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[0:00] John 17 verse 17.

[0:14] Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth.! The Lord Jesus prays, sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth.

[0:25] Then we'll go to Luke 5. So it was a prayer, the Lord Jesus said, sanctify his people through the truth, thy word is truth.

[0:37] In Luke 5 verses 1 through 3 it says, And he came to pass as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God. He stood by the lake of Gennesaret and saw two ships standing by the lake.

[0:51] But the fishermen were gone out of them and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships which was Simon's and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the shore. And he sat down and taught the people out of the ship.

[1:06] First one it says, the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God. It's been said that the Bible is under attack. It's under attack today.

[1:18] Someone had put it this way, that there's four quarters that we could see that the Bible is under attack. From. From those who deny it. Preferring the message of atheism.

[1:31] They deny God, they deny the Bible. Those who pervert it, they take up the homosexual message and agendas. The liberal agendas of the day. They pervert the word of God. A third group, scorn it.

[1:43] They mock its message. They will not conform to it. And a fourth one, neglect the word of God. They neglect it. It's been said the Bible is the best selling book.

[1:54] Least read. The word of God. We've come to hear it taught today. That everyone has their own truth. It's the kind of new age world.

[2:05] The new age idea. Everyone has their own truth. Everything is relative. It's as if the truth is the new hate speech as well. When someone actually declares what the word of God says, Thus saith the Lord, it's the new hate speech.

[2:21] People don't want to know. And sadly we see this even in the church scene today. There's literal teaching of denying yourself. Of repentance. Of the blood.

[2:32] Of doctrine. Of truly equipping the saints. There's a trend to newfound ideas. Rather than the word of God. It's neglected. It's put on the shelf.

[2:42] And seriously we don't need new doctrines. We need the old time religion. Not talking about religion as such. But the old time gospel message. The old time truths of God's truth.

[2:54] And people are searching for answers today. For what's real. For what's true. For truth. Now more than ever we need a returning to the unadulterated, uncompromising word of God.

[3:08] We need a revival of no nonsense, no compromise, straight shooting preaching. We need a genuine love and harmony that's built on the word of God. And accord.

[3:18] A one accord with the word. It's been said that a Bible that's falling apart probably belongs to someone who isn't. When the Bible is falling apart.

[3:29] When you're reading it. When you're heeding it. Your lives are held by the word. We need Bibles that are read today. Bibles that are read. Nothing against you if your Bible is a black one.

[3:42] But you need a red Bible. That's the main thing. A red Bible is the best Bible. And God's word is full of truth. It's infallible.

[3:55] It's pure. Preserved. Undiluted. Unparalleled. Unembellished. Unabridged. Undeviating. Undistorted. Unedited.

[4:05] And unadulterated. Unadulterated. To adulterate means to mix together with a foreign or inferior substance.

[4:17] To adulterate means to make impure by mixing in something other than the content. Something adding to.

[4:28] And adulterating. We need an unadulterated gospel. An unadulterated Bible. Truth that's plain. That's unvarnished and simple.

[4:39] The Bible says every word of God is pure. He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. Proverbs 13 verse 5.

[4:50] Every word of God is pure. He is a shield unto them that put their trust in Him. And someone has put it that the unadulterated word of God.

[5:01] Where it is preached. The unadulterated word of God will make you feel uncomfortable. Why? Because it convicts you of your sins. The word will shape your life in conformity to Christ.

[5:16] He goes on. Me. I don't want to hear preaching that tells me the life I'm living is alright. Because I know that is a lie. I want to hear preaching that convicts me.

[5:27] That tells me I have sin in my life. That needs to be forgiven. I want to hear preaching that makes me feel uncomfortable and drives me closer to Christ.

[5:38] Amen. We need preaching that is strong and true. We need a gospel message that is unvarnished. One day a sceptic talked to a Christian lady.

[5:49] A cultured Christian who this man came to kind of knocking her. Having a go at her. And he said how can you prove if the Bible is the word of God? And she said to this man.

