Developing Abiding Faith In God's Promises

January 4, 2009

Morning Worship

Text: Psalm 86:11-13

Subject: The Truth of God

Title: Developing Abiding Faith in God’s Promises

Do you remember your very first encounter with the Bible? I’m talking about the first time you picked it up and began to read what is written on the pages. I still have my very first Bible – a KJV black leather. It was a graduation present to me from my sister and brother - in - law. Much as I hate to admit it still looks like it did the day I took it out of the box. You have heard me share before about how much I liked to read as a youngster. I loved science fiction books. The very first thing that I ever tried to read in the Bible was the Book of Revelation. It was kind of like science fiction. That was before I received the precious gift of eternal life. It made no sense to me. Little did I know then that this is the word of God. Nearly twenty-one years ago my understanding of what the Bible was began to change. When Charlotte and I gave our lives to Jesus on that weekend youth retreat to which we had taken seven teenagers, we were each given a Good News Bible. Now the Good News Bible is not a translation but a paraphrase, but for the very first time I began reading in genesis and read all the way through to the end of Revelation. My life was changed and my understanding of what the Bible was began to change. It took a while before I came to the undivided conclusion that this book is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. I am going to step out on a limb right now and make a statement that a lot of people are not going to like. Any religion, cult, or denomination that does not accept the whole Bible as the inspired word of God is not from God. It is in bondage to good works.

Once the Devil was walking along with one of his cohorts. They saw a man ahead of them pick up something shiny. "What did he find?" asked the cohort.

"A piece of the truth," the Devil replied.

"Doesn’t it bother you that he found a piece of the truth?" asked the cohort.

No," said the Devil, "I will see to it that he makes a religion out of it."

"Klyne Snodgrass, Between Two Truths - Living with Biblical Tensions, 1990, Zondervan Publishing House, p. 35.

That is where I want to get to today. I want to help you get to the point where you not only confess the word of God with your mouth but that you can really believe in your heart that it is the inerrant word of God.

Turn to Psalm 86:11-13

Lord, open my eyes to see and my ears to hear what the spirit is saying to the church.

I. FLOWING IN THE TRUTH (11a) 11Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; many have undertaken to prove that the Bible cannot be true by looking at the history of the Bible, the science of the Bible or the linguistics of the Bible. Many who have tried have ended up coming to a quite different conclusion. One of those was internationally known speaker Josh McDowell. As the president of his class in college Josh looked like he had everything going for him. But beneath the surface he was out of control and was looking for satisfaction in his life in every way you could think of. Then one day he was challenged by some Christian friends, “Why don’t you look for yourself and come to a conclusion on your own?” As he accepted the challenge he soon came to the realization that the Bible was true and that Jesus was who He said he was. Once he accepted Christ he said it took about a year and a half for the necessary changes to take place in his life that would finally make it all so real. That is why the Psalmist could write this verse, 11Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth… You cannot understand the Bible on your own. It is only through a right relationship with God can it be understood. God must teach His ways to you. You see the Bible is a Holy Spirit inspired book that can only be understood through the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit to you. John 14:25-26, “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 16:12-13, 12“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. It is the Holy Spirit who teaches you. Now let’s break this down even a little further. 11Teach me your way, O LORD… If you want to know about the things of God you need to study the Word. As you study the Holy Spirit teaches you by placing truth in your spirit – He makes the Bible come alive in you. That happens by having faith. Hebrews 11:3, By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command… Two dimensions that the word of God operates in – the spiritual and the natural. 1) spiritual - By faith 2) the natural - we understand. It is when our spirits accept the word by faith that our natural man – our minds - can really understand. 11Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth… Once I get it in my spirit I’m going to believe it, and stand on it till I receive it.