Search the Scriptures - Bereans

[0:00] Lord, we thank you that we can come and get together today and hear your word and clear people of the word of God. Lord, may we be responsive to it. May it do its work in our hearts. May you be glorified in every life that is here today. In Jesus' name. Amen.

[0:19] Talking about the Bereans, they were more noble, it says. How can we be a more noble Christian? In Acts 17 from verse 11 through 12, it says.

[0:31] These people who are from Berea, these Bereans, they were more noble than those in Thessalonica. In that they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so.

[0:47] Therefore, many of them believed also of honorable women, which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. How are we to respond to biblical truth?

[1:01] We can learn from the Bereans I put to you. The people at Berea, they were more noble. They were more noble. These people had something that was praiseworthy, something that God commended, something that they were acknowledged for.

[1:16] And there's a certain wisdom and a certain blessing that comes to the people who love the word of God. It says in Proverbs 1 verse 5, A wise man will hear and will increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain those wise counsels.

[1:37] If we esteem the word of God, we will be esteemed. In Psalm 119, which is all about the word of God. It's a great big psalm, and it talks about the word of God right through the psalm.

[1:50] 119. You could want to check later for your homework, if you like. It says in Psalm 119 verse 140, Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it.

[2:03] His word, the Bible, it says it's very pure. This is pure, it's crystal clear, it's perfect. The pure word of God. Do we appreciate the scriptures?

[2:15] Are we like it says here? A wise man will hear. A wise man will hear. And will increase understanding.

[2:25] Do we truly appreciate the word of God? Do we value it? Do we esteem it? Do we consider that great blessing we have, just to have a copy of it in our hands?

[2:36] Right back through history, there was times where what were called the dark ages, they didn't have the light of the word of God to open people's eyes.

[2:47] The Bible was hidden. It was locked away. Where it was just brought out in seasons, in times of church gatherings, where then they read it in a language which was not the common language.

[3:01] They read it in Latin. So it was kind of hidden from the common people. And yet today, we've got the blessing of having a Bible that we can hold in our hands.

[3:11] I've seen some video in particular countries like behind the bamboo curtain, like in China, and places such as that, where they've opened a container and brought out these packages that people have chorn into and opened up with excitement and joy as they've opened these boxes and were given Bibles, that they've never had their own Bible before.

[3:39] And the joy on these people's faces as they got the Bible, and they hugged it and held it and kissed it, and they were jumping for joy because they've received their own Bible.

[3:50] And what about us? When we've got a Bible, do we treasure it as these people did? Thy word is very pure, therefore thy servant loveth it.

[4:00] We love the word of God. We love the truth. It's God's love letter to us. God's love letter to us. You know, there was a time when I was courting my wife, and we were distant by hundreds and hundreds of kilometers.

[4:16] She was here in Adelaide, and I was over on the Queensland coast, and we would correspond as we were engaged, and we would correspond with, oh, we weren't engaged then, but we were courting, and I would just treasure those love letters from my wife to be.

[4:35] And how about the word of God do we love it as a love letter? Because it is God's letter of love, as we've heard of the word of God. It's full of God's love. God's love letter to us.

[4:47] What was it that made the Bereans more noble? Why were they counted as more noble? Look at the features of what they did. Firstly, they received the Bible.

[4:59] They received the Scriptures. In a sense, they received the word with all readiness of mind. They had an eagerness, a willingness, a zeal, a receptiveness to the word of God.

[5:12] They received it. They were such as heard. They were wise. They had a humility of mind as well. Now, some people are too high and mighty, too high and lofty, too prideful, to submit themselves to the authority of the Bible.

[5:28] These folk had a readiness of mind. They had a humility of mind. And to learn God's way for our lives, we need to let go of our own pride.

[5:39] Sometimes it's the biggest stumbling block for people. The wisdom of men, isn't it? The wisdom of the world. It's foolishness to God. But we need to come and bow our knees, our hearts, our will, our surrender unto Him.

[5:55] To let go of pride and to have a humility before the Lord. The Bereans were receptive. They received. They were teachable. They had a teachable spirit. In James 1, it says that we should lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, which in more common lingo is that wickedness.

[6:15] Lay aside wickedness. And rather, receive with meekness or humility the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. And then it goes on, but the doers of the word are not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

[6:33] This word, it says, it's able to save your souls. This is precious. We should receive it as glad news, good news, great news. It's able to save your souls.

[6:47] Lay apart filthiness, wickedness, and rather receive with meekness the engrafted word. It's going to become part and parcel of us. It's going to be part of the fibre of our being, such that it's engrafted into us.

[7:01] That we can learn the word, we can meditate on the word, we can memorise the word, such that it's part of us. And it becomes part of our being, to love the word of God, and to live it out.

[7:17] Furthermore, this word is like a life-giving scene. We've heard about the Lord Jesus speaking to the religious man, Nicodemus. And he says, Ye must be born again.

