WEBVTT 00:00:00.133 --> 00:00:02.165 Thank you. Isaac. 00:00:02.165 --> 00:00:04.500 Good morning everyone. 00:00:04.500 --> 00:00:05.400 I love that song. 00:00:05.400 --> 00:00:08.632 That's a great way to transition into our message. 00:00:08.632 --> 00:00:13.000 Holy, holy, holy. 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:14.400 We can't say it enough. 00:00:14.400 --> 00:00:19.966 The fact that the angels around the throne say it for all eternity tells us that we can't say it to ourselves enough. 00:00:19.966 --> 00:00:28.233 We talked about God's attributes last week, and the whole point of this series we are in is to help us get to know God better. 00:00:29.065 --> 00:00:32.832 We want to know God so that we can love him. 00:00:32.832 --> 00:00:38.399 You can know a lot about someone without knowing them, but to get to know them, you've got to ask them. 00:00:38.399 --> 00:00:43.700 You've got to get connected with them, to really know them and to fully love them. 00:00:43.700 --> 00:00:49.332 And we know according to Scripture, when you know God and when you love God, that leads to you loving others. 00:00:49.332 --> 00:00:50.932 And so we're continuing in this series. 00:00:50.932 --> 00:00:52.200 What does it mean to know God? 00:00:52.200 --> 00:00:54.033 What does the Bible say about God? 00:00:54.033 --> 00:00:56.700 What does he say about himself to us today? 00:00:56.700 --> 00:01:01.066 The way we're going to dive into that, the topic we're going to address is the Bible. 00:01:02.732 --> 00:01:04.799 What do we how do we need to view the Bible? 00:01:04.799 --> 00:01:10.165 What role does the Bible play in us knowing God and loving God and loving others? 00:01:10.165 --> 00:01:12.465 And of course, every week we look at the Bible. 00:01:12.465 --> 00:01:13.433 We look in the Bible. 00:01:13.433 --> 00:01:18.599 This week we're talking more about the Bible as a whole of what it tells us about God. 00:01:19.500 --> 00:01:23.266 In fact, I was reminded of a of a movie. 00:01:23.266 --> 00:01:26.400 I don't often reference movies because that's a gamble, right? 00:01:26.400 --> 00:01:27.365 You never know. 00:01:27.365 --> 00:01:29.400 Do I remember everything that was in that or not? 00:01:29.400 --> 00:01:30.832 Or did I see it all it. 00:01:30.832 --> 00:01:32.099 So I'm not going to mention the movie. 00:01:32.099 --> 00:01:39.700 I just remember the beginning was a guy who, in high school was chubby, out of shape, not very popular, not very athletic. 00:01:39.700 --> 00:01:42.332 20 years later, his friend hadn't seen him in 20 years, sees him. 00:01:42.332 --> 00:01:45.632 And of course, he's actually is the actor Dwayne The Rock Johnson. 00:01:46.733 --> 00:01:47.865 What happened to you, man? 00:01:47.865 --> 00:01:48.665 It's been 20 years. 00:01:48.665 --> 00:01:54.799 How did you go from the chubby guy that seemed to have nothing going for him to the Rock? 00:01:54.865 --> 00:01:57.200 How did you go across from that? 00:01:57.200 --> 00:01:59.400 How does that happen? 00:01:59.400 --> 00:02:01.266 And he said, well, look, it was it was really easy. 00:02:01.266 --> 00:02:02.965 Let me just tell you how it happened. 00:02:02.965 --> 00:02:04.433 Just one thing. I just did one thing. 00:02:04.433 --> 00:02:05.200 This is all I did. 00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:06.933 Tell me, what was it? I'd love to know. 00:02:06.933 --> 00:02:10.332 All I did was for 20 years, every day, six hours a day. 00:02:10.332 --> 00:02:13.233 I just worked out that was it. 00:02:13.233 --> 00:02:14.733 That's all. 00:02:14.733 --> 00:02:16.400 And his friend was like, yeah, thanks. 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:17.332 That doesn't really help. 00:02:17.332 --> 00:02:21.300 That's that's not really what I want to do. 00:02:21.599 --> 00:02:35.233 But if you want to become if you want to be named the rock to get to that place, unless Jesus nicknames you that as he did with Peter, unless that happens to get to look like that, there's no shortcut. 00:02:35.233 --> 00:02:40.133 You don't just stumble into that somehow accidentally. 00:02:40.165 --> 00:02:46.966 And as we're looking at this topic of Scripture today, and here's the thing I want you to hear today more than anything else. 00:02:46.966 --> 00:02:57.532 If you want to grow in knowing God and loving him and connecting with him, experiencing the fullness that he has for you in this life, there are no shortcuts. 00:02:57.532 --> 00:03:02.432 It doesn't just somehow happen because you might think about God occasionally. 00:03:02.432 --> 00:03:07.233 There is only one way, and we're going to drive at that today. 00:03:07.233 --> 00:03:11.400 And it's at the end of the day, it's being in God's Word. 00:03:11.400 --> 00:03:13.800 And so I'm going to spill all the beans on the front end here. 00:03:13.800 --> 00:03:23.532 I've got one objective today, and that's for you to leave today with a greater burden, a greater passion, a greater fire like you've never had before to be in God's Word. 00:03:24.599 --> 00:03:25.665 That's the goal. 00:03:25.665 --> 00:03:31.000 That's everything I'm driving at today is that you come leaving and you go, I got to be in God's word. 00:03:31.000 --> 00:03:32.265 I got to be in God's Word. 00:03:32.265 --> 00:03:34.466 Nothing else matters. 00:03:34.466 --> 00:03:37.466 That's the hope. 00:03:38.032 --> 00:03:42.599 Because there's nothing else that will change you for the good, like God's Word. 00:03:42.599 --> 00:03:43.900 Hebrews 412. 00:03:43.900 --> 00:03:55.599 The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, joint and marrow, discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:57.400 God's word is alive. 00:03:57.400 --> 00:03:59.032 We got to get it in us. 00:03:59.032 --> 00:04:02.032 So it goes to work in our lives. 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:05.133 And so we've got to be in it. 00:04:05.133 --> 00:04:06.599 And so that's the goal today. 