I want to invite your attention
this morning to Matthew chapter 4. The Gospel according to Matthew
chapter 4. I will read the first 11 verses. Matthew chapter 4 verses 1-11
where Matthew records these words, Then was Jesus led up of the
Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And
when he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, he was afterward and
hungered. And when the tempter came to
him, he said, if thou be the son of God, command that these
stones be made bread. But he answered and said, it
is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Then the devil
taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle
of the temple, and saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God,
cast thyself down, for it is written, He shall give his angels
charge concerning thee, and in their hands they shall bear thee
up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against the stone. Jesus
said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the
Lord thy God. Again the devil taketh him up
into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms
of the world, and the glory of them. and he saith unto him,
all these things will I give thee if thou wilt fall down and
worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, get
thee hence, Satan, for it is written, thou shalt worship the
Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. Then the devil leaveth
him, and behold, angels came and ministered unto him. Amen. Take note this account of the
temptation of Jesus Christ by Satan that Christ's one constant
response to Satan's attacks are these words it is written That's
my title for this message this morning it is Is written note
that he did not say thus saith the lord though that certainly
would have been valid Exactly, but note what he says it is written
Now that's To say thus saith the lord is the same thing as
saying it is written Yet it narrows down the focus mason. Yes to
what our Lord Jesus Christ leaned upon in this time of testing. His one constant response after
all three attacks, and that's what they were, they were attacks
by Satan. He said, it is written. What
is written? And that's the phrase, remember,
it is written, and he meant that. He's not talking about in some
secret halls of eternal glory. He's talking about the very scriptures
of God. What is written is authoritative
and absolute. For it, what? According to our
Lord's first response, proceedeth out of the mouth of God. When I read that and began to
think about that, it just struck me again. It is written. I often use the phrase, thus
saith the Lord, but as I said again, this narrows the focus
down. He's talking about this right
here. Yes, sir. That's what he's talking about.
It is written. What is written, that is the
scriptures, are, by their own testimony, the word of God. They declare themselves to be. Without offering any kind of
empirical proof, that's not the point at all. The scriptures
declare themselves to be the book. The book of the Lord. The book of the law. The good
word of God. The holy scriptures. The law of the Lord. the oracles
of God, the scripture of truth, the sword of the spirit, the
word of Christ, the word of life, the word of truth, the word of
the truth of the gospel. And you actually could go on
and on and on. Think about it. It is written,
is the response of God Almighty. Yes, sir. This is not some fallen
son of Adam. This is God himself. Manifest
in human flesh, yes. But he says it is written. The enemies of God, the enemies
of his Christ, and the enemies of his gospel have always assaulted,
mocked, denied, and ridiculed the scriptures. They love commentaries. They
love little books on certain religious subjects. They may
not even mind some of the great creeds of the faith. Yet they
stand, that is the scriptures, with all of these assaults, with
all of these malkings, with all of these denials, and with all
the ridicules, yet the scriptures stand, even yet today, with all
the very authority and absolute truth as ever. As ever. Now, there's three things that
I want to bring out, but it will not be this morning. God willing,
it will be next Sunday morning. We will look at the scripture's
intrinsic value. We will look at the scripture's
initial value, and I mean that in our experience, and we will
look at its continuous value. But this morning, I want to lay
a little bit of foundation. First, let's look at some facts
about scripture, and I'll give you three major facts about scripture
this morning. First of all, the scriptures
are not remarkable advice. You understand what I'm saying?
Countless thousands look upon the scriptures as that's really
remarkable advice. But yet they believe that with
all other advice they can take it or leave it as a circumstance
applies or as their desires apply. Is that not true? But the scriptures
are not remarkable advice. The scripture, what is written. And just as a side note, remember
that in much of what Jesus Christ said when he was here on this
earth, he quoted from the Septuagint, which was the Greek version of
the Old Testament of the Bible. But he still referred to it,
Joe, as it is written. He didn't have to refer to the
original copy of Hosea He didn't have to refer to the original
copy of Deuteronomy. He's simply saying it is written
God's Word stands as absolute truth It is not remarkable advice
scripture is God breathed That's what some people say that were
this word here means turn to 2nd Timothy chapter 3 and It
is God breathed. Second Timothy chapter three,
the apostle Paul puts it this way to Timothy. All scripture is given by inspiration
of God. Now, a lot of people talk about
being inspired today. They have no idea what this word
here meant when Paul gave it to Timothy. It means God breathed. Yes, sir. All, and what does
it say? How much of scripture? How much of a verse? All. How much of its punctuation?