[6:00] She said how can you prove there is a sun in the sky? Why? Why? He replied because it warms me and I can see its light. And so it is with me she said.

[6:12] The proof of this book being the word of God is that it warms my soul and gives me light. The word of God. The Bible is the word of God.

[6:23] An unknown writer said, this is a familiar quote to some, the book is the mind of God. This book is the mind of God. The state of man.

[6:35] The way of salvation. The doom of sinners. And the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy. Its precepts are binding. Its histories are true.

[6:46] And its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise. Believe it to be safe. Practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you.

[6:56] Food to support you. And comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler's man. The pilgrim's staff. The pilot's compass. The soldier's sword. And the Christian's character.

[7:08] Here paradise is restored. Heaven is opened. And the gates of hell are disclosed. Christ is its grand subject. Our good. Its design. And the glory of God.

[7:20] Its end. It should fill the memory. Rule the heart. And guide the feet. Read it. Slowly. Frequently. Prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth.

[7:31] A paradise of glory. And a river of pleasure. Follow its precepts. And it will lead you to Calvary. To the empty tomb. To a resurrected life in Christ.

[7:43] Yes. To glory. Itself. For eternity. Amen. The word of God. The word of God. Do we truly value the Bible?

[7:53] Do we truly value the Bible? The Bible. Believers in North Korea. In North Vietnam. Would value the Bible. They would value the Bible. In countries like that.

[8:04] Where it's scarce. Where it's hard to get a copy. Of your own. A preacher. Dr. R.G. Lee. Said this about the value. Of the Bible.

[8:15] The Bible is a book. Beyond all books. As a river is above. And beyond a rivulet. The Bible is a book. Beyond all books. As the sun is above.

[8:26] And beyond a candle. In brightness. The Bible is a book. Beyond all books. As the wings of an eagle. Is above and beyond. The wings of a sparrow.

[8:38] It is supernatural. In origin. Eternal. In duration. Inexpressible. In value. Immeasurable. In influence. Infinite. In scope.

[8:49] Divine. In authorship. Human in penmanship. Regenerative. In power. Infallible. In authority. Universal. In interest. Personal.

[9:00] In application. And inspired. In totality. This is the book. That has walked more paths. Travelled more highways. Knocked at more doors.

[9:11] And spoken to more people. In their mother tongue. Than any other book. This world has ever known. Or will know. Do we truly esteem. The value.

[9:22] Of the Bible. Friends. There's people in countries. As I've said. That would. Would give so much. To have. A copy. Of their own.

[9:33] And yet be treated. So carelessly. So carelessly. The word of God. There was a story told. Of an old gentleman.

[9:44] In London. Who was. Had an occasion. Where he was. Giving some gifts. And. He had a. A Bible. And he had some money.

[9:57] And he invited his servants. One by one. To come. And say to them. Will you have this Bible. Or a five pound note. That was a lot of money. For them at that time. And one servant said.

[10:08] I would take the Bible sir. But I can't read it. So I think the money. Will do me more good. Another. The gardener said. My poor wife. Is so ill.

[10:19] That I sadly need the money. As he responded. With a bow. Mary. You can read. Said the old man. Turning to the cook. Will you have the Bible. I can read sir.

[10:30] But I never get time. To look into a book. And the money will buy. A fine dress. Next was the chamber main. But she had one Bible. And did not want another. Last came the errand boy.

[10:41] Ladd. He said. Will you take these five pounds. And replace your shabby clothes. Or the new suit. Thank you sir. But my dear mother used to read. To me. That the law of the Lord.

[10:52] The law of the Lord. Was better than thousands of gold. And silver. I will have the good book. If you please. God bless you my boy. May your wise choice.

[11:04] Prove riches and honour. And long life unto you. As the lad received the Bible. And unclasped its covers. A bright gold piece. Roll to the floor. And quickly turning its pages.

[11:16] He found them thickly into land. With bank notes. While the four other servants. Discovering their mistake. On their worldly covetousness. Hastily departed.

