Alright, let's get started. I
want to invite your attention back to Matthew chapter 4. Matthew chapter 4. Last week I mentioned that I would deal with these
three things. The Scriptures intrinsic value. And when I say that, I mean the
scripture's intrinsic value. And I also said we would look
at the scripture's initial value. That is what the word of God
is to us in our conversion, if you will. And I also said I wanted
to look at the scripture's continuous value. Now look at Mark chapter
four and I will read for this morning just one verse of the
passage I read last week. Matthew chapter four and verse
four. But he answered and said, this
is Christ's response to Satan's first onslaught. But he answered
and said, it is written. You remember what I said. He
could have said the Lord has said. He could have said, thus
saith the Lord. Both of those things would have
been right. But he's narrowing it down even further. He said,
it is written. Man shall not live by bread alone. That's not by natural food. We
need natural food for life. but we need God's word for spiritual
life. Just like we need food for physical
life. But he answered and said, it
is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but then think
about this next statement, but by every word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God. That is profound. Take note that the incarnate
word, the incarnate word, think of
that, if God has given you ears to hear this morning, then hear. The incarnate word declared that
the scripture, what is written, not notice what was written,
as though its power and life was way back yonder sometime.
It's not just when Moses spoke and then when either Moses wrote
it down or someone copied or wrote down what Moses wrote,
that in itself doesn't really matter. It's not what was written,
he said it is written. He's saying that the word of
God that they had in that day, the scripture, so that's what's
written. That's what makes a scripture
a scripture. It's the word of God written
down. He said it is written. I know that this written word
has the same intrinsic value as when God spoke it. But he said, it is written that
what was written, what is rather written, proceedeth. Again, it
still has present force and power and intrinsic value, not what
proceeded, not when Jeremiah wrote even years ago, but whatever
translation they had of it, Joe. In those synagogues, he was saying
that Proceedeth think about the difference in words Somebody
says you're picking at words. I didn't choose these words the
incarnate word the word embodied Chose these words and for a reason
It is written. So the incarnate word declared
that the scriptures Proceedeth out of God's very mouth My title
for this morning is scripture proceedeth Proceedeth not proceeded. Yeah, a lot of people thinks
it proceeded and what we have now is really a really nice representation
of that At best that's not a best That's a falsehood. That's a
lie My title is scripture proceedeth from God's mouth Scripture The scriptures have intrinsic
value because the scriptures are breathed forth by God's own
mouth. You know the passage, I mentioned
it, we looked at it in some detail last week. Second Timothy chapter
three, the first part of it, verse 16. All scripture, so how
much scripture? All of it. And I'm not here to
try to prove was it just the 66 books, of course it is. It
has stood the test of time for some 2,000 years. The scriptures are breathed forth
by God's own mouth. All scripture is given, now notice,
is given by inspiration of God. I have said before that God inspired
me to write. That's not so. It's given, all scripture is
given by inspiration. God breathed this very word and
they wrote it down. He used their own characteristics,
their own style of language to express it in the writing. But
God breathed this. Not God enabled them to breathe
this. All scripture is given by inspiration
of God. Do you note that? Have you ever
thought before, God inspired, we've said, people say that all
the time, God inspired men to write. No, he did not. God breathed
these very words. It is written, man shall not
live by breath alone, but by every word that proceedeth out
of, not Moses' mouth and Jeremiah's, but out of the very mouth of
God. What this book teaches is that these very words are God-breathed. So here are six things concerning
the scripture's intrinsic value. The scripture has intrinsic value
because, number one, the king's word is intrinsic power. Look
at Ecclesiastes chapter eight. Go ahead. Ecclesiastes chapter
eight, verse four, where the word of a king is. There is power. You see that? Where the word
of a king is, and this applies to the king. That's what Solomon
is really getting at. But he's using even Mason's earthly
illustration. Let me give you an example. This
is not a king. but it was a government that
this, when this country was new and in its infancy set up, you
remember that a large group of men got together and they discussed
what they wanted to write in their constitution and in their
Declaration of Independence, right? And then eventually, Joe,
after much debate and argument and things going back and forth,
they finally came to an agreement and they wrote it down. They
say we have some of the very first copies still in existence
in the Library of Congress or wherever it might be, right?
