WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.620 The word of God is living and active. Father, thank you that you are the living God and that you're here with us and that you speak to us, that you speak with words that are active, words of power and life and grace and love. 00:00:13.719 --> 00:00:23.600 So please, would you speak to each of our hearts today? Speak through your word as it is read and then help me to say words that are useful, that are from you. 00:00:23.879 --> 00:00:33.960 Would we remember what is from you and forget what is not from you? But please, would you come away changed and encouraged in having met you? In Jesus name we pray. Amen. 00:00:33.960 --> 00:00:34.020 Amen. 00:00:35.380 --> 00:00:36.020 And Betty. 00:00:36.020 --> 00:00:48.520 Today's scripture reading comes from Acts chapter 2. Please follow along in your bulletins or follow the screen. 00:00:49.440 --> 00:00:57.160 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 00:00:57.940 --> 00:01:04.500 And all came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 00:01:04.500 --> 00:01:09.840 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 00:01:10.640 --> 00:01:18.040 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all as any had need. 00:01:19.019 --> 00:01:31.740 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. 00:01:31.739 --> 00:01:36.959 And the Lord added to their number day by day, those who were being saved. 00:01:37.500 --> 00:01:38.759 This is the word of the Lord. 00:01:41.599 --> 00:01:42.319 Thank you, Betty. 00:01:43.699 --> 00:01:44.979 That's quite a short passage. 00:01:46.140 --> 00:01:49.119 You may wonder, didn't we preach on this a couple of weeks ago? 00:01:49.780 --> 00:01:51.119 I'll get to that in a moment. 00:01:51.799 --> 00:01:55.579 We're going to have a, yeah, we're going to dive into this little passage over the next four weeks. 00:01:55.579 --> 00:01:59.759 But first, do you guys know what a silver bullet is? 00:02:00.659 --> 00:02:05.060 I know, not everyone here, English is a first language. 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:07.120 It comes from kind of folk's tales. 00:02:07.679 --> 00:02:09.439 How do you kill werewolves? 00:02:09.900 --> 00:02:12.039 I don't know if you know how werewolves don't exist. 00:02:12.120 --> 00:02:13.079 But you know, how do you kill them? 00:02:13.120 --> 00:02:14.039 With a silver bullet. 00:02:14.360 --> 00:02:16.460 I guess with vampires, it's a stake through the heart. 00:02:16.879 --> 00:02:18.460 But a silver bullet. 00:02:18.919 --> 00:02:20.560 The werewolves, they're unkillable. 00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:22.800 But if you have a silver bullet, it's done. 00:02:23.340 --> 00:02:31.860 And it's become this expression in the English language for like a simple, effective solution to a complex problem, right? 00:02:32.360 --> 00:02:34.000 Maybe there's something at work. 00:02:34.539 --> 00:02:37.400 And you have no idea how the company can best run. 00:02:37.520 --> 00:02:39.379 But if you just, there's one single solution. 00:02:39.480 --> 00:02:40.379 And that solves everything. 00:02:40.900 --> 00:02:41.759 That's a silver bullet. 00:02:42.379 --> 00:02:43.719 Maybe you have a young baby. 00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:46.920 And, you know, whatever you do, you can't make it stop crying. 00:02:47.699 --> 00:02:49.159 Whether there's one single solution. 00:02:49.240 --> 00:02:50.080 And that solves everything. 00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:50.760 That's the idea. 00:02:50.920 --> 00:02:53.280 A silver bullet, if that makes sense. 00:02:54.320 --> 00:02:56.440 And I guess most of us want that, right? 00:02:56.480 --> 00:03:00.380 If we're Christians, is there a silver bullet for the Christian life? 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:03.820 You know, we want to meet with God. 00:03:03.920 --> 00:03:06.140 We want to grow in love and holiness. 00:03:06.480 --> 00:03:08.780 We want to have power for Christian living. 00:03:09.020 --> 00:03:10.920 We want to see the world rightly. 00:03:11.140 --> 00:03:11.880 We want to witness. 00:03:12.360 --> 00:03:16.100 Is there one thing that if you just get that one thing and that solves everything? 00:03:16.920 --> 00:03:18.000 Wouldn't that be great, right? 00:03:18.000 --> 00:03:18.900 Isn't that what we want? 00:03:18.900 --> 00:03:24.640 Well, the good news from today's sermon is that there is something like that. 00:03:24.760 --> 00:03:30.140 That is one thing that, yeah, if we have that, that is, in a way, that solves everything. 00:03:30.700 --> 00:03:31.439 And that's a wonderful thing. 00:03:31.500 --> 00:03:32.599 And that's not just for Christians. 00:03:32.780 --> 00:03:33.520 Maybe you're here. 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:35.080 You're visiting. 00:03:35.080 --> 00:03:36.200 You're not a Christian. 00:03:36.740 --> 00:03:45.420 Well, maybe if you understand why we think this is so important, it will explain so much about our church, about our CGs, about being a Christian. 00:03:46.100 --> 00:03:50.260 I hope this is very helpful for you as you maybe think about what it means to be a Christian. 00:03:50.259 --> 00:03:52.939 And that's where we're going. 00:03:52.939 --> 00:03:59.800 Now, for context, yeah, for this July, we're having this little series that flows out of the book of Acts. 00:04:00.300 --> 00:04:04.560 Over the past few weeks, we've been in Acts and, you know, seeing the early church. 00:04:05.219 --> 00:04:10.819 And in there, there were these little cameos where we just get a snapshot of the early church, right? 00:04:10.819 --> 00:04:14.259 The Holy Spirit came down and there was the church. 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:17.719 And we saw just how wonderful that was, right? 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:19.360 Well, why did Luke include that? 00:04:19.420 --> 00:04:21.500 Well, partly to make us just praise God, right? 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:24.680 Wow, what a beautiful thing that God has done, right? 00:04:24.680 --> 00:04:26.920 The Old Testament was such a mess. 00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:30.259 And now the Spirit comes and God made the church. 00:04:30.379 --> 00:04:31.939 And wow, it's so beautiful. 00:04:32.279 --> 00:04:33.420 Praise God for what he's doing. 00:04:34.339 --> 00:04:36.800 But also, it's there a little bit as a checklist, right? 00:04:37.039 --> 00:04:39.680 For us to think, okay, hey, we want to be a church. 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:41.180 What should we be doing? 00:04:41.300 --> 00:04:42.360 What should we be like? 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:44.840 Well, let's look at these cameos. 00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:46.259 Let's look at this little passage. 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:49.759 What are the things that that first church did? 00:04:49.840 --> 00:04:50.800 What did it look like? 00:04:50.819 --> 00:04:52.560 And then maybe we should look like the same. 00:04:53.079 --> 00:04:54.800 And so the four weeks we're going to do that. 00:04:54.980 --> 00:04:56.300 Today, we're going to look at scripture. 00:04:57.360 --> 00:04:59.699 And they were devoted themselves to the apostles teaching. 00:05:00.199 --> 00:05:06.500 We're going to talk about their relationship with God, worship, their fellowship and love and prayer. 00:05:06.500 --> 00:05:09.620 Those four things are we going to look at the coming four weeks. 