Introduction

Welcome, dear friends, to this gathering of hearts and minds, united by the common thread of faith, hope, and love. We are here, not by happenstance, but by divine appointment. As we gather under the canopy of God’s grace, let us remember the words of the great Charles Spurgeon: “Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years.”

Today, we find ourselves turning the pages of that very Scripture, to the book of John, chapter 2, verses 13-22:

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, 'Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!' His disciples remembered that it is written: 'Zeal for your house will consume me.' The Jews then responded to him, 'What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?' Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.' They replied, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?' But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.'

Yes, friends, we are here to reflect on the power of belief, the potency of Jesus' words, and the balance of everything in its rightful place. We seek to understand, to comprehend, and to internalize the profound lessons that are woven into these verses.

Believing in the Scripture

Scripture is a treasure trove of wisdom, a beacon of light in our darkest hours, a compass guiding us through the maze of life. It's not just a book, but a living, breathing testament of God's love for us. It's a mirror reflecting our souls, a roadmap to our spiritual journey, a love letter from our Heavenly Father.

When we open the Bible, we're not just reading words on a page. We're engaging in a conversation with God. We're listening to His voice, His guidance, His wisdom. We're immersing ourselves in His love, His grace, His mercy. We're allowing His Word to shape us, mold us, transform us.

Believing in the Scripture is not just about accepting its words as truth. It's about letting those words penetrate our hearts, change our minds, influence our actions. It's about letting the Word of God become the foundation of our lives, the lens through which we see the world, the filter through which we make decisions.

But how do we cultivate this belief? How do we let the Scripture take root in our hearts? How do we let the Word of God become the bedrock of our lives?

First, we need to approach the Scripture with an open heart. We need to let go of our preconceived notions, our biases, our prejudices. We need to come to the Scripture with a humble heart, ready to listen, ready to learn, ready to be transformed.

Second, we need to meditate on the Scripture. We need to let the words sink in, let the truths marinate in our hearts. We need to reflect on the Scripture, ponder its meaning, consider its implications. We need to let the Scripture permeate our thoughts, our emotions, our actions.

Third, we need to apply the Scripture to our lives. We need to let the Word of God guide our decisions, shape our attitudes, influence our behavior. We need to let the Scripture be our compass, our guide, our roadmap.

Fourth, we need to share the Scripture with others. We need to let the Word of God overflow from our hearts, spill over into our conversations, permeate our relationships. We need to let the Scripture be the light that shines through us, the salt that flavors our interactions, the yeast that leavens our community.

Believing in the Scripture is not a passive act. It's an active, ongoing process. It's a commitment to let the Word of God shape us, mold us, transform us. It's a decision to let the Scripture be the foundation of our lives, the lens through which we see the world, the filter through which we make decisions.

Beholding the Words of Jesus

As we turn our gaze to the words of Jesus, we find ourselves standing in the temple courts, amidst the clatter of coins and the lowing of cattle ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO