Inspiration And Perspirarion

Inspiration and Perspiration

2 Timothy 3:16-3:17

Introduction-

Turn with me to 2 Timothy chapter 3

I want to take a look at what most of us here would say is the Word of God that they live bye.

We believe every word and know that it is the inspired Word of God.

Some will say that they believe it all, but only practice about ½ of it.

There is also a group of people that struggle because as of yet, the Word of God has not changed their lives and they have not experienced the power of God’s Word and only know God’s Word from what they are taught and hear in a church service.

2 Timothy Chapter 3 is about Apostle Paul writing to Timothy, a partner in ministry lessons that all of us could benefit from if we would apply to our lives.

Paul tells us this world is terrible.

There will be hard-times.

People will be lovers of money, boastful, proud, ungrateful, unholy, brutal to each other and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.

We are told they have a form of godliness but deny its power.

I don’t think anyone would have a problem agreeing with that statement this morning. This is how people are behaving!

But Paul sits him down and says (10) “You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, and my sufferings. (11) “Yet, the Lord has rescued me from all of them.”

You would think that the Lord took him out of trouble, made everything okay, but that is not what happened. He was hated by most people because of Jesus teachings and things didn’t get better, they actually were getting worse.

You saw and heard what I taught

You saw how I lived my life.

You saw that they matched up.

You know that I was not always this way, but once I heard the truth and applied the truth, I have lived it .

Evil men will deceive and it will be getting worse.

(14) “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it.”

Jewish children learn God’s Word from 5 years old.

Learned from his mother and grandmother. (converted Jews)

Apostle Paul

Jesus

(15) “And how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”

Text- 2 Timothy 3:16-3:17

What do you say to that? Your answer will determine how you will live out your life.

The recorded words of God put together in this book we call the Bible.

The recorded words are inspired, and are useful for use in our lives.

Nazarene doctrine says in our articles of faith that “we believe the word of God is divinely inspired, in-errantly revealing the will of God concerning us in all things necessary to our salvation.

Salvation- in this book

Holy living- in this book.

How to please God

How to know and find God- in this book.

What heaven will be like, How to avoid Hell.

Promises of God

Other questions answered by knowing the character of God, learning the principals that He has laid out for us.

It is important to know what you believe and why you believe it.

“Just because” doesn’t satisfy most when it comes to the things of God. You have to understand the why and the how.

There are many who see the Bible as a book of thoughts by numerous men and spend their whole life trying to poke holes in it.

Some who believe the Old and New Testament are true and trustworthy because they are the words of God.

Mark Twain-

“The Bible has poetry, clever fables, and blood drenched history, and some good morals, a worth of obscenity, and upwards of a thousand lies.”

Woodrow Wilson-

“When you read the Bible, you will know it is the word of God.”

How can there be such a difference?

One is just reading it looking for holes.

One is reading it under the anointing of God and searching that God would reveal Himself to him.

Words of God- “God breathed”- that is where we get the word Bible. The Greek equivalent to God-breathed.

The Bible didn’t just fall out of the sky.

It was not found neatly packaged with a note from God to read it.

It is a compilation of 66 books written by over 40 authors in different languages over a period of 1500 years. 39 Old Testament books written before Christ came to this earth and 27 after Jesus came and witnessed by his apostles and others.

Unity throughout with a theme from Genesis to Revelation revealing God’s plan to restore His creation.