THINGS MOST SURELY BELIEVED AMONG US
We Believe In The Word of God
Text: Luke 1:1
"Forasmuch as many have taken in hand - to set forth in order a declaration…
of those things which are most surely believed among us."
Introduction
Now for the last seven lessons we have simply looked
At the fact that We Believe In God...And we have explored together through the Scriptures,
Some of the fundamental things we believe about Him.
But equally as important as the surety of our beliefs in God,
Is the fact that we also Believe in God’s Word.
And again, I don’t say this lightly.
This is not a broad general statement.
We believe very specific things about the Bible and the Word of God,
And this is what I want us to begin to explore together today.
More specifically, I want to look at just two things:
And that is that The Bible is a Great Work,... and more importantly,
How - The Bible - is God’s Word – this is what we believe.
You see, this is not just any ordinary book.
It’s not a creative fiction...
Neither is this a compilation of entertaining stories.
This is cover to cover – and I’m talking about every single word,
A message from God – delivered to Man.
This is God’s Word! To which Jesus said in Luke 11:28:
…Blessed are they that hear the Word of God, and keep it.
Now we are going to talk more about how the Bible was “Inspired by God”,
And how the Word of God “Fully equips us” for all aspects of the ministry,
And for our daily life and living in the weeks to come.
But for today – I just want to talk today about how
The Bible is not just a Great Work but also about how The Bible is God’s Word.
1) The Bible Is A Great Work
Now there is no denying that at a mere glance - the Bible looks like a book.
It is full of written text, it is broken down into various chapters...
And it even has various Chapter headings – that make it appear like every other book.
And yet the Bible stands clearly apart from all other books written,
And this is even before - we give it full credence as being the Word of God.
In fact, no matter how you look at it – the Bible is a Great Work - Let me explain.
First of all - nearly everyone has heard of it.
Across all countries, races and cultures the Bible is known.
Some may not know it as well as you or I...
But the Bible is known, and even frequently quoted.
There have been a lot of great books written,
Many even considered to be literary Masterpieces in their own right,
And yet none are like the Bible.
A lot of people have heard of the Bible…
The problem is, most don’t understand it’s power...
Purpose & significance to their lives?
In fact, as wide spread as the Bible may be recognised,
Most people nowadays tend to see it as a kind of motivational self-help book at best,
Or at worst, nothing more than a collection of entertaining Stories.
Of course, you and I know that the Bible
Is so much more than that – don’t we.
Consider this – not only is the Bible the number one “Best Selling” book of all time,
But it continues to consistently out perform the sales
Of every other book written - year in and year out.
Most people know that the Bible is made up of both the New and the Old Testaments
But few seem to grasp that it’s actually a divine collection of books…
Comprising a total of 66 unique works from cover to cover.
It was written by some 40 Authors, across many countries,
Spanning over some two thousand years. There is simply no other work like it.
And still all parts to the Bible work in perfect harmony together
To tell mankind the greatest truths ever told.
And we need to ask ourselves – is this mere coincidence or not?
The Bible encompasses writings across all major genres too including:
History, Songs and Poetry…
There are Letters and Biographies,
With Legal teachings, Parables, and Proverbs too.
Clearly the Bible stands as a Great work.
Needless to say, there is something in it for everyone
Because the Bible has it all.
Now is all this by chance - or by God’s design?
Furthermore, the Bible has broken down all boarders between the East and West,
Growing to influence culture and people all around the world.
We see its presence in Business, the Law, Politics, Languages, Education, modern Medicine,
And even in our Annual Calendar.
Guys the Bible’s impact is actually everywhere we look.
The Bible has also inspired countless people throughout history...
Who have shaped our modern society.
It’s a truly extraordinary thing – the Bible
Just to see and recognise how it’s message can have a profound impact,
Not only in the other peoples lives, but in our lives as well.
Brethren make no mistake – this is what we believe?
In fact, it’s really this underlying belief
That has become a distinct part of not only who we are as believers,
But it also underpins everything we do...
As we reach out to our friends, families, and our wider community...
And even overseas – it is the Bible we actively seek to reach out with,
Because the Bible is a tremendous master piece and a Great Work.
2) The Bible Is God’s Word
So then, there should be no denying...
Even just on the physical evidence alone - that the Bible is a Great Work.
But do you know what – none of that is what makes the Bible special.
The Bible is special because it is God’s Word to us.