But you know what? Joe, if I took those words and
I copied those very same words simply down on a book of notepaper,
it's still just as powerful and as valid as the original document
itself. You understand what Solomon is
saying? And it wasn't even, well, these
men spoke and this made it so real. No, when they wrote it
down, they put their thoughts and ideas down on paper and then
some of them even did what, Mason? They signed it. Some of them
as a death warrant to themselves. That's just the illustration.
Remember, where the word of a king is, There is power. This word
right here, in its English form, is the very power of God. Secondly, turn to Hebrews chapter
four, and be turning there. I want you to see a couple things
here. Hebrews chapter four, before
I make the second statement, Glance through Hebrews chapter
four and look at what he says. Verse two, for unto us was the
gospel preached. Right? Look at verse three, for
we which have believed do enter into rest as he said. Now how
do we know what he said? He starts quoting scripture.
Is that not right? Then look at verse four, for
he spake in a certain place. What's he talking about? He talked
about the Old Testament scripture. And this, verse five, in this
place again. Do you see it? Verse six, seeing
therefore it meaneth that some must enter therein. Again, verse
seven, he limiteth a certain day. So what do you think that
the writer of Hebrews is talking about in chapter four here? What's
the context? The gospel being preached, and
it's actually recorded in the pages of scripture. Is that not
the context? And he says, verse 12, for. This is not appropriately, there's
not a break here. It's not a break here. He's continuing
on with the same thought for the word of God. Yes. Right. So when you read that,
what do you think of? Yeah. You think of this book,
you think of God's word. Now let me give you the second
statement. The King's word cannot be separated from his person.
Exactly. You see, in ancient days, when
the king spoke, he had Mason scribes that would write down
something. He said, he didn't debate with other men like we
had in our country. He said, here's what I'm going
to do. They would write it down. Well, when they wrote that down,
that piece of paper was just as valid as his voice box when
it sounded forth those words. Here's the thing. As I said,
the king's word cannot be separated from his person. And notice,
for the word of God is quick. powerful and sharper than any
two-edged sword. Piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow and
others, the word of God has this ability to deal with men right
at their very being. Right in the inner, the joints
and what? Marrow. We know now that's right
in the middle of your bones. That's getting right down deep
into you, is it not? Piercing even to the dividing
asunder of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and is
a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. This book
will uncover you. And this book will also cover
you. But then notice what he says. Neither is there any creature
that is not manifest, not in its sight, though certainly that
still would be valid. But what does he say? Neither
is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight. Do you see it? You see how he
connects what he's been taught? Again, he said, they said, they
said, they said. God was saying, God swore in
his wrath. How do we know that? Those men
wrote it down. And then as the writer here begins to talk about
the power the intrinsic value, if you will, of God's word, then
he says God's word is even him. It is God. So much so that God
said through the psalmist, he has exalted his word above all. I quoted his name last week.
I look back, it's all his name. You see, the word of God is the
declaration of who God is. It is the declaration of what
God willed. It is the declaration of what
God is doing. It is the declaration of what
God shall do. So the king's word cannot be
separated from his person. I'm not talking about the ink.
I'm not talking about the processed wood made into paper. I'm not
talking about the leather. but I am talking about this word.
What's written down on these pages, proceedeth, proceedeth. Proceedeth, not proceeded, and
then I'll just have a nice little copy of it. It proceedeth, where? Out of the mouth of God. And I must confess to you to
my shame, for years, even as a believer, Did not understand
that Now stick with me now number
three the incarnate word You remember that John one in the
beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word
Was God I can't explain that but it's that scripture The word
was with God Joe Yeah, but the word also God and then verse
14 John wrote these words and the word became flesh and dwelt
among us But this the incarnate word spoke words of intrinsic
spirit and in life John 6 63 he said these words It is the
spirit that quickeneth The flesh profiteth nothing. The words
that I speak unto you, they are, here's its intrinsic value, they
are spirit, and they are what? Life. It doesn't matter what
I think I understand doctrinally, that's what Christ, the incarnate
word, said about his own word. Right? What is this book? His own word. His own word. There's number
three. Here's number four these words Are written and They are
written in no less spirit and life Then when he spoke them
Mason when he spoke you didn't have this it didn't sound any
different that he looked and sounded just like any other man. I There were a few occasions,
a few occasions, when it went beyond that, but not as the norm. Remember in the garden, when
they came after him with sticks and staves and clubs, and they
said, we're looking for Jesus of Nazareth. When he said, I
am, what does it say? They fell backwards. But that