[11:26] In shame. The value of the book. The value of the book. Will you choose the book. In preference to other things. Will you realise the value. Of the Bible today.

[11:38] Our lives are to be governed by the Bible. To be governed by the truth of God. But sometimes we reject the truth. It's as if. It relates to a story I read.

[11:49] Of a native of India. He was looking through a microscope. One day. This man. From the nation of India. And he noticed. Through his microscope. All these germs.

[12:01] In the water. From the supposed holy Ganges. And he was told. Don't drink that water anymore. He didn't like the look of the germs. Wriggling around in that water.

[12:13] So what did he do? He took up a heavy club. And broke the microscope. And continued to drink the water. He would rather have. The ignorance. Than to have the knowledge.

[12:24] And some people are like that. They'd rather be ignorant. Than have the knowledge of a book. That will speak to their hearts. That will convict their sin. That will show their need of Christ.

[12:34] Some people would rather reject the truth today. People treat the Bible just like that man treated the microscope. They didn't want. They don't want the truth today.

[12:46] What is truth? The Lord Jesus says. Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. What is truth? Truth is what is accurate.

[12:57] Truth is what distinguishes right from wrong. Truth is what's real. What's actual. What's reality. What is the word of God?

[13:08] It is truth. Thy word is truth. The Lord Jesus says. This book is true. It's faithful. It's precise. It's perfect.

[13:19] It's pure. It's accurate. It's holy. And inspired. It is the truth. It is the truth. The truth. The whole truth. And nothing but the truth.

[13:30] The word of God. We can stand on it. It is rock solid for us. The question is. What are we to do with the truth? What are we to do with the truth?

[13:41] Some scriptures will refer to that tell us of the truth and how we should respond to it. In 1 Timothy 2 verse 4 it says come to the truth.

[13:52] God will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2 verse 4. Come to the truth. It says love the truth.

[14:03] In 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 10 we read of some. They received not the love of the truth that they might be saved. They received not the love of the truth.

[14:14] Love the truth. Love the truth. Another one. Believe in the truth. In 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 12 it says. Of some who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

[14:28] They chose not the truth. They believed not the truth. We must believe the truth. Have faith in it. Have trust in it. You can rely upon it. In 2 Peter 1 verse 12 it says.

[14:40] Be established in the present truth. Be established in the truth. Be grounded and planted and founded in the truth. 1 Peter 1 verse 22 it says.

[14:50] Obey the truth. Obey the truth. Obey the truth. Obey the truth through the Spirit. And Ephesians 4 verse 25 it says. Speak the truth. Wherefore putting away lying speak every man the truth with his neighbour.

[15:04] In Acts 26 verse 25 it says. Declare the truth. As Paul ministered to Festus who challenged him, Paul said, I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak forth the words of truth and so do this.

[15:23] Declare the truth. Handle the truth accurately. In 2 Timothy 2.15 it says, Study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needeth not to be ashamed rightly, dividing the word of truth.

[15:38] Handle the word of God. Handle the truth faithfully. And worship in the truth. In John 4, the Lord Jesus tells us how the Father seeks people to worship him.

[15:53] To worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The truth matters. The truth matters. We've seen some of those scriptures just to repeat.

[16:03] Come to the truth. Love the truth. Believe in the truth. Be established in the truth. Obey the truth. Speak the truth. Declare the truth. Worship in truth.

[16:15] We must not compromise the truth. Friends, we're living in a day and age when anything goes. It's whatever you believe is right for you. That's your truth. You've got your truth.

[16:26] I've got mine. God's got his truth. And that doesn't change. Amen. God's truth does not change. He says not one job or tits or not one insignificant piece of it will be lost.

[16:41] It endures forever. The word of God. The words of the Lord are pure words. As silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

[16:57] Thou shalt keep them, O Lord. Thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever. God says he's going to preserve his word so that somewhere on planet earth we're going to have a Bible we know is true.

[17:11] Pure words. An important question. Have you got a pure Bible? It's an important question. Have you got a pure Bible?

