The Bible

[0:00] The Bible, the Word of God. I was encouraged with the opening prayer that our brother quoted in verse that we'll read together.

[0:12] ! Feel free to read along with me, Hebrews 4 verse 12. For the Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

[0:31] The Word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. This is a plain message tonight, just some telling verses from the Word of God about the Word of God that we can take heart in today.

[0:48] You know, I see people say things like, God's given me a word! God's given me a word for you! And this is the Word. This is the Word God has given. Amen?

[1:00] We don't need to seek it somewhere else or someone's stories. We need the Word. The living Word. The precious Word. The holy Word of God.

[1:13] And that's the sure word. The more sure word of prophecy. We go in some quarters and they give you some fanciful story, some extra-biblical, which means outside of the Bible, kind of word that they call a word from God.

[1:29] God's given the Word and it's here. You have it in your hands. The blessed Word of God. And it tells us here, it's quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword.

[1:40] Of course, we know there's the saying, the quick and the dead. Basically, you're dead or you're quick. You're alive. You're alive or you're dead. You know, wanted, dead or alive. There's only two states.

[1:51] And the Word of God is not dead, it's quick. It's powerful. It's alive. It's living. And it's a judge, it says. It's a discerner. It acts as like a judge of the soul and spirit, of the joints and marrow, of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

[2:09] It does that dividing, that dividing work. And some thoughts about the Word of God tonight. What is so special about the Bible?

[2:21] It is the Word of God. The Word of God. And we have it here in the English language in our King James Bible.

[2:33] This is the Word of God. It is the Word of God. What is so special about it? It is the Word of God. And we're told some things about the Bible. It is like gold. It's priceless.

[2:45] It's like honey. It's sweet. We see that in Psalm 19. A psalm that tells much about the Word of God. And we read from verse 7.

[2:55] It says, The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart.

[3:07] The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. It says, The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

[3:22] More to be desired. More to be desired than gold. Yea, than much farther than gold. Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Amen.

[3:32] Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

[3:44] The Word of God. It tells us in those verses, it says it's perfect. It says it's sure. It says it's right. It says it's pure. It says it's clean.

[3:57] It's true and righteous altogether. And it's more to be desired. It tells us it's converting the soul. It tells us it's the testimony of the Lord.

[4:12] Making wise the simple. It tells us it's right. It rejoices the heart. It tells us it's the commandment of the Lord. It enlightens the eyes.

[4:23] It's clean. Enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord. True and righteous altogether.

[4:35] And what a precious book it is for us today. The Word of God. We see some things about the Word of God. It is that it is quick. It is living. It's alive.

[4:46] And we see the life of God in the Word of God. We see in 1 Corinthians 2.14. This book needs to be specially read. This special book needs to be specially read. Because we need the life of God in us.

[4:58] We need the Spirit of God within us. It tells us in 1 Corinthians 2.14. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness unto him.

[5:09] Neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. We have to have that discernment that is spiritual. As we open these pages. This is no ordinary book.

[5:21] It is the Word of God to our soul. It tells us that we can find a rejoicing in this book. It says, Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.

[5:35] Jeremiah 15.16 in part. And it tells us 1 Peter 1.23. In part being born again by the Word of God. Which liveth and abideth forever.

[5:46] There is a seed that is planted here. As we witness. As we declare the Word. As we impart Scripture. Acts as a seed that can germinate and bring to life.

[5:58] And our Lord tells us that man shall not live by bread alone. But by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

[6:13] We live by the Word. The guidebook of life. The maker's instructions. There's a saying. You know, there's a saying. If all else fails. Read the instructions.

[6:24] I was working with someone some while back to build a garden chair. And he says he just likes to put it all out and just put it all together.

[6:35] He doesn't look at the instructions. Of course he was pulling my leg. Because it would have been a disaster. As it was, it was still a pretty bodgy job. At the end of the day. This garden chair.

[6:46] But that was mainly my fault. Because he left me to it. But we see. We've got to use the instructions. Amen. We need to use the maker's instructions. Read the instructions. This is, as I've said it before.

[6:59] B-I-B-L-E. Basic instructions. Before leaving earth. The Word of God. Read the instructions. The maker's instructions. And of course there's many books. In the libraries of the world.

[7:14] We know there's many, many books. And Ecclesiastes 12 verse 12 tells us that of the making of many books there is no end. You know, we can see many well-stocked libraries and bookstores overflowing with books.

[7:26] I know there's some folk that have got sheds full of books. And I've got quite a few books myself. But the Library of Congress has one of the biggest libraries.

[7:37] It's got almost 100 million items. 100 million. We know there's a lot of books we can spend time reading. Text books. Comic books.

[7:49] Cook books. Reference books. Poetry books. Travel books. Fiction. Non-fiction. Technical. And such. The list is endless. But one book.

[7:59] One book stands above all. The Bible. The Bible. The Word of God. There's life in this book. Amen. There's life. It's alive. It's quick. It's powerful.

[8:10] There's life in this book. Eternal life. Converting the soul. And we read that it tells us that as the same as in Psalm 119. Which is all about the Bible.

[8:22] If you want some homework. If you've not had a look before. Have a look at Psalm 119. In part. It tells us verse 11. Thy word have I hid in mine heart.

[8:33] That I might not sin against thee. Thy word is a lamp. No longer. It's like a forgotten skill. People don't read.

[8:44] Any book. Let alone the Bible. These days. It's like. I should have copied down all the facts and figures. But it was a recent media article. Wasn't it? And it was just saying. Some measly tiny.

[8:56] But families. Have. Have a book. Let alone read a book. And it's mind boggling. It's no wonder. We're. We're becoming. A dumb.

[9:09] Generationally. The so-called smart. Smart technology. And this smart. The smart. Technology world. That we're living in. That people are. Dumber than they've ever been. As far as what really matters.

[9:21] They can. Play the video games. But they can't. They can't read and write. And then. That. The word of God. Has. A tremendous power. But I'm.

[9:33] I'm not getting. To that one just yet. So I'll just. Just take that off for a minute. The word of God. Jesus says.

[9:43] These things have I spoken unto you. That my joy might. Remain in you. And that your joy. Might be full. So his. Words. He says. These things have I spoken unto you.

[9:54] That my joy. Might remain in you. And that your joy. Might be full. That's John 15. 11. So there's. There's the power. Of that joy. Of salvation. The joy of our salvation.

[10:06] Think of. The joy of salvation. And how the word of God. That. There's a. An account where.

[10:17] The. A Bible society. Reported how. A lady. Wanted to do something special. For the Lord. And this lady thought. I'm going to go and buy some Bibles.

[10:29] And I'm going to give them away. And was looking for someone. To give a Bible to. She happened on a man. Who was building a block wall. And he was a bricklayer. And this lady.

[10:41] Discovered that this man. Had never owned a Bible. And offered him a Bible. At a very low cost. The man told the Bible salesman. He had sealed the only Bible.

[10:51] He ever had. In a wall. And the distributor. Drew from his pocket. That very Bible. He glanced at the flyleaf. And told the stonemason. His name. And the startled laborer.

[11:02] Sat down and listened to. The distributor. Then he too. Decided. To have a closer look. At this book. The power of God's word. The power of God's word.

[11:13] Was evident again. Now I'm trusting this is a true story. But. It sounds almost unbelievable. Doesn't it. But yet. The power of the word of God. Is absolutely.

[11:23] Sure. And the power of the word of God. To see. A man saved. A woman saved. We. We read. That in the story. That. This man. The stonemason.

[11:33] Became a believer. He also. Became a missionary. And faithfully labored. For his Lord. For many years. The word of God. There's power in the word of God. We see.

[11:44] It's. Alive. It's quick. It's living. It's powerful. There's mighty power. And. We see. That it's sharper. Sharper. Than any two-edged sword.

[11:55] It penetrates. It cuts. All the way. Into us. The word of God. It's. Very powerful. We see that. For example.

[12:05] In Acts. 2. 37. Where. The word was. Preached. And declared. And the audience. As they heard this word.

[12:16] It says. They were pricked. In their heart. They said unto Peter. And the rest of the apostles. Men and brethren. What shall we do? The word of God. Provoked. A response.

[12:27] It. Pricked their hearts. It. It. Cut deep. With. It's sharper. Than any two-edged sword. The word of God. It's sharper.

[12:42] Than any. Two-edged sword. Just consider. The sharpness. Of the word of God.

[12:54] In Ephesians 6. Verse 17. Paul writes. In part. He says. Take. The sword of the spirit. Which is. The word of God. The word of God. It's sharper.

[13:04] Than any two-edged sword. This is our sword. This is our offensive weapon. The sword. That we are to be armed with. To take. Into battle.