didn't happen as the norm, did it, Joe? And yet even when he spoke simply
with simple language, the language of the day, yet they marveled
at his words. Yet they didn't even believe
his words. They rejected his words. So I say that the words
are written and the written word is no less spirit and life than
it was when he spoke it. Why? Because what is written? Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. And
we know from at least one occasion in the New Testament, the apostle
Peter knew that Paul's epistles were
scripture. That's right. Because he calls
it that. Go back and read it. Second Peter, isn't it? Chapter
three. And isn't it amazing? The one
thing, the one testimony from the book itself about the New
Testament, that at least we know this, Joe, Paul's words were
scripture. And notice how, isn't it, Paul
is the one that most professing so-called Christians is the one
they want to shove to the side. Well, I like what Peter wrote,
but I don't know about that Paul. He dealt with God. Notice how
men deny the scripture above everything else They will acknowledge
miracles from God, but they won't acknowledge this miracle right
here And I'm even talking about this English translation. I hold
in my hand Isn't it amazing You cannot honor. This is still number
four the words of The words are these words, the words he spoke
are written and the written word has no less spirit and life than
when he spoke them. So I say this, you cannot honor
the incarnate word and not honor his spoken word. Now can you? And on top of that, no one honors
the spoken word and thus the incarnate word who does not honor
the written word. Yes, countless thousands will
profess, I believe in Jesus. And yet this word discerns none
of their thoughts or the intents of their heart. This word doesn't
cut them to the quick. It doesn't affect the very middle
center of their being. Does it? Oh, they go to church
all the time, but it's not the book that rules them. It's their
opinion that rules them. It's their emotions that rules
them. It's their religion that rules them and not the written
word of God Again I say he that hath ears
to hear let him hear Three things here under number four remember
these words the words of Christ these words are written and the
written word is no less spirit in life and Think of it, the
incarnate word. It says this in John 1 again,
verses 10 and 11. He, about this word who was made
flesh, he was in the world. He was in the world. He was in
the world. The scriptures were in the world
physically before he was in the world incarnate. But it says
he was in the world, talking about his incarnation, and the
world knew him not. He came into his own and his
own received him not. Right? But listen to what it
says about the spoken word. And this is what he said. Turn
to John chapter eight. Listen to what he said. He was
talking, this is the people here. And he said in John chapter eight,
verse 37, I know that you're Abraham's seed, but ye seek to
kill me because my word have no place in you. I speak. Now here's the incarnate word
now speaking. He's actually talking to these
people, Joe. I speak that which I have seen
with my father, and ye do that which ye have seen with your
father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father.
Jesus saith unto them, if ye were Abraham's children, ye would
do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a
man that hath what? Told you the truth. which I have heard of God, this
did not Abraham. Ye do the deeds of your father.
Then said they to him, we be not born of fornication, we have
one father, even God. Jesus saith unto them, if God
were your father, you would love me. For I proceeded forth and
came from God, neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do
you not understand? Not just me exactly How did how
did how could they even know me him? By his word, why do you
not understand my speech? Even because you cannot hear
my word So not only could they not know him, but they couldn't
know what he said. That's right. You see it. I Ye are of your
father the devil, the lust of your father ye will do. He was
a murderer from the beginning and abode not the truth, because
there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh
of his own, for he is a liar and the father of it, and because
I tell you the truth. Now he was the embodiment of
truth. He was truth incarnate as he was the word incarnate.
But he also spoke absolute truth. He didn't just sometimes speak
the truth, Joe. He always spoke the truth. I don't. He did. But he said this, because I tell
you the truth. You believe me not. Now look,
but not only that, notice how he then emphasized, and he had
actually done this previously, in John chapter five, about the
written word. Go to John chapter five, remember?
He says in verse 39, search the scriptures. And some say, actually
you should see, read, you do search the scriptures, but be
that as it may, what's the scriptures do? He said, they testify of
me. But then look at it, look at how he sums it up. He talks
about Moses, look at verse 47. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? So which does he put at the forefront? Even above, wait a minute, the
living incarnate word came and spoke physical words. But he
puts the written word even above, in front of, at least, that. Did he not? But if ye believe
not Moses' writings, how you gonna believe my words? Isn't that amazing? Isn't that
profound? Doesn't that make you look at
this book, and again, not the leather, not the paper, not the
ink, but the words. But they're still written. This proceedeth out of the mouth
of God, just as fresh and new and powerful and spiritual and
life-giving as when God uttered it only in his own mind in eternity. Because this word expresses and
is from his very breath. Go back now, think about it.
