Biblical Inspiration and Biblical Preservation – Part 1 - Biblical Inspiration

Temple Baptist Church - 1-23-2022

2 Timothy 3:10-17; Job 32:8

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Every few years, I preach a series on the Bible. 

 

1.  I know that our people are well versed in the Scriptures, but we have young people growing up that need to know what we know. 

 

2.  Also, because of the constant "chipping away" of doctrinal truth through false teaching and peer pressure.  We adults need re-enforcement. 

 

3.  What I will preach over these weeks will be what the Bible says and teaches about the Bible.  This series will not be about opinion; it will be about God's truth.

 

B.  In 2 Timothy, the key verse is chapter 2, verse 15:

 

1.  "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."  Here, Paul is admonishing young Timothy to study the Word of God!  IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE BIBLE SAY, STUDY THE BIBLE.

 

2.  Thank God Timothy did not go join a liberal church nor did he go off to some liberal Bible College.  He sat under God's man who both told him to study the Word of God for himself and also mentored him in the faith.

 

3.  As your pastor, I tell you to study the Word of God!  As I begin this message on Biblical Inspiration, I want you to know that I have not consulted one commentary or anyone else's sermon on the subject.  What I am doing today is strictly Bible based.

 

4.  Most people never study a biblical subject for themselves because it is much easier to just look at what someone else has said on the subject.

 

C.  I do not know how far that I will get this morning, but I want to look at the word "inspiration" for a few minutes.  I want you to know what the Bible says concerning Biblical Inspiration.

 

D.  The word "inspiration" is used only twice in your King James Bible.  Thus, we have a First Mention Principle found in the Old Testament and a Last Mention Principle found in the New Testament.  The First Mention and the Last Mention ALWAYS confirm God's teaching on the subject.  These two mentions are all that you need to understand inspiration.

 

First Mention - Job 32:8  But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. 

 

Last Mention – 2 Timothy 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

 

1.  Old Testament: Inspiration gave Adam Physical Life. 

 

a.  The First Mention of Inspiration is found in the Old Testament -

 

The First Mention Principle: "God indicates in the first mention of a subject the truth with which that subject stands connected in the mind of God." 

 

1)  The Old Testament word "inspiration" speaks about what God did in man. He inspired wisdom in the spirit of man.  The spirit of man is that part that is God-concious.

 

2)  When God created Adam, He created him both male and female.  This speaks of both creation and procreation or reproduction.  In the day that God made Adam, Eve was already in him because God would never create another man.  In the future, Adam and Eve would procreate through the birth of children.

 

Genesis 1:27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

 

Genesis 5:1-2  This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;  (2)  Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

 

3)  How did God inspire Adam?

 

Genesis 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

 

John 1:9  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

 

4)  God breathed both out (expiration) and into Adam (inspiration).  God breathing out is called expiration, but inspiration is to infuse or to force breath into someone.  Physically, we breath in (inspiration) and we breathe out (expiration).

 

5)  God infused, through inspiration, the very life of God into Adam's nostrils and Adam became a "living soul."  God has never again done such because it is no longer required.  Life is now procreated and, therefore, preserved in our children through Adam.

 

6)  God breathed life into a dead body and the result was eternal life in Adam.  Now, with the First Mention of inspiration in mind, let us go to the New Testament

 

2.  New Testament: We find Biblical Inspiration in gives us the Word of God.

 

2 Peter 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 

2 Timothy 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 

 

3.  The Inspired Word of God gives to us eternal Spiritual Life.  that gives Spiritual Life.

 

a.  Paul, writing to Timothy:  2 Timothy 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

 

b.  Jesus speaking to Nicodemus: John 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

 

c.  Paul speaking to the Roman Church: Romans 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

d.  Peter speaking to the dispersed Jews: 1 Peter 1:23-25  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.  (24)  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:  (25)  But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

 

Conclusion: The inspiration of God is a one-time act in both usages. 

