Scripture: 1 John 5:1-13
Subject: Taking God At His Word
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. —1 John 5:13
INTRODUCTION
There are some things that one can wonder about, others that one can question. There are some things that one can debate and others that one can challenge. There are some things that one can reject and others that one can disavow. There are some things that one can ridicule and others that one can berate. There are some things that one can discredit and others that one can disprove.
Everything under the sun is subject to analysis and susceptible to ridicule. But there is one thing that cannot be debated, questioned, challenged, rejected, ridiculed, disavowed or berated: the sovereignty of God. He is the:
ELOHIM: occurs 2,570 times in the OT, 32 times in Gen. 1. God as Creator, Preserver, Transcendent, Mighty and Strong
EL SHADDAIGod Almighty or "God All Sufficient." 48 times in the OT, 31 times in Job. The Septuagint uses Greek "ikanos" meaning "all-sufficient" or "self-sufficient."
ADONAI: "Master’’ or "Lord" 300 times in the OT always plural
EL ELYON: ’Most High’
ABHIR:’Mighty One’
PALET: "Deliverer"
EYALUTH:"Strength"
EL-GIBHOR:Mighty God (Isa. 9:6)
Whatever He says He can and will do. His words are actions. He has no rival or no equal. He never loses a case or backs down from anyone or anything. Angels bow before Him, heaven and earth adore Him. He has no beginning or end. He is the one who hanged the Stars in their silvery sockets. He orders the sun to shine and supplies the earth with rain. He is from everlasting to everlasting. His ways are not our ways, neither His thoughts our thoughts. He never lies or says anything that He can’t do. He’s not afraid of anything or anyone. He cannot be defeated or be denied. He is persistent, consistent and insistent. He is perfect in all His ways and purposeful in all His actions. Sarah laughed at God because she didn’t think that God could deliver on His promise at such a late stage of her life. But she learned that God can be taken at His Word. The Children of Israel got scared when they saw the Red Sea ahead of them and Pharaoh’s army in the back. But they learned that God can be taken at His Word. Joshua marched around Jericho seven times until the wall came down because he knew that God can be taken at His Word.
Some of you are experiencing disappointments and confusion in your life because you refuse to take God at His word. Some of you put more stock in what rich and famous people say than what God says. When I was in College I remember watching Dave Del Dotto on television. Dave used to tell people how to get rich in real estate. Dave sounded so confident and knowledgeable. He looked rich. I went to Manhattan to see Dave. I bought Dave’s book. I tried to apply Dave’s principles for getting rich. But I didn’t get the result that I wanted because I was banking on Dave and not on God. A while back I also tried AL Williams which became Primerica. But none of these things gave me wealth. Those who were in leadership position demanded time, commitment, and allegiance to the principles of those businesses to get rich. But God is the source of wealth. The world belongs to Him and the fullness thereof. He says that He will supply all of my needs; and you know what, He has. He says that He can give me the desires of my heart; and you know what, He has. He says that He will be my shield and buckler, my protector and provider, and you know what, He has been all of that.
Call me a fool if you will, but I rather take God at His word than money in the bank. The money can be stolen or be fake, but God will never change or lose His power. He has never failed me or let me down. And that’s why I love to read and study the Bible. The Bible is the word of God. In it is a wealth of knowledge and wisdom that God seeks to impart upon His creation. In it God seeks to reveal His many sidednesses.
SETTING THE STAGE
In His word God declares that all who accept Jesus as the only Begotten Son of God and as savior of the world is saved. This is what the writer of First John is declaring in the 5th Chapter. He says: “if we believe that Jesus is truly Christ, we are God’s children.” In other words anyone who confesses Jesus as Lord and Savior is saved. You don’t have to be a priest, a religious fanatic, perfect, go to seminary, or belong to any local church or denomination. You just have to know Jesus.