Even if it's translated into your language? All. All. How much of Scripture? All. All Scripture is given by inspiration
of God. Not inspiration of man, not inspiration
of circumstance, inspiration of God. It's God breathed and
is profitable. Profitable for what? Everything. See it? For doctrine, that's
what we believe. For reproof, that means whenever
we have to be told that is really wrong. For correction, that is
to straighten up what is wrong about what we believe. For instruction
in righteousness. You want to know anything about
righteousness, you got to go to this book. Amen. That's right. You got to go to this book and
this book only. Amen. For whatever kind of bad
righteousness or good righteousness. Exactly. Whatever kind. That which God demands or that
which God despises. For instruction in righteousness
that the man of God may be perfect, truly furnished unto all good
works. There are countless thousands
that engage in so-called good works, and they don't even come
from the scriptures. How could that be? It cannot
be. No matter how good something
appears to be, if it does not follow the letter of the book,
then it's not a good work, no matter what it may look to be.
So again, the Scriptures are not remarkable advice. Scripture
is God-breathed and it is authoritative in all avenues. All avenues. And I say that to lead into the
second thing. The Scripture is not for church
services only. Do there are people that live
that way? The Bible, the Scripture, they're
for church services. That's what they're for. Well,
turn to Deuteronomy chapter six. And I didn't beat you there,
because I had it marked. Deuteronomy chapter six. Listen to what is
written, what was written, remember, what was written, right? It is
written. Listen to what was written by
Moses, Deuteronomy chapter six, verse four. Hear, O Israel, the
Lord our God is one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all
thy might. And we know that's the first
and greatest commandment. Amen. Do we not? Yes, sir. Christ
said so. Yeah. It is written. Now look. And these words which I command
thee this day shall be in thy heart, and thou shalt teach them
diligently unto thy children. and shall talk of them when thou
sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and
when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. The scriptures are not for religious
purposes only. They are for every avenue of
this life. No matter, bring up a subject,
bring up a topic, The scriptures tell us how these things should
be conducted. Sadly, we do not follow the scriptures
in most of these things. As a people, as a country, as
a world. But yet the scriptures dictate
everything that we're to think and believe about everything. About everything. So the scriptures
are not remarkable advice. They're God breathed. Secondly,
the scriptures are not for church services only. In the scriptures
themselves, they say the scriptures are to be read publicly and privately. They are to be expounded upon.
They're to be searched out. They're not to be added to or
taken away from. They are not to be handled deceitfully. You can take anything written
and handle it deceitfully, but men handle this book more deceitfully
than any other book in the world. You know why? Because we don't believe it is
written. It is written. So again, remember
this, the scriptures, they're never remarkable advice. You
don't read, boy, that was really good advice. This ain't advice.
This is God's word about any, whatever matter it's dealing
with, that's God's word about that matter. Whatever subject,
whatever topic it is, that's God's word about, that's God's
take on this thing. And secondly, it's not just something
you pick up and bring to church with you on Sunday morning. The
fact is, for many a year, many of our brothers and sisters could
not carry this around with them. But you know what? I do believe
they still, Mason, hid it in their heart. Oh God, help me
to hide it in my heart. Help it to be a part of my being.
Help me to meditate upon thy word, the holy scriptures, day
and night. When you rise up and when you
lie down. The record of God is believed
by the regenerate. It is believed by the regenerate.
That is those who were born of God. And they believe the record
God gave of his son. Now what's a record? That's something
you write down. That's what John said. Let's
read that. First John chapter five. but he actually gives it
in its negative connotation, you might say. 1 John, I'm sorry,
1 John chapter five, and notice verse five begins with, whosoever
believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Now they gonna
believe this record, but look at what he says in verse 10.
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.
