THE WORD OF GOD WILL STAND
By Rev. Dr. Jerry Schmoyer jerry@schmoyer.net
http://india.christiantrainingonline.org/
Main Idea: Importance & use of the Bible
INTRODUCTION
MUSEUMS = weapons, Smithsonain when in Washington in May
Saw old, 2 sided swords, took 2 hands to use
Interesting, but useless today
Good only for museum
See Sword of the Spirit same way today!
2 weeks ago I shared a new favorite song with you that I heard at Labor Day Gospel Concert
ONE DAY THE NEXT DAY COULD BE THE DAY HE COMES
Today another song, same group – Down East Boys
I. THE IMPORTANCE OF GOD’S WORD
A. GOD’S WORD IS ETERNAL
The mountains will be shaken but the Word of God will stand.
World today unsteady, nothing to depend on
Can’t build life on
-finances, shakey and can go at any moment
-job, economy take that, eventually too old to work
-health, will get old and health deteriorate
-relationships, they change, people leave, imperfect
Only stable is God and HIS WORD,
that stays and lasts forever
Future worse – all will be destroyed
Very MOUNTAINS THEMSELVES won’t be able to stand
If they can’t, what can? ONLY THE WORD OF GOD!
It will stand forever!
(ALL LOOK UP) Psalms 119:89 Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.
TRANSITION
Because it is powerful and eternal Satan attacks it to keep us from using it
B. GOD’S WORD IS ATTACKED
Satan’s FIRST ATTACK against man was on the Word of God – Genesis 3 “did God really say that?”
Insinuating that God didn’t
Trying ever since to devaluate place of Word in lives
If can get us to set aside our offensive weapon much better chance of victory!
Today: people ignorant of Word, believers or unbelievers
(ALL LOOK UP) 1 Thess 2:13-14 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.
Today: undermine trust in the Bible,
what we have fake, untrue, or full of errors
More better manuscripts of Bible than any other
HOLD BIBLE, look at it, what if really God’s Words to you? What difference make?
C. GOD’S WORD IS OUR WEAPON
GOD’S WORD our only offensive weapon
(ALL LOOK UP) Eph 6:17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
NOT antique sword in museum but living and active
Jesus quoted Bible when tempted!!!
If He needed to so do we!
WORD OF GOD useful, powerful, does what a sword does
(ALL LOOK UP) Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
NOT wave Bible like banner
BUT wear Bible like a sword
TRANSITION
We would all agree on the importance of supremacy of God’s Word
But that doesn’t mean we know how to use it
II. THE USE OF GOD’S WORD
A. DAILY PRACTICE
(ALL LOOK UP) Acts 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Bereans searched Scriptures daily – do you?
To learn to use sword must practice with it daily, hour after hour
Not come naturally, take time to get good at it
Satan interfere with time, priorities, emphasis
How to get the devil to leave us – learn to use the Bible!
Jesus’ time with disciples – gave them God’s words
B. PERSONAL PRACTICE
Orange trees everywhere, no machine to make juice!
Don’t just read books ABOUT the Bible, read the Bible!
(ALL LOOK UP) 2 Tim 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
HOW TO UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE?
The main things are the plain things
The plain things are the main things
Understand Bible in NATURAL sense
Common sense, not make Bible a mystery book
Come with faith of a child to understand it
Understand the Bible in the GENERAL sense
Look at context, let scripture determine scripture
Understand Bible in CULTURAL sense
Put self in place of ones first receiving, reading text – what mean to them?
GO TO DOCTOR, say don’t feel good, he gives you prescription and says ‘next’ – how feel?
ASK QUESTIONS, check, observe, gather facts
Then interpret them so can APPLY – correct Rx
Same with Bible study – can’t just read and say how apply
Only remember what already heard (food someone else already chewed for you)
Or read footnotes or commentary (food someone else already chewed for you)
ASK QUESTIONS – won’t answer a question of don’t ask it!
If ask author sitting with you, what would you ask them to explain?
Write, ask questions – best way to get more out of your Bible study
Then pray about, look up answers
FIND EXAMPLE PASSAGE TO PRACTICE ON!!! – 2 Tim 3:16-17
God-breathed – what mean?
‘in breathed’ = “inspired” by God
OK to use footnotes, commentaries, etc.,
NOT OK when look to apply it to own life
Teaching what mean? How Bible do it?
Example of it in own life?
Rebuking what mean? How Bible do it?
Example of it in own life?
Correcting what mean? How Bible do it?
Example of it in own life?
Training in righteousness what mean?
How Bible do it? Example in own life?
Equipped what mean? How Bible do it?
Example in own life?
Thoroughly equipped what mean? How Bible do it?
Example?
Good work what mean? How Bible do it? Example?
Every good work what mean? How Bible do it?
Example?
C. MEMORIZING THE WORD = victory in life
(ALL LOOK UP) Psalms 119:9-11 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
JESUS knew it by heart, much of OT – quoted Deuteronomy 3x when tempted by Satan!
D. MEDITATING ON THE WORD
(ALL LOOK UP) Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.
MULL ON IT in mind, think about it, fill mind/heart with Scripture and let it form thoughts and attitudes
TIME to let it soak in
JOURNAL thoughts, insights, etc.
CONCLUSION
GREAT PRIVILEGE to own Bible of your own
Very words of God Himself
Will last, still true, after everything in this world gone!
Words of life – so important to read, study it!
ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT SUNDAY:
PHILIPPIANS verse by verse, slowly (unless already reading Bible)