Value Your Bible

THE BIBLE IS GOD'S WORD...

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

TEXT: 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.

I recently heard a sad story of a debate and then division of friends and church people. The debate was should people fear God? O Some said NO! God is love. Others said: We must FEAR GOD! The words got ugly? If someone had known the WORD OF GOD there would have been no debate.

Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

It is very important for us to have a good foundation on which to build. That foundation is the BIBLE is the WORD OF GOD. We need to understand the WORD OF GOD does the WORK OF GOD. Anemic in the word means we shall be anemic in every area of our lives.

The Bible is more than a study of philosophy. Sure there is great lessons in philosophy in the Bible, but it is much ore than just that. Yes, we know the Bible is full of history, but it is more than history. The Bible is God’s plan to reveal Jesus Christ as Lord of All.

Think how is the Bible like a telescope? A microscope? A mirror? A plan?

Introduction: There is one way for a bank teller that handles money to be able to identify counterfeit money. No, they do know study counterfeit --- the tellers study the real money. There is one way to identify false teachers and false doctrines that is to know the truth found in the word of God. We believe and teach there are some fundamental truths on which we need to agree.

We need two things today, a basic knowledge of truth and a faithful vehicle of truth to carry and teach Bible doctrine, God’s word. I like to suggest there are no Bible scholars as we are all Bible students. We should become good students of sound Biblical doctrine to stop the spread of false teaching. If we do not stand for truth we are prone to fall for anything. We need a basic understanding of doctrine to BRING UNITY to the church.

1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

TODAY WE HEAR SOME FALSE THINGS ABOUT THE BIBLE. WELL, THE BIBLE IS A HARD BOOK TO UNDERSTAND!

The Bible contains personal love letters for the believer. If you are not a believer the full context could be hard to understand. You might laugh if you read a love letter from my wife. The reason is the letter is personal to me. The Bible is God’s love letter to you.

God is all powerful, all knowing --- God’s word is more than a book from a TV preacher, or a DVD of information. The Bible speaks to the natural man, but it is more than about nature, carnal. The Bible is spiritual. We should pray for wisdom and understand before we open the book to read.

DIRTY LIFES FROM DUSTY BIBLES GROW…

THE BIBLE WILL KEEP US FROM SIN, OR SIN WILL KEEP US FROM THE WORD….

Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

WE BELIEVE IN THE INSPIRED SCRIPTURE.

The scripture, both Old Testament and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible, authoritative rule of faith and conduct. (2 Timothy 3:15-17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 2 Peter 1:21)

2 Timothy 3:15 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, throughly furnished unto

all good works.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received

the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the

word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Understand: The Bible is not just a book, it is so much more than words on paper. God has given the Bible to man to reveal Jesus Christ the SON OF GOD.