[17:22] Some so-called Bibles are not pure. They're not pure.

[17:33] There's pieces missing. There's words missing. There's verses missing. There's whole slabs missing. Distorted, perverted, changed. It's important we've got a pure Bible in our hands.

[17:49] Not a pretend Bible. We're missing something fundamental, something critical in these days. There's a false gospel that is popular today. I was just talking with someone earlier tonight.

[18:01] A man-centered gospel. A man-centered gospel. A gospel of self-esteem and self-fulfillment. Your best life now. Jesus will make you feel good.

[18:16] He'll play the music so you feel good. Counterfeits abound. Clever counterfeits. Clever. Carefully crafted, engineered.

[18:30] Satan has a deceitful work as corrupting the word of God. Corrupting the very Bibles people take to church with them. As well as the message of the gospel.

[18:41] It's getting perverted. And we're missing something today. We're missing the gospel. The gospel. The gospel. Is that we are to come to Christ in faith.

[18:53] By his grace. It's not about some feel-good message. It's not about some emphasis on all the add-ons.

[19:07] It's about Christ and him crucified. It's about life in him. It's being born again. Converted. We must have the gospel.

[19:19] We must have the gospel. And we must make no apology for it. Christ and him crucified.

[19:32] Is your only hope today. Not in any religiosity. In any goosebumps or emotion. Or any of the fancy things people say are going to happen to your life.

[19:44] But your life is suddenly going to become so much better. That's not necessarily the case. Your life could get worse. In some countries you could get killed.

[19:56] For this message. You know they couldn't use the. I don't think Kenneth Copeland's kind of gospel would work in. Some of the darkest, deepest places in Africa.

[20:08] Where their daily food is a. It's no guarantee of that. Jesus didn't come to make you healthy.

[20:21] Or healthy. He came to save your soul. Save your soul. And by his grace sometimes he'll help you with other things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God.

[20:32] And his righteousness. Seek that first. Let that be the ultimate. And whether it means you're dead. Glory to God for that. Glory to God for that. And you're going to wear a crown.

[20:43] If that be the case. So don't shy away from it. The gospel. The old fashioned gospel. That's what we need. That's what we must have. In these days where it's missing. And in Luke 5 what did the people do?

[20:55] The people pressed upon him to hear the word of God. The people pressed upon him to hear the word of God. They didn't come because of some special concert.

[21:08] Or some particular gospel rock band. Or some particular feel good message. They pressed upon him to hear the word of God.

[21:20] There was an urgency. They pressed upon him. There was an anticipation. There was a receptivity. There was a love of the truth. And we need that same love of the truth today. We need the word.

[21:31] We need the word just as they needed it then. And just as they've always needed it. We need the word. We need the gospel. We need that living, active, transforming message. And I urge you today.

[21:42] Press upon him to hear the word of God. Press upon him. Press upon him. Press upon him. And hear the word of God. The word of God. It is our bread.

[21:53] As someone put it this way. It is our bread. Our sword. Our mirror. Our light. Our path. Our way. It reminds us we are free. Gives us hope. Renews our soul.

[22:04] Eradicates our sins. It builds. Creates. Empowers. Sustains. Emboldens. Stretches. Exhorts. It turns our hearts. Shapes our minds. Equips our hands.

[22:15] And refreshes our souls. So read it. Chew on it. Revel in it. Share it. Study it. Declare it. Debate it. Pritch it. Teach it. Reflect upon it.

[22:25] Obey it. Weave over it. Rush into danger with it. Guard your heart with it. Resist evil with it. Promote justice with it. Examine yourself with it.

[22:37] Pray through it. Be mastered by it. Align your mission with it. And place your confidence in it. Our lives ought to be governed by the word of God.

[22:48] Friends, we should have what's been called a renewed high view of the scripture. A high view of the scripture. You know, he's exalted his word above his name.

[22:59] That's how high God considers the Bible. In other words, the Bible is our primary, it's our final authority. Our final authority in terms of faith and practice.