 

1.  In creation, God breathed into Adam the "breath of life."  God has never "inspired" any other human being. 

 

2.  In giving us the Word of God, God "inspired" the human authors of the Word of God to write as thy were moved  by the Holy Ghost.  God has never inspired man to do so again. 

 

3.  Inspiration is an act of God in giving us the complete canon of Scriptures, both verbally and plenarily in the completed canon of Scriptures.

Evil Speaking and Judging

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-19-2022

James 4:11-12

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Before we get into these verses, let me say that not all criticism is bad or unnecessary.  There is a huge difference between constructive and destructive criticism.

 

1.  There is constructive criticism that has the power to aid or change someone in a right way.  I am glad that I had people in my life that helped me to do things in a right way by correcting me in a right way. 

 

2.  Without constructive criticism, our culture would not have advanced to where it is today.  Every generation would have to reinvent the wheel, etc. 

 

3.  I think that it was Will Rodgers who said that "Everyone is ignorant, only on different subjects.”   This is not what the Book James is written about.

 

B.  Our text is specific.  It is about "evil speaking."  This is an area where most people, including this pastor, has failed.  The bible has much to say about saying too much!  Especially in the area of evil speaking and righteously judging which are purposefully destructive.

 

First Mention - Genesis 3:1  Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?  (Subtil – crafty, whispering, dividing, destroying)

 

Last Mention - 2 Corinthians 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  (Beguiled – seduce wholly, deceive)

 

Romans 1:28-32  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;  (29)  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,  (30)  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  (31)  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  (32)  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

 

2 Corinthians 12:20  For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:  (behind the back quietly lest the backbiter be exposed)

 

Psalms 41:7  All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

 

Proverbs 16:28  A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

 

Proverbs 6:16-19  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  (17)  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  (18)  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,  (19)  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

 

C.  Let us just look at the wording of our text.

 

1.  Verse 11.  The Sin of Slander.

 

a.  "Speak not evil" – this implies intent and means to speak to cause intentional hurt.  Speaking evil means to slander someone with ill intent.  Slanderers are wicked people who intentionally take upon themselves to destroy another person.  This is not speaking about someone in an uplifting way, but in such a way to cause harm and hurt. 

 

b.  What is said may even be true but not helpful.  There is an old saying, "If you have something to say about me, say it on you knees to Someone who can help me." 

 

c.  "speaketh evil of one another, brethren" - Not speaking to the one slandered but speaking of them to others with the intent to damage their reputation.  Not speaking of the unsaved, though I believe that we need to be careful in this area also but speaking of our spiritual brothers and sisters to cause harm. 

 

d.  We are family!  When a brother is down, we pick him up, not put our foot on him and keep him there!

 

Galatians 6:1-2  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  (2)  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

 

c.  "He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law."  Sitting in the Judgment Seat by becoming the judge, jury, and hangman.  There are two aspects of judging that our Lord spoke of:

 

1.  There is unrighteous judgment - Matthew 7:1-2  Judge not, that ye be not judged.  (2)  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.  (What goes around comes around!)

 

2.  There is righteous judgment - John 7:24  Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

 

Romans 2:1-2  Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.  (2)  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

 

D.  "But if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge."  Let me illustrate what James is saying in this last part of verse 11.  In our legal system, judges are appointed to set on the bench and judge the law.  These judges are human like as the one that is to be judged and, therefore, imperfect also.  Yet, they are appointed to carry out "the letter of the law" to the individual who stands before them.  When a brother appoints himself as the judge of the law over another brother, then he is no longer a "doer of the law."  He is not to be judged but sits in judgment of another brother.

 

Matthew 7:3-5  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  (4)  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?  (5)  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

 

E.  Verse 12.  There is one lawgiver, the Lord Jesus Christ—therefore—there is one judge!  He can either be lenient or He can hold us to the "letter of the law" which killeth.

about him or her.

 

Romans 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

 

2 Corinthians 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

The Second Coming of Christ - Part 2

Temple Baptist Church - 1-2-2022

Revelation 19:11-16

 

A.  Last week, we looked at some of the prophecies concerning the Second Advent or Coming of Christ.  The Bible teaches that Christ's return will be comparable to His first ascent to heaven.  It will be a literal, physical, visible return to this earth.  He will establish His kingdom and reign upon the throne of David for one thousand years.