00:05:10.639 --> 00:05:12.139 And today, yeah, the word. 00:05:12.240 --> 00:05:13.319 So that's what we're going to talk about. 00:05:13.420 --> 00:05:15.079 That is the silver bullet. 00:05:15.699 --> 00:05:19.420 And so first, yeah, I want to talk about the primacy of the word. 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:20.920 The word is primary. 00:05:21.060 --> 00:05:23.300 It's the thing that comes first, right? 00:05:23.340 --> 00:05:25.100 That's how the passage starts. 00:05:25.300 --> 00:05:27.920 We read Acts chapter 2, verse 42. 00:05:28.420 --> 00:05:31.560 And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching. 00:05:32.560 --> 00:05:36.699 3,000 people had just become Christians on the day of Pentecost. 00:05:37.160 --> 00:05:38.259 And they went to church. 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:39.000 What did they do? 00:05:39.519 --> 00:05:41.879 They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching. 00:05:42.100 --> 00:05:46.060 They came eager to learn, eager to grow. 00:05:46.060 --> 00:05:50.500 They wanted to every day hear that teaching and learn. 00:05:50.620 --> 00:05:51.939 That's what they were doing. 00:05:52.560 --> 00:05:55.339 And it must be important because Luke mentions it first, right? 00:05:55.879 --> 00:05:58.899 The very first, you know, if you make a list, you think what comes first. 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:01.519 And, okay, the apostles teaching. 00:06:01.740 --> 00:06:03.019 This is what they wanted. 00:06:03.899 --> 00:06:07.000 And there's also another reason why I think this comes first. 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:10.419 Why actually, why is the word so foundational? 00:06:11.219 --> 00:06:12.819 Well, here's a Christian on the screen. 00:06:13.620 --> 00:06:15.979 And here are the four weeks of this series. 00:06:17.579 --> 00:06:19.680 Scripture, worship, love, witness. 00:06:20.500 --> 00:06:22.620 Now, let's think about inputs and outputs. 00:06:23.759 --> 00:06:25.079 What are these four things? 00:06:25.180 --> 00:06:27.699 Well, three of them, in a way, are outputs, right? 00:06:27.740 --> 00:06:28.659 They're things that we do. 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:29.519 We worship. 00:06:29.740 --> 00:06:30.180 We love. 00:06:30.299 --> 00:06:30.799 We witness. 00:06:32.099 --> 00:06:32.879 But scripture is different. 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:34.479 Scripture is an input, right? 00:06:34.819 --> 00:06:37.219 Scripture is something that we receive, that comes to us. 00:06:37.259 --> 00:06:39.240 And the other three flow out of us. 00:06:39.979 --> 00:06:42.899 And the thing is, inputs come first, right? 00:06:42.919 --> 00:06:45.939 If you get a new phone, the first thing you have to do is charge it. 00:06:45.939 --> 00:06:47.279 Otherwise, it won't do anything. 00:06:47.839 --> 00:06:50.500 It's the same with a Christian, in a way, right? 00:06:50.740 --> 00:06:55.579 There's something that goes in, and then other things come out in a process kind of way. 00:06:56.479 --> 00:06:56.659 All right? 00:06:57.199 --> 00:06:58.139 The words. 00:06:58.899 --> 00:07:01.359 This church had devoted themselves to the apostles teaching. 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:07.060 Because there's something foundational and primary about this input of the word. 00:07:07.060 --> 00:07:11.259 And I think, you know, we've just been a few weeks in Acts. 00:07:11.600 --> 00:07:14.220 I hope you see how important the word is in Acts, right? 00:07:14.660 --> 00:07:17.899 Last week, I mentioned these summary statements. 00:07:17.899 --> 00:07:23.259 So, the book of Acts is divided into four parts, and each part ends with a statement. 00:07:23.799 --> 00:07:25.299 And they all go something like this. 00:07:25.379 --> 00:07:27.399 And the word of God continued to increase. 00:07:28.060 --> 00:07:29.939 And the word of God increased and multiplied. 00:07:30.599 --> 00:07:33.259 And the word of God increased and prevailed mightily. 00:07:33.679 --> 00:07:35.039 It's all about the word. 00:07:35.159 --> 00:07:35.239 Right? 00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:40.359 If Luke summarizes, okay, hey, these seven chapters, what have we seen? 00:07:40.419 --> 00:07:42.159 Well, the word of God increased. 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:43.700 So, clearly, it's very important. 00:07:43.860 --> 00:07:47.860 I wanted to just give a list of all these verses in the rest of Acts. 00:07:47.960 --> 00:07:50.220 But it was so boring and repetitive, right? 00:07:50.540 --> 00:07:51.500 And they preached the word. 00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:52.380 And they preached the word. 00:07:52.439 --> 00:07:53.560 And people received the word. 00:07:53.700 --> 00:07:55.320 And people, and they taught the word. 00:07:55.400 --> 00:07:56.460 And they examined the word. 00:07:56.700 --> 00:07:58.820 And, you know, on and on and on. 00:07:58.879 --> 00:07:59.780 Just take a highlighter. 00:07:59.960 --> 00:08:00.900 Go through your Bible. 00:08:00.899 --> 00:08:01.339 Go through your Bible. 00:08:01.459 --> 00:08:03.319 Underline every occurrence of the word. 00:08:03.539 --> 00:08:04.120 Of the Lord. 00:08:04.239 --> 00:08:04.959 The word of God. 00:08:05.060 --> 00:08:05.459 The word. 00:08:05.959 --> 00:08:07.379 And see how much it is. 00:08:07.599 --> 00:08:08.459 And, yeah. 00:08:08.779 --> 00:08:10.539 What is the book of Acts about? 00:08:10.659 --> 00:08:13.299 In a way, it's about the progress of the word. 00:08:14.739 --> 00:08:17.239 And I think, in a way, I'm preaching to the choir. 00:08:17.419 --> 00:08:21.159 I think most of us know, okay, we make the word important. 00:08:21.639 --> 00:08:21.859 Right? 00:08:21.919 --> 00:08:23.459 It's a big part of our Sunday service. 00:08:23.739 --> 00:08:24.819 We do it in our CGs. 00:08:25.439 --> 00:08:27.620 You know, we have a Bible reading plan. 00:08:27.620 --> 00:08:28.959 We want you to read the Bible. 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:33.240 And yet, are we really convinced that this is so important? 00:08:34.079 --> 00:08:35.419 Maybe you're here as a youth. 00:08:35.759 --> 00:08:38.100 And your parents always insist that you read the Bible. 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:40.779 And you kind of, why is this so important? 00:08:40.939 --> 00:08:42.620 So, I want to take this moment. 00:08:42.819 --> 00:08:45.220 I mean, I'm not just going to preach on five words. 00:08:45.379 --> 00:08:47.139 Let's look at the Bible. 00:08:47.299 --> 00:08:49.120 Why is this actually so important? 00:08:49.720 --> 00:08:52.480 Because if we know why it's so important, I think that will help us. 00:08:52.980 --> 00:08:56.939 Hey, why should we be devoted to the words like they were? 00:08:56.940 --> 00:09:00.020 Now, what is so special about the word? 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:02.220 Let me give a few reasons. 00:09:03.520 --> 00:09:08.420 And the first one, it's maybe obvious, but why does Luke say the apostles teaching? 00:09:09.500 --> 00:09:12.420 Why doesn't he just say, hey, and they devoted themselves to scripture. 00:09:13.200 --> 00:09:15.020 And they devoted themselves to the words. 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:17.280 Why the apostles teaching? 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:25.439 Well, it's not just that the apostles were kind of the Bible teachers in the church then, right? 00:09:25.600 --> 00:09:27.179 What is it about the apostles? 00:09:27.899 --> 00:09:30.100 Well, it's about the truth about Jesus. 