Intro: The Fast Tracks Recap ¡V the Staging of the Christian life is God¡¦s Word
Trans: Seven Wonders of the World Quiz
„« Pyramids at Giza
„« Hanging Gardens of Babylon
„« Colossus of Rhodes
„« Pharos at Alexandria
„« Statue of Zeus at Olympia
„« Temple of Artemis at Ephesus
„« Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Fact: Of the 7 ancient wonders only one exists today ¡V the Pyramids. Throughout civilization, man has erected incredible edifices, yet one by one they fall.
Trans: This idea got me to consider what can and has stood the test of time
Trans: The Seven Wonders of God¡¦s Word (Psalm 19:7-11)
Text: The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious (desirable) than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
I The Word of God is Perfect - Reviving the Soul
Word: perfect ¡V complete; nothing lacking
It is a complete scheme of grace that presents salvation to a needy sinner. It converts, restores, revives, and regenerates a sinner into a saint.
Idea: The whole of God¡¦s Word has no error either historical or spiritually.
A Perfect in Power
Verse: So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Is. 55:11
Idea: The Word of God has power to change lives.
„« It has the power to pick the downcast up out of the gutter
„« It has the power to turn the infidel into a saint
„« It has the power to repair and restore a broken relationship
„« It has the power to change a person from the inside out.
„« It has the power to liberate a person from bondage of sin
„« It has the power to reveal to man he is sinful in need of a Savior
B Perfect in Purpose
Trans: 66 books written over 1600 years by over 40 authors including shepherds, kings, doctor, and statesmen ¡V the Bible is perfect in scope and purpose.
Trans: The Bible is not a book of history ¡V yet it is historical
The Bible is not a book of science ¡V yet it is scientific
The Bible is not a book of facts ¡V yet it is factual
Idea: The Bible is a book of revelation and redemption. In the Bible we discover who God is and how much He loves us. We discover who we are and how desperately we need Him. We discover that God sent His only Son to redeem us and bring us into a relationship with Him by a single act of grace.
Idea: It is a book that delivers a single message of redemption.
Quote: God made, Adam bit, Noah arked, Abraham split, Joseph ruled, Jacob fooled, bush talked, Moses balked, Pharaoh plagued, Israel walked, sea divided, tablets guided, promise landed, Saul freaked, David peeked, prophets warned, Jesus born, God walked, love talked, anger crucified, hope died, Love arose, Spirit flamed, Word spread, God remained.
Trans: The purpose of God¡¦s Word is to tell us of God¡¦s perfect promises.
„« The promise of salvation
„« The promise of forgiveness
„« The promise of eternal life
„« The promise of His return
„« The promise of heaven
Result: God¡¦s Word perfect and complete able to accomplish its intended purpose to redeeming the creation to the Creator.
II The Word of God is Trustworthy ¡V Making Wise the Simple-Minded
Word: trustworthy ¡V firm; reliable; can be authenticated
Idea: God¡¦s Word is immutable and unchanging. It is His testimony and witness of what is right and true to His creation. It is truth that you can build upon.
A Reason demands it
Idea: The Bible is either a worthless fraud or it is the breath of God ¡V it¡¦s either the words of men or it is the Word of God.
Trans: Yet if you sit down and consider the next five items ¡V the only rational conclusion is that the Bible is the Word of God.
B History verifies it
Note: If the Bible is reliable, then it ought to stand the test of time and history.
1 Biblical Evidence
Example: In the 15th year (1) of the reign of Tiberius Caesar (2) ¡V when Pontius Pilate (3) was governor (4) of Judea (5), Herod (6) tetrarch (7) of Galilee (8), his brother Philip (9) tetrarch (10) of Iturea (eleven) and Traconitis, (12) and Lysanias (13) tetrarch (14) of Abilene (15). Luke 3:1
2 Extra-biblical Evidence
Note: Ancient Historians Tacitus, Suetonius, Thallus
Jewish Historian Josephus, the Talmud
Government Officials Trajan, Hadrian, Nero, Pliny the Younger
Overall ¡V 17 non-Christian writings record more than 50 details concerning Jesus
C Archeology supports it
Note: Archaeology is the science which investigates the ruins of ancient civilizations with a view to reconstructing their history and finding out the truth with regard to their customs and ways of living. J. Jauncey
Note: If the Bible says that Ninevah existed, then it better exits ¡V and it did!
If the Tigris and Euphrates rivers are mentioned, then they need to exists and in close proximity.
Over 25,000 Biblical dates and locations have been discovered and substantiated w/out one contradiction.
Quote: The Christian can take the Bible in his hand and say w/out fear or hesitation that he holds in it the true word of God, handed down w/out essential loss from generation to generation throughout the centuries. Kenyon
D Prophecy authenticates it
Note: The Bible offers numerous prophecies about the Messiah and his ministry, in particular there are some 60 O. T. prophecies that have been fulfilled in the person of Jesus.