[7:29] This tells us how. In 1 Peter 1, 22, Peter says, That we who are saved, we're born again. Not of corruptible scene. Not of scene which corrupts and disintegrates and decays.

[7:44] But of incorruptible. By the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. This word of God, it says, it lives and abides forever.

[7:55] It's eternal. It is eternal. And it holds God's message. God's eternal message. Of his eternal love. Of his eternal kind of life. That we can live.

[8:05] For all who will receive. His life. Born again. This is a seed. That can be planted. In hearts. And it can bring. A mighty harvest.

[8:17] How is our receptivity. To God. At Pentecost we see. That there was that receptivity. We see here a picture. Of the seed.

[8:27] As it is planted. And as it germinates. This word is life giving. It's eternal life giving. Born again. Not of corruptible scene.

[8:38] But of incorruptible. The word of God. Which lives and abides forever. We see at Pentecost. That the people received the word of God. In Acts 2. As we saw a mighty blessing.

[8:50] A mighty outpouring. A mighty reaping of souls. Into the kingdom of God. What happened? It says firstly. They gladly received the word.

[9:00] They received his word. Peter's word. The word of God. Through Peter's lips. They received the word. And were baptized. And the same day were added. Unto them. Unto the church.

[9:12] About 3,000 souls. When people received the word of God. It was life changing. It was eternity changing. It was community changing. When people received the word.

[9:22] Souls were saved. And the church was blessed. We see further. That Samaria. They received the word of God. Likewise. They received the word of God. That's where it starts.

[9:34] As we receive the word of God. 1 Thessalonians 2.13. We see that Paul said. When you receive the word of God. You received it. Not as the word of man.

[9:45] But as it is. In truth. The word of God. Which effectually worketh. Also. In you that believe. When they received the word.

[9:57] From the apostles. The prophets. The preachers of God. The men sent from God. The messengers of God. They received the message of God. And they received it. Not as the words of man.

[10:08] But as it is in the truth. The word of God. And the word of God. And it effectually worketh. Effectually worketh. In you that believe. In other words.

[10:19] It makes an impact. When we receive it. It effectually worketh. The word leads us. It dictates our decisions. If we will but receive it. Just earlier.

[10:30] At Thessalonica. Earlier to our verse. That we started with. We see. What happened in Thessalonica. In Acts 17.2. It says that Paul.

[10:40] As his manner was. Went in unto them. And three Sabbath days. Reasoned with them. Out of the scriptures. Notice this word reason. We see it again. Also in Athens.

[10:51] In Corinth. And in Ephesus. This word reason. Literally. He dialogued with them. He gave them evidence. It's a bit like. As we at times. In our gatherings.

[11:01] In the Bible study times. There's a dialogue. There's an interchange. It's a bit of a monologue. When I'm preaching. Of sorts. But this was a dialogue. There was a reasoning together. He reasoned with them.

[11:12] There was a to-ing and fro-ing. We see that in Thessalonica. In Athens. In Corinth. In Ephesus. Literally. He dialogued with them. He said. He gave them evidence. There was an interchange.

[11:24] And yet. How did they receive it? They didn't receive it that well. It says the Thessalonians. Gave Paul a hearing. But then it says. A mob stirred up. Striped.

[11:34] And he was rejected from the city. And they violently dragged him out of it. He was in fear of his life. As a result of the word of God. Just earlier.

[11:45] The ones opposing the gospel. They cried out. They said. These. That have turned the world upside down. Have come here. Also. These that have turned the world upside down.

[11:56] Imagine that. A world upside down. Really we are living. In a world that's upside down. Aren't we? We're living in a world. Where right is wrong. Where wrong is right. Where evil is good.

[12:07] Where good is evil. Where dark is light. Where light is dark. We're living in a world. Where it's all topsy turvy. Values that are turned upside down. Instead of God's values. Which are the right way up.

[12:18] This world is upside down. And this Bible. This word. This message. This life changing salvation. Turns us the right way up. It turns us the right way up.

[12:29] People. And that's what these people. Were accused of. By those who hated the gospel. By those who opposed the gospel. These that have turned the world. Upside down.

[12:39] And I'll come hither also. There's a story told. About an eccentric. English evangelist. Who took this. As his text. One day. As he was preaching. In the open air.

[12:50] To. The general community. As the custom was. They would go. And preach. In the lanes. And highways. And the streets. And market places. And he took this text.

[13:02] And he said. These that have turned the world. Upside down. Are come hither also. He said this. He made it a three point sermon. A three point sermon.

[13:12] And he said. First. The world. Is the wrong side up. Second. The world. Must be turned. Upside down. Third. We are the men.

[13:23] To set it right. Now we that are the people of God. We are the ones that have the words. The message of eternal life. We are the ones that will turn this world. The right side up. But we must be faithful to declare it.

[13:35] And stand up for God. Stand up for Christ. Stand up for your faith in him. And this man. This preacher. Was really. Putting in a nutshell.

[13:46] The purpose of the gospel. This world is upside down. It needs to be turned right side up. And we are the people. To declare it. To make it clear.