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:08.765 Now why God's word? 00:04:08.765 --> 00:04:11.000 Why do we need God's Word? 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:15.300 Well, first let me back up in step and just ask, how do we know anything about God? 00:04:16.932 --> 00:04:17.333 Okay. 00:04:17.333 --> 00:04:20.333 How would you know anything about him? 00:04:20.333 --> 00:04:22.500 Well, God's word tells us there's two ways. 00:04:22.500 --> 00:04:26.065 The first is it's called general revelation. 00:04:26.065 --> 00:04:30.565 In fact, if you have a Bible, turn to Psalm chapter 19. 00:04:30.565 --> 00:04:33.565 We're going to see pretty much most of everything. 00:04:33.565 --> 00:04:37.733 We're going to talk about today is going to be anchored in Psalm 19, rooted in Psalm 19. 00:04:37.733 --> 00:04:39.966 What does God's Word say about God? 00:04:39.966 --> 00:04:42.966 What does he say about himself to us? 00:04:43.033 --> 00:04:48.199 General revelation is this idea that everyone can know something about God. 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:51.333 Even if you don't have a copy of God's Word. 00:04:51.333 --> 00:04:57.800 All right, so Psalm 19, let's just read the first 5 or 6 verses here. 00:04:57.800 --> 00:05:04.266 Psalm 19, verse one, the heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 00:05:04.266 --> 00:05:10.199 Day to day pours out speech and night to night reveals knowledge. 00:05:10.665 --> 00:05:14.932 There is no speech, nor are there words whose voice is not heard. 00:05:14.932 --> 00:05:19.466 Their voice goes out throughout all the earth and their words to the end of the world. 00:05:19.466 --> 00:05:30.600 In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and like a strong man, runs its course with joy. 00:05:30.600 --> 00:05:36.233 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and it's circuit to the end of them. 00:05:36.233 --> 00:05:40.300 And there is nothing hidden from its heat. 00:05:40.300 --> 00:05:42.132 Here's the point of these first six verses. 00:05:42.132 --> 00:05:45.833 And if you don't have a Bible, by the way, I'm going to be reading from it a fair amount today. 00:05:45.833 --> 00:05:49.966 And I don't put the words up on the screen, because I want you to look in a copy of the Bible. 00:05:49.966 --> 00:05:51.932 We have those in the lobby for you. 00:05:51.932 --> 00:05:56.033 Grab one any time, slip out and grab one because I want you to be turning in the Bible. 00:05:57.300 --> 00:06:02.100 But these first six verses are pointing out the reality of general revelation. 00:06:02.100 --> 00:06:08.966 Everyone who has ever lived should look at creation and go, something must have made this happen. 00:06:09.000 --> 00:06:12.600 This can't have been some random by chance accident. 00:06:12.600 --> 00:06:20.132 The complexity, the beauty of it all makes all of humanity or should make all of humanity pause and go. 00:06:20.132 --> 00:06:21.565 There's got to be something else out there. 00:06:21.565 --> 00:06:25.033 There's got to be something bigger than me that caused this to happen. 00:06:25.033 --> 00:06:26.399 That's general revelation. 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:32.665 Even if you've never heard of Jesus or God, even that specific name, you should pause. 00:06:32.665 --> 00:06:36.132 Creation screams out to us and it affects everyone. 00:06:36.132 --> 00:06:39.632 Even talks about how the ends of the earth are reached by the heat of the sun. 00:06:39.632 --> 00:06:44.100 Everyone experiences the reality, the truth that creation speaks to us all. 00:06:46.466 --> 00:06:49.766 But there's a challenge with that reality of general revelation. 00:06:49.766 --> 00:06:56.000 In fact, part of the problem is, is that many of us who see that don't want to acknowledge that. 00:06:56.000 --> 00:07:00.233 In fact, the phrase that is in Scripture is suppress. 00:07:00.500 --> 00:07:02.165 Many of us suppress the truth. 00:07:02.165 --> 00:07:11.100 If you flip over to Romans chapter one, Romans in the New Testament, few books in Paul speaks to this specifically Romans 118. 00:07:11.100 --> 00:07:20.800 He says, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness, unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:24.266 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 00:07:24.266 --> 00:07:41.500 His invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived ever since the creation of the world and the things that have been made, so they have no excuse. 00:07:41.932 --> 00:07:44.932 Yeah, creation screams out there is a God. 00:07:44.932 --> 00:07:49.500 And the problem is often times we say, but I don't like that. 00:07:49.500 --> 00:07:50.865 I don't want that to be true. 00:07:50.865 --> 00:07:53.365 I don't want anybody telling me what to do. 00:07:53.365 --> 00:07:57.466 I don't can't believe personally that there's a God, so therefore there must not be. 00:07:57.466 --> 00:07:59.300 And I'm going to suppress that truth. 00:07:59.300 --> 00:08:02.300 I'm going to try to deny the obvious. 00:08:03.432 --> 00:08:06.000 But the second challenge with that we can do that. 00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:11.300 The problem is you don't have an excuse. 00:08:11.300 --> 00:08:19.132 In fact, in modern times, in modern language, we would say ignorance of the law is not an excuse from the law. 00:08:19.600 --> 00:08:23.333 If, let's just say in theory, you might get pulled over for speeding. 00:08:24.565 --> 00:08:26.565 Just random example. 00:08:26.565 --> 00:08:27.833 I don't know if that has ever happened. 00:08:27.833 --> 00:08:28.300 Anyone here? 00:08:28.300 --> 00:08:38.033 Probably not in this church, but if it does happen and you get pulled over for speeding, maybe just randomly, you were going 20 miles an hour over the speed limit, let's say. 00:08:38.033 --> 00:08:40.432 And you say, officer, I'm so sorry. 