Everywhere we look....and on every page we read
We find God speaking to mankind in only ways that He could.
God teaches, God instructs, and God commands – through His Word.
God shares, God reveals, and God uncovers truth – within His Word .
God judges, God condemns, and God pardons and forgives – with the Word
God molds, God shapes and God Transforms peoples lives – with the Word
God saves and reveals His eternal plan for Salvation – through His Word.
Make no mistake - the Bible is no ordinary Book - It is the Word of God
This is what makes a difference to our everyday life and living
It’s knowing His Word.
God Speaks And Has a Voice
Now one thing we already know and have discovered
Is that because God is a “Personal God”...
He openly possesses and displays the characteristics of a person.
For one thing, God speaks and He has a Voice.
And it’s through the Bible – that God has most readily chosen to speak to us today.
These are His words and this is His message to mankind.
And even right in the very beginning – we see God using this voice and speaking.
Turn with me to Genesis Chapter 1. Let’s pick up our reading in verse 1:
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Familiar words right – this is the record of how all creation began.
Of course, how did God create Heaven and Earth…
He used His Word and spoke them into existence - didn’t He.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
9 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear:
11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind.
24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind…
and it was so.
26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
And the account just goes on and on.
Point is right in the very beginning we are able to see that God speaks…
And that He has a Voice – and that that voice is recorded for us to hear right here – in His Word.
Now none of us where there when creation began,
And yet through God’s Word – we are given this detailed account.
And guys this is not the only place we see God speaking.
I mean this is God’s Word – all of it!
Turn with me to Exodus 20:1:
1 And God spake all these words, saying,
Very quickly who Is speaking – “God”
And what is He speaking – “All these Words”
I want to show you a neat phrase used in the Bible,
It’s the phrase – “Thus saith the Lord” – and its used 413 times in the Scriptures in the OT alone.
You see, God wants to make it very clear to those with a heart to listen - who is actually speaking.
Whose Words are actually recorded here in the Bible? – this Is God’s Word.
But hey don’t take my word for it – Let’s see it in the Scriptures.
2 kings 22:16+18
16 Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof,
18 …Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard;
Now I know we aren’t necessarily understanding the wider context
Of what is taking place here – but what we can see is....
God is speaking and delivering His Word to the people.
Thus saith the Lord. – Very important to understand.
Jeremiah 38:3
3 Thus saith the LORD, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which shall take it.
Who is speaking – God
Whose words are being heard, well - Thus saith the Lord.
Speaking against the heathen nations...
Who at the time – were conspiring against Judah
God said this in Isaiah 7:7
Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass
This is what God said – this was God’s Word.
Isaiah 43:16
Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;
The prophet says – this is what God has to say...
And lets not forget about His power over the seas and the mighty waters.
Now we could go on and on like this all day,
And explore 413 separate scriptural references...
That all clearly show that God is speaking – because this is His Word to us.
When it comes to the things we need to know - God doesn’t leave anything out.
And there are many levels to God’s Word...
And to the things that He speaks and reveals to us here.
For example, in the Bible we see God speaking to Individuals
We see God speaking to Nations
And we God speaking to His Churches
Now all the while – it’s still God speaking - This is His Word,
But there are many levels to how He speaks
And before we finish I just quickly want to touch on these levels with you to today.
God Speaks To Individuals
First of all, in the Bible we can see God speaking to individuals.
Turn with me first to Exodus 8:1
And the LORD spake “unto Moses”, Go unto Pharaoh, and “say unto him”, Thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me.
So here again we see God speaking to His Prophet…
He speaks first to His messenger Mosses – and He says go and deliver these words to Pharaoh.
So we see here – God speaking to individuals – and He gives them an individual message,
A message specific and relevant to them at the time.
Flick over now to Exodus 9:1
Then the LORD said “unto Moses”, Go in unto Pharaoh, “and tell him”, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews [let’s not forget whose talking here], Let my people go, that they may serve me.
Now it’s is easy to see here - that once again it is God speaking…
But it is also easy to recognize - who God is speaking to.
What we see here is God continually speaking to individuals.
He speaks to Moses the Man of God first – and He gives Him instruction
And he speaks to Pharaoh a man of the world…
A man who clearly has a hard heart,
And he gives him a very pointed message too.
Now this kind of ready discourse can be seen all the way through the Scriptures.
God speaking to individuals about His will, about His plan and purpose for individual peoples lives.
And what we see through these examples…
Is not only that God speaks to individuals – but that He is also willing to speak to us,
And He does so through His Word.
Brethren, Every time I open the Bible – I hear God speak to me.
Because these are His words and He has a message for me.
And as with every other individual we see God speaking with in the Bible
His message promises blessings to those that are faithful to God’s Word,
But also judgement to those that are not.
God speaks to Tribes and Nations
But in the Bible we don’t just see God speak to individuals...
Because we see Him speak to larger groups of people too.
Turn with me to 1 Kings 12:24 – This is an interesting time in the Jews history...
Where Israel actually became divided – and almost engaged in an inner civil war.
During this time 10 tribes stood with Jeroboam – and were collective known as Israel,
Unfortunately, they had departed from the Lord and began to indulge in Idolatry.
Two tribes however remained faithful to the Lord during this time
And they stood with Rehoboam – and firmly held to the worship system in Jerusalem.
Now these two tribes were Judah – and they were willing and ready...
To go to war against their brethren. Notice what we find here in verse 24:
24 Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel: return every man to his house; for this thing is from me. They hearkened therefore to the word of the LORD, and returned to depart, according to the word of the LORD.
Now this was not really a directive to the whole Nation,
But rather an example of God speaking to the king...
And to the people belonging to the Tribes of Benjamin and Judah living in and around Jerusalem
Jeremiah 35:12-13
12 Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying,
13 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD.
So again this is not a message to all of Israel,
But rather a message to the last too the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
And here we see God pleading with the people to heed His Words.
On a greater scale we see God speaking to all of Israel in Exodus 24:3
3 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.
Again please notice with me the contrast here
We have those people and nations – willing to follow God’s Word,
And those that are not.
And God gives the same message to them both.
Those that follow my Word will be blessed – those that don’t won’t.
Now there is a really good example of this in Deuteronomy 27,
When Moses brings the people into the Promised Land.
Following Gods Instructions – he sets some of the tribes to stand on mount Gerizim [bless]
And half the tribes to stand on mount Ebal [curse]...
With the Levites leading the Ark of the Covenant in between.
So you can imagine the scene here...
The nation of Israel lining up across two mountains
And the Levites passing between with the Ark.
But here’s what happened - as the Levites walked through Israel
They proclaimed the words of the Lord.
Declaring a promise of blessings to all those keeping God’s word
And Cursings to all those that didn’t.
And after every line and promise was declared - the Scriptures record the people said Amen.
You know what God still has a message for the nations today,
And it hasn’t changed – blessing to those nations keeping His Word
And Judgement to those that don’t.
Our nation and every other around the world – would do well to recognise this.
God Speaks to His Churches
So then, in the Bible – we see God speaking
And God not only speaks to Individuals...and Nations
But we also see Him speaking to His Churches too.
You see this is God’s Word and He has a message for everyone,
Every Person, every Nation, Every Church. Turn with me to Revelation 1.
We had to go here - didn’t we.
We are not going to cover any detail – but we are going to take a snap shot
And a broad overview of How God has a message and readily speaks to His Churches.
1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John
So this is God’s message, and the Revelation of Jesus Christ
Which was shared with John
Revelation 1:17-18
Now upon John receiving this vision and the Revelation from Jesus Christ,
This is what he says:
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18 I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
So John sees and hears this from Christ – and He is told to write it all down.
Now look at the transition here in Revelation 2:1
Because the message then gets very specific:
1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write;
8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write;
12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write;
18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write;
Remember the term Angel here means “Messenger”,
And really in this context it really refers to and speaks of Pastor.
This was God’s instructions for the Pastors of Local churches…
Who were in turn to take heed to…
And to teach and instruct the Church in.
Now bearing this in mind look at chapter 3:1
1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write;
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write;
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Now does God have a message for His Churches?
The answer is emphatically – Yes!
Conclusion
So here’s what I want you all to know and understand tonight
We don’t just believe in God...We believe in God’s Word.
And the Bible to us - is not just a Great literary Work
It is literally God’s Word!
Today this is how God speaks to mankind.
And there is something in here for everyone.
In fact there are many levels and applications to God’s Word.
In the Bible – God speaks to Individuals
God speaks to Nations and Peoples
And of course, God speaks to His Churches.
And do you know what – no matter how you try and break it down,
God’s message is always the same...
Blessing to those that keep and follow His Word
And a lack of blessings or judgement to those that don’t.
Luke 11:28 – Jesus said:
…Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