 

B.  Verse 11.  His Person.  He will be the right One.  In Revelation chapter 6:1, we saw the False Messiah, Antichrist, coming on a white horse to set up his ungodly, unrighteous kingdom on earth.  He will be the hero of this lost world as well as the destruction of it. In this verse, we see the True Messiah, Christ Jesus—Jehovah God—will come to set up His kingdom in righteousness and judgment coming on a white horse.  His description is found in the words Faithful and True.  He is faithful to His Word; He is faithful to His promise; He is faithful to His people; and He is faithful to His purposes.  He is True.  In Him is no unrighteousness at all; in Him is no untruth at all; in Him is no compromise at all!

 

The first time He entered Jerusalem, He was riding upon the "foal of an ass."  He came lowly in salvation.  Zechariah 9:9  "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."

 

The second time, He is riding upon a white horse in judgment.  Jeremiah 33:14-15  Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.  (15)  In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

 

He is faithful to His Word and promises.  He will be faithful in His judgment.  Revelation 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

 

He is True because He is Truth.  Revelation 3:14  And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

 

C.  Verse 11.  His Initial Purpose.  He is coming to judge in righteousness.  Jesus Christ comes to make war on Satan, the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and the kings of the earth.  The earth is "ripe" and the time is "right" and His judgment will be "just."  Antichrist made war in unrighteousness against the righteous saints of God; Jesus Christ will make war in righteousness against the unrighteous followers of Antichrist.

 

Exodus 15:3  The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

Ecclesiastes 3:8  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

 

D.  Verse 12.  His eyes were as a flame of fire.  This speaks of His glory and His righteous judgment.  His eyes are discerning as He knows all things. 

 

In His eyes we find wisdom.  Revelation 1:14  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

 

In His eyes we find discernment.  Revelation 2:18-19  And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;  (19)  I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

 

E.  Verse 12.  On His head were many crowns.  At the Judgment Seat of Christ, there will be five crowns to be won.  Those crowns are not to be worn by God's people but to be cast at the feet of Him that is worthy to wear them.  The song writer wrote, "Crown Him with many crowns, the Lamb upon His throne."  Jesus Christ alone is worthy to wear these crowns!  These are the crowns of His authority; crowns of His sovereignty; crowns of His power; crowns of His position and person; crowns of His glory.

 

Revelation 4:10-11  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,  (11)  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

 

F.  Verse 12.  The mystery of His unknown name.  It will be a "name written" that is peculiar to His person and unknown to the writer or to the riders.  It is a mystery to mankind.  I will spend no time here other than to say that if no one knows this name, I can reflect upon it no more.  Though we do not know this name, we do know that name that is above all others.

 

Philippians 2:9-11  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:  (10)  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;  (11)  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

G.  Verse 13.  His clothing.  "A vesture dipped in blood."  When Christ was crucified, the Jewish Nation rejected their Messiah and gave their voice to His death.  With an oath, they called down the judgment of God upon themselves and their children.  The Nation of Israel plunged into spiritual darkness that was a self-made darkness.

 

Matthew 27:24-26  When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.  (25)  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.  (26)  Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

 

Romans 11:7-10  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded  (8)  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.  (9)  And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:  (10)  Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

 

Romans 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

 

2 Corinthians 3:13-16  And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:  (14)  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.  (15)  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.  (16)  Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.

 

H.  Verse 13.  His name is called The Word of God.  You cannot biblically separate Jesus Christ from His Word!  He is called "The Word of God."  Notice the definite article "The" is capitalized.  It is not "a" word of God, it is "The Word of God."  One of a kind as it stands alone.

 

The Person of The Word of God.  The Word always was with God and the Word always was God.  John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 

The Eternality of The Word of God.  Psalms 119:89  LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.

