Sermon Tone Analysis

God knows what is best for us.

There are times when we need sunshine, there are times when we benefit by the storm.

- Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones

Many of us would say we agree with this statement, especially when we are in the sunshine.

But when we are in the storm, we don’t know what to believe.

And in our culture today there is no shortage of Christian’s who are in despair, discouraged, and just downright angry.

Many are in misery.

And the formula for a life of misery… the dangling leg.

Trust in the Lord, but not really all the way.

When Jeanine and I got our motorcycle licenses.

There was one thing when we were in the learn to ride class, there was no shortage of those who started riding the motor cycle with their legs dangling and hovering over the street.

This is a big no no.

Hit something and it tears your leg off.

But there are some things where have to trust fully.

What about airplanes?

You can’t dangle your leg over the side just in case it crashes.

This is the way it is with Christianity.

We cannot only be halfway… To believe in some but not all the truth is the recipe for Christian misery.

To believe at times but not all the time is the recipe for Christian misery.

Or to believe in what God promises, but not really is the recipe for Christian misery.

Not being able to understand the difference between what we believe and what we want to believe is the recipe for Christian misery.

To believe in some of what the Bible says but not all is the recipe for Christain misery.

Don’t believe in all of scripture we will be dead and drained, foolish, in despair, ignorant in living, fleeting, unfair, worthless, bitter, and suffering of great loss.

The recipe of Christian misery.

The only way for Christian joy in all circumstances in life is to be all-in.

No halfway.

Its gotta be all in.

Can we be in all in when it comes to the scriptures?

For sure.

The grass withers the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.

Is it really God’s Word?

Our Greatest Weakness

The Greatest Gift

The first thing we will look at today are some of the most common accusations that cause many to wonder if the Bible really is the Word of God.

Second, this compounds the problem when we discover that it only fuels our greatest weakness.

Finally, we can rejoice today because our greatest problem and our greatest problem are extinguished because of the greatest gift ever given.

Thesis: Though sin and the pattern of this world cause us to wallow in misery because of continued unbelief, it is the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of the scriptures that will cause us to see the scriptures as the very Word of God and find great joy and comfort resting in that which when heaven and earth pass away it will remain forever.

I.

Is it really God’s Word.

- The very breath of God.

A. Man Shane Psalm 19 is very intriguing.

You mean that the Bible can do all of that for me?

It will revive my soul?

It will make me wise?

It will bring joy to my heart?

It will give me insight for living?

It’s fair?

It’s worth more than gold?

Its sweet?

It brings a great reward?

Man if that were the case, I would be the happiest person in the world.

But you are not?

Why not?

Because I don’t really believe it.

And because of that, we will continue to suffer misery.

B. I asked my kids about …

C. If we consume ourselves with wisdom we will be even more rich and wealthy that the riches of the rich.

Nothing that we would desire can even compare with the worth of wisdom.

We got a book in the Bible full of wisdom.

So why are we not rejoicing for our great wealth?

My youngest Shannon said it… cause we don’t really believe it.

D. When we struggle with suffering and hardship in life… we don’t have joy.

We complain, we curse, we despair, we lose heart, we compromise.

But the Bible tells us something about our trials and suffering...

E. We should be rejoicing but we don’t rejoice.

The Word of God makes it clear that we should rejoice, but we don’t.

Why are we not overflowing with joy when we suffer?

My friend Steve said it… cause we really don’t believe it.

F. We really don’t believe it.

This is the recipe for Christian misery.

Trying to live for Christ in all things, but not really believing that His word, his directives and promises are really true.

This is the insanity of the flesh.

The insanity of the world.

Many today struggle with believing the Bible.

And the world continues to bring the same tired arguments that have been disproven time and and time again.

G.

The Bible was written by man.

Yes it was, but men who were inspired by God.

H.

The Bible is full of contradictions.

There has not been one apparent contradiction that has ever been check mate.

What the apparent contradictions in the end show… that there is something wrong with us, not the Bible.

I.

There are theological difficulties.

The Bible says that nothing will be impossible with God.

Well if he can do all things then he should be able to make a rock that he cannot lift.

Ahhh haaa!! then people start clapping.

But this is faulty logic.

God can’t contradict analytical definitions.

It like saying if God can do anything then he can make a 4 sided triangle.

He can create a married bachelor.

This falls into the realm of the nonsense.

J. Speaking of logical contradictions… Many do not believe the Bible is God’s Word because of Bible misunderstandings.

Say that the Bible says things that it doesn’t.

Many say that the Trinity is a contradiction how can you say the God is one God and three Gods at the same time.

The Bible never says this. God helps those who help themselves… I have help myself for many years and God has never helped me… so He lies.

The Bible never says this.

When you listen to some of the experts on the discovery channel say what the Bible says, many times I do a double take and say… thats not what the Bible says.

So they all believe that the Bible says stuff that the Bible does not say.

So they don’t believe that the Bible is God’s Word.