00:08:40.432 --> 00:08:43.265 I did not know that that was the speed limit. 00:08:43.265 --> 00:08:45.232 Please forgive me. 00:08:45.232 --> 00:08:48.232 And he or she will say, too bad. 00:08:48.466 --> 00:08:49.432 It doesn't matter. 00:08:49.432 --> 00:08:50.500 You should have known. 00:08:50.500 --> 00:08:51.633 It's your job to know. 00:08:51.633 --> 00:08:53.666 Ignorance of the law is not excuse away from. I'm sorry. 00:08:53.666 --> 00:08:55.299 I didn't know it was wrong to kill somebody. 00:08:55.299 --> 00:08:58.299 Too bad. 00:08:58.899 --> 00:09:05.932 We are without excuse because the heavens declare there is a God, and it is on us to go figure out what that means. 00:09:07.365 --> 00:09:15.332 In fact, some will say this idea of general revelation, God revealing himself to us is enough to convict, but not say it's enough for us to go. 00:09:15.332 --> 00:09:16.200 I know there is a God. 00:09:16.200 --> 00:09:29.899 I know I must seek him, but to be really delivered from our sin, to find fullness in relationship with God, we've got to move beyond just general revelation that there must be some God out there too. 00:09:29.899 --> 00:09:34.500 And here's the in your outline, the word specific revelation or special revelation. 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:35.700 You can use either one. 00:09:35.700 --> 00:09:38.033 We go from general revelation to specific. 00:09:38.033 --> 00:09:41.066 There is a God, but who is the God? 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:48.133 That's the difference that we're talking about, not just some random unknown God out there, but to a personal God. 00:09:49.365 --> 00:09:53.100 An example of this would just be in your own life. 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:57.899 The fact that I exist means I must have parents. 00:09:58.765 --> 00:09:59.399 They must. 00:09:59.399 --> 00:10:03.332 There must be some parents out there because I exist. 00:10:03.332 --> 00:10:04.265 I'm alive. 00:10:04.265 --> 00:10:06.899 Someone must have made me. 00:10:06.899 --> 00:10:08.466 That's general revelation. 00:10:08.466 --> 00:10:12.500 But specific revelation are my parents are John and Pam Majors. 00:10:12.500 --> 00:10:23.666 I know them, I know probably where they will be sitting every week in about the same seat given 1 or 2, unless someone random comes in and makes a move somewhere else and didn't know that that's their spot, right? 00:10:23.666 --> 00:10:24.966 You know what I'm talking about. 00:10:24.966 --> 00:10:26.466 I have a key to their house. 00:10:26.466 --> 00:10:27.765 I know the garage code. 00:10:27.765 --> 00:10:32.666 I know when the coffee and bacon are probably hot, and I might just happen to stumble by at that time. 00:10:32.666 --> 00:10:33.899 I know they love me. 00:10:33.899 --> 00:10:35.265 Sometimes I wonder why, but. 00:10:35.265 --> 00:10:38.100 And I love them and they've poured into me. 00:10:39.232 --> 00:10:46.133 And we have a relationship of love that is specific, not just general parenting. 00:10:46.133 --> 00:10:47.566 Well, these are my parents. 00:10:47.566 --> 00:10:50.566 These are people who care about me. 00:10:51.299 --> 00:10:54.299 And so there is a God and we want to know him personally. 00:10:54.299 --> 00:10:56.865 So what does he say about himself to us? 00:10:56.865 --> 00:11:01.100 How does he reveal himself to us in his word? 00:11:01.100 --> 00:11:09.100 Here in Psalm 19, he talks about the difference between special revelation and or general revelation, and now specific or special revelation. 00:11:09.133 --> 00:11:15.700 The way we know anything about God is through His word, him telling us about himself. 00:11:15.700 --> 00:11:22.732 And so the next set of verses get into this and you'll see the phrase the word of the Lord, the testimony of the Lord, the precepts of the Lord. 00:11:22.732 --> 00:11:27.299 All these are euphemisms for the word of God, the Bible. 00:11:27.299 --> 00:11:29.399 So look at verse seven with me back at Psalm 19. 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:34.666 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. 00:11:35.533 --> 00:11:38.799 The testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple. 00:11:38.799 --> 00:11:43.365 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. 00:11:43.365 --> 00:11:47.166 The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 00:11:47.166 --> 00:11:51.066 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. 00:11:51.066 --> 00:11:56.033 The rules of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 00:11:56.033 --> 00:11:59.033 More to be desired are they than gold. 00:12:01.232 --> 00:12:13.765 The word of the Lord is more to be desired than gold, much, even much fangled, sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 00:12:13.765 --> 00:12:20.932 Moreover, by them is your servant warned in keeping them there is great reward. 00:12:20.932 --> 00:12:32.966 All of these verses speak to the power of God's Word, the way he speaks to us in purity and truth, in righteousness, both what it is and what it does in our life. 00:12:34.200 --> 00:12:38.000 And the key verse here in this section right now is verse eight. 00:12:38.000 --> 00:12:41.600 Because without verse eight you won't see it. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:48.265 We will continue to suppress the truth even when presented with God's specific revelation to us. 00:12:48.265 --> 00:12:49.500 We rejoice in heart. 00:12:49.500 --> 00:12:53.399 The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:54.865 And so this is what we all need. 00:12:54.865 --> 00:12:57.033 In fact, Ephesians 118 talks about this. 00:12:57.033 --> 00:13:00.000 Paul is praying that the eyes of your hearts may be enlightened. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:02.700 And you know what I'm talking about. 