 

The Manifestation of The Word of God.  The Word of God became flesh.  John 1:14-15  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  (15)  John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

 

The Fellowship of The Word of God.  "And these things write we unto you."  All that we know about God is found in the Written Word of God.  1 John 1:1-4  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;  (2)  (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)  (3)  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.  (4)  And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

 

The Promise of The Word of God.  Psalms 12:6-7  The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  (7)  Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.

 

The Unity of The Word of God.  1 John 5:7  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

 

Our Lord Jesus Christ promised that He would come again.  In His First Advent, Israel expected a King but received a Lamb.  In His Second Advent, Israel will receive their King who was a Lamb!

Reading Your Bible Through In 2022

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-2-2022

Psalms 119:129-136

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  As the New Year begins, I want to look at the important role that God’s Word will have in your life this year.  As most churches, we encourage our people to read through the Bible at least once a year.  This is not an insurmountable task, as some would suppose. 

 

B.  For the average reader, it will take seventy-two hours to read the Old Testament and eighteen hours for the New Testament.  Ninety hours out of 8,760 hours that the Lord has given us in a year doesn’t seem like too much. A tithe of our time would be 876 hours.

 

C.  The Bible is given to us in two basic ways: principles and facts.

 

1.  In the story of David and Goliath, there are fifty or sixty facts. In the first exposure to the story, one will remember several of the facts. After reading it several times, hearing a Sunday School teacher present it, and maybe a sermon preached on it, or maybe teaching it ourselves, we will know most of the facts from memory.

 

2.  Then there is a basic principle in the account. A little nobody, with not much to offer, with God’s help and blessing can handle a big giant situation or problem in his or her life. Every time we are exposed to the story, that principle will be more deeply imbedded in our outlook. When we come to problem times in our lives, we will think about David’s impossible situation and the great victory, and we will take courage and face our problem and get victory. We become spiritual by becoming scriptural. The more scriptural we are the more spiritual we will be. 

 

D.  The Bible is filled with history, geography, science, engineering, music, philosophy, poetry, religion, drama, politics, struggle, suffering, prophesy, advice, warnings, direction, helps, encouragement, examples, and covers every conceivable area of human knowledge and experience.

 

E.  The Bible is a masterpiece on social problems, on economic issues, domestic settings, foreign relations, emotional disorder, mental disturbance, physical health, financial management, and spiritual victory.

 

F.  The Bible has the answer to the crime problem the divorce tragedy, the moral slide, the evolution debate, the liberal drift, the pornography blight, the aids epidemic, the abortion question, the teen delinquent problem, the illegitimate birth situation, the world energy problem, the world hunger problem, the birth defect burden, the pollution fear, the alcohol plague, the drug disaster, and the terror threat.

 

G.  The Bible also answers questions such as:  Where do I find out about heaven, and about hell? Where can I learn how to be saved? What will the millennium be like? How will the world come to an end?  The Bible is the only reliable source of insight on these and many other subjects.

 

 

 H.  One man wrote a song about the Bible and one of the verses goes like this:

 

                    How do we find out what is right from wrong?

                    How get the power to make us strong?

                    How grows our faith from a tiny seed?

                    Open the Bible and read.

 

J.  The Bible is our instruction book for living.  The prophet Amos wrote, “For they know not to do right sayeth the Lord.” (Amos 3:10a) He did not say they did not want to do right, or that they did not intend to do right. He said they did not know what was right, and because of it, it cost them dearly. Their houses were spoiled. An adversary stole all the integrity, character, decency, and morals. They were like a lamb that had been mangled by a lion. All that was left was two legs, and a piece of an ear.

 

K.  The Bible tells us what is right and what is wrong.  It is not what I think is right, or the way I feel about it, or what some learned theologian says is right, but what the Bible says about it. The Bible tells us that God is right, and the Bible is right. I must get into the Bible and find out what is right so I too will be right.  If I do this I will be able to think right, then I will do right, do right in a right way, and do right at the right time, do right for the right reason, and do right with enthusiasm. I must do right in a right way lest I make right wrong.

  

What will it do for me if I read my Bible through this year?

