He Has Principles

We have been talking about different aspects of the Holy Spirit over the last few weeks.

Been trying to provide clever titles that point us into a particular perspective of Him

“He” not “It”

++He is In You

++He Will Move You

++He Determines

++He Has Principles

“He” not “It” - He is a person

He is In You - His presence

He Will Move You - His power

He Determines - He determines the gifts we need and use for the common good

TODAY

He Has Principles - He authored the Word of God, the Bible, like a drivers manual or an instruction book for living

Even in the secular world - this is the “Bible” on this subject or that subject

1 Peter chapter 1: “20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.“

Our Scripture for the message are Paul’s words to Timothy in the last 4 verses of 2 Timothy 3

2 Timothy 3:14–17 NIV

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Stay on Course

Stay on Course - A Framework

verse 14

continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it

Grandmother Lois; Mother Eunice earlier in chapter 1

highway system (maps, lines, signs, guard-rails, other markings)

NIST cyber-security framework - National Institute of Standards and Technology - five Functions: Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover.

Need a life mission plan - a framework - seminar/training - wrote a personal missions statement

My life mission is to enhance the lives of those around me in my family, business, church, and community using the principles in the Bible and allowing God’s Spirit to guide my thoughts and words each day.

It is the Bible that provides the framework of principles. The Holy Spirit is more than capable of guiding us since he, being God, wrote them. It fits in the framework of my relationships and my daily activities. Like Paul’s words to Timothy - he helps me to stay on course and correct when necesary

Wise Through Faith

Wise Through Faith - in Christ Jesus

verse 15

Salvation comes through Jesus - we are wise to understand that - Scripture points us to the gospel of Jesus - the Holy Spirit points us to the Good News of the gospel

Like Timothy - I heard from infancy - I was wise at 7 years old to accept Jesus into my heart and life

Scripture is Useful

Scripture is Useful - Right Position with God

verse 16

for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training - all about righteousness

being in the right position with God

finding ourselves in His will and His plan for our life

Thoroughly Equipped

Thoroughly Equipped - God’s Servant

verse 17

How are we thoroughly equipped? by the Holy Spirit!!

His person - the 3rd person - just like Jesus the Son - God the Father - He is God!

His indwelling - takes residence in our heart

His empowerment as moves us along in life

His gifts that he determines for the common good

His Principles Throughout Scripture and His activity in our life - the servant of God is EQUIPPED for every good work

All the Day Long

All the Day Long - Our Framework

My 60th Birthday today - some humorous cards already - talking about me being “old”

Reflecting on numbers today:

3/4 of my parents life

1/4 spent with Sparta

1/2 with Cheri - double-dated in HS - not with each other

2/3 as a father

1/4 as a grandfather - used crawl up in my lap - “go home with you”; another driving “going to Grandpa’s”

1/6 at the same company M-F

Wickline 100th anniversary - Grandma first child of 11; Mom first grandchild; I’m the first great-grandchild; our oldest son the first great-great; we believe his first child is the first great-great-great - over the 100 year span

When God sent Jesus - he wasn’t just thinking of the Wickline clan from 1920-2020 - he was thinking of the whole world while individually thinking about each of us - how do I know - “whoever” in John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

I am a whoever - he was thinking of me - he was thinking of you

I just want to sing - How Great Thou Art; It Is Well, Amazing Grace, Blessed Assurance

God’s written Word inspired by the Holy Spirit is our framework for living “all the day long”