00:09:30.220 --> 00:09:32.039 The word is the truth about Jesus. 00:09:32.539 --> 00:09:33.759 I mean, who are the apostles? 00:09:34.659 --> 00:09:36.399 What did Jesus appoint them for? 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:43.579 Well, Acts 1 verse 8, you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria and all the ends of the earth. 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:45.439 They're going to be his witnesses. 00:09:46.319 --> 00:09:48.199 End of chapter 1, they need a new apostle. 00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:50.059 Okay, what kind of guy do we need? 00:09:50.740 --> 00:09:52.679 Do we need someone who understands the scriptures well? 00:09:53.159 --> 00:09:55.500 I mean, maybe that helps, but the big criterion. 00:09:56.779 --> 00:09:57.659 Next slide. 00:09:59.500 --> 00:09:59.740 All right. 00:10:00.299 --> 00:10:01.639 Second quote, right? 00:10:01.699 --> 00:10:02.460 Who do we need? 00:10:02.460 --> 00:10:08.900 Well, one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 00:10:09.300 --> 00:10:12.620 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us, 00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:15.900 one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection. 00:10:16.900 --> 00:10:17.060 Right? 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:20.519 Apostles need to have been with Jesus from the whole time. 00:10:20.600 --> 00:10:21.720 They need to have seen his ministry. 00:10:21.860 --> 00:10:22.740 They need to have met him. 00:10:22.820 --> 00:10:26.259 They need to, you know, be there for his resurrection. 00:10:26.660 --> 00:10:27.160 And, right? 00:10:28.160 --> 00:10:30.220 The apostles were witnesses to Jesus. 00:10:30.220 --> 00:10:36.279 And so the apostles' teaching is a way of saying, you know, they needed the truth about Jesus. 00:10:37.220 --> 00:10:37.620 Right? 00:10:37.660 --> 00:10:39.980 Because, of course, it's Jesus who saves us. 00:10:40.100 --> 00:10:43.440 It's Jesus, what he did for us on the cross in his resurrection. 00:10:43.759 --> 00:10:45.120 That is what we need. 00:10:45.160 --> 00:10:45.740 That's the gospel. 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:49.519 So, in a way, he could have said they were devoted to the gospel. 00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:56.919 But I think with apostles' teaching, he gets through that, hey, they were devoted to learning it, to growing in it, to hearing it. 00:10:57.019 --> 00:10:57.159 Right? 00:10:57.199 --> 00:11:01.840 Not just they were devoted to the gospel like in their own minds or anything, even though I'm sure they were. 00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:03.000 Right? 00:11:03.019 --> 00:11:03.659 Does that make sense? 00:11:04.319 --> 00:11:05.319 They needed the gospel. 00:11:05.460 --> 00:11:06.579 But where do you find it? 00:11:06.980 --> 00:11:14.379 Well, from the authorized witnesses, from the people who Jesus appointed to know the gospel and to teach the gospel. 00:11:14.379 --> 00:11:18.539 Now, for us, of course, we don't have apostles anymore. 00:11:18.779 --> 00:11:19.740 Elders are not apostles. 00:11:20.419 --> 00:11:23.019 I haven't met Jesus in the flesh. 00:11:23.259 --> 00:11:24.759 I wasn't there with his resurrection, etc. 00:11:25.299 --> 00:11:25.580 No. 00:11:25.580 --> 00:11:29.400 We have, of course, the apostles' teaching in the New Testament. 00:11:29.660 --> 00:11:29.800 Right? 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:33.240 That was written by the apostles in a way that is it for us. 00:11:34.020 --> 00:11:37.220 So, I guess certainly we should be devoted to the New Testament. 00:11:38.200 --> 00:11:39.680 But then how about the Old Testament? 00:11:39.820 --> 00:11:40.820 That's always the question, right? 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:44.639 If it's about Jesus, should we still need the Old Testament? 00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:45.320 Well, of course. 00:11:46.160 --> 00:11:46.300 Right? 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:49.120 You read what the apostles actually preach in the book of Acts. 00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:51.379 And they constantly preach the Old Testament. 00:11:51.960 --> 00:11:53.280 They thought it was still relevant. 00:11:53.279 --> 00:11:57.259 And actually, what does Jesus say the Old Testament is about? 00:11:58.100 --> 00:11:58.339 Right? 00:11:58.399 --> 00:11:59.579 He says it's about him. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:06.860 In the prequel to Acts, basically, Acts chapter 0, this is what Jesus said to the apostles. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:08.740 Then he said to them, 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:17.919 These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:23.519 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, the Old Testament, and said to them, 00:12:23.879 --> 00:12:28.259 Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:33.740 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 00:12:34.819 --> 00:12:35.000 Right? 00:12:35.519 --> 00:12:37.279 The Old Testament is about the gospel. 00:12:37.459 --> 00:12:38.079 It's about Jesus. 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:41.940 If you were here a year ago, we did a Bible overview. 00:12:42.280 --> 00:12:44.300 We went through the whole storyline of the Bible. 00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:46.139 I hope if you were here, you remember that. 00:12:46.220 --> 00:12:46.800 You've seen it. 00:12:47.620 --> 00:12:51.400 So it is about the truth about Jesus. 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:55.340 And yet, there's more than that. 00:12:55.700 --> 00:12:59.020 Because that can sound like a message, like information. 00:12:59.019 --> 00:13:06.199 Like, okay, this is really precious, important, 100% true information that we need. 00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:09.919 And yet, it's so much more. 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:12.740 And the word is so much more. 00:13:13.139 --> 00:13:17.539 As we prayed earlier, as the Bible says, it's living and active. 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:20.419 Of course, those two things are a bit related, right? 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:22.539 You don't have something that is dead and active. 00:13:23.079 --> 00:13:24.079 Or living and passive. 00:13:24.299 --> 00:13:26.159 No, of course, living and active go together. 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:31.279 But the word of God, it isn't just dead information, dry information. 00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:32.039 It's living. 00:13:32.799 --> 00:13:36.319 It's, look again at those statements about the word, right? 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:37.659 That we saw. 00:13:38.240 --> 00:13:41.379 You know, the word of God increased and multiplied. 00:13:41.579 --> 00:13:44.120 The word of God prevailed mightily. 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:46.819 It's like the word itself is doing something. 00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:48.980 That's how Luke writes about it. 00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:51.559 The word is, it's powerful. 00:13:51.699 --> 00:13:52.459 It does something. 00:13:52.460 --> 00:13:56.280 Here is one of my favorite verses from Acts. 00:13:57.019 --> 00:14:04.580 Paul, the apostle, in chapter 20, he gives a farewell speech to the elders of Ephesus, the church where he was for three years. 