This is one of the most profound Christological texts in the Bible. John is boldly proclaiming the Sovereignty and Lordship of Christ. He wants to make sure that everyone understands that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one can get to the Father but through Jesus. And anyone who accepts the Son will get the Father- guarantee. There are a lot of people who are trying to get to the father without the Son. But any attempt to get to the Father without the Son is futile. Unfortunately a lot of people will learn at Judgment day that the Father meant what He said when He told the disciples in the mount of transfiguration: This is my son in whom I am well pleased; He is greater than Elijah and Moses.
Today, over 4 billion people stand in risk of going to hell because they don’t want to take God at His word. God’s word says that there will be a lot of weeping and gnashing of teeth. The word promises an eternity of fiery hell for those who deny the Son. And yet so many people are denying Him. They don’t read or believe the Bible. Some think that God doesn’t even exist. Others think that Jesus was just a prophet. But my brothers and sisters, do not be dismayed, God will not be mocked. What He said in His word, He will do. We have to take Him at His word.
BODY
There are three reasons as to why we have to take Him at His Word:
1. His Word Promises Victory over the World
2. His Word Promises son-ship for those who
accept the Son
3. His Word Guarantees eternal life for those
who believe
1. His Word Promises Victory over the world
It is not easy to overcome the world.The prince of this world is very powerful. He knows how to set us up and undermine our spirituality. He knows how to lure us away from God and the things of God in order to lead us to the path of unrighteousness. But If God says we have the victory then we have to learn to rebuke that old enemy and bind him by faith in the name of Jesus Christ.
Let me tell you something, it is not easy to defeat loneliness, brokenness, despair, depression, materialism, lust, and greed. But the Word says we can; so we have to take God at His word. That means when you feel lonely and broken you have to rebuke it in the name of Jesus. When you feel desperate and depressed look to God and cast out that dark feeling in the name of Jesus. Remember, you are a child of God. That means that God will fight for you. But you must believe in the power and the person of God through Christ Jesus.
You can have victory over sickness in the name of Jesus if you take God at His word. You can have victory over financial hardships in the name of Jesus if you take God at His word. You can experience deliverance from generational curses in the name of Jesus if you take God at His word. You can have victory over all addictions in the name of Jesus if you take God at His word. You can have victory over demons and demonic forces in the name of Jesus if you take God at His word.
It is paramount that you take God at His word in order to experience victory over the world. That means calling on the name of Jesus and expect things to change. That means using the name of Jesus to rebuke enemies seen and unseen. That means singing the praises of Jesus in the midst of your trial and expecting joy to come in the morning.
Jesus makes a difference. Without Him we would not dare face the world and it’s craziness with confidence. “No one can defeat the world without having faith in Jesus.” That is why the Bible declares: at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess; and you can take that to the bank. Jesus will be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords in front of the entire creation.
2. His Word Promises son-ship for those who accept the Son
I must admit, I am confused about people who refuse to accept Jesus as the savior of the world. In verse 10, John declares: “If we have faith in God’s Son, we have believed what God has said. But if we don’t believe what God has said about His Son, it is the same as calling God a liar. Now, I don’t know how many of you are comfortable with the idea of calling God a liar. I’m not. I believe that God is too big and too awesome to lie. He doesn’t have to lie. He is the essence of truth. So if He says that Jesus is His son and co-heir with Him, I have to take Him at His word.
That’s the basis of our Christology and Soteriology. And any theology that is devoid of a sound Biblical Christology is moribund. For everything begins and ends with Christ. Therefore, a sound Ecclesiology must be Christological because Christ is the head of the Church. A responsible Pneumatology must also be centered on Christ; for He is the one who gave us the Holy Spirit as an advocate and counselor. The bottom line is: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Second person of the Triune God Head. To believe otherwise is to insinuate that God’s Word is a lie.
