Consider the Scripture

Presented to:

Bethel Chapel Pentecostal Church

Auditorium Sunday School Class

Granite City, IL

7 January 2018

Updated: January 5, 2018

By:

Boyce Belt

Consider the Scripture

Opening:

• (Slide) “Hold fast to the Bible as the sheet anchor of your liberties; write its precepts in your hearts, and practice them in your lives.” — Ulysses S. Grant^[1]
• Three Dollars Worth Of God —- By Wilbur Rees

“I would like to buy three dollars worth of God, please.

Not enough to explode my soul or disturb my sleep,

but just enough to equal a cup of warm milk

or a snooze in the sunshine.

I don't want enough of God to make me love a black man

or pick beets with a migrant.

I want ecstasy, not transformation.

I want the warmth of the womb, not a new birth.

I want a pound of the Eternal in a paper sack.

I would like to buy three dollars worth of God, please.”

• Prayer

Text:

Psalms 119:95 (KJV) The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies.

2 Timothy 2:7 (KJV) Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.

Introduction:

The Bible was written over a period of 1,600 years by more than 40 writers from all walks of life.  Some were fishermen; some were politicians.  Others were generals or kings, shepherds or historians.  They were from three different continents, and wrote in three different languages.  They wrote on hundreds of controversial subjects yet they wrote with agreement and harmony.  They wrote in dungeons, in temples, on beaches and on hillsides, during peace time and during war.  Yet their words sound like they came from the same source.^[2]

Fisher Ames, a Founder and politician who helped to formulate the Bill of Rights, stated:

“We have a dangerous trend beginning to take place in our education.  We’re starting to put more and more textbooks into our schools….  We’ve become accustomed of late of putting little books into the hands of children containing fables and moral lessons….

“We are spending less time in the classroom on the Bible, which should be the principal text of our schools….  The Bible states these great moral lessons better than any other manmade book.”^[3]

1. Infallible — The Bible is without error, absolutely true, trustworthy and infallible.  This is true not only when it speaks of salvation, ethical values and morality, but it is also without error on all subjects about which it speaks, including history and the cosmos.^[4]  2 Peter 1:20-21 (KJV) Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 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.

1. Scientifically
2. Historically

1. Manuscript Evidence

1. There are existent manuscripts of the Scriptures dating closer to the original copies than of any other ancient writing.

2. Corroborating Writings

1. There are other ancient writings outside the New Testament which confirm the birth, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ among which are the works of Flavius Josephus and the Babylonian Talmud.^[5]

3. Archeology

3. Experientially

1. Fulfilled Prophecies
2. As important as doctrine is, it isn’t enough for us simply to affirm what we believe. We must realize that Bible doctrine is incarnated in the Son of God and that He through the Spirit makes each doctrine real and active in our lives.^[6]

2. Inspired — Scripture is incomparable, forever finished and uniquely binding.  No human words or declarations of church institutions are equal to its authority.^[7]

1. Unified
2. Enduring

1. 1 Peter 1:24-25 (KJV) For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

3. Life Changing

1. The Word of God is more effective than miracles.  Luke 16:27-31 (KJV) Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
2. We must use the inspired Word to conquer the power of sin, Satan and the world in our lives.^[8]

1. Matthew 4:4 (KJV) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
2. Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
3. Ephesians 6:17 (KJV) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God
4. James 1:21 (KJV) Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

3. Integrated — Psalms 1 (KJV) Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.  4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.  5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.  6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

1. Honored (Loved)

1. Proverbs 13:13 (KJV) Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
2. “The Bible is endorsed by the ages.  Our civilization is built upon its words.  In no other Book is there such a collection of inspired wisdom, reality, and hope.” —Dwight D. Eisenhower^[9]
3. The most perilous position of any believer is to maintain a careless attitude toward the Word of God.^[10]

2. Studied — 2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
3. Rightly Divided

1. All prayer and no Scripture, and you end up with heat but no light; reverse it and you have all light and no heat. God wants our churches to be balanced so that the Spirit can enable us to have power for witness, work, and warfare.^[11]

4. Obeyed

1. Where God’s Word is dwelling and is obeyed, there His glory abides.^[12]
2. The greatest cause of failure among God’s people his not taking God’s Word as a matter of life and death.^[13]
3. God’s Word must be received, believed and obeyed as the final authority in all things pertaining to life and godliness.  It must be used as the final authority in all matters for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteous living.^[14]

Conclusion:

How should we react to the Word of God?^[15]

• Eagerly Hear God’s Word
• Seek to Understand
• Praise the Word of God
• Love God’s Word
• Let it be our Joy and Delight
• Accept It
• Hide It deep Within Our Hearts
• Trust in It
• Hope in Its Promises
• Obey Its Commands
• Live According to It
• Handle It Correctly
• Preach It Faithfully
• Proclaim It Everywhere

Proverbs 29:18 (KJV) Where there is no vision, the people perish:but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.  Matthew 15:7-14 (KJV) Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Next Week: Consider the Ant

Prayer