[13:57] God's way of making things right. Why should we receive the Bible? Why should we receive the Bible? It's God's authority. It's God's authority.

[14:08] There's many things listed here. The authority of the word of God. This is God's authority. Not mine. Not yours. Not some fickle man's. Not some fad or fashion of this world.

[14:21] That passes away. This is God's authority. It's God's authoritative message. And we can know the will of God by it. Not by some subjective feelings. Or by some fanciful latter-day prophecies uttered over us.

[14:35] Or some well-meaning philosophies of man. This is the authority of God. The authority of God. It's final authority.

[14:47] Our sure source of truth. There's no deviation. There's no question in its authority. It's authoritative. It's infallible. It's infallible. There's no error here.

[14:59] It's inerrant. Now there's a man called the Pope. Who supposedly sits on a particular throne in Rome. And what he utters at that time.

[15:10] They say is infallible. There's a doctrine in the Roman Catholic Church. Of the infallibility of the Pope. Well I put to you that's a lie. Because no man is infallible.

[15:21] No man is infallible. To be fallible means to be able to make a mistake. We know. Well I can say for myself.

[15:32] I'll make many mistakes. But God doesn't make any mistakes. Does he? God doesn't make any mistakes. He is infallible. And his word is infallible. We see it's inerrant.

[15:43] The word of God is inerrant. In other words there are no errors in the Bible. People have searched and tried. And turned it upside down and inside out. And have not been able to find any error.

[15:55] In the Bible. Now there are as Peter has said. Many things that are hard to understand. In the scriptures. There's things that are hard to understand.

[16:05] I can't pretend to you. That I know all the ins and outs. And all the intricate detail. And the particulars about the Bible. Many things that are hard to understand.

[16:16] But it's not a defect in the Bible. The defect is in our understanding. That's where the defect is. It's inerrant. No error in it. It is trustworthy.

[16:27] The Bible is trustworthy. In other words it's reliable. The evidence that people have searched. Through those that are opposed to its message. Have found it to be trustworthy.

[16:38] It's reliable. The evidence is overwhelming. As we see. Archaeologists have gone through. The so called holy land. And have searched for clues.

[16:50] And information. And artifacts. And data. And the evidence is overwhelming. Overwhelming. This book is confirmed by. Archaeological discoveries.

[17:03] It's confirmed by historical sources. There's no mismatch. Between the record of history. The secular record of history. And the book. Of God. There is no.

[17:14] Question. And it's confirmed by. Fulfilled prophecies too. Many fulfilled prophecies. There's many. So called. Holy books.

[17:25] But there's no prophecies in them. Certainly no fulfilled prophecies. Yet this book is. Full. Of many. Prophecies from God. That have been fulfilled. Prophecies uttered.

[17:36] Hundreds. Thousands. Of years. Before the events. That have come to. Fulfillment. It's indestructible. This book. Indestructible. Because it has been preserved.

[17:47] By God. And it is sufficient. Many would try. Well meaning people. Would try to add to this book. You know. I've been in some churches. Where.

[17:58] There's been supposed prophecies. After. And someone was there. Recording. What was said. And putting it in a book. As if it's almost to be treasured. Treasured. Yet. This.

[18:08] Is. Infallible. This. Is. Inerrant. This. Is. Trustworthy. This. Is. Reliable. This. Is. Not. Some. Latter-day. Prophecy. Some. Extra. Biblical. Revelation. You know.

[18:19] You can find churches. That have been founded. On. Extra. Biblical. Revelation. People. Like. Ellen White's. Seventh-day Adventism. Where they. Revere. Her. Writings. As.

[18:30] Equal. As. Scripture. And yet. There's. Many. Very. Evident. False. Claims. And. False. Prophecies. In. What. Ellen White. Has. Written. And.

[18:40] Likewise. Joseph Smith. The Mormon. Church. Many. Many. Decent. Looking. Upstanding. People. Go to the Mormon. Church. But. It's. Founded. And. Based.

[18:50] Upon. A. Fallible. Man. Faulty. Failing. Wrong. Prophecies. Extra. Biblical.

[19:01] Revelation. We need to be very much. Cautious. Of those who claim. To speak the Bible. To speak. As God.

[19:11] Thus saith the Lord. When it doesn't match up. With the Bible. The word of God. This must be. Our absolute. Source of that authority. It is sufficient. And some miss the point.

[19:22] When they try. To. Add to the scriptures. In effect. When they try to. Add to what is God's. Sure and complete. Revelation. So we see.

[19:34] There's a big danger there. What does it say? The grass withereth. And the flower fadeth. But the word of our God. Shall stand forever. Forever. Now.

[19:44] We've got some. Particular flowers. In our garden. And I was admiring them. Just a. Couple of weeks ago. And they're looking a bit. Sorry for themselves now. The heads are looking a bit droopy.

