Searching for Truth

Searching for Truth By Pastor DJ for Sunday 10/25/20 Translated by Pastor Adriana INTRODUCTION: Good morning church!!! For those who were able to join us last week, we talked about seeking God. To recap: We used two passages from the book of Matthew and looked at a Bible-Account in Luke. The point was that seeking God needs to be the ultimate calling and business of our lives. One of the last things I mentioned was a facebook post about churches who create an environment where people only encounter God when they are at church and who have no idea how to search for, and find the truth of God's Word on their own. Then this week, I was tagged in a post about the afterlife. There was a sincere hunger for the answers from the Bible and not simply the speculation of others. This encouraged me to do something a little different today. Today, we are going to look at scripture, and we are going to discuss some simple steps to search for, and find, the truth of God's Word. - Welcome to Redemption University. :D SERMON: Join me in the book of Jeremiah, chapter 29: verse 13 as we read God's promise to His people, and to us... NKJV: And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. RVR1960: y me buscaréis y me hallaréis, porque me buscaréis de todo vuestro corazón. We serve an amazing, and loving, God who allows us to get to know Him as much as we want. Does that make sense? You can seek Him, and find Him - and in finding Him, you realize there is so much more to seek IN Him! God's ultimate purpose for you and me is not that we would fill a church, listen to a guy talk, and go about our miserable lives. His purpose is that we would enjoy Him and His glory the way Adam and Eve did before their sin. There is fulfillment and beauty in answering life's many questions in the Bible - through the Holy Spirit. Remember, Jesus said He had to leave so the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) could come. [ref John 16:7]. Let's quickly look at what Jesus also said the Holy Spirit would do. This is John 16:13 John 16:13 New King James Version 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. Juan 16:13 Reina-Valera 1960 13 Pero cuando venga el Espíritu de verdad, él os guiará a toda la verdad; porque no hablará por su propia cuenta, sino que hablará todo lo que oyere, y os hará saber las cosas que habrán de venir. So the Holy Spirit will lead us (or guide us) into all truth. So let's dive into the right ways to search for truth through the Bible: 1. Begin with Prayer a. Humility is where we must start b. We must admit we need the Holy Spirit to guide us and teach us c. We must be willing to align ourselves with the Bible and not try to make the Bible fit our desires. 2. Read the Scripture (Example: Philippians 4:13) a. Read the passage aloud that you are wanting to understand - several times - and consider writing it out. i. 13 I can do all things through [f]Christ who strengthens me. ii. 13 Todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalece. b. This will allow you to set your focus on one point and not on many different places. 3. Gain Broad Context (This is a fairly long section, so stay with me) a. Why is context important? i. God chose to speak through people HIS WORDS - THROUGH MEN. ii. This means there is an author - and an audience. iii. There are also things going on in that time that shape what is being said which might not make sense if we don't understand a little bit about what is happening there. iv. EXAMPLE: I spoke with Brother Steve Couch on the phone a few days ago and he told me he found "another one" and went and got his gun. 1. If that was all I told you, you can choose to decide that "another one" was referring to a duck or coyote or a squirrel. 2. If you knew that Brother Couch lives in the country, that would rule out a squirrel. 3. If you knew that snakes are fairly common in the country in Texas, you would assume a snake first. 4. Your understanding of Texas wildlife and of Brother Couch's location makes all the difference in the world. 5. The same happens when we are reading the Bible. We need to ask some basic questions that any good Study Bible can provide. b. Who is writing the text? [STUDY BIBLE INTRODUCTION] i. (Paul) c. Who is he writing to? i. (The believers in Philippi) d. When was it written? i. (During Paul's imprisonment between AD 60 and 62) e. Why was it written? i. (Paul wrote this letter in response to a gift sent to him while he was in prison. ii. He thanked them and also took time to encourage them in the faith and address some issues that was brought to his attention.) f. What is the Big Picture of the whole book/letter? i. The Standard Lesson Study Bible (which is KJV in translation) had 4 main points that the letter addresses: 1. Proclaim Christ 2. Imitate Christ 3. Trust Christ 4. Rejoice in Christ ii. The David Jeremiah Study Bible (NKJV) points out the history a bit that Paul had with those in Philippi. 1. He points out in Act when Paul, and his team, were eventually sent to Macedonia, that Philippi was the city they went to. The first major Greek city. 2. The Jews there had no temple so they worshipped God by the fresh water river. 3. That is where Paul met Lydia. She believed in God but did not know about Jesus. 4. She was one of the first to accept Jesus and opened her home to be the first church at Philippi. iii. The Tony Evans Study Bible (Christian Standard Bible) breaks down the purpose of the letter in three paragraphs that outline numerous focuses. Many which mirror those from the other Study Bibles. iv. Don't get lost here!!! 1. It is easy to get into the introduction and get lost in the beauty of the entire book of the Bible, and forget that we are looking to frame the correct context around the scripture we want to understand. 