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:06.420 And what does he say? 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:09.240 Now, okay, another slide. 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:20.779 Now, I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among those who are sanctified. 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:24.360 I'll be gone, but you've got God and the word. 00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:26.680 And the word is able to build you up. 00:14:27.340 --> 00:14:29.320 The word is the thing that will save you. 00:14:29.700 --> 00:14:33.000 He really thinks the word is, it's not just information. 00:14:33.180 --> 00:14:34.560 It actually does something. 00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:35.639 Right? 00:14:35.759 --> 00:14:37.979 And it's worth pausing there. 00:14:38.199 --> 00:14:42.399 And here's where we're kind of going to leave Acts and a bit of a topical sermon. 00:14:43.219 --> 00:14:45.759 You know, I want us to really be convinced of this. 00:14:46.319 --> 00:14:48.799 These are really important truths about the word. 00:14:49.239 --> 00:14:50.699 It is living and active. 00:14:50.839 --> 00:14:51.419 What does that mean? 00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:52.079 Two things. 00:14:52.579 --> 00:14:53.219 Well, active. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:55.500 God works through his word. 00:14:56.379 --> 00:14:59.859 Everything God does, he does by speaking through his word. 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:04.759 I don't know if you ever noticed that when you read the Bible, but that's what he does. 00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:05.060 Right? 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:06.800 I mean, start at the beginning. 00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:07.500 Creation. 00:15:07.659 --> 00:15:08.940 How does God create the world? 00:15:09.700 --> 00:15:10.680 He speaks. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:11.060 Right? 00:15:11.240 --> 00:15:11.960 Let there be light. 00:15:12.060 --> 00:15:12.700 And there was light. 00:15:13.279 --> 00:15:18.220 Or as the Psalm 33 puts it, by the word of the Lord, the heavens were made. 00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:19.139 Right? 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:20.019 By the word of the Lord. 00:15:20.940 --> 00:15:24.000 How does Jesus sustain the whole universe? 00:15:24.460 --> 00:15:24.560 Right? 00:15:24.560 --> 00:15:28.539 Jesus is sustaining the whole universe, making sure it doesn't fall apart. 00:15:28.840 --> 00:15:29.820 How does he do that? 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:30.919 Hebrews 1. 00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:35.560 He upholds the universe by the words of his power. 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:36.500 Right? 00:15:36.600 --> 00:15:37.800 How does God save people? 00:15:37.980 --> 00:15:38.639 Psalm 107. 00:15:39.019 --> 00:15:42.659 He sends out his words and healed them and delivered them from their destruction. 00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:45.000 How are we born again? 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:46.120 1 Peter. 00:15:46.300 --> 00:15:52.960 You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God. 00:15:53.340 --> 00:15:53.500 Right? 00:15:54.680 --> 00:15:55.480 It's always the words. 00:15:55.680 --> 00:15:57.420 How does Jesus go around healing? 00:15:57.519 --> 00:15:57.620 Right? 00:15:57.620 --> 00:15:58.420 You've read the gospels. 00:15:58.420 --> 00:15:59.620 How does Jesus heal people? 00:16:00.419 --> 00:16:00.980 He speaks. 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:01.419 Right? 00:16:01.480 --> 00:16:03.759 He says, be opened and get up. 00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:05.940 And the demon has left. 00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:06.620 And those kind of things. 00:16:06.680 --> 00:16:07.139 He speaks. 00:16:07.379 --> 00:16:08.000 And it happens. 00:16:08.460 --> 00:16:08.620 Right? 00:16:08.680 --> 00:16:09.159 He speaks. 00:16:09.700 --> 00:16:10.580 End of time. 00:16:10.580 --> 00:16:14.840 Jesus is going to raise 10 billion people from the dead in one go. 00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:15.940 How is he going to do that? 00:16:16.700 --> 00:16:17.639 Well, John 5. 00:16:18.060 --> 00:16:22.259 An hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out. 00:16:23.060 --> 00:16:26.200 Jesus is just going to speak and raise 10 billion people from the dead. 00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:27.200 His word is powerful. 00:16:27.200 --> 00:16:28.200 His word is powerful. 00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:29.280 His word is powerful. 00:16:30.220 --> 00:16:30.620 Right? 00:16:31.300 --> 00:16:32.460 Everything Jesus does. 00:16:32.680 --> 00:16:34.020 Everything God does is through the word. 00:16:34.520 --> 00:16:35.580 You know, images. 00:16:36.200 --> 00:16:38.220 The word is the sword of the spirit. 00:16:38.220 --> 00:16:41.500 A sword is not something you just hang on the wall and look at. 00:16:41.580 --> 00:16:41.680 Right? 00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:42.960 Swords are for doing stuff. 00:16:43.340 --> 00:16:44.920 It's like a hammer in Jeremiah. 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:46.860 Hammers are tools for doing stuff. 00:16:47.240 --> 00:16:48.000 It's a fire. 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:50.340 Fire melts and purifies. 00:16:50.460 --> 00:16:51.259 It does stuff. 00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:53.120 God works through his word. 00:16:53.860 --> 00:16:54.059 Right? 00:16:54.819 --> 00:16:56.759 So, we want God to work. 00:16:57.080 --> 00:16:57.919 We need the word. 00:16:58.700 --> 00:17:01.000 And, of course, why does God work through his word? 00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:02.939 Well, the second thing, living. 00:17:03.559 --> 00:17:05.759 God is present through his word. 00:17:06.819 --> 00:17:10.619 You know, in the Bible, where the word is, that's where God is. 00:17:11.379 --> 00:17:13.859 That's what people learned in the Old Testament, right? 00:17:13.900 --> 00:17:16.839 In the Exodus, they didn't see anything, but they heard a voice. 00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:18.160 How was God with them? 00:17:18.339 --> 00:17:19.660 Well, through a voice. 00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:20.900 They had a temple. 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:24.480 And, normally, in a temple, there's a statue, right? 00:17:24.519 --> 00:17:25.759 You go here to a Buddhist temple. 00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:26.359 There's statues. 00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:28.920 The statue is kind of where the God is. 00:17:29.779 --> 00:17:32.640 What was at the heart of the temple of the Jews? 00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:34.200 The Ten Commandments. 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:34.879 His word. 00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:37.079 It was like he was present through his words. 00:17:37.980 --> 00:17:39.680 Or, we talked about Abraham. 00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:42.319 These verses seem a bit weird, right? 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:46.079 So, and behold, the word of the Lord came to Abraham. 