[19:55] And they're starting to go a bit dry. And dead looking. And just fit for. Snipping them off. And chucking them in the bin now. Yet. Just a couple of weeks before. They were all blossoming.

[20:06] And glorious. And. Brilliant. The grass withereth. And the flower fadeth. But. The word of our God. Shall stand.

[20:16] Forever. Forever. The context there is of human lives too. That we are just like a grass. That withers. We're just like a flower. That fades. But God's word.

[20:27] God's word. Is eternal. It is absolutely eternal. So when you look out. At your garden. And you see those flowers fading. You see that grass withering. Know this. That the word of our God.

[20:38] The word of our God. It abides forever. It is in complete contrast to that. And our Lord Jesus says. Heaven and earth. Heaven. And earth. Shall pass away.

[20:49] But my words. Shall not pass away. His words. Plural. His words. Every word. Every word. Of Jesus. Shall not pass away.

[21:00] Every word. We can know we've got a complete Bible. A fundamental. Faithful Bible. As we have the faithful translation. In our hands.

[21:11] Of the word of God. The question is. Do we receive it? Do we receive it? Do we lay hold of it? Like those Chinese believers. As they grabbed those boxes of Bibles.

[21:22] As they grabbed the Bible. And hugged it. And held it to themselves. And treasured it. Do we love the Bible? Do we receive it? As God's true word. Do we lay hold of it?

[21:33] And its message. With all readiness of mind. With all humility of mind. Sadly. Some have a blindness of mind. Of some it says. In 2 Corinthians 4.

[21:44] But if our gospel be hid. And is hid to them. That are lost. In whom the God. Small g. Of this world. Hath blinded the minds. Of them which believe not.

[21:55] Lest the light. Of the glorious gospel of Christ. Who is. The image of God. Should shine unto them. Some. It says they are lost. It says their minds are blinded.

[22:07] There is this. Blinding. Impact. This blinding. Bondage. That is. Holding them captive. Holding them from receiving.

[22:19] And we need to pray for people. Don't we? Pray that Satan's blindness. Will be lifted off people. That some people come to my mind. That I can see the blinding of Satan. And we need to rebuke that.

[22:32] And overcome that. That God will remove the. The blinkers as it were. Remove those things that would hold. And blind people's minds.

[22:43] So firstly receive it like the Bereans. Receive it like they did. And secondly. Search the scriptures. These folk in Berea. These Bereans.

[22:54] Says they were more noble. Because they received the word of God. And secondly. They searched it. They searched the scriptures. Daily. Whether those things were so. Notice here it says.

[23:09] Daily. Day. By day. By day. By day. Not Sunday. Sunday. Sunday.

[23:20] Not just when you. Kind of. Dust it off the shelf. To maybe bring it along to church. Or. You know. We can get those times where. We can get. Careless.

[23:31] And. We can get. Lax. We can get. Neglectful. Daily. It says. They searched the scriptures. Daily.

[23:42] Day. By day. By day. Make it a regular habit. A daily habit. God helping you. Make it a daily habit. You know. There's different. Bible. Devotionals.

[23:53] You can get. Daily light. And such things. There's various ones. Where you can get. Bible. Helps. That you can look at. Daily. Day by day. Our daily bread.

[24:03] Such things. Can be a little guide. A little help. A little prompt. To. Make it a daily. Daily. Daily habit. A regular habit. The Bible says much about.

[24:15] Being a day by day Christian. Not a Sunday by Sunday. But a day by day by day. Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday. Right through the week. Day by day. A daily habit.

[24:26] But it says. They search the scriptures. Daily. They search the scriptures. Notice it says. They didn't just search. They search the scriptures. Some people have a vain search for God.

[24:38] A vain search for faith. For religion. I remember as a youngster. I know our family was watching. A series that was called. The long search. The long search. And there was this.

[24:48] Religious. Kind of. A man with a religious bent. And he was searching through. All multiplied kinds of religions. He was searching. Searching. Searching. Searching. Searching. And we got to the end of the series.

[25:00] And he still hadn't found it. You know. The long search. He hadn't found the answer. He was still searching. At the end of his vain search. Because he wasn't searching the scriptures. They searched the scriptures.

[25:11] They searched the scriptures daily. To see whether these things were so. They checked out what the preacher was saying. What Paul was saying. Paul for goodness sake. That they searched the scriptures.

[25:23] To make sure. That what he said. Lined up. With what the Bible said. And we need to have that daily habit. As the psalmist says. As again. Psalm 119.

[25:34] He cries out. He says. Oh. How I love thy law. It is my meditation. All the day. I love thy law. It is my meditation.

[25:44] I'm going to meditate on it. I'm going to chew it over. And feed my soul on it. And really get deeply into the Bible. Day by day. It is my meditation.

[25:55] All the day. And we see Psalm 1. Likewise says. The same thing. That his delight. Is in the law of the Lord. And in his law.

[26:06] Doth he meditate. Day and night. Day and night. We see even Job. He says. Neither have I. Gone back from the commandment. Of his lips. I have esteemed.