4. Gain Specific Context a. Now we want to look closer at that portion of scripture and get a better understanding of what Paul is saying in this part of his letter. b. To do this, read the verses before and after to understand the overall idea of what he is saying. c. Let's do that together using the NIV and NVI so our younger hearers can understand better [verse for verse] Philippians 4:10-14: i. 10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 10 Me alegro muchísimo en el Señor de que al fin hayan vuelto a interesarse en mí. Claro está que tenían interés, solo que no habían tenido la oportunidad de demostrarlo. 1. >>Remember that we learned Paul was in jail and the people he ministered to in Philippi. 2. Notice how much more this verse matters that Paul is thanking them for remembering him in jail and sending him provisions. 3. Next verse... ii. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 11 No digo esto porque esté necesitado, pues he aprendido a estar satisfecho en cualquier situación en que me encuentre. 1. >> This is Paul's "mentor moment". It is where he stops and explains that his experiences have brought him to a place to be content, no matter what the circumstances are. 2. Next verse... iii. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 12 Sé lo que es vivir en la pobreza, y lo que es vivir en la abundancia. He aprendido a vivir en todas y cada una de las circunstancias, tanto a quedar saciado como a pasar hambre, a tener de sobra como a sufrir escasez. 1. Paul is explaining what he calls the secret of being content which he reveals in the next verse iv. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 13 Todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalece. 1. Wow!!! Did you see it? Paul is not talking about picking up houses or anything like that. 2. Paul is saying that the secret to contentment is realizing that IN CHRIST, I can do all things - as it is IN HIM that I have the strength to do it. v. 14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 14 Sin embargo, han hecho bien en participar conmigo en mi angustia. 1. Paul reassures them that though his needs are always met by the ONE who gives him strength, that it was good of them to take part in His suffering for Jesus, while in prison. 5. Pray for Application a. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal how this applies to you b. This is where your situation opens endless possibilities to how the Holy Spirit will speak to you. c. FOR EXAMPLE: i. If you are having a hard time being content with what you have and you are constantly wishing you had something else 1. The Holy Spirit may reveal how you can be like Paul in finding your contentment in Jesus. ii. If you feel like you are in a hard place (like Paul in jail) 1. The Holy Spirit may show you that even when other people help you out, your focus needs to still be on Jesus as the source of your needs. iii. Perhaps you know someone who needs to be encouraged by this 1. The Holy Spirit may bring them to your mind and you may be the blessing to them, that the church in Philippi was to Paul 2. Or perhaps, rather than just reciting Phil 4:13 to them, you take the time to explain what was going on, and what the Holy Spirit taught you through the passage. CLOSING: With a good study Bible, it does not take very long to search out the truth of the Bible. We are so blessed that we have so many amazing resources to learn and grow. Some things to remember as we close: 1. Nothing can replace your relationship with Jesus, and the Holy Spirit leading you into truth a. All the books in the world cannot imitate or replace Jesus. b. The whole point of all these things, is to seek God more, and find the truth in His Word. c. We live in a time where people are perverting the Bible for their own purposes. d. Recently I heard a politician, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez use the Bible to advance her own liberal agenda while accusing others of the same. e. We need to search out Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life [John 14:6] 2. Google can help find passages, but nothing replaces your Bible. a. I often use Google to remember where a passage is b. Then, I look the passage up and read it for myself c. We cannot rely on other people's thoughts of God's Word, we need to read it for ourself. 3. Your Pastor cannot save you - Nor can they seek God and truth on your behalf. a. The whole point is to draw near to God, to seek Him and find Him and seek Him all the more. b. He will give you as much of Himself as you are willing to receive. 4. Chose not to be Spiritually Ignorant [edited for little Isaiah] a. There are so many Christians falling for so many tricks and traps because they do not know their Bible. b. They do not read their Bible c. They do not seek to understand their Bible d. We have all the resources to do what Pastors and Leaders of old wished they could do and understand. e. Let us Study to show ourselves approved to God - A workman and work woman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. [2 Tim 2:15] i. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 15 Procura con diligencia presentarte a Dios aprobado, como obrero que no tiene de qué avergonzarse, que usa bien la palabra de verdad. Let's Pray!