00:13:02.700 --> 00:13:07.133 There are times where the obvious truth is right in front of you, and you're just blind to it. 00:13:07.133 --> 00:13:19.799 You can't see it until God opens your eyes to it, until he reveals the truth of His word to you, until he peels back the blinders that we've put ourselves over our eyes. 00:13:19.799 --> 00:13:26.932 And I remember, and many of you have experienced this, maybe people for years around you were telling you, you've got to know Jesus. 00:13:26.932 --> 00:13:28.265 You've got to come to follow him. 00:13:28.265 --> 00:13:29.466 And you didn't want to hear it. 00:13:29.466 --> 00:13:31.200 And maybe you couldn't hear it. 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:32.932 But there came a day where you did hear it. 00:13:34.799 --> 00:13:37.066 That can happen to the oldest and the youngest. 00:13:37.066 --> 00:13:43.232 I remember as a five year old here, hearing the gospel, growing up in this church over and over again. You'd hear it. 00:13:43.232 --> 00:13:47.399 And I knew even at five years old, I was created by a God who loves me. 00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:50.399 And yet I rejected him because of my sin. 00:13:51.466 --> 00:13:56.100 And I needed someone else to come and pay the penalty for my sin on my behalf. 00:13:56.100 --> 00:13:58.932 In fact, I needed God to do that, and that's why he sent Jesus. 00:13:58.932 --> 00:14:01.600 And Jesus died on my behalf. 00:14:01.600 --> 00:14:04.033 Listen, even a five year old can understand this. 00:14:04.033 --> 00:14:08.232 They hear it week after week after week in their Sunday school class. 00:14:08.232 --> 00:14:09.200 And Jesus died. 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:13.966 I knew he died for me, and he rose again for me. 00:14:13.966 --> 00:14:23.000 And because of him, if I trust in him and believe in him and repent of my sins, I can have forgiveness in him, and I can walk in eternal life with him forever. 00:14:24.832 --> 00:14:31.200 As a five year old, I can understand that, and I can say it probably pretty similar to that. 00:14:31.200 --> 00:14:36.732 It's such a simple message that anyone can understand. 00:14:37.633 --> 00:14:44.666 And yet also, you can spend the rest of your life plumbing the depths of who God is. 00:14:45.232 --> 00:14:52.200 I mean, here we have in our midst today, Friday, Larry Piercey turn 90 years old. 00:14:52.200 --> 00:14:56.166 Larry, do you mind waving your hand or standing if you can? 00:14:56.166 --> 00:14:59.166 Larry's right over here. 00:15:00.633 --> 00:15:03.700 90 years old, still leading. 00:15:03.700 --> 00:15:07.633 Probably our largest Sunday morning class here at the church. 00:15:07.633 --> 00:15:09.600 Still excited about God's Word. 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:14.200 And Larry would tell you, I still have so much to know about God's Word. 00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:21.966 I feel like I'm just scratching the very first layer of what is there. 00:15:22.133 --> 00:15:24.566 That comes when God has enlightened our heart. 00:15:24.566 --> 00:15:27.566 He has opened our eyes to who he is. 00:15:27.633 --> 00:15:30.466 We have to have that and to know him. 00:15:32.966 --> 00:15:35.832 Now I have in your notes if you have a copy of the notes. 00:15:35.832 --> 00:15:41.799 I had a bunch of letters I was going to walk through today about what it means to understand God's Word, because here's how we know God's Word. 00:15:41.799 --> 00:15:45.732 We've got to understand some things about it to apply it to our lives. 00:15:45.732 --> 00:15:47.365 I'm going to do is cover two letters. 00:15:47.365 --> 00:15:52.666 I realized I was starting to turn it into a seminary classroom by trying to cover too much, and we don't need that today. 00:15:52.666 --> 00:15:54.133 And maybe some of us do need that. 00:15:54.133 --> 00:15:56.466 Maybe you need to know a whole lot more than I'm going to cover today. 00:15:56.466 --> 00:15:59.299 Listen, I've got plenty of resources I want to put in your hands. 00:15:59.299 --> 00:15:59.765 I promise. 00:15:59.765 --> 00:16:02.466 I'd love to, but today, this morning, I've got one goal. 00:16:02.466 --> 00:16:04.732 And that's to increase your burden to be in God's word. 00:16:04.732 --> 00:16:09.166 And so I'm just going to cover two letters to tell you why God's Word is so important. 00:16:10.533 --> 00:16:12.299 We're just going to look at letter I and those notes. 00:16:12.299 --> 00:16:14.432 We're going to look at letter A. 00:16:14.432 --> 00:16:19.533 We're going to start with letter II because that lays the foundation for a letter A. 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:20.666 And there's two words there. 00:16:20.666 --> 00:16:27.865 We're going to look at God's word is inspired and it's inerrant. 00:16:27.865 --> 00:16:36.732 These are very important words to understand about God's Word, because there's plenty of other churches that don't believe these words are true about God's Word. 00:16:36.732 --> 00:16:38.865 God's word is inspired and inerrant. 00:16:38.865 --> 00:16:40.765 And so let's talk about inspired first. 00:16:40.765 --> 00:16:44.265 And by that I don't mean it's inspiring, which it is. 00:16:44.765 --> 00:16:52.265 But that's not what that word means in particular when I'm talking about it right now, what I'm talking about is God's Word comes from God. 00:16:52.265 --> 00:16:53.533 It is created by God. 00:16:53.533 --> 00:16:55.066 It is written by God. 00:16:56.033 --> 00:17:06.000 In fact, in your notes we have the verse second Peter 121, which talks about the fact that men who wrote God's Word were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 00:17:07.133 --> 00:17:10.799 So it wasn't just men writing God's Word individually, separately. 