[13:15] This sword. This word of God. Is. Able to equip us. And arm us. It convicts. And the word of God. Has one theme.

[13:27] We see. In Luke. Verse. 24. Luke chapter 24. From verse 44. We see. As the. Lord.

[13:37] Was walking. With the two disciples. On the road. To Emmaus. And he. He tells these two disciples. As he. Talks of the scriptures. He says. These are the words.

[13:48] Which I spake unto you. While I was yet with you. That all things must be fulfilled. Which were in the prophets. Which were written in the law of Moses.

[14:00] And in the prophets. And in the Psalms. Concerning me. The Lord Jesus says. In. It was written in the. Law of Moses. And in the prophets. And in the Psalms.

[14:11] Concerning me. This was. Hundreds of years before. He was born. Verse. 45. Of Luke 24. Our Lord. Opened.

[14:22] Their understanding. That they might. Understand. The scriptures. That's what we need to pray for. Isn't it? That the Lord would open. Our understanding. That we might understand.

[14:32] The scriptures. Verse 46. Thus it is written. And thus it behoved. Christ to suffer. And to rise from the dead. The third day. And that repentance. And remission of sins. Should be preached.

[14:43] In his name. Among all nations. Beginning. In Jerusalem. The Bible has one theme. It's sharp. Sharpen. It penetrates. It cuts.

[14:54] It convicts. It's been truly said. As a famous man. Mark Twain has said. Allegedly. It's not the parts of the Bible. I don't understand.

[15:05] That trouble me. It's the parts that I do. Now when we read the word. And we think. Wow. God's really speaking to me. Now that scripture. Is really coming alive. That's quickened to me.

[15:16] It's made alive to me. That scripture. God is. Challenging me. He's convicting me. He's. Growing me. This is. Making me uncomfortable.

[15:27] But I've got to. Let God do. His work in me. It's the word of God. It's sharp. And it's not the parts. We don't understand. It's the parts that we do. That. That God.

[15:38] Does a work within. See in Acts 5. 33. As. As other folk were preached to. When they heard that. They were cut to the heart. In this case.

[15:48] They took counsel. To slay them. You know. The preacher. They wanted to kill the preacher. Because they were cut to the heart. In Acts 7. 54. It says. And when they heard these things. They were cut to the heart.

[16:00] And they gnashed on him. With their teeth. I've preached. For a few years. Now. But. No one's gnashed on me. With their teeth yet. But. You know. Maybe. Give it time. If I get a bit too.

[16:11] A bit too hard. Some people might want to come. And gnash on me. After the. After the service. Or. During the service. You know. That's what happened. In the word of God. It's sharper.

[16:21] And they were cut to the heart. And they gnashed on him. With their teeth. You know. They just wanted to. Get a piece of him. Now. A few months. Before Pearl Harbor.

[16:32] Those people placing. Copies of the New Testament. The Gideons. I think they. Were using the King James. At that point. They placed 50,000 copies. Of the New Testament. On all ships.

[16:44] In the. Pacific Fleet. This was before. Pearl Harbor. The event. Pearl Harbor. But after the disastrous attack. Many of the bodies. Were found in the posture.

[16:54] Of reading their testaments. Many had signed their last. Their names. On. A last page. Signifying. They had accepted Christ. As their saviour. And a nurse. Whose son was in the Navy.

[17:06] Came to Honolulu. To work in one of the hospitals. She hadn't heard from her son. For two years. When the attack came. She offered her services. To the Navy. And was assigned.

[17:16] The unpleasant duty. Of assisting. In the identification. Of the dead. At the morgue. One by one. She uncovered the boys. To secure their serial number.

[17:27] So word could be sent. To the nearest of kin. After a while. She uncovered a body. Only to look into the face. Of her own son. She fainted.

[17:37] And was carried. To her quarters. Later. Her son's personal effects. Brought to her. Among these. Was a small. White. New Testament. Water soaked. And unreadable.

[17:48] But she noticed. Her son had signed. On the last page. Her son had signed. His name. On the last page. Now this mother. Never went to church.

[17:59] Never read the Bible. Scarcely gave it a thought. But she asked the chaplain. For a testament. Like the one. Her son had. You know. It was waterlogged. It was kind of all.

[18:10] Stuck together. And. She wanted one. Just like he had. And she read it. From cover. To cover. And she learned. That God.

[18:21] Had a plan. Of salvation. That she was a sinner. But God loved her. That he gave his son. To die on the cross. To be her saviour.