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:48.299 This man shall not be your heir. 00:17:48.440 --> 00:17:50.099 Your very own son shall be your heir. 00:17:50.099 --> 00:17:53.740 And he brought him outside and said, look towards heaven. 00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:57.000 And we read that the word of the Lord came to him. 00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:59.980 Like he got a text message or an email or something, right? 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:01.519 No. 00:18:01.719 --> 00:18:02.939 The Lord was there. 00:18:02.940 --> 00:18:06.140 Because in the next verse, he takes him outside, right? 00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:08.279 Where the word is, that's where God is. 00:18:08.660 --> 00:18:11.519 And, ultimately, of course, fulfilled in Jesus, right? 00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:14.420 The word became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:18:14.440 --> 00:18:15.460 And we've seen his glory. 00:18:16.019 --> 00:18:18.960 And the word is God's presence with us. 00:18:20.340 --> 00:18:20.539 Yeah? 00:18:20.660 --> 00:18:21.920 That's something important. 00:18:22.120 --> 00:18:24.320 You know, God is where the word is. 00:18:24.320 --> 00:18:25.059 That's where God is. 00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:27.740 Now, you may wonder, how about the spirit? 00:18:27.899 --> 00:18:29.179 Isn't God present by the spirit? 00:18:29.839 --> 00:18:30.619 Yes, of course. 00:18:30.819 --> 00:18:32.279 The thing is, they go together. 00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:34.919 The word and the spirit go together, right? 00:18:35.000 --> 00:18:38.419 Again, Psalm 33, that verse, the second half, right? 00:18:38.480 --> 00:18:40.379 By the word of the Lord, the heavens were made. 00:18:40.899 --> 00:18:43.039 By the breath of his mouth, all their hosts. 00:18:43.119 --> 00:18:44.259 By the spirit of his mouth. 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:49.660 Jesus in John 6, the words I speak to you are spirit and life. 00:18:50.119 --> 00:18:51.480 His words are spirit. 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:56.640 The Thessalonians, Paul writes, our gospel came to you not only in words, 00:18:56.740 --> 00:18:58.660 but also in power and in the Holy Spirit. 00:18:59.180 --> 00:19:00.119 And with full conviction. 00:19:00.220 --> 00:19:00.839 They go together. 00:19:02.019 --> 00:19:05.140 I guess, remember, spirit means breath, right? 00:19:05.579 --> 00:19:07.339 And words and breath go together. 00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:09.980 And it's a common illustration, but it's so powerful, right? 00:19:10.339 --> 00:19:11.980 Can you speak without exhaling? 00:19:12.740 --> 00:19:12.859 Right? 00:19:12.900 --> 00:19:14.099 Can you speak without breath? 00:19:14.259 --> 00:19:16.900 You can't. 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:18.240 Words without breath is nothing. 00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:21.420 At the same time, breath without words is also not much, right? 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:25.059 If I'm going to have a date with my wife and the whole evening, I just, 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:29.559 It's not very meaningful. 00:19:30.160 --> 00:19:30.279 No. 00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:32.359 Words and breath go together. 00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:33.759 Words and spirit go together. 00:19:33.859 --> 00:19:34.960 It's the same with God, right? 00:19:35.680 --> 00:19:37.019 I mean, look at the early, yeah? 00:19:37.319 --> 00:19:38.879 So, yeah, we need both. 00:19:39.019 --> 00:19:39.879 They go together. 00:19:41.099 --> 00:19:42.859 And we often don't think that. 00:19:42.859 --> 00:19:45.979 And sometimes you meet Christians and they say, oh, we don't need the word. 00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:46.879 We have the spirit. 00:19:47.199 --> 00:19:48.419 And just like the early church. 00:19:49.139 --> 00:19:50.719 Well, here is the early church. 00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:51.939 What did they do? 00:19:52.019 --> 00:19:53.899 Did they just sit around listening to the spirit? 00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:54.240 No. 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:56.899 They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, right? 00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:58.899 Clearly, they needed the word still. 00:19:58.900 --> 00:20:06.580 You know, when the apostles, when there were too many hungry widows, did they say, oh, we will take care of the widows. 00:20:06.680 --> 00:20:08.580 They have the spirit to guide them into all truth. 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.280 No. 00:20:09.400 --> 00:20:09.580 Right? 00:20:09.640 --> 00:20:12.600 He says, hey, we can't neglect the preaching of the word. 00:20:13.360 --> 00:20:15.680 Clearly, we need the word and the spirit. 00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:16.460 They go together. 00:20:16.800 --> 00:20:18.440 But I hope you get the point, right? 00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.240 These reasons. 00:20:19.340 --> 00:20:21.400 The word is living and active. 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:24.140 It's something I'm very passionate about, as I hope you see. 00:20:24.580 --> 00:20:26.620 You know, people were devoted to the word. 00:20:26.700 --> 00:20:29.360 Because, yeah, it's a life-changing message of Jesus. 00:20:29.540 --> 00:20:30.759 But it's more than that. 00:20:30.800 --> 00:20:33.640 It's God's powerful presence. 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:38.200 And so, what does it look like if we believe this? 00:20:38.780 --> 00:20:39.840 To be devoted to scripture. 00:20:39.960 --> 00:20:42.440 Well, I guess we want the word to be central, right? 00:20:43.540 --> 00:20:45.580 You know, we're meeting here on Sundays. 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:47.940 Do you want God to be here present with us? 00:20:48.440 --> 00:20:49.000 Yeah, right? 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:52.200 Do we want God to be at work today? 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:52.799 Yes. 00:20:53.660 --> 00:20:56.579 Well, then the Bible says we need the word. 00:20:56.859 --> 00:20:58.099 Because that is how God works. 00:20:58.660 --> 00:21:00.339 And that is how God is present, right? 00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.420 That's how you meet him. 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:05.019 Yes, that's why we emphasize the sermon. 00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:06.180 I hope you see that, right? 00:21:06.220 --> 00:21:10.019 If the word is really God's powerful presence, we need it. 00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:12.740 Of course, we meet him through the whole service. 00:21:13.220 --> 00:21:14.740 But, of course, based on the word, right? 00:21:15.099 --> 00:21:15.799 I mean, singing. 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:17.220 Of course, we meet God when singing. 00:21:17.220 --> 00:21:19.600 But the power is not in the singing, right? 00:21:19.920 --> 00:21:23.759 If we sing Coldplay or Katy Perry, do you meet God? 00:21:23.860 --> 00:21:24.079 No. 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:24.860 Right? 