2 Timothy 3 verse 16. All scripture is given by inspiration. And we say that means God breathed.
And that's true, it's God breathed. Not God breathed in the men and
then they breathed it. It's God breathed. But if you
look at it, that's more than just your involuntary. Look at
the Greek sometimes. It's more than just the involuntary
normal breathing that you do even without thinking about it.
Go back and look. It's a Greek word distinguished
for. Intently breathing. That's amazing. That lets me know that this means
something. This has intrinsic value, even
though my puny words fail to describe it like it needs to
be described. Here's number five. Our problem
by nature is us. It's not the scriptures. Turn
to Jeremiah now. Chapter six. And there's just
one verse. And if we had time, I would just
sit here and let you go through that chapter until you come to
the verse that you thought I was going to mention. As a matter of fact, it's pretty
close to the beginning, so just take it. Jeremiah, chapter six,
and just start to go down through that. Look at it, look at the
first verse. Glance over the second verse.
Glance over the third verse. Four. Verse five. Verse six. Look at verse seven,
eight, nine, and then look at verse 10. To whom shall I speak
and give warning that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised. And they cannot, do you see that? They cannot hearken. Behold, the word of the Lord
is unto them a reproach. And they have no delight in it. When we talk about absolute total
depravity, when we talk about total inability, that is not
Calvinism. That's what God taught even through
Jeremiah hundreds of years ago and even before the Lord came
to this earth, the incarnate word and spoke the word of God. You see it? The problem's not
the book. The problem's not what's written.
The problem is with me by nature. It takes an act of God. and this
again is not Calvinism. Solomon declared it years ago
in Proverbs chapter 20 and verse 12, the seeing eye and the hearing
ear. The Lord hath made even both
of them. God's gotta give you an eye to
see what's written. God's gotta give you an ear to
hear what is spoken. Even if I'm speaking this word. The word that has very spirit
and life, Joe. Yet God must circumcise your
ears and your eyes for you to ever see it. The natural man
always resists the word written, spoken, or incarnate. Many say they receive the incarnate
word, care nothing about his written word. It don't happen. It's just not so. Well, God spoke
to me, and yet you say he said to you, don't coincide with this
written word. You don't know what you're talking
about. You are deceived. And you're trying to deceive
me when you tell me that stuff. It takes an act of God, but God
must give a hearing ear and seeing eyes, and God does that without
the spoken or written word of men. Even this inspired word. He that hath ears to hear, let
him hear. But here's the point, hear what?
You see, we could get so wrapped up. I know regeneration is an
act of God himself, apart from anything else. But it's not the
end. It's not the goal. God gives
ears to hear and eyes to see and a heart to perceive. What?
This word. And if you get stuck on regeneration
and its truth, and don't go any further, you've missed the real
truth of regeneration. Remember, we know that a man has the eyes
to see and ears to hear when they have an interest in the
things of God. How do they know about the things of God? They
will never know about the things of God apart from this book. You know, it's not, I feel a
little rough. I don't know. God, God, why do
you mention God's name? The only reason men know anything
about God is because of this book, even though they pervert
much of what they hear or much of what's written. Again, I say, hear what? See
what? The scriptures. The scriptures, if I don't preach
from you, thus saith the scriptures, then you can mark away everything
I say. It's not according to this scripture.
