God's Word Should Be Regarded

Preliminary:

We will be looking at several verses this morning as we work through this message - so you be ready to turn with me as I preach.

I have been working through a mini-series on Study the Bible and the last sermon I preached on it a few weeks ago was on the revelation of God through His Word. God’s Word is Revealed.

Today I want to talk with you a few minutes on the fact that - God’s Word Should Be Regarded.

Introduction:

Have you ever unsuccessfully attempted to get someones attention???

It can sometimes turn into an awkward and embarrassing ordeal.

Sometimes we can’t get their attention because they are preoccupied, or can’t see you, or are unable to hear well.

SOON AFTER the offering plate had been passed around, a parishioner announced that someone had accidentally dropped in his or her hearing aid. There was a period of silence, followed by a congregant suggesting, “Maybe you should say that a little louder.” STEVEN BROWNING, Bremerton, Washington - Readers Digest July/Aug 2022

Sometimes we need God to say something a little louder or stronger - but for the most part God has already spoken what He wants to say - now it is our part to pay attention and regard what He has said.

There is an incident in the Old Testament when the Children of Israel were enslaved in Egypt that God told Moses to go to Pharaoh and tell him to “Let My people go.”

It is an interesting study to count the many “thus saith The Lord God” statements there are and how many were disregarded

In fact every plague that came upon the Egyptians was in direct correlation to their disregarding and disobeying the “Thus saith the Lord God” statements.

Exodus 8-12 captures the ordeal for us in detail - I’ll just share with you the highlights:

Moses: “Thus saith the Lord”

Pharaoh: “NO

So God sent a plague. Now this was repeated over several times.

There are at least two purposes for the plagues

one purpose are recorded for us in the words: “The Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh” (Ex 7:5; 8:22; 9:14, 16; 10:1–2). God’s acts point to a reality who is able to work in powerful ways.

A second purpose emerges in the direct contrast of Egypt’s gods and Yahweh. Each plague addresses a deity of Egypt’s pantheon (some five hundred to two thousand gods), including the tenth plague against the firstborn son (12:12). Yahweh is God of gods. (ELWELL)

Plague 1: Water to blood: water stank; fish died; magicians duplicate it; lasted 7 days. - But I want us to note there were at least two purposes for these plagues: _ There went the strength and power of the water gods

Plague 2: Frogs: magicians duplicated it, but could not remove them; Pharoah spent a needless extra night with the frogs (8:10). - There went the goddess with the head of a frog Plague 3: Gnats (lice): magicians can’t duplicate it; “This is the finger of God” (8:19) - The god of the dust couldn’t keep control of his domain. You get the picture - one plague after another took down one Egyptian god after another. Plague 4: Flies: Goshen(where the Israelites lived) is exempted. Plague 5: Cattle disease: Goshen exempted; much Egyptian cattle dies; Israelites cattle not affected. Plague 6: Boils: both man and beast affected; magicians not able to oppose Moses; introduced by “handfuls of ashes” thrown toward heaven. Goshen exempted. Plague 7: Hail: big enough to kill man and beast; accompanied by thunder and “fire”’ destroyed the crops and orchards; Goshen exempted.

Regarding not the word of the Lord Ex 9:21 “21 And he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field.” Plague 8: Locusts: brought by an east wind, removed by west wind; the worst intensity in world history; land darkened; all greenery destroyed. Goshen exempted. Plague 9: Darkness; lasted three days and nights. Goshen exempted. Plague 10: Death of firstborn: both man and beat; Goshen exempted if blood of Passover lamb was placed on the door posts of Israelite homes. - This one attacked Pharoah himself - as he was considered to be a god.

Because of this blatant disregard for God’s Word terrible things not only happened to the lives of the Egyptians but even to the heart of Pharoah nearly 20 times the Book of Exodus speaks of God hardening Pharaoh's heart.

