Good evening, everybody.
And thank you to those two who read so wonderfully for us, those Bible readings.
Thank you, too, for the invitation to be here with you tonight.
It's a joy and a privilege to open God's word with you.
And I'm going to pray for us that God would open our hearts and our minds and our wills to hear his word.
So let's bow our heads.
Heavenly Father, God in heaven, thank you that you speak to us.
Thank you that you are not silent.
And we pray that this afternoon you would be the one who would speak to us.
Please, indeed, open our eyes to the truth of your word.
Open our hearts to the sweet riches of it.
And open our wills towards the steps that you would have us walk in the light of it.
Please lead us to Jesus.
And please may we follow him.
Amen.
Saturday, 13th of January, 2018.
Saturday morning.
Typical quiet Saturday morning in Hawaii.
Until people, millions of people, started receiving a message on their cell phones.
That changed that day quite considerably.
The message read thus.
Emergency alert.
Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii.
Seek immediate shelter.
This is not a drill.
Can you imagine if that happened in Chatswood?
It would change your day, wouldn't it, really?
It changed the day of millions of Hawaiians.
Particularly given that it was a time when there were tensions between the United States and North Korea.
About the very possibility of incoming missiles.
Particularly because this was, on one level, a very clear communication.
Short, stark sentences.
Telling you what to do.
Ah.
There was one problem.
Have you spotted it?
Probably the fact that you realise that Hawaii hasn't been hit by missiles in the last few years.
Is a pointer towards that problem was.
It was not a clear communication from the government of Hawaii.
As to what the government of Hawaii actually wanted to tell its people.
And for 30 minutes, chaos gently and quite widely reigned.
It was followed by hours and days of government inquiries.
Who had done this?
Initial excuses ending up with people being fired.
It was a clear communication on the surface.
But not a clear communication from the government.
I want to ask you this question.
Is the Bible like that?
But possibly worse.
The Bible is old.
And venerable.
It points us to great blessings.
But is it clear?
Is it clear?
Can we trust it?
Can it really tell us a word from God who has made us?
Who holds us?
Who can in the Lord Jesus keep us?
I want to take you back today to the words of scripture.
And ask the question.
Is it a clear microphone?
For listening to the word of God himself.
You see the Bible claims.
Repeatedly.
To be the word of God.
If you crack the Bible open anywhere.
And you look and see what is written in it.
Then what you find is it's God's word.
Over and over and over again.
The prophets say.
Thus says the Lord.
If we go to 2 Timothy chapter 3.
Then all scripture is God breathed.
And is good for us.
That's the claim of the Bible.
That's the claim.
But is it clear?
Today I want to take us back to ancient worlds.
The worlds of Genesis chapter 3.
And Matthew's gospel chapter 4.
To ask questions of God's word.
That are questions which will apply to Chatswood today.
Ancient worlds yes.
But Chatswood is not that far away.
You see the Bible makes claims.
And those claims reflect its speaker.
If one of my children says to me.
Daddy I love you dearly.
It's your birthday coming up.
And I'm going to buy you a new car for your birthday.
A new car.
Daddy you deserve a new car.
Your old one's rusting away.
And I'm going to buy you a new car.
I'll go that's nice.
Thank you.
But I don't believe it.
I realize the heart is there.
It's heartfelt.
But the resources behind it are limited.
Flip side example.
What about your politicians?
Do you trust your politicians in Australia?
I hope in a...
Do you?
I hope some of them you do.
But it's that case by case analysis.
Is this person clear and trustworthy?
Or do they millions and billions that are promised?
Not add up.
Well clarity makes claims.
Words reflect their speaker.
My child.
A politician.
God himself.
What about God in his word?
This Bible.
Can we trust it?
I want to say several things.
Before we turn to our Bible passages.
First of all.
God knows how you are made.
Why does he do that?
How does he know that?
Because he made you.
If you think of all your machine code.
Not just your physicality.
Not just your mental processing.
Not just your psychology.
He knows all the code that goes into you.
Because he spoke it into being.
You are not an accident.
You are not just thrown together.
But you are the product of God's word.
And God knows that he made us for relationship.
He can accommodate himself to limited minds.
Outlooks that can only see as far as a door and no further.
And God can come in and speak to us.
Without overwhelming a human speaker.
One of the readings we got today is from Matthew's gospel.
Matthew.
One of those followers of Jesus.
And when we read Matthew's gospel.
We hear Matthew's words.
As Matthew put it together.
As he remembered Jesus.
Whom he'd followed.
Who he'd given his life to.
God doesn't overwhelm the human speaker.
Get out the way Matthew.
I'm going to speak now.
God speaks through Matthew.
Not this one.
The one of 2000 years ago.
Who followed Jesus.
And God's word doesn't get distorted.
By the human speaker.
Biases and prejudices.
Creeping into view.
God knows our code.
He's able to carry his word.
Clearly through the pages of scripture to us.
God is able to speak and be heard.
How can this be?
Because of the work of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit who breathes out scripture.
To Matthew 2000 years ago.
And who speaks that word.
And even at the point as we hear it.
The Holy Spirit who's inspired scripture.
Who also convicts us as we hear it.
What does it mean to be convicted by scripture?
It means when we're grabbed by scripture.
And it holds us.
When the Bible grabs us and holds us.
And it's vision becomes our compelling vision.
For our lives.
God's word becomes the word that we will hear.
In my work.
I read a lot of books.
I write about other people's writings.
Sometimes I agree with them.
Sometimes I don't.
I sit in my study in North London.
And I offer my opinions on them.
Sometimes I'm let out.
And I go to conferences.
And get to give my opinions.
Sometimes the person is there.
That's different isn't it at that point.
I've stood on a podium like this.
In front of 20 people.
And one of them.
Has written books.
That will pile up high.
And at one point.
I'm going to say.
I disagree with him.
And he's in the room.
That's when it matters.
The incredible thing with God's word.
Is that we never.
Never.
Read.
Or misread.
God's word.
And he is not there.
The Bible is never read.
In the absence of its author.
This has.
Play out in my country.
And I guess in yours.
Sometimes I meet people.
Perhaps you do as well.
Who say.
Well I like to think.
God.
Is like this.
Or I'm not sure about that bit.
Of the Bible.
If you're a car driver.
Picture it like this.
Do you have traffic wardens in Australia?
Do you?
No?
People who come and put tickets on your cars?
Yeah.
What do you call them?
Annoying.
Okay.
I'll take that one.
But if your heart is anything like mine.
And I guess hearts are pretty international at this point.
Sometimes I park on the line.
And I've got my eye out all around.
You know.
My wife's popped into the shop.
You ever done this?
You're looking to see if someone's coming along.
Ours have high vis jackets.
So you tend to be able to see them coming.
With God.
You never read his word in his absence.
And you're looking around to see if he's coming or not.
With God he's there.
With God.
He is always there.
It's more like parking your car.
On the traffic wardens toes.
It's personal.
It's intimate.
It's not distant.
What does this mean for us?
It means God really wants to speak to you.
God really wants to have a relationship with you.
When we come to the Bible.
It's not just about information.
There's a lot of stuff here in these pages.
But it's driving towards interaction.
To relationship.
To God reaching out to you.
If I quote one part of the Bible.
Which wasn't read to us today.
Romans chapter 10.
You don't need to know where it is.
I'll say it.
Faith comes from hearing.
Hearing the word of God.
If you're someone who's grown up in church.
Or you're here for the first time.
And you're hearing God's word.
What is coming at you?
Are the seeds of faith.
Of being able to take God at his word.
Being able to trust him.
Being able to cling to his promises.
With confidence.
The whole drive and momentum of the Bible.
Heads that way.
It doesn't just say.
Thus says the Lord.
As some sort of strident statement.
I want to say something to you.
Listen to me.
Rather.
God speaks.
So that we might hear.
And come to faith in him.
Not mere curiosity.
Not merely a decision.
Or a verdict about the Bible.
But a relationship.
With God.
Himself.
And in this.
We can't separate.
The words of the Bible.
From the speaker of the Bible.
These paper pages.
Or up on the screens.
When we see it shown to us.
What we have there.
Is God coming to us.
Holding out the hand of relationship.
Inviting us.
Into.
A faithful.
A faithful relationship.
Where we trust him.
Which finally brings us.
To Genesis chapter 3.
The garden of Eden.
The world.
That God.
Had spoken into being.
A rich.
And fruitful place.
And a man.
Adam.
And a woman.
Eve.
Who God.
Had spoken into being.
God spoke humanity.
Into being.
In relationship.
Covenant relationship.
With him.
It's as though God's word.