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:21.500 God was also intricately, intimately working through them, carrying them along through the Holy Spirit to create His Word, which is how we can trust that it all fits together. 00:17:21.500 --> 00:17:30.232 It's not just 66 completely separate books written by 40 authors over 1500 years that have nothing to do with one another, and we randomly collected them all together. 00:17:30.232 --> 00:17:36.900 Now listen, God had his hand in every word written on the page, and he was overseeing it through every step of the way. 00:17:36.900 --> 00:17:39.665 And he knows where it all points to, which is Jesus. 00:17:39.665 --> 00:17:41.165 And he knows it all fits together. 00:17:42.965 --> 00:17:45.232 His word is inspired. 00:17:45.232 --> 00:17:50.266 He created it, in fact, that the word that is often used for that is also in your notes. 00:17:50.266 --> 00:18:03.833 Second Timothy 316 All Scripture Scripture is breathed out by God, profitable for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete. 00:18:03.833 --> 00:18:08.633 All Scripture is breathed out and God's breath is what has life. 00:18:08.732 --> 00:18:10.566 God breathed life into His word. 00:18:10.566 --> 00:18:12.200 He did it with Adam when he created him. 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:14.400 He breathed the breath of life into him and gave him life. 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:16.500 He did it with the dry bones in Ezekiel. 00:18:16.500 --> 00:18:18.432 He breathed life into them. 00:18:18.432 --> 00:18:19.900 It's his breath that brings life. 00:18:19.900 --> 00:18:25.400 And so when we talk about Scripture being inspired, this has the life of God in it. 00:18:25.500 --> 00:18:35.299 And if you want real life and you know the difference, you know the difference between I'm just living, I'm just barely existing and I'm alive. 00:18:35.700 --> 00:18:36.833 You know what I'm talking about. 00:18:36.833 --> 00:18:39.732 You've had those moments where you go, I am fully alive today. 00:18:39.732 --> 00:18:43.900 If you want to know life to its fullest, this is where you find it. This is it. 00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:46.032 There is no place else. 00:18:46.032 --> 00:18:47.700 This is it. 00:18:47.700 --> 00:18:50.700 Because God's life is in here. 00:18:50.766 --> 00:18:54.665 So it's inspired, but it's also inerrant. 00:18:54.665 --> 00:18:57.665 And we could use the word true instead. 00:18:58.766 --> 00:19:00.000 It is truth. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:03.000 It is without error. 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:05.532 All that it affirms is true. 00:19:05.532 --> 00:19:06.599 Scripture is true. 00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:07.665 We can depend on it. 00:19:07.665 --> 00:19:10.633 There's a list of verses I have in your notes here John 1717. 00:19:10.633 --> 00:19:12.599 This is Jesus, your word is truth. 00:19:12.599 --> 00:19:15.599 Jesus calls God's Word true. 00:19:16.032 --> 00:19:24.900 And when we talk about Jesus, when we talk about God first John one five God is light and anything, and in him there's no darkness at all. 00:19:25.633 --> 00:19:30.133 It's not like he struggles with sin and puts that aside to share some truth with us. 00:19:30.133 --> 00:19:33.400 No, he is completely true, pure, holy. 00:19:34.665 --> 00:19:37.665 He can be nothing else than that. 00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:42.732 And then one of my personal favorites, Proverbs 30 verse five, every word of God proves true. 00:19:42.732 --> 00:19:45.400 He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:50.365 We can come to God's Word confident. 00:19:50.365 --> 00:19:52.465 That was one of the words in last month's memory verse. 00:19:52.465 --> 00:19:55.465 Confident and His Word is true. 00:19:55.865 --> 00:19:58.500 We can depend on it. 00:19:58.500 --> 00:20:03.032 We can come to it knowing that we will find in God's Word what we need. 00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:07.200 And remember, there are no shortcuts. 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:13.200 Just because you randomly open a page and try reading it once, doesn't mean you'll see everything you need to see. 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:14.799 There are no shortcuts. 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:19.232 You got to be in God's Word, but you can trust that it's true. 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:21.665 Letter I inspired and inerrant. 00:20:21.665 --> 00:20:33.400 And all this sets up the reality of letter A and what we need with letter A is to recognize that God's Word is your authority. 00:20:33.400 --> 00:20:36.066 For the Christian, God's word is our authority. 00:20:36.066 --> 00:20:39.066 It's authoritative. 00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:42.900 It's the thing we lean on for everything we do. 00:20:42.900 --> 00:20:45.766 God's word is your authority. 00:20:45.766 --> 00:20:49.566 Everything we do in this church, we bring it back to God's Word. 00:20:49.566 --> 00:20:50.633 We try to. 00:20:50.633 --> 00:20:52.299 I'm sure we don't get everything right. 00:20:52.299 --> 00:21:01.066 I'm sure we get some things wrong, but our hope is that we're coming back to Scripture to answer any question we have, and we try to be open and upfront about that. 00:21:01.066 --> 00:21:06.900 All our beliefs are on the website, all our even our bylaws and how the church is governed our on the website. 00:21:06.900 --> 00:21:08.900 We're not trying to there's no secret knowledge here. 00:21:08.900 --> 00:21:10.133 We're trying to keep from everyone. 00:21:10.133 --> 00:21:13.766 And once you attain to a certain level within the club, we tell you what we're really about. 00:21:13.766 --> 00:21:16.799 No, it's all out there and it's it's all right here. 00:21:17.932 --> 00:21:19.900 This is our authority. 