00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:30.160 You meet God through words full of the gospel, full of biblical truth, right? 00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:31.579 So, it's still the word. 00:21:31.640 --> 00:21:33.360 That's the power behind the songs we sing. 00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:35.019 It's about the word. 00:21:35.940 --> 00:21:36.220 CG. 00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:39.220 Do you want God to be at work in your CG? 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:43.579 You know, when you meet on Thursday in that living room, do you want God to be there? 00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:45.659 Open up the word. 00:21:46.339 --> 00:21:47.299 Dig into it. 00:21:47.599 --> 00:21:50.159 You know, listen to what God is saying together, right? 00:21:50.199 --> 00:21:51.299 That's how God does his work. 00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:54.220 Again, it's not the only thing, right? 00:21:54.259 --> 00:21:58.419 The church was devoted to scripture and fellowship and breaking of bread and prayer. 00:21:58.740 --> 00:21:59.839 You need to do all those things. 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:02.559 But no input, no output, right? 00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:04.419 There needs to be the word. 00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:08.299 Personally, you know, you want to meet with God each day? 00:22:08.879 --> 00:22:10.579 You want to keep your relationship with God going? 00:22:11.399 --> 00:22:13.039 Well, where can you meet him? 00:22:13.579 --> 00:22:14.220 In the word. 00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:15.240 Right? 00:22:15.299 --> 00:22:16.980 That's how we meet God. 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:18.220 That's how he is at work in us. 00:22:18.939 --> 00:22:20.779 That's what the Bible says. 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:24.079 Which is why we have a Bible reading plan. 00:22:24.179 --> 00:22:26.839 Why we encourage people to every day read the Bible. 00:22:27.619 --> 00:22:28.819 Of course, not just reading. 00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:29.539 Right? 00:22:29.599 --> 00:22:30.539 It is a relationship. 00:22:31.679 --> 00:22:31.819 Right? 00:22:32.059 --> 00:22:35.339 Reading is not just like you read and then you close the Bible. 00:22:35.919 --> 00:22:41.039 Like, again, if I have a date with my wife and she says all kinds of things and then I just, I've listened and then I stop. 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:41.740 No, no. 00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:42.699 Of course, I process. 00:22:42.899 --> 00:22:45.799 I think about what she says and I talk back to her. 00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:46.119 Right? 00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:49.159 So, reading plus meditation plus prayer. 00:22:49.339 --> 00:22:50.639 That's how you have a quiet time. 00:22:50.699 --> 00:22:51.519 It's not just reading. 00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:53.339 It's, you know, it's a relationship. 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:56.259 But the word is a big part of it. 00:22:57.539 --> 00:22:58.619 In our outreach. 00:22:58.619 --> 00:23:02.719 How are people going to hear about Jesus unless we tell them about Jesus? 00:23:03.079 --> 00:23:03.939 In your family. 00:23:04.099 --> 00:23:08.479 How are your kids going to know Jesus unless you bring them the word about Jesus? 00:23:08.659 --> 00:23:11.000 How can they meet him without the word? 00:23:12.139 --> 00:23:12.539 Yeah. 00:23:13.159 --> 00:23:15.199 I hope you see, right, what I'm trying to say. 00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:15.939 Right? 00:23:15.979 --> 00:23:23.299 If the Bible, if the word is really as powerful as it is, as important as it is, because that's where we meet Jesus. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:25.039 Well, that's what we need. 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:28.740 And so, I think, yeah, it really is in some ways the silver bullet. 00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:30.019 Right? 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:33.220 In everything we do, we need the silver bullet of the word. 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:35.740 The only thing is, it's not a bullet. 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:38.440 What is the thing about bullets? 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:40.799 Bullets, they kill instantly. 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:41.200 Right? 00:23:41.299 --> 00:23:42.139 That's the thing about bullets. 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:42.839 They're quick. 00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:45.619 The word of God is not quick. 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:49.980 You know, what is the small round thing that the Bible is compared to? 00:23:50.700 --> 00:23:51.659 Well, a seed. 00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:54.700 And seeds, they take time to grow. 00:23:54.700 --> 00:23:56.420 You can't just watch the seed and see it grow. 00:23:56.539 --> 00:23:57.259 It takes time. 00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:58.539 Yeah? 00:23:58.620 --> 00:24:01.400 So, we use the word. 00:24:01.559 --> 00:24:02.180 We preach it. 00:24:02.279 --> 00:24:02.960 We study it. 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:04.019 We read it. 00:24:04.200 --> 00:24:06.279 And then we just trust the process. 00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:09.799 We trust that it will do its work slowly over time. 00:24:10.920 --> 00:24:15.299 Like when the doctor gives you a medicine and says, okay, you've got this terrible disease. 00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:19.779 If you just take this every day for six months, that will solve it. 00:24:20.080 --> 00:24:22.200 I mean, taking it once doesn't do much. 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:23.900 You won't notice the difference. 00:24:24.519 --> 00:24:24.700 Right? 00:24:24.759 --> 00:24:28.160 But if you take it for six months, hey, it will cure you. 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.539 And it's the same thing here. 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:36.900 If we just receive the word regularly, consistently, it will grow us. 00:24:36.900 --> 00:24:39.420 We will get to know God better and better. 00:24:39.500 --> 00:24:40.600 We'll meet him every day. 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:42.780 We'll become more loving and more holy. 00:24:42.900 --> 00:24:43.700 And we'll have power. 00:24:43.840 --> 00:24:44.780 And we'll witness. 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.519 And everything. 00:24:45.740 --> 00:24:47.080 Everything flows from this. 00:24:49.600 --> 00:24:50.160 So, yeah. 00:24:50.240 --> 00:24:51.300 So, it needs to be central. 00:24:52.340 --> 00:24:56.620 And I guess second, we need to respond appropriately. 00:24:56.860 --> 00:24:56.980 Right? 00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:59.559 We hear the word, but we need to respond. 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:04.400 And again, remember, the word is God's powerful presence with us. 00:25:05.120 --> 00:25:06.839 The things we don't often treat it like that. 00:25:07.440 --> 00:25:07.680 Right? 00:25:07.720 --> 00:25:11.599 We were all worried about the economy and the world and everything. 