Only a fool and crazy person would call God a liar; which is precisely what a lot of people are doing every day as they turn their back on God and rejecting Jesus as the Savior of humanity. They are calling God a liar. Well, I can’t talk for every body else. I can only talk about my experience with God. Everything that He has said to me He has done. He provides for me as He said He would. He protects me as He said He would. He leads me and orders my steps as He said He would. He blesses my soul with joy as He said He would. He gives me peace as He said He would. He heals me when I’m sick as He said He would. He supplies my needs as He said He would. I am what I am because He is who He is. I have to take Him as His Word. His word brings me comfort when I am disturbed and troubled. His Word gives me wisdom to make the right decision. His Word is a light unto my feet and a lamp unto my path. I have to take Him at His Word.
Elijah took Him at His Word and he never experienced death. Daniel took Him at His Word and the lions could not eat him. David took Him at His Word and He experienced great victories on the battle field. Paul took Him at His Word and He did great wonder in the name of Jesus and started many churches.
I don’t know about you but I have to take Him at His Word. Though storm may rise and strong winds may blow, I will take Him at His Word. I can’t trust anyone but the Lord. If He says I have son-ship status with Him by virtue of Christ, I have to take Him at His Word. If He says that I will reign with Him in Heaven when this life is over, I have to take Him at His Word. If He says I have a mansion waiting for me in heaven, I have to take Him at His Word. If He says for me to fight the good fight and run the race in order to get my crown, I have to take Him at His word.
His Word Guarantees eternal life for those who believe
I am a son of God; and son-ship has its privileges. Son-ship gives me accept to whatever belongs to the Father. Eternal glory is my as His son. Salvation is mine as His son. That’s why I made up my mind to live for Jesus. I am willing to obey His commandments; and truly they are not hard to follow.
The bottom line is, I believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. I believe that I am saved. I believe that I am set free. I believe that when this earthly tabernacle ceases to be, I’ll have a building not made by hands. I believe that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I believe that just a little talk with Jesus will make every thing alright. I believe that I am blessed in the city and blessed in the field. I believe that I have power to bind the enemy and plunder his house. I believe that Jesus will come back one day in glory to take His sons and daughters back to heaven. I believe that my family and I will be caught up in rapture.
The question that I have for you is: do you take God at His Word? Do you believe that Jesus is the savior of the world? Do you believe that He is the begotten Son of God and the Second person in the Divine God head? Do you believe that “Isa 53:5 he [was] wounded for our transgressions, [he was] bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [was] upon him; and with his stripes we are healed?” Do you believe that He conquered death and the grave and rose up early one Sunday morning?
If you believe, you shall see the glory of the Lord. If you believe you will walk on the lion and the adder and not be hurt. If you believe you can move mountains in your life. If you believe you can cast out demons. If you believe you will see Jesus robed in majesty and crowned in glory on the Day of Judgment.
Don’t ever doubt Him. You can trust Him. Just take Him at His Word. He’s not a man that He should lie. He’s not a wooden God that cannot move. He is almighty and all powerful. When all else fails, you can take Him at His Word. When people lie to you and lie on you, you can take Him at His Word. When people don’t keep their words and they let you down, you can take God at His Word.
CONCLUSION
God’s word is eternally true and essentially divine. It is reliable and trustworthy. It is infallibly accurate and inexhaustibly excellent. By His word the heavens and the earth were created. His word brings life in the midst of death; hope in the midst of hopelessness.
No matter what you are going through, keep on trusting in His promises. God will do what He said He will do. He will stand by His word. We can bank on His word. His word is more solid and sound than the rock of Gibraltar. His word has been our insurance and assurance through the ages. His word became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ and dwelled amongst us. His word restored and saved us. His word can mend the broken hearted and strengthen the weak. His word can set at liberty those who are captive.
I don’t know about you, but I’m going to take God at His word no matter what. The word became flesh and died for me on an old rugged cross. The word promises that one day my Savior will come back to take me to eternal glory. And that my friends, is the basis of my hope and joy.
Yes beloved in Christ, I have made up my mind to take God at His word; and so should you. If you do you will discover what a friend you have in Jesus. If you do you will experience unsurpassed joy and unflinching peace. If you do you will see the glory of the Lord in this life time and in the life to come. You can take God at His word!