Held them together.
As well as holding.
The world together.
And they were charged.
To tend the garden.
And to do.
All that God.
Would tell them to do.
That was part of being.
Made.
In the image.
Of God.
God.
But in our reading.
Something toxic.
Came into play.
Something acidic.
Came into play.
Have you ever spilt acid.
When it starts to burn.
That's a battery that's split.
You want something.
That will deal with it.
Well here.
In Genesis chapter 3.
Verse 2.
God.
His good word.
Is challenged.
By a serpent.
The serpent.
Is Satan.
The accuser.
And in verse 2.
The quiet.
Crafty.
Acidic.
Counter word.
Goes out.
Did God.
Really say.
Did God.
Really say.
You could trust him.
The acid.
Starts.
To burn away.
At the very fabric.
Of that relationship.
Between Adam and Eve.
The very fabric.
Of the world.
God.
Is he really good.
Isn't God.
Deceptive.
Isn't God.
Holding you.
In bonds.
That aren't good for you.
But would stop you being free.
Trust another word.
For good food.
For good life.
Instead.
Look at that fruit.
That God told you not to eat.
See it in your eye.
And see that it's pleasant.
And take.
Eat.
But this serpent's voice.
Is the deadly lie.
As one songwriter.
Once put it.
This.
Affects all of us.
The claims.
Of God.
Are on up all of us.
And the songwriter.
Put it like this.
We are all.
Like foolish puppets.
Who desiring.
To be kings.
Now lie pitifully crippled.
After cutting.
Our own strings.
What does God do?
As Adam and Eve.
Are cast out of the garden.
As relationship is broken.
As this counter word.
Comes into play.
God.
Turns.
To adoption.
To Israel.
To the Old Testament people.
That he chooses.
And he's going to nurture.
With his clear word.
Particularly to their kings.
David.
And those who follow after him.
God is going to.
Shape.
And call.
And tie himself to.
Through his words.
A people that he's going to redeem.
That he's going to buy back.
As God's truthful word.
Continues.
To go out.
Ultimately.
Laying its claims.
On all people.
Even here.
In Chatswood.
Today.
We come to our second reading.
As Satan.
Again.
Makes an entry.
This time into the wilderness.
Of Judea.
A crux point.
A crucial turning point.
In God's plan.
Because God's plan of adoption.
Has pointed.
To one person.
Jesus Christ.
God.
In a body.
In a human body.
Taking human form.
To come and be.
A second Adam.
One who will stand up.
And if you have.
Matthew chapter 4.
Open in front of you.
You will see.
Just before this.
That God has spoken.
The last verse.
Of the previous chapter.
Matthew chapter 3.
God has said.
This is my beloved son.
With whom.
I am well pleased.
The truthful word.
Has spoken.
About Jesus.
Luke.
In his gospel.
Also tells this.
And has a family tree.
Of Jesus.
That goes right.
The way back.
To him being God.
The son.
Just before this.
God.
So here is Jesus.
A well pleasing.
Son of God.
And Adam 2.0.
Tested.
His back.
Against the wall.
Hungry.
Not in a place.
Where there's plenty of food.
Like the garden of Eden.
But a place.
That this voice says.
This is God forsaken.
You hear in this desert.
God's spirit.
Has driven you out.
Here.
You're a loser.
If you listen to God.
Cut.
On.
Your own path.
But Jesus.
Thanks be to God.
Does not listen.
In that battle of words.
About God.
That we have.
Here in our reading.
Three times.