[26:16] The words of. His mouth. More than. My necessary food. More important. Than. What you're going to eat today. Is to eat. The Bible. As it were.

[26:26] To feed your soul. With something good from God. Get a scripture. Get a word from God. Take the Psalms. Take the Proverbs. Take something. And eat it.

[26:37] Chew it over. Meditate on it. Make it a part and parcel. Of who you are. Make it live in your heart. I have esteemed the word of God. The words of his mouth.

[26:49] More than. My necessary food. 2 Corinthians 4. Verse 16. Paul says. He's talking about times of trial. He says. Though. For this cause we faint not.

[27:01] Though our outward man perish. Yet the inward man. Is renewed. Day by day. The inward man. You know. My outward man. Is looking worse for wear.

[27:12] Day by day. But I pray that my inward man. My inward man. Is getting renewed. Renewed. Day by day. It talks about the renewing of the mind. There's a renewing.

[27:22] There's an inner strength. There's an inner strengthening. There's an inner blessing. There's an inner refreshing. As we are renewed. In the inner man. In the inward parts.

[27:33] Day by day. And the word of God will affect that. Be a day by day Christian. Commit your way to God. Commit your day to God. Commit your life to God.

[27:45] Every new day. Every new day. His faithfulness is new. Every morning. Isn't it? I love the scriptures that talk about.

[27:57] Early will I seek thee. Early will I seek thee. Make him your first waking thought. Make God. Every day.

[28:10] Through the day. My meditation all the day. 24-7. Meditate day and night.

[28:21] Day and night. Day by day. Renewed. Day by day. In John 5. Our Lord's talking to some religious ones. And they are the Pharisees of the day.

[28:33] And he's saying. Search the scriptures. For in them you think. You have eternal life. And they are they. Which testify of me. But some who have a Bible.

[28:45] They don't know the saviour. They have a Bible. They might have Bible knowledge. They know about God. But they don't know God. That's a big loss isn't it?

[28:56] That's a big lack. As many. Well many people. They know the Bible. But they don't know God. To know him. To know him. Search the scriptures.

[29:07] They are they. Which testify of me. He says to them. I'm in here. From Genesis to Revelation. Jesus is in here. You know there's some. You can find some.

[29:20] Sayings that say. Christ in all the scriptures. Christ in all the scriptures. You can see. Have a look. You can look it up on the internet. Christ in all the scriptures.

[29:31] And you see Jesus in Genesis. You see Jesus in Exodus. Right through. Every book of the Bible. Jesus is in there. He's the. The. The common thread.

[29:43] He's that. That scarlet thread. The blood. The Lord Jesus. The Messiah to come. The saviour. It's all about him. And we see.

[29:54] When our Lord came. To the eleven disciples. As they. Were still grieving. After the resurrection. And it says. He suddenly came. He burst on the scene.

[30:05] You know. The place was locked. But he suddenly. He appeared. Where the eleven. Were present. And it says. These are the words. Which I spake unto you.

[30:17] While I was yet with you. That all things. Must be fulfilled. Which were written. In the law of Moses. And the prophets. And the Psalms. Concerning me. The law of Moses.

[30:29] Genesis. Deuteronomy. The prophets. All the various prophets. The major prophets. The minor prophets. And the Psalms. He says. I'm in there.

[30:42] I'm in there. You know. Sometimes we might. Focus on the New Testament. But really. It's right through. Old and New Testament. Right through the book. And it says. Then he opened their. Understanding.

[30:53] That they might. Understand the scriptures. Let's have that kind of. Receptivity. To God. Teaching us. So see. As we.

[31:03] As we. Just refresh. Where we've come from. Seek for it. Search for it. Search like you would. Search for treasure. That careful. And thorough. Examination.

[31:14] This is like a treasure map. Who's ever seen. In the. You know. Children stories. They have the treasure map. X marks the treasure.

[31:24] You want to find where the X is. So you can. Head there. Find where that treasure map is. There's treasure here. Treasure. That is buried. You've got to dig it deep. You've got to get your pickaxe out.

[31:35] And search for it. And mine that gold. Mine that silver. That is. The treasure. Of the word of God. Make a careful and thorough. Examination. And that's the sense of this word. Searching.

[31:46] It's the same word. It's translated. Elsewhere. As discern. As discerning. We see in 1 Corinthians 2.14. Where we see. In the. Acts.

[31:56] It says. That they search the scriptures daily. This word. Search. Is. The same word here. Translated. In the English. As discern. Discern. There's a.

[32:07] Receiving. Of the things. Of the spirit of God. And Paul says. That these things. Are spiritually discerned. Some people come to the Bible. And treat it as just a novel.

[32:18] Or treat it as just a. Oh. It's just one religious book. But they're not. Spiritually discerning it. That. The spirit of God. Needs to. Bring it to our.

[32:30] Understanding. To illuminate it. To reveal it. To our. Mind. And our spirit. Because it's spiritual. There's a spiritual book here. It's not some. Carnal.

[32:41] Fleshly. Worldly. Kind of. Book. This is a spiritual book. And it needs to be spiritually discerned. So there's a spiritual analysis here. There's a great search. A treasure map here.

[32:52] People are searching for answers. In this world. That is going to hell. We need answers today. Search. But not just search vainly. Search.

[33:03] The scriptures. Search. The scriptures. Make that your goal. To have that inquiring mind. Sadly. There's many confusing cults. And philosophies. There's many voices out there.

[33:15] Many. Many voices. We have to discern wisely. To search wisely. To search thoroughly. In the Bible. It talks about test the spirits. Try the spirits. Discern. Make wise judgments.

[33:26] How do we know? What voice? What voice do we tune into? There's many TV preachers. Many radio preachers. There's many websites. And sources of information. Many cults.

[33:38] And philosophies. And churches. My sheep. Hear my voice. And I know them. And they follow me. The Lord Jesus says.

[33:50] The good shepherd. The great shepherd. The Lord our shepherd. My sheep. Hear my voice. How do we know? The voice of God. It's here. Can't you hear it?

[34:00] He's wanting to speak to you. You know. There's some churches. You go to. And the preacher says. I've got a word from the Lord for you. And they say something or other. Here it is.

[34:10] I've got a word from the Lord for you. It's in your hands. This is the book. This is the voice of God. This is the word of God. For you. Read it. Take it. Treasure it.

[34:22] Guard it. Let it be your guide. We need that careful. And thorough examination. That discerning. To make wise judgments. Some are preaching works today.

[34:34] They're preaching a works based salvation. That you're under condemnation. It's almost like they're like these cults. That you. Go count how many doors they knock on. How much hours they spend.

[34:45] And they record it fastidiously. Because they're earning their way to heaven. By all the good works they supposedly do. But it's not like that. It's not a works based salvation.

[34:56] There's only one work. One work we need. Amen. The finished work of Christ. The finished work. When he said it is finished. And he gave up his ghost.

[35:08] And he yielded himself. To death. For us. It is finished. That was when it was finished. Done. Done. All done.

[35:20] Nothing more to do. Simply trust. His work. That's the only work we need yet. Many are preaching works today. Putting people under yokes of bondage. And heaping them.

[35:32] Bowing them down. With heavy, heavy, heavy loads. Of works. Works. Works. It's not of that. There's liberty. He strikes the bondage off our back.

[35:44] He hacks the bonds that carry us. With some big bondage. Of works. And there's no works to be done. Simply trust. His work.

[35:55] And then we'll be a glad servant. Because we'll gladly want to bless and serve him. And be his. But there's no condemnation. In Christ.

[36:06] As you walk in the spirit. So we see. Much blessing. But we must hear his voice. Tune into that. Tune out everything else. Tune into this. His voice.

[36:17] And then you can know. God's will. We see that some sadly. Missed this whole point. He says. My sheep. Hear my voice. And I know them.

[36:29] And they follow me. Follow Jesus. Follow Jesus today. Sadly the some. They're ever learning. And never coming to the knowledge of the truth. There's some that are very well schooled in the Bible.

[36:42] And they've got. DD. DTH. You know. Doctor of theology. Doctor of divinity. You know. The very reverend doctor. You know.

[36:52] The very reverend doctor. Bishop. Archbishop. Pope. They've got lots of knowledge. But they're never coming to the knowledge of the truth. This must be the defining moment.

[37:03] This must be. That which. We. Search for. And find. The truth. To know the truth. And the truth will set us free. So. What we profess and teach.

[37:14] Is not. Some blind kind of faith. It's based on a solid foundation. That will bear scrutiny. And testing. It says. They search the scriptures daily. Whether those things were so.

[37:25] We see that. It says. Prove. All things. Hold fast there. Which is good. It's good to question. Everything.

[37:37] Question. Everything. Prove it. Say to the preacher. Prove it. Show me. What the scriptures say.

[37:48] Show me scripture for that. Prove it. Test all things. Check. Everything. That you hear.

[37:59] Spiritually. Does it accord. It says in. Isaiah. The prophet says. To the law. And to the testimony. If. They speak not.

[38:10] According to. This word. It is because. There is no light. In there. When the preacher. Says something. Is it in here? No.

[38:21] It's not in here. So he's wrong. Or. It's doubtful. Prove all things. Hold fast. That which is good. When people go against. The word of God.

[38:32] It's because. They're in darkness. Rather. Be like the Bereans. They that were more noble. Than those in Thessalonica. In that they received the word. With all readiness of mind. And search the scriptures daily.

[38:42] Whether. Those things were so. So. Be like the Bereans. Receive. Search. And thirdly. Believe. Thirdly. Believe. Therefore.

[38:54] Many of them. It goes on. After they searched the scriptures. After they received the scriptures. Therefore. Many of them believed. Therefore.

[39:05] There's a fruit. From this seed. There's a fruit. When you believe the word of God. When you love the word of God. When you treasure it. When you receive it. When you search it.