Idea: For 8 (1 in 100 mil. bil.) silver dollars cover Texas 2 feet ¡V blindfold man
Idea: Mathematician Peter Stoner ¡V to fulfill 48 prophecies 4813
E Jesus declares it
Idea: Jesus not only referred to the Scriptures as God word, but He employed to show us how to use it.
F Bible claims it
Verse: All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness so that the man of God will be thoroughly equipped for ever good service. 2 Tm. 3:16-17
Quote: The Bible is so good, if it isn¡¦t true it ought to be!
Result: God¡¦s Word gives the saint practical truth upon which to build their lives.
III The Word of God is Right ¡V Giving Joy to the Heart
Word: right ¡V straight as opposed to crooked; a straight path to righteousness
Idea: God¡¦s Word gives us everything we need for life and godliness teaching us what is right, moral and true for daily living. It is founded in righteousness and it precepts are fitted to the right reason of man.
Story: South Sea Islander during WWII ¡V Approached a GI w/ his Bible in hand to show him what he had learned about God. The GI commented, ¡§That¡¦s great, but we outgrew that sort of thing a long time ago.¡¨ The islander responded, ¡§It¡¦s a good thing we haven¡¦t. If it weren¡¦t for this book, you¡¦d have been a meal by now!¡¨
Quote: As a physician gives right medicine and as a counselor gives accurate advice, so too does the Word of God provide right influences to guide life.
IV The Word of God is Radiant ¡V Giving Light to the Eyes
Word: radiant ¡V illuminating; revealing with light and purging the darkness.
Idea: The Word of God penetrates the darkness of sin revealing truth allowing it to be seen clearly and without distortion.
Verse: Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. Ps. 119:105
V The Word of God is Pure ¡V Enduring Forever
Word: pure ¡V free of harshness; containing nothing that does not properly belong.
Idea: God¡¦s Word is not just right, it is also pure and it will never cause or allow a person to sin. There is no mixture of error to defile it. There is no stain to pollute it ¡V in is unadulterated and undiluted truth.
Result: While other ideas, philosophies, and religions have faded and are forgotten, the Word of God remains steadfast, unchanging and relevant for living.
Idea: Filth always brings decay ¡V purity and cleanness are great foes of corruption.
Quote: The grace of God in His abiding truth is an incorruptible principle which might challenge and threatened, but it ill never be thwarted or destroyed.
Truth: Throughout history there have been numerous men who have attempted to disprove the Bible. They either were converted when they honestly appreciated the evidence, or they passed into eternity being outlived by God¡¦s Word.
VI The Word of God is Sure and Righteous ¡V Providing a Warning
Word: sure ¡V true in content and in scope. They are correct and accurate.
Idea: God¡¦s Word evaluates the hearts of men and always makes a correct assessment of the condition of a person¡¦s heart.
Verse: The Word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, it pierces the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and it discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hb. 4:12
Result: God¡¦s Word establishes parameters for living and warns against untruth, temptation, and the practice and presence of evil.
VII The Word of God is Desirable ¡V Offering a Great Reward
Idea: Since God¡¦s Word is truthful, it is desirable above all things.
Idea: It is more desirable that gold and sweeter than honey.
Result: The Word of God enriches and rewards those who pursue and apply it to their lives. It provides both length to life and fulfillment in life.
Concl. The Word of God is not a solely book about God¡K it is a book from God to man. In it we find life and the principles and precepts to pursue life. In it we find light and truth, hope and dignity ¡V we find God¡¦s love. It is more than a book it is a love letter, a road map, a fountain, a breath of fresh air. And for the Christian, it is his food, his rest, his guide, his river and his foundation.
Story: A clergyman on a train traveling along the Hudson River. Seated next to him was an atheist who could not contain himself and had to ask questions with the intention of stumping the pastor and leaving his faith in shambles. HE asked, ¡§I see you are a clergyman.¡¨ ¡§I suppose you believe the Bible.¡¨ The clergyman responded, ¡§Yes, and I certainly believe the Bible.¡¨ ¡§But aren¡¦t there things in the Bible that you can¡¦t explain?¡¨ ¡§Yes there are places too difficult for me to understand.¡¨ With a sense of triumph, the atheist cornered the pastor, ¡§then what do you do.¡¨ Unruffled, the clergy continued to eat his dinner, which happened to be Hudson shad (a tasty but boney fish). He finally looked up and said, ¡§Sir, I do just the same as when eating this shad. When I come to the bones, I put them to the side of the plate and go enjoying my meal. I leave the bones for some fool to choke on since he prefers the bones over the meat to begin with.
