one another up...”
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
The commands to encourage one another and build one another up.... include the truth of both instruction and reproof.
The commands to encourage one another and build one another up.... include the truth of both instruction and reproof.
How do we encourage people? (Good to see you… Glad you are here… What is God teaching you? How can I pray for you?, etc…) But, we need to also remember that as part of the body of Christ… sometimes encouraging and building up a brother or sister in Christ means that we have to share the truth of God’s Word with them and confront the sinful issue in their lives.
Paul us telling us… as the Word of God is taught… the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to reveal the truth of sin and foolishness within us. Then… it is our responsibility to respond to that truth.
Paul shares with Timothy that the Word of God.... the Scriptures… they have not only been breathed out from the mouth of God… but they are also useful/ profitable.... for Doctrine (teaching and reproof).... and next Paul will share that the Scriptures are equally as profitable for Conduct: Correction and training in righteousness)
b. Conduct: Correction & Training in righteousness (16b)
Training in righteousness… (wise unto salvation…)
Just like Teaching and Reproof are coupled together in order to establish proper doctrine....
Correction and training are paired together in order to establish proper conduct.
The concept of correction builds on the truth of reproof. A reproof can expose the areas of our lives that need to be changed… areas where we need to think or act different…
The word “correction” comes fro the root word meaning “straight”. God’s Word is useful in a practical way. Those who accept its reproof will begin to find their lives straightening out. Then they will be ready for the Word’s p
Correction, builds on that by meaning...“restoration” or “reformation”… and comes from the root word meaning “straight”.
— builds upon reproof. It means “restoration” or “reformation”. Whereas reproof reveals our sinfulness or foolishness, correction shows us how to straighten out what we’re doing wrong.
Reproof reveals our sinfulness or foolishness… Correction shows us how to straighten out what we’re doing wrong.
The word “correction” comes fro the root word meaning “straight”.
Back in , Paul instructs Timothy in how he is to live as a slave of the Lord… a subject of King Jesus… as he minsters the Word to those who do not yet believe and to those who are deceived....Paul says, “the Lord’s servant (slave) must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil after being captured by him to do his will.”
God’s Word is not just theoretical… its useful in a practical way. The instruction of God’s Word leads to the correction by God’s Word… A correction that Paul says is able to lead someone to repentance and to a knowledge of the truth!
And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
God’s Word is not just theoretical… its useful in a practical way.
Those who accept the teaching, reproof and correction of God’s word will begin to find their lives straightening out.
God’s Word, rightly applied to life will result in a straightening out…
So far the elements in Paul’s list here in verse 16 are focused on the negative…
Teaching is aimed at correcting error with right doctrine…
Reproof is aimed at exposing the areas of our lives where we need to change, conform, and submit to God’s Word…
Correction is aimed at realization that we have a need for godly change… and applying the truth of God to life in a way that “straightens us out”.
Now, having understood Paul’s previous encouragment… we come to the end of Paul’s list in verse 16, and are ready for the Word’s positive effect of “training in righteousness”.
Then they will be ready for the Word’s positive effect of “training in righteousness”.
Training in righteousness:
As the process of constructing a godly life based onGod’s word continues, the truth of training takes the soul-transforming process even further....
The righteousness that has come to the believer by faith is actualized/ practicalized by the training of God’s Word.
As the process of constructing a godly life based onGod’s word continues, the truth of training takes the soul-transforming process even further....
The root word is based on the idea of guiding a child to adulthood.
An instructor cannot teach merely by correction, pointing out where the student has gone wrong. That’s like trying to drive by looking in the rearview mirror.
Think about this list this way… Instruction gives us God’s standard… Reproof exposes our need to change… Correction gives us the pathway to be straightened out.... and Training shows the correct way to behave before mistakes are made.
Training shows the correct way to behave before mistakes are made.
In order to teach us how to live righteously… Scripture trains us to change our behavior so that it matches God’s standard… and our new, righteous identity as born again believers (; ; 4:34; ).
It is worth pointing out here that Scripture in and of itself does not give us righteousness. There’s nothing magical about the book or the printing or even the actual words themselves. The Bible is not a good-luck charm. You can’t purify something by placing a Bible on it. The words can’t be changed like a spell to make things happen. (folk Islam/ animism - chalk board)
Scripture trains us to align our behavior so that it matches our new, righteous identity (; ; 4:34; ). Note that Scripture does not give us righteousness. There’s nothing magical about the book or the printing or even the words themselves. The Bible is not a good-luck charm. You can’t purify something by placing a Bible on it. The words can’t be changed like a spell to make things happen. God Himself purifies souls.
While God greatly uses His inspired… God-breathed Word.... God Himself is the One who purifies souls.
While God greatly uses His inspired… God-breathed Word.... God Himself is the One who purifies souls.
God Himself purifies souls.
In order for this book to have an impact on our lives… We have to take the truths of this Book.... and put them into action in our lives… begging God to purify our souls and change us into who He wants us to be.
What does Paul say that the Bible… the Scriptures are good for?.... teaching… reproof… correction… training...
Basically, Paul is teaching us that The God-breathed Word is “useful” for all of life, all doctrine and all duty, all creed and all conduct… everything!
Paul has shared with us the origins of Scripture… and he has explained what Scripture is good for… now in verse 17, He will share with us why God has revealed Himself through His Word.... Why the text of Scripture???