[39:16] When you find it. You believe. Wow. Everything changes. Therefore. There's a fruit. Get a hold of this Bible.

[39:27] Get a hold of its message. Let it change it from the inside out. Believe. There's a fruit. There's a seed. That germinates. Souls get saved. There's a begotten again.

[39:38] There's a born again. There's a new birth. There's newness of life. Souls are one. Fruit happens. When people are eager for the word. And by faith. We grasp hold of the word of God.

[39:49] By faith. We count it as something precious. Something true. Something trustworthy. Something that's going to be eternity. For us. We can have eternal life. Don't miss that.

[40:02] For just a little earthly. Vanity. Don't miss heaven. For a little earthly. Distraction. Distraction. Don't miss heaven. Believe.

[40:14] Believe. Believe now. Believe now. Believe today. Trust him now. Trust him now. Grasp hold. Of the truth of God. And by faith. We accept the truth.

[40:25] And it's true. That it's genuine. Though the enemy still says. As he said to Adam and Eve. Yea. Hath God said. Yea. Hath God said.

[40:36] Satan came up to. Adam and Eve. God had given them clear. Crystal clear. Instructions. And Satan.

[40:47] Cast doubt. On the word of God. Skeptics still scoff today. Don't they? Some still scoff. And deride. And mock. And scorn.

[40:58] But the Bible. Is God's revelation to man. And at the heart. Of the Christian faith. Is this revelation. It's a revelation. God has revealed himself.

[41:10] To humanity. The Lord. Jesus. Christ. Is in every. Page. Of this book. His message is. Here.

[41:23] For you. That will receive. That will search. That will believe. And God is utterly truthful. There's perfect truthfulness here. There's not a word of a lie. God is not a liar.

[41:34] It says. These are the very. Words of God. There's many scriptures. We could. Talk on. Psalm 19. Is alike. To Psalm 119. In that it speaks much.

[41:46] Of the word of God. Psalm 19. The law. Of the Lord. Is perfect. Converting the soul. The testimony. Of the Lord. Is sure. Making wise.

[41:57] The simple. The statutes. Of the Lord. Are right. This book. Is perfect. It's sure. It's right.

[42:10] Rejoicing. The heart. The commandment. Of the Lord. Is pure. Enlightening. The eyes. The statutes. Of the Lord. Are right. Rejoicing. The heart.

[42:20] The commandment. Of the Lord. Is pure. Enlightening. The eyes. The fear. Of the Lord. Is clean. Enduring. Forever. The judgments. Of the Lord. Are true. And righteous. Altogether. Don't we want.

[42:31] To find truth. Don't we want. To find. What's right. What's pure. What's clean. What's good. What's. Best. What's. Wise. What's perfect.

[42:44] In a world. Where. Confusion. Reigns. We need. A crystal clear. Message. And it says. Moreover. By thy servant. Sorry. It goes on. To say. They're more.

[42:54] To be desired. Are they. Than gold. Yay. Than much. Fine gold. Think of that. You know. I used to live. In a place. Called. Kalgoorlie. And. We went down.

[43:08] One kilometer. Beneath. The surface. Of the earth. Into this dark. Chasm. Of a mine shaft. And saw. Where they were.

[43:18] Digging away. And then. We came back up. The. Elevator. And they took us. To a room. Where they were. Pouring. Molten gold. Pure.

[43:29] Molten gold. And. And it was so shiny. So bright. And you know. If I had a pocket. Big enough.

[43:39] To put that ingot in. You know. I would have liked to have taken it home with me. But they didn't let me. For some reason. But you imagine that. The. The gold. Is. Something that people.

[43:51] Hanker after. Isn't it? This book is more to be desired than gold. It's much more important. Much more important. Than gold. And more to be desired than gold. And moreover by them.

[44:02] It says. This is our servant warned. There's warning here too. We need warning. Warning. In a world going to hell. In a hand basket. We need warning. People of God. People of God.

[44:14] We should be warned. By the word of God. And. In keeping of them. There is great reward. Great reward. Just to. Draw it to a close here.

[44:26] We. We find a firm conviction. As to the value of the word of God. What does it say? More to be desired. Than gold. Yea. Than much fine gold.

[44:39] Moreover by them. Is thy servant warned. And in keeping of them. Is great reward. This world. Is. Is full of fake news. That's what they call it now. Isn't it? You tune into the news channel.

[44:50] And you think. Is that fake or not? What's going on? Fake news. In a world where fake news prevails. We need good news. Glad news. And we have it here.

[45:01] In a world where everything's relative. And subjective. It's up to. How we feel one day. How we feel the next. Or what the government might legalise one day. Or declare illegal the next.

[45:12] As if it's all about what man decides. But no. It's about absolute truth. That's what counts. It doesn't matter what governments say. Is right or wrong. It's what God says. It's what God says.

[45:23] And we have no. Other. Absolute. Guide of truth. Than this book. And in a world where there's fake news. Where we have this real decay. And rejection of truth.