 

1.  IT WILL RESULT IN PROSPERITY.  Prosperity is promised over and over again in the Bible to those who understand and obey the teachings set forth therein. However, the promised prosperity covers a lot more ground than money and finances.  Success and prosperity will come in the spiritual, the physical, the social, emotional, the mental, domestic, as well as the financial area of life.

 

Luke 24:27, 32  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. . . . . . .And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

 

3 John 1:2  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.  (There is a hint of at least three areas of prosperity in this one verse.  He touches on the financial, the physical, and the spiritual.  The Lord wants His children to prosper.)

 

Joshua 1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

 

Deuteronomy 29:9  Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do. 

 

1 Kings 2:3  And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:

 

Isaiah 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth 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.

 

Psalms 1:2, 3  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 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. 

 

1 Timothy 4:15  Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

 

2 Timothy 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

 

James 1:25  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.

 

 2. IT WILL DEVELOP AND BUILD FAITH.  Romans 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.   D. L. Moody said, “For years I prayed for faith and thought that someday faith would come down and strike me like lightening, but faith did not seem to come, then one day I read Romans 10:17.” (Many in this day are basing their faith on experience.  It is not safe to build one’s faith on feeling or something that happened to us. The devil is very subtle and deceptive, and has led away a multitude in this way.)

 

a.  First, It is the avenue through which we are saved.   Ephesians 2:8, 9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

b.  Second, when faith is developed it will please God.  Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

c.  Third, It will quench the fiery darts of the wicked.   Ephesians 6:16  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

 

d.  Fourth, It is the condition of answered prayer.  Matthew 21:22  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

 

 3.  BIBLE READING WILL GIVE VICTORY OVER SIN.  David said, in Psalm 119:11, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.”  (Someone once wrote, “This book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this book.”)

 

a.  Reading the account of Achan will help one to think about the seriousness of stealing and deception.

 

b.  Reading the account of David’s act of adultery and murder with the awful fourfold judgment of God upon him and his family will help one to think about the consequences of such sin.

 

c.  Reading the account of Ananias and Sapphira will help one see the seriousness of lying about the things of God. 

 

d.  Reading the account of Absalom and the resulting heartache and tragic end surely will keep a person from rebelling against authority.

 

e.  The terrible outcome of Lot’s turn toward Sodom resulting in the awful exposure to wickedness, the loss of his wife, and the resulting incest with his own daughters, should keep anyone from turning away to the world.

 

f.  We are told that the things that happened to the people in the Old Testament times were recorded and shared with us for our examples.  1 Corinthians 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition.

 

 4. IT WILL GIVE PEACE.  Peace comes in three stages.

 

a.  First, there is peace with God. Isaiah stated, in Isaiah 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

 

b.  Second, there in peace of God. This results from peace with God.  In Philippians 4:6, Paul said, “ and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

 

c.  And third, there is peace with others and situations and circumstances around us.  Peace with my neighbor, peace where I work, and peace where I live depends on the first two.  David wrote, in Psalms119:165  Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.  (The word nothing covers a lot of area.)

 

Isaiah 54:13   And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children. 

 

Isaiah 48:18  O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:”

 

5. IT WILL ASSIST YOU IN GETTING PRAYERS ANSWERED.

 

a.  Jesus taught in John 15:7, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

 

b.  John wrote in 1 John 5:14, “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.

 

1 John 3:22  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

 

c.  Doubt is the major enemy of answered prayer and reading the word of God expels doubt.  Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” 

 

 6. IT WILL BRING GREAT JOY.

 

a.  Jeremiah the prophet of old cried out, in Jeremiah 15:16, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” 

 

b.  Jesus Himself said, in John 15:11,  “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

 

c.  We read in 1 John 1:4, “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full”

d.  In all of these verses it is clear that joy comes from hearing the word of the Lord.

 

7. IT WILL MOTIVATE US TO SERVICE.

 

a.  The Spirit of the Lord uses the word of the Lord to build a fire in our heart.  Jeremiah 20:9  But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.