00:25:11.819 --> 00:25:15.819 And imagine that Jesus shows up here in his resurrected glory. 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:16.360 Right? 00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:18.460 We can't even see him because he's so bright. 00:25:18.460 --> 00:25:21.519 And he says, hey, don't be anxious. 00:25:21.779 --> 00:25:22.480 Don't fear. 00:25:22.720 --> 00:25:24.160 I've got it all under control. 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:25.180 Would you believe him? 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:26.940 My guess is we would. 00:25:27.039 --> 00:25:27.160 Right? 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:30.500 Well, the Bible is no different. 00:25:30.799 --> 00:25:32.799 This is God's powerful word. 00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:34.000 This is how God is with us. 00:25:34.519 --> 00:25:36.180 We should, in a way, treat it the same. 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:37.079 Right? 00:25:37.120 --> 00:25:40.240 We should treat it exactly as if God was here in person. 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:41.819 Because he is. 00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:43.279 The thing is, we don't. 00:25:43.360 --> 00:25:43.500 Right? 00:25:43.500 --> 00:25:47.640 We just take the Bible and it's nice, but we don't really believe it. 00:25:47.680 --> 00:25:48.400 And we keep going. 00:25:48.460 --> 00:25:49.700 With our fears and our doubts. 00:25:49.840 --> 00:25:54.559 But, in a way, if we really treat the word as what it is, we should. 00:25:55.079 --> 00:25:55.440 Right? 00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:56.799 We should respond to that. 00:25:57.559 --> 00:25:58.539 God is really here. 00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:00.440 Right? 00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:01.819 I mean, it's a challenge for me. 00:26:01.860 --> 00:26:02.019 Right? 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:03.920 For all of us. 00:26:04.360 --> 00:26:05.519 What does that look like? 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:07.400 We have a series blurb on the website. 00:26:07.519 --> 00:26:08.519 It talks about submission. 00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:10.100 I think that's a good word. 00:26:10.460 --> 00:26:12.279 I guess partly you would believe the truth. 00:26:12.319 --> 00:26:12.519 Right? 00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:15.039 If the Bible says something, you will believe it. 00:26:15.120 --> 00:26:18.420 I mean, if God was here and told you something, you would believe it. 00:26:19.039 --> 00:26:22.440 I guess if the Bible says it, we will believe it. 00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:24.039 Even if it's hard to understand. 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:26.640 Even if the world thinks it's different. 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:26.960 Right? 00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:28.720 If how human beings are made. 00:26:29.240 --> 00:26:30.900 And what we are like. 00:26:31.120 --> 00:26:32.140 What the world is like. 00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:35.300 We can believe the truth. 00:26:35.520 --> 00:26:37.060 We can trust the promise. 00:26:38.200 --> 00:26:40.259 The Bible is full of wonderful promises. 00:26:41.300 --> 00:26:44.360 And, again, if God was here making that promise, I guess you'd believe it. 00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:47.380 Well, the word is the same thing. 00:26:48.020 --> 00:26:48.200 Right? 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:49.340 God doesn't lie. 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.840 God is faithful. 00:26:50.840 --> 00:26:52.460 As we sung so much this morning. 00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:55.539 Which means you can trust the promises of scripture. 00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:56.640 Right? 00:26:56.660 --> 00:27:00.259 So maybe tomorrow, you know, you're in this really difficult situation. 00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:03.339 And you don't really know what to do or what's going to happen. 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:05.119 And then you remember this verse. 00:27:06.240 --> 00:27:08.779 That is not just you remembering information. 00:27:09.559 --> 00:27:10.940 The word is God's presence. 00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:12.980 That is God being with you. 00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:15.240 And speaking comfort to your heart. 00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:16.920 Isn't that a wonderful thing? 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:18.059 That's how you should see that. 00:27:18.620 --> 00:27:18.779 Right? 00:27:19.099 --> 00:27:20.539 God speaking to your heart. 00:27:20.660 --> 00:27:23.480 Being there with you in this difficult situation. 00:27:24.360 --> 00:27:27.440 And bringing the comfort and encouragement that you need. 00:27:29.380 --> 00:27:30.200 It's wonderful. 00:27:30.360 --> 00:27:31.420 The word is wonderful. 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:31.759 Of course. 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:33.759 And we need to understand it. 00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:34.400 Right? 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:35.660 That's a whole different talk. 00:27:35.720 --> 00:27:36.980 We need to interpret the Bible. 00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:39.079 Sometimes there's things in the Bible. 00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:40.539 Well, that's not about us. 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:40.839 That's. 00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:42.599 There's a storyline in the Bible. 00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:44.359 We need to interpret it correctly. 00:27:44.619 --> 00:27:45.719 It's from a different culture. 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:48.399 But when this is really true. 00:27:49.019 --> 00:27:50.740 When we know this is for us. 00:27:51.199 --> 00:27:52.559 You know, hold on to these promises. 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:53.699 Right? 00:27:53.719 --> 00:27:54.299 It's wonderful. 00:27:54.599 --> 00:27:55.639 And God is reliable. 00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:57.219 He's given us a word that helps. 00:27:57.919 --> 00:27:59.619 That is really what we need. 00:28:00.879 --> 00:28:04.500 And thirdly, of course, it means we act on what God says. 00:28:04.500 --> 00:28:04.779 Right? 00:28:05.699 --> 00:28:07.079 If God tells you to do something. 00:28:07.199 --> 00:28:08.539 Again, if Jesus was here. 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:12.240 And he said, hey, you should reconcile with that family member. 00:28:12.879 --> 00:28:14.559 My guess is you would get up and do that. 00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:15.779 You wouldn't. 00:28:15.879 --> 00:28:16.039 Okay. 00:28:16.079 --> 00:28:17.039 Well, maybe next week. 00:28:17.079 --> 00:28:19.039 I'll think of whether I should do that or not. 00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:19.819 Right? 00:28:19.899 --> 00:28:20.879 You would respond. 00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:21.419 Again. 00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:24.120 That is how we should treat the word. 