00:21:19.900 --> 00:21:27.732 And because God's Word comes from him, because it's trustworthy, this can be your ultimate guiding authority in life. 00:21:29.932 --> 00:21:36.032 And the question is, if it's not, then what is? 00:21:36.032 --> 00:21:37.833 If it's not this, what is it? 00:21:37.833 --> 00:21:40.432 Because it's going to be something. 00:21:40.432 --> 00:21:42.500 Something will guide you in life. 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.099 Well, what is it? 00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:46.365 If it's not this, you may not know. 00:21:46.365 --> 00:21:50.066 To be fair, is it just simply your feelings? 00:21:50.066 --> 00:21:51.066 I go with what I'm feeling. 00:21:51.066 --> 00:21:53.465 That's what I follow. 00:21:53.465 --> 00:21:56.465 Well, does that ever lead you astray? 00:21:56.833 --> 00:21:59.099 No one. 00:21:59.099 --> 00:22:01.633 Come on. 00:22:01.633 --> 00:22:04.133 More than once I hear you. 00:22:04.133 --> 00:22:05.299 Well, just say more than once. 00:22:05.299 --> 00:22:07.365 We don't need to go farther than that, right? 00:22:07.365 --> 00:22:09.365 Yeah. Is it your feelings? 00:22:09.365 --> 00:22:11.133 I feel it, therefore it must be true. 00:22:11.133 --> 00:22:11.865 It must be good. 00:22:11.865 --> 00:22:15.066 Well, come on, is it your reason? 00:22:15.066 --> 00:22:16.633 I use my intellect. 00:22:16.633 --> 00:22:19.200 I use my reason to figure things out. 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:20.532 And that's what I go by. 00:22:21.532 --> 00:22:24.432 Have you ever been wrong? 00:22:24.432 --> 00:22:26.400 Has your reason ever been misguided? 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:29.532 Where does your ability to reason come from? 00:22:29.532 --> 00:22:33.599 And what is the reasoning you've developed based upon? 00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:37.532 Look, we all have something we call our authority, whether we realize it or not. 00:22:37.532 --> 00:22:38.532 What's it going to be? 00:22:38.532 --> 00:22:42.032 Is it going to be whatever wind of doctrine passes through? 00:22:42.032 --> 00:22:43.932 That's what Ephesians 414 talks about. 00:22:43.932 --> 00:22:44.665 You've got to be. 00:22:44.665 --> 00:22:47.266 The reality is, a boat has to be anchored to something solid. 00:22:47.266 --> 00:22:49.799 It can't be anchored to itself. 00:22:49.799 --> 00:22:52.465 What are you going to be anchored to? 00:22:52.465 --> 00:22:58.200 What is your foundation that when you don't know what else to do, where do you go? 00:22:59.099 --> 00:23:03.665 I think most people are really struggling because they haven't settled that. 00:23:03.665 --> 00:23:17.365 And when they don't know what else to do and when life is overwhelming and when they're wracked with anxiety or guilt or fear or depression and they don't know what else to do because they don't know what their authority is, they don't know where to go. 00:23:20.465 --> 00:23:24.365 And the reason why I'm hammering on this so much today. 00:23:25.133 --> 00:23:37.500 Because as I thought about it, the people I know who are the most stable, who make it through the seasons of anxiety, yeah, they have things that make them worried, but they don't. 00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:39.365 It doesn't become debilitating. 00:23:39.365 --> 00:23:43.500 The people who hit hard times but don't let it overwhelm them. 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:48.232 The people who aren't, they might be afraid, but they're not walking in fear. 00:23:48.232 --> 00:23:54.465 The people who I admire are the people who are in God's word. 00:23:54.665 --> 00:23:57.432 They're in God's Word faithfully every day. 00:23:57.432 --> 00:24:02.232 And they pray, and they come to Christ and they depend on him. 00:24:02.232 --> 00:24:03.333 And the opposite is true. 00:24:03.333 --> 00:24:05.900 Those who go, I'm completely ate up with anxiety. 00:24:05.900 --> 00:24:09.932 I'm completely overwhelmed by fear and depression and listen. 00:24:09.932 --> 00:24:13.099 And by the way, I know I'm way overstating a lot of things here. 00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:14.932 All right, look, I know there are chemical imbalances. 00:24:14.932 --> 00:24:15.500 I know all that. 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:25.799 I'm not I'm not trying to look past all that and just impose upon you something here that may not be fully true, but many often when I ask them, how often are you in God's Word? 00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:26.665 How often are you praying? 00:24:26.665 --> 00:24:28.500 I really struggle to do either consistently. 00:24:28.500 --> 00:24:30.299 There's a common pattern between the two. 00:24:33.566 --> 00:24:35.266 And so I just want to plead with you today. 00:24:35.266 --> 00:24:39.032 The solution for most everyone is right in front of you. 00:24:39.032 --> 00:24:46.766 If you had cancer and I said, I've got the magic cure and it's almost certainly guaranteed, just take it regularly every day. 00:24:48.133 --> 00:24:51.133 I don't know, I struggle to do that. 00:24:51.266 --> 00:24:53.700 I hear you, the struggle is real. 00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:54.700 It's real for me too. 00:24:54.700 --> 00:24:56.865 But do it. 00:24:56.865 --> 00:24:58.566 His word is life. 00:24:58.566 --> 00:25:00.965 It is here for you every step of the way. 00:25:00.965 --> 00:25:03.000 It's inspired. It's true. 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:08.932 It's your authority and there is nothing else. 00:25:09.599 --> 00:25:16.865 Listen, I know how derailed some of us can get if you just. Let's just say. 00:25:16.865 --> 00:25:22.432 Imagine how you would be tomorrow if you went the rest of today without eating. 