Jesus is tempted and he's tempted to play against God's word but each time he answers and says God's
word is not only clear it's also nourishing is God's word good good for you is God a good father
Jesus stands firm and if you're wondering how the story ends
Jesus goes through that desert obediently he lives his human life obediently and he dies on a cross
obediently dying a death he didn't deserve but one foretold by God's clear word
what does this mean for us God speaks and that is the basis on which we are
but Adam has gone elsewhere what kind of human being are you going to be this is the purpose of
God's calling what kind of human being are you going to be you're going to be one who listens to God
or one that turns away from God Jesus is one who trusts God and this is where Chatswood
comes into view because Jesus is not a solo listener he is a listener of God who is also God himself
who speaks to us and calls us and invites us with a clear word to follow him remember faith comes by
hearing what does that faith brings it brings a union a joining with Jesus himself
you ever wanted to get into a place and you haven't got a ticket and you see someone with a ticket and
you'd love to be able to say I'm with her or I'm with him and you're ushered in together
that's the nature of faith in Jesus Christ all that happens to him happens to you
you die to self and to selfishness just as he did that you might rise to life eternal life as he did
can you believe him on that or not that's the question it's not an easy question
I don't know any of you here I guess there's all sorts of hurts and pains disappointments broken dreams
but this clear word from God calls you
God comes out to meet you
God doesn't just send a distant beep beep beep
across the galaxies he comes to meet you
in his word and with his word
to carry you by a spirit who is given to you
his holy spirit who is given to you as you come to Jesus
now let me be clear on this
the bible's not always simple
it's not always straightforward
we sometimes need to get together with other hearers other listeners like here in church today
these things can take effort
the good things of God
are dug up
but they are true
and clear
always when we meet together
to read the bible
to read scripture
it's God's rule
that's in view
his word
that is true
sometimes some bits are in
sharper focus for us
than other bits
but we're reminded
not to set one part
against another
any communication can be misconstrued
any communication
at all
we know that in our own lives
but God invites us
to a challenge
a growth challenge
to take the clear bits
of his word
and to then enjoy the harder bits
as well
this morning
80,000 people
lined up
to run up a hill
that would hurt them
heartbreak hill
I was amongst them
trust me
it hurt
but as I stood there
in a cold
Sydney morning
if someone had said
guys
it's too hard
we're cancelling
heartbreak hill
there's buses
at the bottom
we'll bus you up
it would have been
a mutiny
sometimes the hard things
are the things
that make it
and God's word
is clear
even when it's hard
and difficult
to understand
less heartbreak
more heart
make
God
makes us
anew
in that regard
as we stand
on the pathway
of life
who am I
and who am I
becoming
each of us
are being made
each of us
are being
in our network
of relationships
our life stories
our ups and downs
being made
into someone
apart from God's word
we are lost
lost to our purpose
sometimes even
with God's word
it is hard
and difficult
but God
is clear
and God
is good
what does this
mean for us
in terms of
application
as our lives
unfold
as the spring
of life
turns to the
autumn of life
our formation
our shaping
comes from
where we
are pledged
23 years
ago
next Saturday
I pledged
myself to my
wife
just down the
road
in North
Sydney
formation
comes from
looking
where we
are pledged
so mind
your pledges
and pursue
them well
if you're a
follower of
Jesus
then keep
turning your
eyes towards
him
he's the
author
of your
faith
the clear
author
who begins
he's the
perfecter
of your
faith
he will
perfect and
bring to
completion
and conclusion
if you're here
today wondering
what is this
Jesus all
about
then let me
put it
this way
Jesus comes
to us
even while he
is seated
in heaven
he comes
to us
clothed
not in this
stuff
but clothed
in the
promises
of scripture
and set
the eyes
of your
heart
set your
desires
towards him
if that's
hard
ask that your
desires will
be changed
that God's
word will
become a
clear and
life-size
narrative
for you
and for
me
across
our
lives
for this
to be the
first priority
of our
days
who do you
listen to
when you
wake up
first in
the morning
is it the
pundits
or the
prophets
do you
reach for
your phone
and check
the news
or do you
reach for
your phone
and check
the good
news
the clear
news
of Jesus
and allow
him to
shape your
life
is it your
contact
checking who's
contacted you
during the
night
or is it
God's Christ
who has
held you
during the
night
who has
not slept
who has
watched over
you
who has
treasured
you
and hold
you
each day
as a
first priority
if this
is a
clear word
then drink
it deeply
don't waste
time
because whatever
you waste
time on will
frame your
time and
will paint
time for
you and
on you
and here
in this
word is a
clear word
from a God
who loves
you and
calls you
the clear
word of
God
let's
bow our
heads and
pray that
it would
come to
us
father in
heaven
we called
upon you
your word
calls us
thank you for
your goodness
and your
trustworthiness
thank you for
the sufficiency
of this
bible that is
before us
in whatever
language we
read it and
love it
please draw
us to
its life
and please
keep doing
so that we
would be the
kind of
person you
want us
to be
that this
would be a
church that
would be shaped
by you
that this
church would
be a beacon
in this
place an
oasis in
this place
where your
clear word
is heard
and where
faith in
Jesus
is grown
by the
power of
your spirit
we pray it in
Jesus name
amen