But, if I declare to you this scripture, and it sticks to this
book, then you know what you're hearing? The very word that proceedeth
out of the mouth of God. Let us then hear and see the
scripture's initial value. Because the scripture will never
have any initial value till God gives you eyes to see and ears
to hear. But remember, he gives you eyes
to see and ears to hear so that you will see and hear something,
and that something is this written word. First of all, we know this,
the scripture, Paul calls it to Timothy, the holy. Scripture
and Paul don't call a whole lot of stuff. Holy Did you know that
two things right off the top of my head? I can think of he
calls. Holy one the scriptures And to us In that glorious Holy
brethren, he said Isn't that amazing? Yes, sir. That's the
same kind of holy well because by holding us I is breathed forth
by God's act, not by what I do, but be that as it may. Turn to
2 Timothy. I want to read it to you. I don't
want to misquote it. And look at it. Verse 13, 2 Timothy 3. The scriptures provide this wisdom
unto salvation. But evil men and seducers shall
wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. Get the context
now? Talk about what people teach, what they're saying, right? Now
look, but continue thou in the things which thou hast learned,
and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou slurred them, and
that from a child that has known the holy scriptures, which are
able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ
Jesus, and then we read that glorious all scripture. is given
by inspiration of God and is profitable for everything you
will ever need. Whether you face life or death,
this book is the only thing that's gonna help you. Whether you face
poverty or riches, this book's the only thing that's ever gonna
help you. I don't care what situation is
outside of The teaching of this book, nothing. Nothing, it's
all, anything you need to know, it's right here. It's right here. Secondly, faith is manifest through
the word of God. Faith cometh by hearing, and
when it says cometh, it comes to manifestation, it comes to
fruition, not comes to existence. Faith exists, faith is eternal. It's a quality of God. But faith comes to manifestation,
how? Faith cometh by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God. You know, God gives us who and
what to believe in and believe on. It's right here in this book. Number three, repentance issues
forth from the scriptures. I want to read you a couple of
these. Turn to Luke chapter 16. And you know these things, but
every now and then, you know, it hits you again. You know? Remember this last part of Luke
chapter 16. Remember this is the rich man
and Lazarus. Both of them died. One lifted
up his eyes in hail. The other one was in Abraham's
bosom and was comforted. The rich man was tormented. And
look what he said. Verse 27, for the sake of time. Then he said, this is the rich
man, then he said, I pray thee therefore father, talking to
Abraham. He said, well who was he really talking to? Abraham!
Come on now, Abraham. Father that thou wouldest send
him to my father's house for I have five brethren. Can you
relate to that? You got anybody else in your
blood relatives that you care about? Can you imagine if you's
in hell? You'd want the same thing he
wanted. I don't want them to come here. Look, for I have five
brethren that he may testify unto them. Who's he talking about?
Send back Lazarus. Now wouldn't that be the logical
thing to do? Somebody that's been there, been
there, done that. I can tell you about it. Don't
that sound logical and rational? Of course it does. You know it
does. for I have five brethren, send him that he may testify
unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham
saith unto him, they have Moses and the prophets. Moses and the
prophets, if I understand anything, were probably somewhere close
by here, by Abraham and Lazarus. Right? What's he talking about?
The scriptures. They have Moses and the prophets.
Let them hear them. Look, and he said, no. We often think that in hell,
all our rebellion will cease. No. And he said, nay, Father
Abraham, but if one went unto them from the dead, they will
repent. And he said unto them, if they
hear not Moses in the prophets, neither will they be persuaded,
though one rose from the dead. Well, if God would only show
me this himself, he ain't gonna do it. He has showed you everything
you need to know right here. He's given man everything man
needs to know right here. Our problem is we refuse it.
We can't see it. We won't have it until it gives
us eyes to see and ears to hear. And then you know what it does?
It starts cutting. both ways, when it goes in and
when it goes out, when it goes up, when it goes down. It'll
cut you clean to the marrow of your bones. It'll uncover your
evil, wicked thoughts and desires. But then you'll begin to discover
you got some other desires, too, that are totally contrary. You
begin to find yourself thinking, oh, I desire to seek after God
and His kingdom and His righteousness first. Why? Because of this word. And
never, ever, ever apart from it. They got Moses and the prophets. Let them hear them. No, no, no,
no, no. If they won't hear what this book says, they ain't going
to hear even if they see a literal miracle right before their very
eyes. That's how uncircumcised in heart
and ears and eyes we are. James sums it up beautifully,
and you know this one as well. James chapter one, look at what he says. James one
verse 18, of his own will begat he us, brought us forth, like
a birthing. Yes, I believe there is a gestation. There's an initial conception
and a gestation. That's God's work. And you know,
it's one of those, at least a part of it I can say is a secret thing
that remember belongs to the Lord. Now he tells us in his
book, he does it, but you remember what Christ said when he illustrated
that? The wind blows where it pleases. You can't tell when it's coming
and where it's going. We try to figure out the when
and the where. That's not the point. When does a person begin
to respond in repentance of faith to this word? That's when you
can say the Spirit of God's done something for you. At least with
some assurance, but not until then. This word's what matters. Of his own will beget he us with
the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his
creatures. Wherefore, my beloved brethren,
Here's the advice that's in light of that. Let everyone be swift
to do what? Hear. Slow to speak and slow
to wrath. And why the wrath? Because even
now today, talking to the brethren, there's a part of me that would
resist every bit of this book. There's a part of me, no, let
me change that. There's a part of me that does
resist every part of this book. Becomes angry. It's members I have to keep trying
to bash and bash and there's so many of them. I only got two
arms and it's got about 20, 30, 40 pieces. Like an octopus frilling
around. You got two hands and two feet.
