Subj: sermon
Date: 6/21/2003 10:05:21 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: chapmanjimmy
To: b dayspring@amen.net, OutlineSharing
Sent from the Internet (Details)
Bro. Roger,
Please share this with your readers,
Because Of Him
The Word of The Lord
I Peter 1:22-2:2
Slowly but surely, the church, though carrying the Bible more, is caring for the Bible less. Though affirming the Bible with the lips, there is less and less confirming it in lives. Though the church claims much for the Bible, the Bible does not seem to claim much of us. Bound to it, but bored with it seems to be the attitude of many in the church today.
A child came home from church one Sunday and told his parents that the pastor had announced that a Re-Bible" meeting would begin the next Sunday. Upon investigation, the parents discovered that the minister had said, "Next Sunday we will begin our annual ?evival'." Though the child had mispronounced the word revival, it is true that the church does need to have a "RE-BIBLE " meeting.
This morning I want us to take a fresh look at the Bible under three simple headings:
I. The CLAIM which the Word of God BOASTS
It is good for us to be reminded from time to time of the nature of the Word of God.
A. The Word of God LIVES "liveth"
God's word is living. It has life in it, and hence communicates life. See Hebrews 4:12. The Bible is not a dead book; it is a quickening book.
B. The Word of God LAST "abideth for ever......endureth for ever"
Books of men are for time. The Bible is for all time and for eternity. The books of men are books for the hour, but the Bible is the Book for the ages.
The enemies of the Bible have searched Heaven and earth for every argument that might be used to refute its statements, destroy its teachings, and deny its miracles. Infidels have gathered against the Bible the chemist's bottle, the astronomers's telescope, the explorer's compass, the geologist's hammer. the archaeologist spade, and the theologian's pen, but the against all their assaults and attacks the Bible still stands immovable and unshakable.
1. It will last because the Bible is incorruptible
Everything we know has in it the seeds of decay. However, the Bible is not liable to decay.
2. It will last because the Bible is indestructible
The Bible has no decay with in it, and neither can man destroy if from without.
Story is told of a visitor who toured a blacksmith's ship. After viewing the discarded hammers and only seeing one huge anvil the visitor inquired, "How often to you replace the anvil?" With a smile the owner replied, "Never! It is the anvil that wears the hammers out."
So it is with the Word of God. The hammers of persecution, ridicule, higher criticism, liberalism, and atheism have for centuries pounded out their vicious blows upon the divine anvil, but to no avil. There the hammers lie, in rusting piles, while the mighty anvil the Word of God stands unbroken, unshaken, and uncrippled.
3. It will last because the Bible is indispensable
Cannot do without it. It is a must, a necessity.
a. Provides church's message "the gospel"
b. Prescribes church's method
"is preached"
If preaching will not do the work of God , nothing else will. Matthew 28:18-20, "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power...."
c. Produces church's members
That which springs forth from the seed takes on the nature of that form which it springs. I am confident of my salvation when I behold the seed that is eternal.
The CLAIM which the Word of God BOASTS
II. The CHANGE which the Word of God BRINGS
The Bible changes lives. It alters destines. It comes into communities of unrighteousness as a regenerative force.
According to ancient proverb, "The proof is of the pudding is in the eating."
The Bible has an amazing ability to change corrupt humanity.
A. It gives birth
The gospel preached and lodged in the heart is "the power of God to salvation." The Bible has life and gives life. James 1:18 "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."
The Word of God is the mighty instrument the Holy spirit uses to bring light and life to men in darkness and death.
The Bible is completely true, constantly true, convincingly true, and convertingly true and nothing can compare with its purity and power.
B. It gives growth (I Peter 2:1,2)
Word of God is needed to conceive and to complete. Word of God is needed for salvation and for sustenance. We must not be content to extol the nature of the Word of God, explore the necessity of the Word of God, we must also extract the nourishment form the Word of God.
Much is said in today's advertisement about milk being the perfect food. God's Word is the perfect food for the soul of the saint. When we observe the weakness in the church today, it is because of a lack of Vitamin "B" - the Bible. Arrested growth and development of the Christian can be traced to a deficient diet. The Bible is the sole fool for the soul.
The CLAIM which the Word of God BOASTS
The CHANGE which the Word of God BRINGS
III. The CHANCE which the Word of God BEGS
The Word of God wants from us two things:
A. It desires our hearing
"He that hath an ear let him hear"
Romans 10:17
1. Hear it because of its nature (I Thess. 2:13).
2. Hear it because of its necessity (Matthew 4:4)
B. It demands our heeding
James 1:21-25
1. There is a danger of casual observance (22-24)
To listen to the Word of God is not enough. To hear the Word of God is not enough, it must be heeded. To hear only is to be deceived.
2. There is the development of careful observance (25)
a. The duty of looking attentively
God does not reveal the deep things of the Bible to the casual Christian who drops in for a chat.
b. The delight of living accordingly
Blessing comes with obedience. See Psalm 1.
Conclusion:
Great God, with wonder and with praise
On all thy works I look,
But still thy wisdom, power and grace
Shine brightest in thy book.
Thy stars that in their courses roll
Have much instruction given,
But only thy Word informs my soul
How I might get to heaven.
May we allow the Word of God to convict our heart, convert our soul, conquer our will, and capture our mind.
The Bible is manna for the hungry;
It is milk to make us grow;
It is light for every traveler;
It is truth that all should know.