[23:14] If it's not here, then we've got to question the direction. This is the final authority for our faith and practice. We believe in the inerrancy of the Bible.

[23:28] This is inerrant. There's not one error in it. This is guaranteed by God. It is from his mouth. It is God's word.

[23:39] Breathe now. God's word. Isaiah 55.11, it says, Our Lord says, So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth.

[23:50] It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whetsooth I sent it. It's not going to come back to him void.

[24:02] It's going to do something. It's going to make something happen. And we must love the word. Believe the word. Study the word. Apply the word. Keep the word. Preach the word.

[24:14] Friends, just consider what men of God have said about the Bible through time. John Bunyan testified, Read the Bible and read it again.

[24:27] And do not despair of how to understand something of the will and mind of God, though you think they are fast locked up from you. Read the Bible and read it again. Neither trouble yourself, though you may not have commentaries and expositions.

[24:41] Pray and read and read and pray. That's good advice, isn't it? Pray and read. Read and pray. For a little from God is better than a great deal from man.

[24:54] Spurgeon said this, I would recommend you either believe God up to the hilt, or else not to believe at all. Believe this book of God, every letter of it, or else reject it.

[25:07] There is no logical standing place between the two. Be satisfied with nothing less than a faith that swims in the deeps of divine revelation. Believe this book of God, every letter of it, or else reject it.

[25:21] Thomas Guthrie said, The Bible is an armoury of heavenly weapons, a laboratory of infallible medicines, a mine of inexhaustible wealth. It is a guidebook for every road, a chart for every sea, a medicine for every malady, and a balm for every wound.

[25:38] Torrey said, Other books tell us what men suppose. The Bible tells us what God knows. Other books tell us what other men, almost as foolish as ourselves, speculate.

[25:52] This book tells us what an infinitely wise God, who made us and all things, and consequently knows all things, has inerrantly revealed.

[26:02] This book makes men wise with the wisdom that is golden, the wisdom that brings eternal salvation. No one can study this book aright, no matter how ignorant he may otherwise be, without becoming possessed of that priceless wisdom that means eternal life.

[26:18] No other book has the power to make us acquainted with God and with his son Jesus Christ, that this book has. Oh, study this book that brings eternal life. Make it in your own experience the word, which is over to save your souls.

[26:33] James 1.21 it says, Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is over to save your souls. The salvation message is here.

[26:46] It's not in any other so-called holy book. This is the one book that has the one saving message. Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

[27:01] Let me conclude with one further quote. Samuel Chadwick said this, I have guided my life by the Bible for more than 60 years, and I tell you, there is no book like it.

[27:12] It is a miracle of literature, a perennial spring of wisdom, a wonder of surprises, a revelation of mystery, an infallible code of conduct, an unspeakable source of comfort.

[27:24] Pay no attention to people who discredit it, for I tell you that they speak without knowledge. It is the infallible word of God itself. Study it according to its own direction.

[27:36] Live by its principles. Believe its message. Follow its precepts. No man is uneducated who knows the Bible, and no one is wise who is ignorant of its teachings.

[27:48] Friends, the Bible is an absolutely reliable source. It's the only source of faith and doctrine, of life and conduct.

[27:59] It tells us exactly what God wants man to know, what God wants man to believe, and how God wants the believer to live.

[28:11] James 1.22 it says, But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Friends, just to recap, we've looked at the word of God.

[28:26] Thy word is truth. We've seen the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God. We've seen the value of the book. The value of the book.

[28:37] It's beyond compare. The truth of the book. It's verified by God. It's his holy word. The power of the book.

[28:49] The Bible says that, I'm not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believe it.

[28:59] To the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. It's the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes. I urge you today to decide today to make today a day you decide to have a new appreciation for the Bible.

[29:23] to have a new appreciation of the value of the Bible. That you are privileged to have in the English language in the King James Bible, you have the word of God in your hands.

[29:36]  It's the perfect word of God. I urge you to take it and read it. To the ending of God. To the ending of God. To the ending of God. To the ending of God. To the ending of God. To the ending of God.