[45:35] What are we to do? Sadly many people deny God. Or they say. Oh God can have this little bit of me. But only so much.

[45:47] Or they swallow the lie. Like the laughable lie of evolution. Which is just a smoke screen. For unbelief. We're engaged in a fight. A clash of world views. Where Christians are in a conflict.

[46:00] Because of this crazy. Fake news. Evil. Error prone world that we live in.

[46:12] It's a clash. It's a fight. Now I've got to confess today. That I've got some tooth decay. And for those that know me. I hate injections.

[46:22] And I hate dentists. But I have got a growing cavity in one of my teeth. And I feel it all the time. And it doesn't get any smaller. I've got this growing cavity.

[46:34] A hole in one of my teeth. Now this didn't happen overnight. Those who know me likewise know I'm a sweet tooth. And if it's a choice between chocolate and fruit.

[46:45] The chocolate wins. Now this didn't happen overnight. This tooth decay. It's taken years and years. And years of sugary foods. And ultimately I'm going to have to face up to the.

[46:59] The dentist. You must be very brave. And visit the dentist one day. In a sugary world. Tooth decay. Is a very real problem.

[47:11] But I put to you a much greater problem today. A much greater problem. Is truth decay. Truth decay. There's a decaying of truth.

[47:23] The truth. The truth. Is under attack. It's being eroded all around us. Day by day. The sugary sweet lies of Satan.

[47:34] Is eroding the truth. Truth decay. And I put to you today. To prevent. Truth decay. Read your Bible. To prevent.

[47:45] Truth decay. Read your Bible. Believe it. Believe his word. Act upon it. Believe the word of God. Believe the one of whom it speaks. The saviour of the world.

[47:57] When we see the word. It tells us. Receive and search the scriptures. It tells how the word. Is mixed with faith. Some will hear the word. But faith won't be mixed with it.

[48:08] Ask God to mix some faith in. Amen. Ask God to help you believe. Ask God to mix some faith in. As you receive the word. To mix the word. With faith.

[48:19] It says so then. Faith cometh by hearing. And hearing by the word of God. Faith comes by hearing this book. By taking its message. And believing it.

[48:29] By believing God. It's the word of faith which we preach. Says Paul. We can be convinced of the great authority. Authority. And inspiration of the scriptures today. Yet sadly many.

[48:40] Who profess to believe the authority of the Bible. They show otherwise. They say yeah I believe the Bible. I believe in the authority of the Bible. But they will not be governed by the truth.

[48:52] Let it govern you. Let it govern you. As God. Leads us and rules us with loving authority. And loving lordship. Be governed by the truth.

[49:02] The authority of the word. Trust it. God's message to your soul. Have confidence and assurance in it. It's been given to us by God's authority. Faith cometh by hearing.

[49:13] Take time. To hear the word of God. Now you might not be able to get to every meeting of this church. But get to every meeting you can get to. Try to be where you can get the word.

[49:24] Because faith comes by hearing it. Faith comes by hearing it. Play it on your audio systems. There's good Bible MP3s. There's Bible YouTube scriptures that you can play and listen to.

[49:41] While you're going about your day by day. Have some scriptures you write down and put in your pocket and refer to. Now and again. Let it be such that you meditate day and night. Day and night.

[49:52] Hear it. Receive it. Be blessed by it. Be governed by it. Trust the word of God. And it says just lastly.

[50:03] That God has given to us exceeding great and precious promises. There's exceeding great and precious promises here. There's promises for you. For me.

[50:14] Of course there's elements we need to take in context. As to who is addressed. As to the reference. As to who is being addressed. At times it's Israel.

[50:25] But many can be applicable for our lives. Taking it and receiving it. Searching it and believing it. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica.

[50:38] In that they received the word. With all readiness of mind. And search the scriptures. Let's find some. Here's a bit of gold. Here's some silver.

[50:50] Search the scriptures. Daily. Daily. Whether those things are so. And therefore many of them believed. Many of them believed.

[51:02] Let's pray. Our Lord God. We thank you. You've given us a book. Let us treasure it. Let us love it. Let us heed the word. Let us obey it. Let us receive. Especially the message of salvation.

[51:15] Let us search and search. But search most of all for the scriptures. Search the scriptures. Daily. And let us Lord believe. That message of eternal life.

[51:25] That is right through. The word of God. To receive the salvation message. To see. Christ in every scripture. To see Christ. Crucified. As foretold.

[51:37] And as. As anticipated. And as demonstrated. At the cross. And as we look back. In praise and glory. Unto your name. At the blood of Jesus.

[51:48] Shed for us. Lord help us to have faith. In a world that's. Fake. And failing. Let us have faith. Let us believe. Let us believe in you.

[52:00] As Lord and Saviour. As Master. And Lord. We pray if there's any yet. Yet to take that step. That they'll. Let go. Of what's holding them back.

[52:11] And just jump in. Today. In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.