But this is not some ethereal, oh, I know what I believe just
because I had this experience. Oh no. Oh no, he that believeth
on the Son of God hath the witness in himself. Yes, this is true,
but look, he that believeth not God hath made him a liar. Why,
because he didn't have some experience? Because he didn't, no, look,
because he hath not, he hath not, because he believeth not
the record that God gave of his son. This whole book is about Jesus
Christ. And two verses tell us this. One in the New Testament,
and it's actually a quote from the Old Testament, in the volume
of the book, it is written of me, Christ said. This book is
about Jesus Christ, and anyone who reads this book and doesn't
see Jesus Christ as the sum and substance of this book does not
see this book. They may be able to quote it,
they may expound all of the historical content that may be there. They
may be able to talk about all the scientific content that is
there, but this is not a historical book. But it's absolutely historically
right. It's not a scientific book, but
it's scientifically perfect. But this is a book about the
person and work of Jesus Christ the Lord. So the record of God
is believed by the regenerate and they believe the record that
God gave of his son. If you read a passage in scripture
and you don't see Christ there, it's not because Christ ain't
there, it's just because you ain't seen it yet. And that's
just what it boils down to. And any believer who's been in
the way for a while knows that, because how many passages have
you read through the years and then all seven Mason, years later,
Bang, the light goes on. And there it is. Now, yes, it
may apply to other things, but he is the sum and substance of
all of it. And yet countless thousands talk
about, oh, I believe the Bible, and they never rejoice in and
proclaim and brag about the Lord Jesus Christ. They've missed
the scriptures. They do not have eyes to see
what is written. Here's number three. The scriptures
supersede, now listen to this. The scriptures supersede all
other revelation. Now turn to 2 Peter chapter one. And no, don't think, well I think
he worded that wrong. Look at what it says here. This
is an amazing thing. You know, it's one of those things
where you know it. It's there within you, and no
doubt because of the Spirit of God. That's the only reason.
But all of a sudden, you hear somebody preach on something,
and they talk about a passage, and all of a sudden, Joey, it
just opens up. Or maybe it just hits you again afresh and anew. Listen to what Peter wrote in
2 Peter 2, verse 15. Moreover, verse 15, 2 Peter 1. II Peter 1 verse 15. Moreover, I will endeavor that
ye may be able, after my decease, to have these things always in
remembrance. For we have not followed cunningly
devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were what? Eyewitnesses of
his majesty. Seth, they actually visibly seen
God Almighty manifest in the flesh. Joe, they seen him calm
those seas. And they said it was a great
calm. I mean, Mason, there probably wasn't even a wisp of wind when
he said, peace, be still. eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God, now
he's gonna give us a specific example of him eyewitnessing
Christ's majesty. For we have received, for he
received from God the Father honor and glory when there came
such a voice to him from the excellent glory, this is my beloved
Son in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from
heaven we heard You see, we heard when we were with him in the
Holy Mount. What's he talking about? He's
talking about what we traditionally call the Mount of Transfiguration. And here, Peter, James, and John,
wasn't that who it was? They are there with Christ on
this mountain. He is transfigured before them.
Joe, even his clothes shine with the brightness of God Almighty.
And Moses and Elijah, wasn't it Elijah? Appeared there and
talked with him and Peter James and John Seeing this I went and
heard this And somebody says oh if I could have an experience
like that Look at his next word. We have also a more sure word
of prophecy What more sure than that Peter oh Yes, Peter says
You see it? Now this is Peter who actually
seen it. This is not second hand. It's not what he heard from another
apostle. He seen this, experienced it,
was an eyewitness of it. He heard it. It happened to him. He was there. But he said, we,
not you, even. But we, me and you, Peter says,
we have also a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do
well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark
place until the day dawn and the day star arise in your heart,
knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private
interpretation. He is saying that the scripture
supersedes even what he experienced on the mount. Do you see that? That's what he said. We have
a more sure word. I experienced this. But you know how the only way
we even know that? Through this scripture. The only people that
got to see that was Peter, James, and John. And Peter included
himself when he said, we have a more sure word of prophecy.
