The Message Needed Today
Notes
Transcript
13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Introduction
Introduction
The only way to defeat Satan’s lies is with God’s truth. “Thus saith the Lord!” is the final answer to every question. Evil men and deceivers are going to get worse and worse. They will deceive more and more. Why? Because they are being deceived by Satan! In these last days, there will be more deception and imitation; and the only way a believer will be able to tell the true from the false is by knowing the Word of God.
The Bible is the Word of God, inspired, infallible, without error. That is not a debatable point of theology. It is a fact, plainly revealed, which all Christians rejoice to acknowledge. Those who deny the inerrancy of Holy Scripture are not Christians. They are infidels. The Bible was not written and compiled by the will of man: ‘But holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost’ (2 Peter 1:21).
When blessed of God to the hearts of those who read it and hear it preached, the Bible has a marvelous power to transform the lives of men. It is ‘quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart’ (Heb. 4:12).
As it has power to transform the lives of men, the Bible has power to comfort and encourage the hearts of men. There is no source of comfort for the troubled heart like the Word of God, no source of strength and encouragement for the despondent soul like the promises of Holy Scripture.
That blessed volume is the Word of God.
The Holy Scriptures, being the Word of God, win our reverence, claim our faith and demand our obedience in all things. And ‘these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name’ (John 20:31). The Bible was not written to be a textbook on science, history, morality, or even theology, though, where it speaks of these things, it is infallible.
The Word of God was written to reveal the Lord Jesus Christ and redemption by him.
Sadly, as I’ve already mentioned, the message of Scripture is being grotesquely twisted in our day to match an unholy agenda. Instead of Scripture getting in men and changing them, men are getting into Scripture and changing it. This should not be!
When looking at Christian books, music, commentary, etc. It’s becoming more and more difficult to know who you can trust as so many are falling prey to the voices of the world!
One, well respected, Christian publisher come out last week advertising “Books to read for pride month” - and then tweeted that “Regardless of your doctrinal and ethical convictions, pride month is a good time for listening to LGBTQ+ voices...”
Here’s what their blog post said:
“June is Pride Month, and you’ve probably seen countless businesses touting their rainbow flags, multi-colored logos or raising their support in different ways. Yet, there is still such disunity and unrest on this topic, among people of faith especially. We find ourselves at a time again where we should be willing to listen and seek to understand those in the LGBTQ+ community who are simply fighting to be seen and heard, cared for and loved.”
My friends, we need a message today and that message is not found in the world. That message is not found in politics. That message is only found in the Word of God!
I want to preach a little while this morning on “The Message Needed Today”
With all the confusion in this world, and by the way, confusion is of the Devil. It doesn’t come from God! I jotted down three messages that we desperately need:
A Scriptural Message Is Needed Today
A Scriptural Message Is Needed Today
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
I want to point out that the Bible says, “I charge thee...” It’s a military command—It’s an order, not an option!
Notice with me that there is a day of reckoning - This is why the charge is so important!
The prospect of judgment calls for faithfulness toward God, fearlessness before men and it encourages us to go on for the glory of God!
So, what is this so important charge that the Bible is commanding? It’s to:
1. Preach the Word—(Ill. A Herald declaring the words of a king!) (Ill. Stick to the book!)
2. Be Ready and Urgent—Use every opportunity and be urgent! It’s an urgent message!
3. Reprove—(Conviction)—Sin must be pointed out! (Ill. Not popular, but right)
4. Rebuke—(Warning)—Men need to know sin’s outcome (Ill. Not popular, but right!)
5. Exhort—(Appeal)—Encouragement and pointing out a biblical solution.
6. Long-suffering—(Patience)—People may not respond immediately, but keep preaching.
7. Doctrine—(Feeding)—All real preaching is explanation and application of Bible doctrine. (People need to be taught!)
We desperately need a Scriptural message today...
A Doctrinal Message Is Needed Today
A Doctrinal Message Is Needed Today
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Doctrine matters!
A.C. Gaebelein wrote, “If sound doctrine is given up, the real Gospel of redemption by the blood of the Son of God is denied, worldliness follows.”
We’ve seen this very quote come true time after time after time again in churches all across America.
God’s Word is thoroughly worthy of our trust because it is “the faithful word.”
It is completely reliable.
Notice, he exhorts and convinces by sound doctrine...
Putting great importance on sound doctrinal teaching was a primary characteristic of the infant church.
The new believers “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine” (Acts 2:42).
Scripture teaches us the faithful elder is both a teacher and a defender, a preacher and a physician. Constantly and consistently he takes up the task to comfort and confront, admonish and attack.
To confront and expose false teaching will not make us popular. To expose the false teachings, half gospels, and deceptive messages of a “prosperity theology,” “open theism,” or old-fashioned liberalism now dressed up as a new or generous orthodoxy will not win us the applause of men. Lest we think this too harsh, we must recall what Paul says in:
17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
In the last days, Paul warned, people will give heed to “doctrines of devils” and “will not endure sound doctrine” (1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 4:3) and my how we are seeing that in these last days...
We desperately need a Doctrinal message today...
A Gospel Message Is Needed Today
A Gospel Message Is Needed Today
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
The disciples are told to “preach the Gospel.” They are to go into the world bearing the “good news” of salvation to all who will hear it. The word “Gospel” means “good news”, and that is exactly what the “Gospel” is. The disciples were given a message of “good news” for all people.
What is the message they were to preach? It is clearly articulated by the Apostle Paul in 1 Cor. 15:3–4, “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
We need a gospel message today.
There’s a church up in Chicago right now, going through a 5 week sermons series on “The Gospel According To Dolly Parton” - Yes, you heard that right...
Friends, this world doesn’t need the Gospel according to Dolly Parton, or anyone else for that matter!
This world needs the Gospel of Jesus Christ and shame on you if you preach anything else!
According to Scripture, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is comprised of three essential components...
1. “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures …”—The good news is this: Jesus died for the sins of all those who will believe on Him by faith.
2. “That He was buried …”—The good news is this: After Jesus died, His body was placed in a grave.
3. “That he rose again the third day according to the scriptures”—The good news is this: Jesus Christ arose from the grave in victory and power.
When Jesus died on the cross, He gave His life for His people.
When He died, He cried, “It is finished!” In that great moment, Jesus was declaring that the plan of salvation had been completed and that God was satisfied.
When Jesus rose from the dead three days later, God the Father said “Amen!” If Jesus had been an ordinary man, He would not have come out of that grave. Jesus was no ordinary man! He was God in the flesh.
When He died, an innocent man was claimed by death. Because He had no sin, death was unable to hold Him. It had no claims upon Him, Rom. 6:23. Thus, Jesus was able to walk out of the tomb in victory and power, promising eternal life to all who would believe on His name.
That is the message we have been given to preach. Nothing more, nothing less...
It is the good news that Jesus Christ loved the world so much that He gave His life to redeem sinners, John 3:16.
It is the good news that He has forever defeated the devil and His power, 1 John 3:8.
It is the good news that He rose from the dead to give salvation to all who would believe in Him, Heb. 7:25.
Conclusion
Conclusion
I’ve given you the message we so desperately need in the hour in which we live…The question now is what are you going to do with it?
If you have believed the Gospel message, I challenge you to share it with others.
If you have not believed that message, I challenge you look to Jesus by faith today and be saved!