You could get a hold of more, maybe four or five. You understand? Look at it. Swift to hear slow
to speak slow to wrath for the wrath of man worketh not the
righteousness of God wherefore lay apart all filthiness and
superfluity of naughtiness and look at it and receive with meekness
the ingrafted word Do you see it? There's its initial the end
God's got to do this. This is not something you graft
in something. Somebody else is doing this to
you the ingrafted word which is able to save your souls, but
be a doer of the word. Not just, oh, I hear it. Yeah,
do you hear it? If you're really hearing it,
you're gonna start doing it. That's what James says. I don't like
James. What else don't you like about
God's word? I'd say that to Martin Luther today if he was alive
today. It's just the way it is. No, let me get a tough one here.
It's not a folk. Listen to me. It's not even a
better translation Mm-hmm. Oh, I need a better trend.
I understand this translation. I understand God's Word a whole
lot more this translation No, you don't I'm telling you. No, you don't you remember those
two disciples on the road to a mess? Yeah It was not until
Christ opened their understanding exactly that they perceive the
truth of the scriptures. If you try to find the truth
of God through a translation, you will be constantly, constantly
buying new translations, looking for what suits you, rather than
God Almighty breathing life into your soul, and when he does,
this word will begin to cut you every which way but loose. It won't let you go. It won't
let you grow. But the scripture's not just
for that initial conversion only. The scriptures have continuous
value. Think of it, the truth alone separates us to God. The scripture is the truth. You
remember what our Lord prayed? Father, sanctify them through
thy truth. Where are you gonna find that?
Well, maybe I'll get it in a dream one night. Maybe I'll have a
vision, oh no. Thy word is truth. If this book, the book of God,
doesn't govern and control your thoughts and intents, then you
are not being controlled of God in that manner of speaking. It's
another spirit that's motivating you. The spirit of the flesh,
the spirit of the devil, whatever it is. The spirit of a false,
perverted gospel, whatever it is. Sanctify them through thy
word, thy word is truth. The psalmist in 119, 105 said,
your word is a lamp to my feet. And a light to my path. You see
the continuing value? A lot of people, they start,
oh boy, I heard this message and God just brought me down,
I had to go forward and get saved. But then the word of God, the
rest of their life matters very little at all, unless they're
in a little bit of trouble and they gotta run to a passage,
trying to find some solace to their conscience. The word of God is the very thing
I walk with and the very place I walk, Joe, the word of God's
the only lamp and light there. Do you see that? You see that? One other thing. As a matter
of fact, let me just mention this. The sanctifying work of
the Spirit of God, we know that's true because Paul said to the
Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 13, beloved, even some
people are gonna be given strong delusion. But we're bound to
give thanks for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because
God has, from the beginning, chosen you to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit, and ain't you just glad that's
what had happened? But that ain't what I always
said, is it? He said, through sanctification of the spirit.
And what? And belief of the truth. And
what? Where unto he called you? By
our gospel. Amen. Do you see it? But here's
the second thing. The scriptures have continuous
value. Yes. Bear with me just a few more
minutes. Hope. The scriptures provide hope. Hope is not some
mystical feeling God's going to bring on you. Well, if I just
believe Him enough, all of a sudden I'm gonna get this good feeling
of hope. You don't just believe Him enough to get a good feeling
of hope. Your hope's only gonna come through this book. Turn
to Romans chapter 15. You see, hope is, no doubt, a confident
expectation. but a lot of people are confidently
expecting things that are never going to come to pass. No, hope,
true scriptural God wrought hope is this, a confident expectation
in the promise of God. And where are you gonna find
the promise of God? Right here in this scripture.