And we're not talking here just about future events. We're talking
about the proclaiming of God's truth. What's that more sure
word? This right here. Yes, sir. The
scripture. For the prophecy came not in
old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake as
they were moved by the Holy Ghost. All believers are led by the
Holy Ghost. But they ain't none but these
who wrote this book that were moved by the Holy Ghost. Why? Paul said it. All scripture
is given by inspiration. What I say to you is not inspired.
It is not inspired. I endeavor to preach absolute
truth to you, but it is not absolute truth. I foul up. I make mistakes. This book has no mistakes. Somebody says, prove that. Don't
have to. It says it, doesn't have any
problems. I'm just here to declare it. If you say, I don't believe that
record, it's because you're an unbeliever. It's because you're
unregenerate. And you say, but that word just
grabs my heart and my mind and soul. The only reason for that
is regeneration. You've been born of God. You
can't help it in spite of yourself. This book grips you and conquers
you. It's very, not just, the very
concept of it boggles the mind. This book has withstood the test
of time. You know that? Many, many men
and many who never even knew one another, spanning hundreds
of years, wrote all these things, and they're all consistent, one
with another. Somebody says, I see all kinds
of contradictions in the Bible. No, you don't. You imagine them
in your own filthy, corrupt mind. I say, scriptures supersede all
other revelation. And I mean, now if Peter says,
we have a more sure word of prophecy than even what he experienced
on that mount, how much more does that apply to everything
else in this world? Huh? Somebody said, I've seen miracles
happen. Don't mean nothing. That's right. You hear what I
say? Don't mean nothing unless it
follows the teaching and the truth of this book. That's right. Well, I've seen supernatural
phenomena. It don't mean anything. Yeah.
You're right. It don't mean anything if it
doesn't follow the teaching, the truth of this book. I've
heard men predict things to happen, and it come to pass. Don't mean
anything. It don't mean anything if it
don't line up and square with this book. Well, but preacher,
I prayed, and I got what I prayed for. Don't mean, it don't mean
any, I say nothing, but you know what I, it don't mean anything.
It don't mean anything if it don't square with this book. So let me say it again, miracles,
supernatural phenomena, predicted circumstances, prayers never
prove divine authority. They never prove divine authority.
If it does not honor scripture in its contextual truth, it has
no divine authority. Even, Joe, when God spoke, when
Christ and Peter, James, and John was on that mountain, he
still never spoke anything different than what he'd already said in
the Old Testament. And what is written in the New
Testament never has anything contradictory than what God had
already had said and written in the Old Testament. When Christ
came and preached, he didn't preach anything other than what
had already been written. Now the question is, is there
proof of this? Oh yes, there is. From the scripture. Now you
want that experience, you want that supernatural phenomena,
go look for it. You'll probably find it. But
you have no divine authority from God for it. First of all,
it's true because God says so in the scriptures. Turn to Isaiah
chapter eight. Let's look at what Isaiah wrote. Isaiah chapter 8. Let me find
the spot here. Isaiah chapter 8, let's begin
in verse 19. And when they shall say unto
you, seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards
that peep and that mutter, should not a people seek unto their
God? for the living to the dead, to
the law, and to the testimony. What's he talking about? He talked
about this book. The scriptures, what had been
written, and Mason at that time, a very small portion of all of
this, and yet it says, to the law and to the testimony. If
they speak not according to this word, it is because there is
no light in them. As one preacher said, he heard
another preacher say, if anything you believe and anything you've
experienced in any circumstance you've went through, and you
could take that and throw it at the book, if it doesn't stick
to that book's truth, then your circumstance, your experience,
your reality was flawed. It doesn't mean, I'm not even
saying it didn't even happen to you, didn't really happen
to you. It's just, it's not of God. Yet countless thousands
based more of their hope of heaven on some experience they had or
some prayer they prayed was answered or some miracle they seen happen
rather than base it upon it is written. Now that's not the only
passage. Let's also now look at Deuteronomy
chapter 13. And listen to this one. It gives
us a little more detail on this. So that you know what I'm saying.
Miracles, supernatural phenomena, predicted circumstances, even
prayers never prove divine authority. If it does not honor scripture
in its contextual truth, it has no divine authority. Listen to
Moses again in Deuteronomy 13. If there arise among you a prophet,
or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, Look, and the sign or the wonder
come to pass. That's what it says. You see
it? Whereof he spake unto thee saying,
let us go after other gods because everything that's not based upon
this book is meant to drive you away from the truth of God as
it is written. Exactly. See, most people think
if it's a miracle, here's somebody that's sick, and I prayed for
them, and all of a sudden they're healed, whether somebody lays
a hand on them or not, that proves that God was in that thing. And
whatever that person says or believes, that's got to be right,
that doesn't prove anything. You dishonor the truth of this
book, the truth of the person and work of Jesus Christ, you're
a false prophet. It doesn't matter what you can
prophesy when it comes to pass. Thou shalt not hearken, verse
three. Thou shalt not hearken unto the
words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord
your God proveth you to know whether you love the Lord your
God with all your heart and with all your soul. In other words,
what are you looking to? There is not, listen to me, what,
I mean what when I say that. Yes, we look to who, but we only
know a who, the who to look to by this what. This what, God's
scripture, what is written. That's the only way. Well, I
had this dream and God revealed this to me. If it doesn't square
with this book, it's not so. It's just not so. Let me give
you some examples of this in scripture. You remember those
magicians that withstood Moses and Aaron? Yeah, those magicians, call them
sorcerers in the Old Testament, KGB. Sorcerers and magicians. And somebody says, all that stuff's
fake. Be careful now. There is a lot of fake out there.
Do not get me wrong. But there's some stuff that ain't
fake. And when Moses and Aaron went into Pharaoh, there's at
least three. Remember Aaron cast down his
rod, turned into a what? A snake. What did Pharaoh's magicians
do? They cast down their rods and
what happened? Turned into a snake. Somebody said, how'd they do
that? It wasn't by the power of God. It wasn't because they
were sin of God. It wasn't because their message,
what they said Pharaoh ought to do was right, no. You see,
the miracle didn't prove nothing, did it? You remember the river
turned to blood? Did you know the magicians did
the same thing? Now whether it was some kind of trickery, it
doesn't matter. It was the same thing that Moses and Aaron produced. You remember the frogs? They
did the same thing. Now they couldn't do the lice,
and you've got people who are trying to figure out what's all
the difference. Here's the point they're missing.
If it is not validated by the truth of Scripture, it does not
have the authority of God. Do you remember the witch of
Endor? She talked to Samuel. That's what this book says. She
summoned up the spirit of Samuel, yes, and talked with him right
in front of Saul. Does that mean it was of God?
No, it's called witchcraft. That's why it's called witchcraft.
Do you remember Antichrist and his emissary? 2 Thessalonians
2? They shall perform great lying
signs and wonders. Is that not what Paul said to
the Thessalonians in 2 Thessalonians 2? Listen, miracles, supernatural
phenomena, predicted circumstances, prayers answered, never ever
proved divine authority. You see somebody heal somebody,
they had a, in a wheelchair. I know there's a lot of fakery,
tomfoolery going on, but you see somebody do that, Joe, and
you know that person was truly need to be, couldn't have anything
but that wheelchair. And somebody comes along and
says some words, and Mac, they get up and walk. It does not
prove that that person has divine authority. Because the very power
that the Old Testament prophets had on some occasions, Very power
that Christ had on all occasions The very power that the Apostles
had on some occasions was not proof of their ministry It backed
up the truth that they were preaching from the Old Testament scriptures That's what it was all about
think about this God created the universe with just his voice
and God said And it was so and he wasn't he didn't open up the
Bible and read the Bible to do it. Did he? God just said and
it was so right, but how's the only way we know that? Right here that's the only way
we know that through the scriptures and I can't prove that I Can
provide no empirical evidence to prove that But I believe,
by his grace, Joe, I believe the record God gave of his son.
And he said his son created all this with the voice of his mouth.
Amen. That's right. Amen. Moses defined
it this way. Turn to Deuteronomy chapter 29.