Now that word “harden” does not mean that God prevented Pharoah from changing his mind - as he could have changed his mind at any time. It means that God “strengthened” or enabled Pharaoh to do what he really wanted to do instead of giving in or capitulating to the external pressures. Pharaoh did not want to regard the Word of the Lord - did not want to listen to what God said and certainly did not wish to obey.

Over and over God attempted to get his attention - but was always met with the silence of the person missing the hearing aid....

We see that disregard of God’s word brings serious consequences.

Now the New Testament informs us of the importance of regarding the Word of the Lord in a unique way...

2 Timothy 3:16-17 “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.”

The hand of God is seen in the fact that the writings of the Bible cover a period of fifteen hundred years, written by more than thirty-five different authors, in at least three languages, men from different walks of life, rich and poor, learned and unlearned. And yet when their writings are brought together they fit into one great volume of sixty-six books without a friction or a jar, and when we read it we find it is a love story, the story of God’s love for our poor wayward race.

If I did not believe that God had written this book I would not want it around my home. More than twenty-seven hundred times [ some have counted as many as 3,808 (David Jeremiah)] you will find in the Bible a claim to inspiration, and if it be not the word of God, then there are more than twenty-seven hundred lies within its pages, and I would not want a book in my home fostering so many falsehoods. But these statements are not false, they are true. The Bible is God’s book, I do not believe it contains the word of God, I believe it is the Word of God. - The Grand Old Book J Wesley Aycock ch4

Jesus confirmed the Scriptures without the slightest doubt

The Apostles trusted the Scriptures to the very word, James calls it “the perfect law of liberty” (James 1:25)

It is flawless. Because God inspired the Bible, it is inerrant and infallible. And because it’s inerrant and infallible, it is trustworthy and authoritative—to be trusted and obeyed.

“Only the Book without error can correct and control our erring lives”

Turning Points with God: 365 Daily Devotions (June 8: The Bible: The Inerrant Word of God)

God’s Word SHOULD BE REGARDED

To regard something means to give it the attention and consideration it is due.

We should give regard (proper attention and consideration) to God’s Word because

It tells us who God is

It tells us who we are

It tells us what God wants of us

Reasons to Regard (give proper attention and consideration) the Bible

(1) For a Relationship with God

         Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible, mentions God's Word in almost every verse. It says that Scripture is an expression of God's own nature, and therefore a means of knowing God.

(2) To Know and Believe the Truth

         This may be the reason for Bible study that most people think of first, and it is important. "Doctrine" refers to the truth that we believe and teach. The Bible is our source of doctrine. The Bible reveals God Himself, the human condition, and salvation. 

(3) To Get Directions for Life

         "Reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness" are actions of God's word to show us how to live.

(4) For Effective Ministry

"Reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness" occur not only in personal study but when we use God's word to minister to others. 

2 Timothy 3:17 “17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

(5) For Spiritual Maturity

Hebrews 5:12-13 “12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.”

         As a person practices discerning truth from God's word, he matures and develops his ability to use the Word of God to teach others.

IN GIVING REGARD TO GOD’S WORD WE ARE NOT ATTEMPTING...

(1) To Devise New Interpretations

         Some people, when they try to "get more out of it" look for intriguing and creative interpretations that have little support in the passage. We should be creative in applying and communicating Scripture, but not in interpreting it. Whatever it means is what it means, and we must not create a meaning for it. 

"The inexhaustibility of Scripture is not in a fertility of meanings" (Calvin).

(2) To Collect Evidence for Debate

         Sometimes the Bible must be used in controversy, and study is necessary for that purpose. However, that is not the purpose of devotional Bible study. If a person reads the Bible only for argument, he gets distorted vision, and may see only what he wants to see.

(3) To Feel Encouraged

         Of course we need the Bible to maintain encouragement and joy, but not every passage is written to cause joyful feelings. Purposes of Scripture include doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. If a person always skims through passages looking for verses that help his feelings, he is not letting the Bible speak its whole message. That practice would be like a diet of only desserts.

If a person neglects Bible study, it may be because he does not have the right incentives to study, listed first in this lesson. If he did not have the right reason for study, he may have begun to feel that his study was not succeeding or was not worthwhile.

HOW DOES ONE RIGHTLY REGARD GOD’S WORD?

I want to talk or teach perhaps some interpretive skills next time, but I want to give just a quick run down of ways to regard God’s Word.

If God has said it, We ought to pay attention to it.

(1) Begin by praying for understanding of the passage.

Prepare your heart to receive the real message of the passage. You are not studying just to know God's will, but to do it. Your beginning prayer prepares you not only for understanding but for obedience.

(2) Interpret the passage.

         What is the passage actually saying? Paraphrase and list statements. Make sure your interpretation fits with the verses that come before and after the passage. Make sure your conclusions don't contradict plain scriptural teaching elsewhere. Consider how the first readers would have understood the passage.

(3) Apply the passage personally.

         Is there a Sin to confess or shun, Promise to claim, Attitude to change, Command to obey, Example to follow, Prayer to pray, Error to shun, Temptation to avoid, or Something to praise God for? (SPACEPETS). There may be several of these in a passage.

(4) Pray for fulfillment of the truth in you.

         Pray that God will make the needed change in your heart and life.

(5) Prayerfully determine what you will change because of this application.

The specific change should be:

Personal - something you yourself need to do

Practical - not just theoretical but result in something actually to be done

Accountable - set a time to do the action or a point by which it should be done

         Examples: Not "I need pray more," but, "I will pray an extra 5 minutes each morning."  Not "I need to encourage people," but, "I will today consider someone I work with for qualities or accomplishments to commend."

Dr. Matt Friedman uses the 5Q (Five Question) Method and I found it very helpful although these were made for a group study they can be utilized personally as well -

Scripture - Read a passage of Scripture asking the Lord: “What do You want to say to us through your Word?”

Adoration - From the passage, how can you praise God?

Change - From this passage what does the Lord want me to do/change

Thanksgiving/Testimony - From the theme of the passage how can you give thanks for how the Lord has helped you or given you an example of the theme in His Body?

Supplication - What am I believing the Lord for today/this week from this passage?

The Quotable Oswald Chambers Bible

Beware of reasoning about God’s Word. Obey it.

Disciples Indeed, 387 R

Martin Wells Knapp founder of God’s Bible School, in his little book Impressions that was touted by Dr. Dobson as the best book on the subject includes this quote by Dougan Clark

"It is a dangerous error, to neglect, or reject, or ignore the teachings of the Holy Bible, on the pretext that the inward teachings of the Spirit are more valuable than the outward letter. It will always be found that those who love God most love His Bible most. He who is taught by Scripture is taught of the Lord; and it is never by the Holy Spirit that any one is induced to desert the outward revelation written by holy men whom He inspired. If our heavenly Father has clearly revealed His will by the written Word, in reference to any point, we are not to expect another revelation from His Spirit to teach us our duty in that regard.”

James 1:23-25 “23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

This morning I implore you to regard God’s Holy Word

Give it the proper attention and consideration it deserves

Ultimately we will be judged by what He says - not what we feel or think He says.

Psalm 1:1-3 talks about the blessed man who delights in the Law of the Lord or in the Word of God gives it the proper attention and consideration it deserves

Psalm 1:3 “3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That bringeth forth his fruit in his season; His leaf also shall not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Experiencing God Day by Day February

It is possible to spend your whole life knowing about the truths of God and never experiencing any of them

Experiencing God Day by Day February

The righteous man does not find encouragement in the opinions of others but in God's Word. He is not content with a surface knowledge of Scripture but meditates on it day and night until he is satisfied that what he reads reflects his own experience. He becomes like a fruit tree standing firmly on the bank of the river. The tree is well nourished and produces delicious fruit and bountiful leaves. People come from miles around to sit in its shade and eat its fruit.

If you allow God to implement His Word in your life, others will draw encouragement from you.

Maybe even now God has spoken to you of some part of His Word he wants you to listen to - to regard -

Will you commit with me to give greater care to rightly regard God’s Word

Let us pray.