THE B.I.B.L.E.
OPENING TEXT: “How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth.” (Psalm 119:103).
I love the Bible! Not only is it sweeter than honey, if I can comtemporize that Scripture, "Your Words are sweeter than chocolate... even sweeter than Purdy’s hedgehogs chocolates!"
“Therefore I love Your commandments More than gold, yes, than fine gold.” (Psalm 119:127).
“Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men do not keep Your law.” (Ps. 119:136). The one thing that grieves my heart is the lack of the Word we find in many so-called Christian churches today...
OPENING:
I thank God for the awesome gift my youth pastor gave me when I first started attending church at Solid Rock Ministries in Regina, SK in November of 1990: A love for the Bible!
I have read the NT 18 times, and the OT 9 times. I say that to stir up YOUR passion and desire to get into God’s Word! My desire today is two-fold:
1. To help you to see how precious, awesome and amazing this Book is
2. To stir up your hunger and passion to read this book more and more.
STATS: George Barna wrote The State of the Church in 2002. Barna conducted a survey of Christians and here’s what he discovered about their knowledge of the Bible.
• 48% could not name the four Gospels.
• 60% can’t name even five of the 10 Commandments.
“Americans revere the Bible, but by and large they don’t know what it says. And because they don’t know it, they have become a nation of Biblical illiterates.” (Barna).
STORY: The new pastor was asked to teach the junior high boys’ Sunday school class in the absence of the regular teacher. He decided to see what they knew, so he asked who knocked down the walls of Jericho. All the boys denied having done it, and the preacher was appalled by their ignorance. At the next elders’ meeting he told about the experience. "Not one of them knows who knocked down the walls of Jericho," he lamented. The group was silent until finally one seasoned veteran spoke up. "Preacher, this appears to be bothering you a lot. But I’ve known all those boys since they were born and they’re good boys. If they said they didn’t know, I believe them. Let’s just take some money out of the maintenance fund, fix the walls, and let it go at that." What a sad commentary on today’s Bible knowledge in the church!
I. WHAT IS THE BIBLE?
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
It is inspired by God, and it is profitable– it has the power to change & transform your life!
II. WHY SHOULD WE READ THE BIBLE?
Before people will be motivated to read the Bible, many people want to know the benefits of this discipline...
STORY: King Josiah
“Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem… And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the ways of his father David… Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the Lord.” (2 Kings 22:1-3a).
- paraphrase v. 4-7: Josiah told Shaphan to help rebuild the house of the Lord.
“Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the Lord." And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, "Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the Lord." Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read it before the king.” (2 Kings 22:8-10).
- when he got a hold of the Word of God, it changed Josiah’s life!
8 REASONS WHY THE BIBLE IS PRECIOUS, AWESOME AND AMAZING:
1. You will be blessed! “Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are the undefiled who walk (order their conduct and conversation) in the law of the Lord.” (Psalm 119:1, Amplified). Quote Psalm 1 & Joshua 1:8. If you wnat to be blessed, lived according to God’s Word!
2. God’s Word will make you pure! “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word… Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” (Psalm 119:9,11). A great preacher said once, "God’s Word will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from God’s Word."
3. You will see amazing and miraculous things! “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.” (Psalm 119:18). The Bible is full of miracles, but remember Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."
4. God’s Word will revive you. “My soul clings to the dust; revive me according to Your word” (Psalm 119:25). You want revival? It will never happen apart from God’s Word getting into your heart!
5. God’s Word reveals His love to us. “The earth, O Lord, is full of your mercy and lovingkindness; teach me your statutes.” (Psalm 119:64). God’s Word reveals His LOVE to us.
6. God’s Word reveals His faithfulness. “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides.” (Psalm 119:89-90). God is FAITHFUL! People have tried to destroy and discredit the Bible - but to no avail.
7. God’s Word gives wisdom and direction. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:104-105).
8. God’s Word will give you great peace. “Great peace have they who love your law, nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.” (Psalm 119:165).
STORY: King Josiah (Part #2)
“Now the king sent them to gather all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem to him. 2 The king went up to the house of the Lord with all the men of Judah, and with him all the inhabitants of Jerusalem--the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of the Lord. 3 Then the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to follow the Lord and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant. 4 And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests of the second order, and the doorkeepers, to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the articles that were made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven; and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron…” (2 Kings 23:1-4). After they heard God’s Word, they were challenged to make a change - they cleaned house!
III. CLOSING CHALLENGE – YOU MUST READ YOUR BIBLES!
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32).
An unknown writer said, "This Book is the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword, and the Christian’s charter. Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. Follow its precepts and it will lead you to Calvary, to the empty tomb, to a resurrected life in Christ; yes, to glory itself, for eternity."
Charles Spurgeon declared, “If God has spoken, listen! If God has recorded his words in a Book, search its pages with a believing heart. If you do not accept it as God’s inspired word, I cannot invite you to pay any particular attention to it; but if you regard it as the Book of God, I charge you, as I shall meet you at the judgement seat of Christ, study the Bible daily. Treat not the Eternal God with disrespect, but delight in His Word.”
Read your Bibles! Love your Bibles! Bring your Bibles to church!
Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