And we're coming right down to the
end of this thing. Deuteronomy chapter 29. And even with all
of this truth and light from Scripture about itself and the
Scripture proven itself, all of the test of time, Mason, that
this Scripture has stood the test, and all the mockers and
the ridiculers and people who try to twist it and turn it and
use it deceitfully, yet it still stands true. But what people
still cry is, I want to know that secret thing from God. Well,
if you could know the secret thing, it ain't no longer gonna
be secret. Right? Now there are some secret
things, some things God had told us, but I'll tell you this, based
upon the authority of this word, everything, Mason, that God hadn't
even told us still equals and coincides and is in agreement
with this written word. So much so that Moses was moved
by the Spirit of God to write these words. Look at what it
says. Verse 29 of Deuteronomy 29. The secret things belong to the
Lord our God. There are some secret things,
but you're never going to know them. You're never going to know
them, at least in this life, I will say. You're never going
to know them. Ever. Ever. Well, what if God gives
me a vision? That secret thing's got to It
will stay secret. It's a secret thing, don't you
get it? The secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but those
things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever,
that we may do all the words of this law. Everybody's wanting something
outside of this book. To base their hope of righteousness
or acceptance with God on, or to validate where they are and
what they believe. You know why? Because they really
don't believe it is written, is of God. If they can have this
supernatural experience, that validates it to them. When this
word won't do it. Now, you know the difference
between that? It's the difference between a regenerated person
and an unregenerated person. It's the difference between a
saved person and a lost person. It's the difference between a
person that God Almighty has conquered by His free reigning
grace and a person who is still uncircumcised in heart and ears
and resisting even God Almighty with all of their being. In other
words, let me just put it this way. Scripture alone is and Scripture
alone reveals absolute truth. Now I didn't just say Scripture
alone reveals absolute truth. Scripture alone is absolute truth. You don't read this and then
try to suck the truth out of it. It is the truth. You don't
try to find the truth that's hidden somewhere in there. It
is, it's called the Scripture of truth. It says it in here. All of those phrases are not
cute little things I come up with. That's the way the Bible
describes itself. The scriptures of truth. So again,
scripture alone is and scripture alone reveals absolute truth. Apart from it fitting this word,
it is not truth, let alone absolute truth. Now you know what the
opposite of truth is? A lie. I don't care if it comes from
a commentary. That's right. I don't care if it comes from
a religious book. I don't care if it comes from one of my messages
I don't care if it comes from some of the great creeds of the
denominations Scripture alone is that upon which we base What
we believe? And how do we conduct ourselves?
Amen in every avenue of our lives. Whether it's here in this place
worshiping God together or whether it's when I go to work and I
work for my employer. This book dictates it all to
me. Period. Great big bunches of
periods. No question marks whatsoever. So much so, so much so that every time Go
through the scripture, especially go through the epistle to the
Romans. Every time Paul knows that someone's
going to question something he had to say, what did he always
refer to? He said, it is written. It hath
been said, didn't he? Anytime there was anything, Joe,
that he thought men might, even in the slightest way, Mason,
just try to twist what he's got to say, he said, it is written. It has been said, thus saith
the Lord. And notice it's never just never,
not when it's quoting something, it never says, thus said the
Lord. You ever notice that? It's thus saith. Saith, that means continue. That
means it's still valid today just as much as it was 2,000
years ago. It's just that, what about that
law? That law is still just as valid. And you know what the
validity of that law is? The validity of that law is that
every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty
before God. The law of Mason ain't changed.
Christ is, he said, I didn't come to destroy the law or the
prophets. I came to fulfill it. So then,
what does this tell me? we ought to give the more earnest
heed to the things which we have heard. And wherever we hear,
where must we hear it from? They must come from here. Joe
and I tells you anything that doesn't come from here, then
you can just push that right off to the side. It has no authority
over you whatsoever. But if what you hear comes from
here, you know what? It's God's word to you. It's
God's word to me. Oh God, bow me to it conquer
me by it and conform me in it in it in it you can't be conformed
to it folks conform me in it oh father help us to see even
as you have said by your psalmist that you've exalted your word
even above your own name Lord, help us to some degree to grasp the reality and the gravity of
such a thing. Lord, make us rejoice in your
holy scriptures. In Christ's name, for his sake,
amen.