[18:32] And she noted. On the last page. Of that. New Testament. The blank. Page. Blank space. Where she could sign her name. A hard hearts.

[18:44] And heals the broken hearts. How. Will we read the Bible. I put to you. There's. Two ways. You could. Read the Bible.

[18:55] And it's. A light to the basic difference. Between. An explorer. And a tourist. When you go. If you have.

[19:07] That good. Pleasure of. Taking a holiday. A trip somewhere. To go to some destination. You've just got. Moments. Of time.

[19:19] At the port. At the. Place. On the tour. And the tourist. Travels quickly. Travels quickly. And.

[19:29] It's a word. Study to show. Thyself approved. Our Lord says. Continue. In my word. The best thing. To do with the Bible.

[19:41] Is. As someone has said. This. Four things here. To know it. In the. To stow it. In the heart. To sow it.

[19:52] In the world. And to show it. In your life. It's good advice. Isn't it? So I'll say that again. To know it. In the head. To stow it. In the heart. To sow it.

[20:03] In the world. And to show it. In. The life. It's been said. A home without a Bible. Is like a ship. Without a compass. And how sad it is.

[20:14] To see. Homes without a Bible. Friends today. These are exceeding great. And precious promises. The promises.

[20:26] They are yea and amen. Exceeding. Great. And precious. Promises. Promises. And these are promises. Not from. You know.

[20:38] I hope there's no car salesman here. But sometimes I've had some promises. When I bought something. And it's. And. You know. The minute the. Warranties expired.

[20:48] Oh. I bought a lemon. Not a promise from a car salesman. You know. God bless them. There's some honest ones out there. But. Not a promise from a car salesman. But a promise from the one.

[21:00] Our God. Who cannot lie. He cannot lie. Men will lie to you. Women will lie to you. But. He will never lie. He is the truth.

[21:11] And he says. Thy word. Is true. And. John. John. 20. 31. It says. Sorry. John. 20. 31. Our Lord says. These are written.

[21:21] That you might believe. That Jesus is the Christ. The Son of God. That believing. You might have life. Through his name. Again. The things that we speak.

[21:37] It's not the words. Which man's wisdom teacheth. But which the Holy Ghost teacheth. Comparing spiritual things. With spiritual. We need the spiritual. God. We need the Holy Spirit. So when we open the scriptures.

[21:50] We seek God. To. Enlighten. To illuminate. His word. Truly. The Bible. Is the only book. Whose author.

[22:01] Is always present. When we read it. He's always with you. Ask him. To show you. His truth. Have that openness.

[22:11] To allow God. To speak to you. That heart. Of openness. That meekness. It's been truly said. Sin. Will keep you from this book. This book.

[22:23] Will keep you from sin. The word of God. Be encouraged today. To study the word. Like the Bereans of old. It tells of them. They were more noble. Than those in Thessalonica.

[22:35] In that. The word. With all readiness of. Mind. And search the scriptures. Daily. Whether those things. Were so. Ask the Lord.

[22:46] To give you that daily habit. Of that daily time. Day by day. Time. To. Search the scriptures. Like an explorer.

[22:59] You know. Put the. The hard hat on. Or. You know. What are they. You see the pictures of those. African explorers. With the. What do they call those helmets?

[23:09] They wear. You know. What's that? A pith helmet. Yeah. Or. You know. Get your. Get your. Safari gear on.

[23:19] And. Or if you like. A. I like to think of like a miner. You know. That little. Lamp. I've got one of those. But. Cyclists wear them now. Little headlamp. So when I go out in the. Backyard.

[23:30] And it's all dark. Like the. The. The. The. The. The.

[23:51] gold. Yea, then find gold. And here are people that get killed in these mine shafts just to chip away just to find that little piece of gold that little nugget.

[24:03] What a shame it would be if we don't treat the word of God with such a desire. More to be desired than gold. More to be desired. Search the scriptures daily, thoroughly, lovingly, prayerfully, carefully. Use a notebook.

[24:20] Make notes of your thoughts and findings. Carry a pocket New Testament. It's always a good idea. Have a pocket New Testament that's on you, ready to refer to in those moments of time that you have.

[24:34] Invest that time as you search the scriptures daily in those spare moments. Have a Bible you can mark and underline those Bible verses that jump out at you, that speak to you.

[24:49] Pray, Lord, we thank you again for ending thoseยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยยย