Part 3 - Reading God's Word Series

FAITH

PART 3 – READING GOD’S WORD

First Baptist Church of Tawas City Michigan

Rev. Bruce A. Shields – 11-13-2005

www.tawasbaptist.org

WELCOME

• Visitors (Visitor Cards & Prayer Request Cards in pews)

• New Teen Youth Group – 13 and up. (First Meeting Friday 18th, 6:00pm @ Bruce and Terri’s House)

• If someone feels lead to head up the 12 and under group please see me so we can get that started as well.

SCRIPTURE READING

Romans 10:17 (KJV)

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

PRAYER FOR HOLY SPIRIT

We are continuing our series on faith this week with the importance of reading God’s word.

The last couple weeks we’ve talked about roadblocks to our faith, such as unforgiveness, gossip, talking poorly about our brothers and sisters and resentment.

Another roadblock to our faith and God working in our lives is not reading God’s word.

We just read in Romans 10:17 that our faith comes by hearing (or reading) the word of God.

So today I pose the question,

“What’s so important about the word of God?”

“I believe in Jesus, that’s all that matters, right?”

“The disciples did pretty good for themselves and they didn’t have a Bible.”

First of all, if you do not read your Bible, I could tell you anything I wanted and you wouldn’t now any better.

You would have nothing to compare it with if you never read!

I could say;

Isaiah 42:26 says “All who are good in heart, shall receive the blessings of the Lord.”

For those who want to look this scripture up now, there is no Isaiah 42:26.

But those who do not read the Bible, or look up the scriptures from the sermon would never know this.

But if I was to say to you,

John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have ever lasting life.”

Most of you would know that I am speaking the truth.

Why? Because you have probably read this scripture sometime in your life and you recognize it.

This is just one reason we are to read the scriptures.

But let’s see why the Bible tells us to read the scriptures.

Psalm 33:6

“By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,

their starry host by the breath of his mouth.”

Wow, so what you’re saying is there is POWER in the word of God!

YES!

Psalm 89:34

“I will not violate my covenant

or alter what my lips have uttered.”

We can have faith that what God says, He will do! We can also know that He will not change what He has said.

That’s integrity!

God is a God of His word.

The word of God is powerful, and full of integrity.

God’s word is the eternal truth.

John 8:31-32

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Who is the truth?

Truth > Jesus > God’s Word made Flesh > God’s Word / Bible

Jesus says; "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

Jesus is the Word made flesh; “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

God’s words, Jesus’ words are recorded through the Holy Spirit in this book, the Holy Bible.

It is not just a history book, although there is history in here.

It is not just a story book about the prophets and Jesus, although there are stories in here.

It’s not just a book about prophecies and what the future holds, although it’s all in here.

This book, is the living, power filled words which have come from the mouth of God through the Holy Spirit, pen to papyrus, spirit to word, the mind and heart of God’s plan to redeem man and repair what was lost because of the fall of man.

This book is a record of the beginning of our time, straight through to the end of our time.

God is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all that is, all that was and all that will ever be.

This book is your key to a relationship with the Lord, from where we gain knowledge and understanding so that we can weather the storms in our lives and grow in the Lord.

This book holds the mysteries of life and death, the understanding of the ages that were and are to come.