III. Why has God revealed Himself (through His Word)? (17) — Why the text of Scripture?
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
As we come to verse 17, we see that Paul is not quite finished… He adds a purpose or result clause to vs. 16… “So the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (Fee)
As we come to verse 17, we see that Paul is not quite finished… He adds a purpose or result clause to vs. 16… “So the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (Fee)
a. Complete Man of God
The ESV translates this word as “Complete”… other translations may say “adequate”.... in todays world, we could possibly better translate the word as “qualified”.
Today we would call the right person for the job “qualified” or “proficient”. He or she has the right training and expertise to master the tasks we hope to see accomplished.
Today we would call the right person for the job “qualified” or “proficient”. He or she has the right training and expertise to master the tasks we hope to see accomplished.
That is kind of the idea Paul is getting at here.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness...” so that… or in order that… the man of God may be qualified… or proficient in fulfilling the role of a subject of King Jesus… that those who respond in faith to Christ can be qualified… have the right training and expertise to master what it means to be a Christ-follower… a born again believer!
As Paul continues, he reveals that God does not only want us to be proficient… complete as Christians… he wants us to be equipped for every good work.
b. Equipped for every good work
\
—Paul is not quite finished…
“Equipped” is a verb form of the adjective rendered “complete”, “adequate”, or “able to meet all the demands”. (It is a passive participle… and could be translated as “an equipped one”. )
The grammar of this phrase strongly suggests that the equipping done is not being done by human effort... but through divine activity in a person’s life... (such a passive is called a “divine passive”).
God intends for us to be supernaturally equipped to accomplish every kind of good work. Paul earlier reminded Timothy of this is 2:21.
Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.
One of the encouraging aspects of this truth is that.... it is not by our own power or strength that we are equipped. It is by God’s power.... through God’s strength… and according to God’s will.... as we respond in faith to His Word and live according to it.
Paul is encouraging Timothy that.... God’s inspired Word is useful for all of these things.... so that… for the purpose of.... providing everything that is needed so that the person who responds in faith to Christ.... believes God’s Word.... and lives according to God’s Word.... may be equipped by God.... to do all the things that God has called and enabled Him to do.
As Timothy reflects on the Scriptures as the very breath of God… and that they are useful for everything … equipping him for ministry… Timothy would be able to continue to stand for the Gospel.
Today we would call the right person for the job “qualified” or “proficient”. He or she has the right training and expertise to master the tasks we hope to see accomplished.
By continually nurturing his own life in the Scriptures ..., Timothy will be thoroughly equipped (“able to meet all demands” BDAG) for every good work, which here means not only Christian behavior but the ministry of the gospel as well… (and especially points forward to the 4:1-5”) (Fee)
Application/ Conclusion:
As we study the doctrine of the Bible… as we look at the inspiration of Scripture… we will all eventually come to place where we have to decide if we will believe it or not.
Either all Scripture is God-breathed… or its not. Either it is useful… or its not. It either equips… or it doesn’t.
God’s Word is under attack.... truth itself is under attack in our worlds today…
As we leave today.... I hope that you take at least this truth home with you...
(Main Idea) God’s Word is the inspired, infallible, timeless revelation of Himself that has been preserved and passed down to mankind. … and It is useful for all things related to life and godliness.
Is it always easy to stand for God’s Word? I need to read you the warning label.... (surgeon general’s warning)
As we take a stand for the truth of God’s Word we need to be prepared for what will come.
When we are attempting to be faithful to God’s Word.... Satan and the world will try to stop it....
(share about when I would teach in Liberia in town and in the bush.... roof came off… malaria… snakes.... interpersonal relationships.... lots of distractions… )
We should not be shocked when we face opposition as we are faithful to the Word of God…
So… the Bible is: God’s inspired, infallible, timeless revelation of Himself that has been preserved and passed down to mankind. … and It is useful for all things related to life and godliness.
How are we to respond?
Believe it!-------------- Submit to it! --------------- Live it! ---------------------- Pass it!
In a moment we are going to sing the song you heard sung earlier int he service… “Speak, O Lord”.
As you respond to God’s Word today.... As you ask God to speak to you through His Word daily....
What attitude will you have?
Do you have an attitude of “ I know it already, I don’t need any more of it, and I can already do it just fine by myself?”
Friend, I want to warn you that, if you have those thoughts… you are in a dangerous place.
Or… do you approach God’s Word with an attitude of openness, desiring God to instruct, reproof, correct, and train you?
Let’s not be a church that merely claims to believe scriptural truth. Let’s long to be a local body of Christ that is dedicated to living scriptural truth!
Will you have an attitude of openness, desiring God to instruct, reproof, correct, and train you?
— We want believers who are trained and qualified to live obediently, because.... it takes that to transform their parts of the world with good deeds.
As we approach God’s Word… I hope we will echo the words of Samuel ().... who when presented with the revelation of God.... said… “Speak Lord.. for your servant hears.”
Let’s pray:
— Thank you that you have revealed yourself to us!
— Help us not have a casual relationship with Scripture...
Believe it!-------------- Submit to it! --------------- Live it! ---------------------- Pass it!
— Help us to love your instruction, listen to reproofs, lean of correction, and submit to being trained in righteousness…
— Help us to glorify you with your thoughts, our actions, and every area of our lives…
— Thank you that you have revealed
— Help us to finish well as believers… Give us the priority in our lives to be “equipped by you for every good work”.
Connect the main idea/ supporting points to where it fits in the context.... being stated right before Paul exhorts Timothy in 4:1-5...
— How important is finishing well? What priority do you give the call of God to be “equipped for every good work”?
— We want believers who are trained and qualified to live obediently, because.... it takes that to transform their parts of the world with good deeds.