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:26.700 I think for me. 00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:28.259 Yeah. 00:28:28.360 --> 00:28:30.000 Again, it's easy to postpone it. 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:33.180 Think of the difference between a phone call and an email. 00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:34.180 Right? 00:28:34.180 --> 00:28:37.000 An email that's kind of in your inbox. 00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:38.840 And yeah, I'll get around to it one day. 00:28:39.140 --> 00:28:40.519 A phone call is very direct. 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:43.420 Treat the Bible as a phone call. 00:28:43.660 --> 00:28:43.779 Right? 00:28:43.820 --> 00:28:46.360 When you open the Bible, God is on the phone. 00:28:46.460 --> 00:28:48.360 And he's speaking to you directly. 00:28:48.900 --> 00:28:51.100 It's not an email that you just leave in your inbox. 00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:52.720 Does that make sense? 00:28:53.820 --> 00:28:54.220 Yeah. 00:28:54.220 --> 00:28:57.600 I hope that I find this helpful. 00:28:57.900 --> 00:29:01.339 But just as we close, of course, this is still not easy. 00:29:02.620 --> 00:29:04.880 I mean, life is full here in Hong Kong. 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:06.059 Life is a struggle. 00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:15.159 And actually, there's so much wrong with my life, with most of our lives, that when you meet God, there's so much that needs to change. 00:29:15.220 --> 00:29:16.399 And it's going to feel like a burden. 00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:20.399 And which is what I finally, I want to come back to this idea. 00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:21.639 This is God's presence. 00:29:22.819 --> 00:29:24.899 You know, you are meeting not words. 00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:26.000 You're meeting a person. 00:29:27.319 --> 00:29:31.139 And words make sense in the context of a person that you know. 00:29:32.379 --> 00:29:34.960 But you may wonder, why is it the word of the Lord, not the words? 00:29:34.960 --> 00:29:36.940 Well, because it's a unified whole. 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:38.259 Because we're meeting a person. 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:42.940 And the person determines the words. 00:29:43.180 --> 00:29:46.640 Someone who says, can you make a cup of tea for me? 00:29:47.120 --> 00:29:48.680 Is that a stranger on the street? 00:29:49.140 --> 00:29:50.000 Is that your boss? 00:29:50.220 --> 00:29:51.039 Is that your spouse? 00:29:51.519 --> 00:29:52.980 Makes a huge difference, right? 00:29:53.500 --> 00:29:56.519 It's the person that gives the context for the words. 00:29:57.519 --> 00:30:00.100 And as we read the word of God, again, we are meeting a person. 00:30:00.200 --> 00:30:01.100 And that's the context. 00:30:01.100 --> 00:30:03.620 And how is the word described? 00:30:03.619 --> 00:30:06.039 Again, some verses from Acts, right? 00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:12.559 God says, go and stand in a temple and speak to the people all the words of this life. 00:30:13.059 --> 00:30:14.659 These are words of life. 00:30:15.439 --> 00:30:16.379 Acts 20. 00:30:16.500 --> 00:30:19.219 I commend you to God and to the word of his grace. 00:30:20.459 --> 00:30:22.919 The Bible is the words of grace and life. 00:30:23.019 --> 00:30:23.239 Why? 00:30:23.899 --> 00:30:26.939 Because they're the words of Jesus, who is the life. 00:30:26.940 --> 00:30:31.779 Who is the one who relates to us, first of all, by grace. 00:30:32.000 --> 00:30:32.140 Right? 00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:34.740 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, etc. 00:30:35.600 --> 00:30:35.860 Right? 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:38.000 We meet the God of grace and life. 00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:39.539 The one who died for us. 00:30:39.759 --> 00:30:40.980 The one who forgave us. 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:42.019 That's the person you meet. 00:30:42.100 --> 00:30:44.340 And every word comes from him. 00:30:45.120 --> 00:30:46.559 And that makes it different, right? 00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:48.980 That is the one we want to know deeply. 00:30:49.380 --> 00:30:50.820 The one we want to listen to. 00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:52.200 The one we want to follow. 00:30:52.920 --> 00:30:54.180 The one I want to learn from. 00:30:54.660 --> 00:30:55.860 The one we want to be with. 00:30:56.720 --> 00:30:58.799 And if we know that, well, let's see the word. 00:30:58.880 --> 00:31:02.840 If we see the word really as that is, then I hope we want to do this, right? 00:31:02.860 --> 00:31:04.860 We want to be devoted to the gospel. 00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:05.740 To the word. 00:31:07.600 --> 00:31:08.940 So why don't we think about this? 00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:10.539 Let me just give you half a minute. 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:13.600 Just think, well, what is, you know, God is here. 00:31:14.059 --> 00:31:14.900 He's speaking. 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:17.799 What is he speaking to your heart right now? 00:31:18.440 --> 00:31:20.200 Think about that for 30 seconds. 00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:20.840 Respond. 00:31:20.839 --> 00:31:22.279 Talk back in prayer. 00:31:22.859 --> 00:31:24.240 And then I will pray. 00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:26.159 And then we're going to keep singing. 00:31:26.159 --> 00:31:26.279 Amen. 00:31:26.279 --> 00:31:26.279 00:31:50.839 --> 00:31:53.419 Yes. 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:31:53.419 --> 00:31:53.419 00:32:20.839 --> 00:32:25.319 let's pray together 00:32:25.319 --> 00:32:34.839 our father we thank you for these things we we've considered we we don't deserve your words 00:32:34.839 --> 00:32:40.579 the people we are the things we've done we deserve you to never talk to us again 00:32:40.579 --> 00:32:46.459 and yet you gave us your word and it's not just a message you are here with us 00:32:46.460 --> 00:32:53.100 by your spirit through your word speaking to our hearts speaking words of grace and life 00:32:53.100 --> 00:33:00.180 father would we treasure that would we see your word as yeah what it really is 00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:05.880 the living and active word of god your powerful presence that we want to meet with you and 00:33:05.880 --> 00:33:10.720 whenever we gather whenever we're alone to just treasure your words so that we we know your 00:33:10.720 --> 00:33:16.400 presence and we know you your comfort your encouragement everything we need lord everything 00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:22.620 is in you and you're in the word so we need the words lord may help us to make changes to our life 00:33:22.620 --> 00:33:28.019 where we need to help us to help each other life is full and sometimes the important things get left 00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:35.980 out like meeting with you would we help each other to meet with you and keep us going as a church lord 00:33:35.980 --> 00:33:42.560 would we be like this church in acts devoted to scripture and because that is what we need for 00:33:42.559 --> 00:33:46.200 everything in jesus name we pray amen