00:25:22.432 --> 00:25:23.965 Would your family want to be around you? 00:25:26.599 --> 00:25:29.900 What if after 2 or 3 days, how would you be? 00:25:29.900 --> 00:25:36.633 You probably would be immobile, curled up in a ball in the corner of your room and nobody would be anywhere near you. 00:25:36.633 --> 00:25:37.833 We don't even have to go that far. 00:25:37.833 --> 00:25:39.333 By the way. Some of you miss one meal. 00:25:39.333 --> 00:25:41.000 That's all it takes. 00:25:41.000 --> 00:25:46.532 If you didn't get dessert and you're like, I'm out, leave me alone, right? 00:25:50.965 --> 00:25:55.133 And yet we easily go even a day without God's word in our lives. 00:25:55.133 --> 00:25:56.400 And we wonder. 00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:59.700 We wonder why I can't figure it out. 00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:02.465 Why am I struggling? 00:26:02.465 --> 00:26:07.900 And it's been weeks without food. 00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:13.232 This is my burden today that you get in God's Word. 00:26:13.232 --> 00:26:15.766 And here's why I look back at Psalm 19. 00:26:15.766 --> 00:26:16.833 Yes, you can trust it. 00:26:16.833 --> 00:26:18.299 Yes, it should be your authority. 00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:19.500 Yes, it is inspired. 00:26:19.500 --> 00:26:20.965 It is the Word of God from himself. 00:26:20.965 --> 00:26:25.299 And it also goes to work in your life to change you. 00:26:25.299 --> 00:26:28.532 In fact, Romans 12 talks about it transforms you. 00:26:28.532 --> 00:26:32.965 Don't be conformed to the image of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 00:26:32.965 --> 00:26:34.232 And so look at Psalm 19. 00:26:34.232 --> 00:26:35.465 We saw what God's Word is. 00:26:35.465 --> 00:26:37.465 Look at also what it does. 00:26:37.465 --> 00:26:38.365 Look at verse seven. 00:26:38.365 --> 00:26:41.532 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. 00:26:43.165 --> 00:26:46.799 God's word will comfort you. 00:26:47.333 --> 00:26:49.833 He will restore you. 00:26:49.833 --> 00:26:53.732 Being in His Word is what will revive your soul. 00:26:53.732 --> 00:26:58.400 Also, the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the simple anyone lack wisdom? 00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:01.333 James says, let him ask and it will be given him. 00:27:01.333 --> 00:27:03.900 If you're wondering what to do, come to him. Come to his word. 00:27:03.900 --> 00:27:06.700 Come to him in prayer. Ask, beg. 00:27:06.700 --> 00:27:09.599 Come to him. 00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:10.032 Verse eight. 00:27:10.032 --> 00:27:16.365 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart, bringing joy to the heart. 00:27:16.365 --> 00:27:19.000 You're struggling to find joy. 00:27:19.000 --> 00:27:20.900 This is where to find it. 00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:22.532 God's word will bring you joy. 00:27:22.532 --> 00:27:32.700 And then verse 11, by them is your servant warned, God's Word will protect you, it will guide you, it will protect you. 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:34.032 And you know what I'm talking about. 00:27:34.032 --> 00:27:40.500 How many times could you look back and go, if I had listened to God's Word, I would have been protected from some stuff I wish I hadn't gone through. 00:27:43.865 --> 00:27:51.700 In keeping them, there is great reward if you want to experience life to its fullest life abundantly, life everlasting. 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:56.700 If you want your life transformed, follow His word. 00:27:57.333 --> 00:28:08.133 Martin Lloyd-Jones was a preacher in the 1930s in Wales, Great Britain, and it was a pretty poor industrial area at the time. 00:28:08.532 --> 00:28:26.266 But as he began to preach and in fact try to recover the reality of God's Word being inerrant, inspired, true, dependable, which had many churches had strayed from as he began to preach, that it stirred a revival in the area, and it began to change people. 00:28:26.266 --> 00:28:30.299 And he started to overhear women in the supermarket. 00:28:30.299 --> 00:28:33.799 And when they talked about their husbands, they weren't putting them down. 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:42.032 They were talking about how they now preferred to go to the prayer meeting more than anything else, God is at work. 00:28:42.032 --> 00:28:51.432 But he knew something special was happening when he heard the story of a boy who came to his teacher and he said, teacher, I just want you to know the most amazing thing happened in our home last night. 00:28:51.432 --> 00:28:55.932 Last night we actually had a meal in our house. 00:28:57.599 --> 00:28:58.965 What are you talking about, a meal? 00:28:58.965 --> 00:29:00.000 Doesn't everybody get a meal? 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:02.599 No, many times we don't. 00:29:02.599 --> 00:29:03.766 Most of the time we don't. 00:29:03.766 --> 00:29:11.232 But last night we had mashed potatoes, we had gravy, we had meat, we had cabbage. 00:29:11.232 --> 00:29:12.799 I didn't know that was such a delicacy. 00:29:12.799 --> 00:29:14.099 But for him it was. 00:29:14.099 --> 00:29:15.700 We even had rice pudding. 00:29:15.700 --> 00:29:16.599 He was glowing. 00:29:16.599 --> 00:29:17.566 And she said, what happened? 00:29:17.566 --> 00:29:23.566 He said, my, my dad came to know the Lord and all that money he would spend on alcohol he brought home to us so we could eat. 00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:30.432 He transforms you. 00:29:30.432 --> 00:29:32.465 He changes you. 00:29:32.465 --> 00:29:36.000 And his word is the means by which that happens. 