And look what he says in Romans 15 verse four. For whatsoever
things were written aforetime were written for our learning
that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures. If you avoid the scriptures,
don't be surprised when you don't have hope in your trouble. That's
just a fact, folks. You're not gonna believe God
enough just to get hope all of a sudden to drop down on you. If I expect to know that that
woman back there loves me, can I just hope that one day I'll
just feel that way? Or do I have that hope, that
confident expectation based upon looking at what she says and
what she does? That's where it's at, ain't it? She can say it
all day long, but if she don't really say it all the time. I'm
not talking about just I love you, I'm talking about what you
say. How you treat one another. How you conduct yourselves one
to another. That's how you know whether you really love one another
or not. And God loves us perfectly. He don't love us like we love
one another. And you know the only way we know the love of
God? Right here in this book. This book tells us what God's
love is and what God's love is not. Exactly. Turn to Psalm 119. It's amazing. Of course, you know, it's the
longest Psalm. Duh. Well, some people may not know
that, but it's still duh. It's a long one. But if you go
through and read it, it's amazing how many times thy word, the
word is mentioned in this psalm. Let me just give you a few brief
excerpts. Psalm 119, verse 114. I guess that's almost above my
pay grade there. Verse 14, thou art my hiding
place and my shield. Isn't that true? Thou, God in
his person, right? But look at what it says, I hope.
in thy word. Amen. Because that's the only
way I know about God. Exactly. Do you see it? Let's
look at verse 133. I opened my mouth and panted. Or verse 131 is where I'm leading
right. I opened my mouth and panted.
What's that mean? Thirsty. I'm thirsty. What does you good when you're
thirsty? Good cold drink of water. Aren't
you glad I didn't say a nice cold look? Hello. Take one take. No, I meant to
say that. You know what I'm talking about.
I opened my mouth and panted for I longed for that commandments. Look thou upon me and be merciful
unto me as thou useth to do unto those that love thy name. Order
my steps in thy word and let not any iniquity have dominion
over me. Do you see it? Order my steps. Not by my word. That's true. But order my steps
where? In it. Get in it. Read it. Talk about it. Listen to it preached by men
you know preach the gospel. Well, I've heard that message
before. Listen to it again. There's a
whole lot more there that you didn't get the first time. I
guarantee you. Now, Gary, that's not a commandment.
That's just an experience that I know. Driving to work, 45 minutes
one way every day, I get to listen to about two every day. And sometimes
I just listen to them over and over. And you know what's amazing?
Mason, I still get stuff from that. Look at verse 161. Princes have persecuted me without
a cause. Now, who do you think, really,
we could talk about who's really talking here? But look at it,
but my heart standeth in all of thy word. Folks, I'm telling
you, out of love for your soul, if your soul doesn't love God's
word, you don't know God, because the word is the only way you
know God. Princes have persecuted me without
a cause, but my heart standeth in all of thy word. Look, I rejoice
at thy word as one that findeth great spoil. Well, the word just, I get so
bored with it. You've got a problem. I'm gonna
be honest with you. I can't fix that problem for
you. I get sleepy when I read the
word. I do too. Sometimes I'll fall asleep, but
you know what? That's okay But I know this Seth
as I read this word It's like finding a treasure every time
When I listen to a man preach the gospel, I find a great spoil
every time Let me sum it up this way, you
know Isaiah's writings what did the Lord say through Isaiah?
My word will not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish
the thing whereunto I sent it. And that is the incarnate word. That is the spoken word by the
incarnate word. And that is the written word
through men that God moved as he breathed forth this word through
them. All, not three different things,
all together right here in one thing. But notice what he said, and
I thought of preaching all this, but then this other gripped my
soul. My words shall not return unto
who, Void? Unto me, Void. Well, I don't
see much of results. We see, but we still see through
a glass darkly. His words not gonna return unto
him, Void. If we don't see the results,
that really don't matter. Sometimes he lets us see that.
Like Joseph, it's a rejoicing, isn't it, when you see somebody
come to Christ? But you know, we don't have to
see it for it to be real, do we? What we do here in this place,
you supporting it and giving your hard-earned money and we
preach. It's just so small and pitiful, and we put the gospel
out on the radio, we put the gospel out on TV, we try to do
what we can, but God's word is not returning unto him void. Even if it does to us, that's
not the point. Right? Oh, how we ought to thank
him when he lets us get to see a little bit of the results of
that. Because we're not in the equation anyway. He said, my
word shall not return unto me void. So that ought to be good
enough for us, shouldn't it? Why, because it's happening whether
I see it or not. That's the thing. That's the thing. Father, oh
God bless us in this. Give us a thirst for your word,
Lord, your scriptures. God help us, help me. Forgive
us of our sin, our laziness. our complacency. O God, we confess
our fault and our sin before Thee and bless us in Christ's
name. Amen.