The Bible Way
2 Timothy 3:14 -17 KJV
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Message:
Did you know that the Bible is still the number one selling book in the world? It is estimated that nearly 5 Billion copies of the Bible have been sold worldwide. We currently have about 7.2 billion people on the earth so we still have a way to go to get the Bible into everyone’s hands. Today our focus is on the Bible. We will look to it as the light that lights our path in this dark world.
Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Never in human history have we needed its illumination more.
That small verse in Gods word is more than just a simple illustration it suggests that we who are travelling with God are on a great journey headed in a specific direction. We are walking on a path that leads to holiness. We are following the one who is Holy – Jesus Christ and we are listening to God’s words through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as we walk from one place to the next.
Our Heavenly Father would not have us walk aimlessly but has in mind a destination for us. That destination is Heaven where we can be in His presence for eternity. Along the way we will encounter rough terrain. There will be deserts and rivers to cross, mountains and hills to climb and valleys and plains to cover. Life here is full of obstacles and calls for us to be sure footed. God calls His children to follow His voice as well as His word.
God called out to Noah to build an Ark so that the human race might be saved to start again. Genesis 6:13-14
Our Heavenly Father called Abraham out of a city and into a desert to begin the plan of redemption through a Messiah from a chosen people. Genesis 12:1-4
God called out to Moses to lead a chosen people out of Egypt and into a promised land. Exodus 3:15
God himself wrote out the words of the Ten Commandments with His own finger that we might have divine laws to govern our conduct and relationship with Him. Exodus 31:18 Deuteronomy 10:4
Today God is calling out to you and me through the Bible.
It was never God’s intent that we should live only by the word of the Law the 10 Commandments but that we should live by every word of God. St. Paul reminded a young Pastor of this truth;
2 Timothy 3:14-17
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, 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. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
There are a lot of words in the Bible and it is difficult to know which words to use to build our lives upon. We cannot pull God’s words out indiscriminately as some have done and suggest that we only use this part or that part. Instead we are to rely on the Holy Spirit to help us discern the Word of God so that we apply not just part of God’s word but the whole of it so that we do not use it indiscriminately.
The Old Testament with its laws and judgements must be balanced with the New Testament with its grace and forgiveness. This was St. Paul's advice to Timothy 2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Jesus reminded us that God’s words are meant to give us life. John 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
I have seen people write words from the Bible on T shirts and posters, I’ve even seen people write them on their shoes and even an entire car. I was talking to a Pastor friend of mine this week and I told him how I wanted to write them on my house since I have white aluminium siding. But my wife did not think the idea to popular. But I’m sure the Bible would back me up on such a decision;
Deuteronomy 6:9 King James Version (KJV)
9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
This year as we study “Believe” by Pastor Randy Frazee we are trying to memorize portions of God’s word. But rather than just have God’s words on our minds the Lord would have us write them on our hearts. Proverbs 7:2-3
2 Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
The Bible is THE TRUTH by which we should live by not just any truth it is THE TRUTH but our world would have us abandon it and replace it with the lies of this age. As TRUTH it is Holy and divine never changing or alterable and never wrong.
What truth are you building your life upon in these days?
Saints we need to get back to God’s word the Holy Bible as our light for our path. In this age of confusion and error when everyone seems to be doing whatever seems right in their own eyes we have the word of God to correct and direct us in the way we should walk.
Hebrews 4:12 King James Version (KJV)
12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
God's words in the Bible are full of promises; Joshua 1:7-8
7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Friends if we are seeking a real prosperity in this life and the next then our path must be the word of God that leads us to peace with Him in the here and now and eternal rest in Heaven.
I remind you that the Bible also tells us that it is meant to be not only our standard but the standard for teaching for our children.
Proverbs 22:6
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Let us purpose our hearts to give God’s word the Bible the proper place in our lives and in our homes and let us pray the Lord will bless us as we make it the light we follow as we make our way along the path the Lord has called us each to walk. – Amen.