00:29:36.000 --> 00:29:38.000 There is no other way to know him. 00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:41.400 If you want to know Jesus and follow him, you got to turn to His word. 00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:47.400 Because at the end of the day, when we talk about God's Word, I'm not just talking about letters on a page. 00:29:47.400 --> 00:29:50.400 I'm not just talking about ink on paper. 00:29:51.333 --> 00:29:54.333 The word is Jesus. 00:29:54.400 --> 00:29:56.066 Hebrews one. 00:29:56.066 --> 00:30:02.365 In the former days, God spoke to us through prophets through many ways, but now he speaks to us through His word. 00:30:02.365 --> 00:30:04.599 Jesus. 00:30:04.599 --> 00:30:05.865 Jesus is the word. 00:30:05.865 --> 00:30:09.365 That's where all of this is pointing to, so that we can know him. 00:30:09.365 --> 00:30:11.732 And in him is where you will find life. 00:30:11.732 --> 00:30:17.099 Life abundant, life everlasting. 00:30:17.266 --> 00:30:18.633 And so I'm going to do something today. 00:30:18.633 --> 00:30:22.000 I'm going to ask you to make a commitment. Okay? 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:23.165 I don't do this very often. 00:30:23.165 --> 00:30:34.932 I did it once last year where I asked everyone to make a commitment to come to church every Sunday that month, I'm going to ask you to make a bigger commitment today, and I'm going to pray. 00:30:34.932 --> 00:30:38.165 Before I do that, I'm going to give you a second to chew on it. 00:30:38.165 --> 00:30:41.099 And here's the commitment I'm going to ask you to make. 00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:42.599 God's word is so important. 00:30:42.599 --> 00:30:43.766 It's so critical. 00:30:43.766 --> 00:30:45.400 It will change you if you're in it. 00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:57.900 I'm going to ask you to commit to every day in March to read God's Word and to pray on your own every day, to not miss a day, every day in March. 00:30:58.133 --> 00:31:06.000 And I'm going to ask you specifically, if you don't, if you already have some Bible reading plan you use, and that's not a struggle for you, that's great. 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:10.400 If you don't, I'm just going to ask that you simply read the is Bible reading plan in March. 00:31:10.400 --> 00:31:11.700 It's like a chapter a day. 00:31:11.700 --> 00:31:14.700 It might take five minutes to read. 00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:16.299 Those are out in the lobby. 00:31:16.299 --> 00:31:17.133 They're on our website. 00:31:17.133 --> 00:31:18.432 They're easy to access. 00:31:18.432 --> 00:31:22.165 We're just going through the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs right now. 00:31:22.165 --> 00:31:24.566 Really easy. 00:31:24.566 --> 00:31:30.732 And pray five minutes a day, find a window at some point and build that consistency. 00:31:30.732 --> 00:31:31.732 In the month of March. 00:31:31.732 --> 00:31:33.932 I'm going to ask you to commit to that today. 00:31:33.932 --> 00:31:41.799 I'm going to pray for that before I ask for that commitment, so you can pray about it and think about it and consider it. 00:31:42.833 --> 00:31:47.400 It is a big commitment, but it's worth it. 00:31:47.400 --> 00:31:48.665 It's worth it. 00:31:48.665 --> 00:31:51.665 God will work through that in your life. 00:31:52.465 --> 00:31:54.133 And some might say, you know, John, I don't know. 00:31:54.133 --> 00:31:56.500 I don't know if that will really work or not. You're right. 00:31:56.500 --> 00:31:58.732 You don't know because you haven't tried it. 00:31:58.732 --> 00:32:01.333 Try it. 00:32:01.333 --> 00:32:02.599 Get in God's word. 00:32:02.599 --> 00:32:05.599 Let God's Word get to work in you. 00:32:05.965 --> 00:32:08.965 Watch him move in your life through it. 00:32:10.900 --> 00:32:27.165 God, I pray for everyone here that there would be a renewed passion for your word, that every person leaving here today would leave with an overwhelming burden that I have got to be faithfully in your word, committed to reading your word, to getting to know you through your word. 00:32:30.165 --> 00:32:34.232 Would you give us the courage to make that commitment today? 00:32:34.299 --> 00:32:40.000 Would you give us the courage to keep that commitment to lean on one another, to encourage one another? 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:45.400 If you want to see God move in this church, start by having him move in your life every day. 00:32:45.400 --> 00:32:48.400 This month. 00:32:48.865 --> 00:32:50.432 Love you Jesus. 00:32:50.432 --> 00:32:52.465 Amen. 00:32:52.465 --> 00:32:53.365 All right, so here's what I'm going to do. 00:32:53.365 --> 00:33:00.566 If you will commit to every day in the month of March, 30 days, right. 00:33:00.566 --> 00:33:02.365 March as 30 days, right? 00:33:02.365 --> 00:33:04.500 Or 31. 00:33:04.500 --> 00:33:05.599 So I'll give you one free day. 00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:06.299 I messed up there. 00:33:06.299 --> 00:33:09.299 You get one free day. 00:33:11.066 --> 00:33:13.432 Every day I'm going to be in God's Word. 00:33:13.432 --> 00:33:15.665 I'm going to read at least the church Bible reading plan. 00:33:15.665 --> 00:33:16.633 I'm going to pray five minutes. 00:33:16.633 --> 00:33:18.032 If you do that, will you stand? 00:33:26.032 --> 00:33:28.700 And here's what I would encourage you to do. 00:33:28.700 --> 00:33:29.799 I know it might feel a little weird. 00:33:29.799 --> 00:33:36.099 Look around to someone that you know that you can trust and go to them after and say, Will you help hold me accountable to this? 00:33:36.099 --> 00:33:37.133 Will you encourage me? 00:33:37.133 --> 00:33:43.099 Can I text you when I'd rather just go on to sleep and not do this? 00:33:43.232 --> 00:33:46.232 And will you encourage me? 00:33:46.599 --> 00:33:46.932 All right. 00:33:46.932 --> 00:33:48.232 Well, listen, go and have a seat,